Packing for a Photo Safari

05 Sep Packing for a Photo Safari

Alaska – it is one of the most wonderful, most awe inspiring, and most accessible wild locations on the planet. In the wilds of Alaska, one can experience the great outdoors and become “one with nature.” The great state, in fact, gets it name from the Alueth word Alyeska, meaning great country or great land.

The spectacular scenery, combined with the incredible diversity of wildlife, also makes Alaska a photographer’s paradise. In this column I will share with you some tips on photographing in Alaska, illustrated with photographs that I have taken in Alaska while leading photo workshops with my good friend Hal Schmitt, director of Light Photographic Workshops, which is located in Los Osos, California.

Sunsets
Alaska sunset over water

Double the impact of your sunset photographs by framing the sunset with its reflection in the water. Usually, placing the horizon line in the center of the frame is not a good composition technique, but when it comes to reflections, it works beautifully. Also, place the sun off-center for a more creative composition.

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Humpback whales
Alaska humpback whales

You’ll need a telephoto lens or telephoto zoom to get close-up photographs of whales. For this photograph of whales bubble net feeding, I used my Canon 100-400mm IS lens set at 400mm. You will also need luck to see encounters like this one. If you are lucky, you need to be ready to shoot. Always have your camera ready and set up for action shots, which includes setting your shutter speed to 1/1000th second to get sharp shots and rapid frame advance so you can take a series of photographs.

Sea Lions
Alaska sea lions

On land, sea lions usually hang out in a colony. In the water, the group is called a raft, and during breeding season the group is called a rookery. If there is one male and several females, then it’s called a harem. When photographing many animals together, try to get a shot that shows some separation between the heads. That helps to cut the clutter of the scene. In this photograph, each of the animal’s heads on the shore is isolated.

Ice
Alaska icebergs

If you do a glacier hike or encounter grounded icebergs, as shown here, use a polarizing filter to reduce glare on the ice. Look for strong reflections that could ruin your photograph. Have your camera’s highlight alert (over-exposure warning) activated so you can reduce the exposure if you get a warming (blinking areas in a scene.)

Killer Whales
Alaska Killer Whales

Talk about luck! You need even more luck to get relatively close to killer whales than you do for humpback whale photography. When framing your shot, leave some room in the frame into which the animal can “move.” In other words, don’t place the animal’s nose right up at the edge of the frame.

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Aerials
Alaska Mountain Aerial

Many resorts, cruise ships and private charters offer aerial tours, which usually last about one hour. When you are in a small plane or helicopter, don’t let any part of your upper body touch the body of the plane or helicopter. If you do, your body will pick up the vibrations and you may get a blurry shot. Set you shutter speed to at least 1/500th sec. Try to keep the horizon line level. Pack a polarizing filter to reduce glare on water and ice.

Aurora Borealis
Alaska Aurora Borealis

Alaska is a good place to see the Aurora Borealis, usually from September to April. You’ll need a tripod and wide-angle lens. I used my Canon 17-40mm lens set at 17mm for this series of images. For starters, set your ISO to 3200, shutter speed to 30 seconds, and aperture to f/4. If your pictures are too dark, use a faster aperture, such as f/2.8, or increase your exposure time.

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Landscapes
Alaska Landscape Photography

Most people think about using a wide-angle lens for landscape photography. In most cases, that’s a good idea. However, telephoto lenses can help cut the clutter of a landscape and isolate elements in a scene. I used my Canon 400mm lens for this landscape photograph.

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Bald eagles
Alaska Bald Eagles

Like photographic challenges? They don’t come better (more challenging) than photographing bald eagles, which can fly up to 50 miles per hour. You’ll need to set your camera on focus tracking, which follows the subject right up to the moment of exposure. Set your shutter speed to 1/1000th of second to stop the action. Make sure the eye is in focus and well lit. Watch the background, too. Take lots and lots of shots. Be happy if you get one good one.

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One final tip: check your photographs (for focus, sharpness, depth-of-field, etc.) on your laptop each day. Remember: everything looks good on your camera’s small screen.

I hope to see you back here on Adventure Collection soon.

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Rick Sammon
Rick Sammon is our regular and intrepid photo columnist here on Adventure Collection. To see more of his work, and to learn about his photography workshops, check out his web site: www.ricksammon.com.
Rick Sammon

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