Alaska Brown Bear Photography and the Mistakes to Avoid
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ค. 2024
- On this episode we talk about setting up an Alaska Brown Bear Photography trip. We talk about the different criteria to consider for different fitness levels, costs, and experience you would like to have. We get into lens choices, what to bring, and what to expect. And most important of all I discuss the mistakes and things I wish I had done better on my last trip to Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Shot on the Canon R7 with the RF 35mm 1.4
Use the chapters to move around to the subjects you are interested in.
-------------------------Video Chapters------------------------------------------
00:00 - Introduction
00:54- Trip considerations
02:44 - Brooks Falls
04:01 - Pontoon Boat Excursions
04:26 - Fishing Trip and Bear Viewing
04:59 - Bear Lodges
05:48 - Fly Out Day Trips
07:12 - Costs of the Trip Types
09:03 - Fly Out Trip Experience Logistics
09:40 - Base out of Kodiak?
11:43 - Experience and Expectations
13:39 - Weather and Temperature
14:27 - Photography Environment
15:20 - Focal Range/Lens Recommendations
16:20 - Snacks?
17:01 - Getting Close to the Bears?
18:43 - How Many Bears Should I Expect to See?
20:41 - The Float Plane Experience
21:48 - The Mistakes That Were Made
22:06 - Lens Choices
23:25 - Water Protections for Camera Gear
25:55 - Keeping Hands Dry and Warm
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My name is Scott West and I am a nature and wildlife photographer located in Alaska. I am very lucky to live in a place surrounded by amazing landscapes and even more amazing wildlife.
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Very interesting but in my part of France , I’ve got only Gummy Bears so I use a only a Macro lense , very difficult to approach when children are around …
Yes it can be difficult. We have a very unique environment due to the salmon runs and the rich sealife availability for the bears where they don't care much about people on the diet.
Great information. Nice chatting with you yesterday.
Thanks! You too!
Excellent work, very well explained. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
A great video that answers so many questions, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the advises...great video !
You bet!
Thank you for the infos for the trip
You bet!
Great info🐻🐻
THANKS
Great information. I hope to make a bear trip and this information will be very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Many thanks Scott for an enriching informative video. I'm not sure when I will get a chance to photograph these brown bears but it certainly is one of my bucket lists. Hope to join your trip one day! Once against, appreciate your insightful sharing 👍
Vincent Lim from Singapore 🇸🇬
It is a must do :0
Scott thank you for this very informative video. It is like you read my mind when making this. I am planning a family trip to Alaska this August with a Gulf cruise that ends in Seward. I then plan on doing a day trip to photograph the bears before flying home. Do you have any recommendations for tour companies from either Seward or Anchorage that you can recommend? Any help pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated. Many Thanks Steve
Contact Jon on his instagram page instagram.com/jkwnaturephotography/ and he will get you set up for a bear adventure.
Scott, I loved this episode. I found it very informative, and I have been planning to do the same as you did, except I will skip flying to Kodiak Island.
I am truly surprised that will all the great photography there is in Alaska, that you are the FIRST photographer that I have found on TH-cam that put out a video on how to go about photographing brown bears in Katmai. With as popular as bear viewing is in Alaska (I mean how many companies have bear tours flying into Katmai...quite a few, so there is a demand for this), you are the first video that describes how these tours are done, and what gear to carry, and so forth! So thanks!
However I have a couple of questions that you did not address in the video: 1) Does one need to bring a tripod, or monopod...or are they necessary, or can you even bring one on the aircraft due to weight constraints? 2) Are you restricted in how much photo gear can bring on an airplane? I am planning to bring one camera body, a 100-400mm with 1.4x TC (if extra reach is needed), a 24-200mm, and if the bears get really close a GoPro. Would this be to much gear to bring (remembering to bring a liter of water, appropriate clothing, some snacks)?
Thanks for your videos (I am a subscriber now)!
Thanks for the compliment.
For weight remember you will have to carry what you bring while out with the bears. Monopod and tripod are ok to bring. Your gear setup sounds pretty accommodating for a fly out.
Each outfit will let you know what weights, etc. they allow as each plane is different and the type of fly out you're doing. SO just talk with your outfitter and they will let you know.
Same with the snacks. usb talk with who's taking you out.
@@WILDALASKA Thanks for the good info!
Scott, this was very informative and helpful for trip planning. Are you planning to lead any trips to Katmai, Lake Clark, Kodiak Island, or Brooks Falls?
not this year, but planning on heading over in September. If you were wanting a trip ping me on IG and I can get you in touch with Jon as he leads a lot of trips.
Great video with a lot of useful information. Thank you very much for this!
I do have another question. Maybe I missed it in the video, but what is the best time to do these trips. Which period has the best chance of having a successful beer trip? Thank you.
July and August are usually best times due to the salmon runs.
@@WILDALASKA Ok, thanks for your response! 👌🏼 😎
I just booked avflight to Anchorage early July for 8 nights. No accommodations yet but thinking about spending most of the time on the Kenai Peninsula. Part of me wants to rent a small RV or camper van and fly by the seat of my pants! My new 400 2.8 tc wants to go on an adventure!
Better book your rv or hotel now. Gets busy around that time ;)
@@WILDALASKA done! 3 nights in Cooper Landing then 5 nights in Homer😁
@@angelawilkins3624 👍
This is very good information. Do you recommend a guide service? Here is another problem. I have professional equipment. Including a Nikon 200mm F/2 and 400mm F/2.8. As well as wide angle lenses, etc. I have been told that the float planes limit you to 50 lbs of equipment , including your suite case, cameras. That could be a problem for me. Any suggestions. I will be using principally 2 cameras. Nikon F6 (film) and a Nikon D850. The weight adds up fairly quickly.
Yes, guide is a mustiest for safety alone. On a fly out trip to a lodge there are different limits. The 50lbs is more when you are flying out to your location for photographing or hunting.
Just talk to your guide service or lodge if you are doing a lodge trip. They will let you know how much gear and luggage you can bring
Well, I was told no more than 50 lbs. I was suppose to have been at Brook Falls Alaska last summer. I got in on the lotto for 2 days at the end of June, but had to cancel because at age 76 I had hip replacement surgery 20 July 2023. Recovering nicely now. Also I do physical fitness (for many years), but I was told there were strict weight limits. On these youtube videos people are photographing with a GoPro or a point and shoot. So, tripod restrictions (at Brook Falls observation pier) doesn't matter to them. For me it does. I will be using professional equipment. So, I wonder, rather than Brook Falls, what about these photographic bear lodges. I had been in contact with a fellow who runs one who was originally from England. I was also going to book with him until my pending surgery. So, now I am in a quandary. Which is better? I think the individual guide service with their own lodge? Also, I would use one of these folding wagons you can get at Academy or Dicks Sporting Goods, to carry all my equipment. Is there any problem with that. www.malloygallery.net/ALASKA3.html@@WILDALASKA
2 other comments: (1) Brown bears normally will not attack humans but if humans are bewtween mother and her babies all bets are off; and (2) I was walking back from a viewing station at Brooks Lodge and a brown bear was on the path about 25 feet ahead of us and I guess I didn't see this bear go off the path so when I got up to the spot where the bear went off the path I couldn't see or hear it. So my thought is that bears can be quiet so the humans must make noise.
Yes always make noise as to not startle a bear.
I will probably this winter be making a video about bear safety and how to work around them with one of the bear guides here in the area
More than likely cover safety procedures in different areas of AK and Lower 48 regions.
@@WILDALASKA Also include other wild animals like moose, etc. thanks
Thing that I remember- take mosquite protection
Good advice. They were bad this year due to the large amount of rain we got.
Very Well Done. Rain coats on the equipment next time.
Ya some dummy let me forget to bring them :p
Hello I am still looking for guests who are photographers willing to appear on my livestream on 3/12/22 Saturday 9pm gmt. I need people who are committed to do it as many say they will attend but never do. Please get in touch if interested. Even if you can not attend put your name down as I hope to make this a regular thing. Regards Paul.
Message me on instagram or FB and we can discuss.
@@WILDALASKA hi i did