Date: November 13-19, 2024

Location: Haines, Alaska

Cost: $2100 per person 

Details: Every fall in Haines, Alaska bald eagles congregate along the Chilkat River. A fall salmon run attracts these magnificent birds, resulting in the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world. Their numbers are staggering. More than 3000 eagles arrive, and it is not uncommon to have 10 eagles lined up on one log with hundreds of birds in nearby trees. This is a bucket list trip for wildlife photographers.

We will meet our group in Haines at the ferry dock to begin our adventure. After checking into the hotel, we will have an afternoon photography session in the field.

For the photographer, there is no easier place to photograph bald eagles than Haines. Each day we will take a short drive to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and spend our day photographing the birds. The eagles often fight over salmon giving photographers ample chances to photograph these encounters. Birds will be very close in the trees. Frequent flybys give photographers plenty of chances to capture birds in flight against the rugged snow-capped Takinsha Mountains. In the evenings we will review images and work on editing. You will have a lot of fun, improve your photography, and create images worthy of hanging in your home.

What you will learn:

-Exposure Composition

-Wildlife Photography techniques

-Photographing birds in flight

-Editing in Lightroom and PhotoShop

A typical day: Our days focus on photographing the eagles. My goal is to help you learn how to take compelling eagle photos with hands on instruction. We will cover camera settings, anticipating behavior, and specialty topics like auto-focus patterns.

Alaska Weather: Occasionally the weather in Alaska will cause travel delays. This time can be used for editing images or photographing the area. This is a regular part of photographing in Alaska and may result in rescheduling flights or hotel stays at the participants’ expense.

Hotel: We will be staying at Airbnb cabin in Haines. The cabin has private bedrooms and is within easy walking distance of local restaurants. Lodging is included in the workshop fee.

Closest Airport:  Juneau, Alaska

Students will provide their own:

-Round trip transportation from Juneau to Haines via Ferry 

-Alcoholic beverages and gratuities

-Trave/ Health Insurance 

-Food 

Included in the fee:

-Lodging in Haines 

- All instruction

-Location and permit fees

-Daily transportation to the eagle site

Recommended camera gear:

-1-2 camera bodies 

-Lenses ranging from wide angle 24mm to 70-200mm

-Wildlife telephoto lens – 400mm or more (200-500mm or similar works great)

- Sturdy Tripod 

-Laptop for editing and critique

By attending this workshop, you agree to hold Marc Bouldoukian of Mark bouldoukian photography harmless for all personal injury or loss that may occur during or in connection with this trip.This is a self-led travel trip.

You are responsible for your safety in the car you choose to travel in, with the roommate you select, and as you move in Alaska.

Do not push your physical abilities past what you are healthy enough to do. You are in charge of deciding if a location is safe for you to travel to.

Travel insurance as well as insurance for your photo gear are both highly recommended. Marc Bouldoukian of Marc Bouldoukian Photography's role in this workshop is to teach photography in Alaska and guide you to great locations.

You are responsible for your safety as you travel. Marc Bouldoukian of Mark Bouldoukian Photography makes no effort to vet the other attendees of the trip and you need to make sure you are safe in their companionship. In the event of extraordinary events, governmental instability, extreme weather, pandemic, or other condition, Marc Bouldoukian reserves the right to reschedule or cancel this trip and either return all workshop fees or apply paid fees toward a future workshop.

The cost of this workshop includes your guiding fees, 6 nights lodging and transportation (All prices in US Dollars.) The payment of $400 is a non-refundable initial payment toward the total of $2100. The payment is to reserve your spot in the workshop and will be applied to the total balance. The balance is due 30 days prior to the first day of the workshop, If you need to cancel your attendance to the workshop I will refund you your deposit, or put it towards a future workshop.