Photo Travel Review's Bald Eagles and Brown Bears Seminar

June 4 through June 12, 2009

Alaska

The Journey Is The Destination 

Photo Travel Review announces our first photographic seminar to be conducted in Alaska during June 4 through June 12, 2009.

This once-in-a-lifetime seminar guarantees that you will get within 20 feet of Bald Eagles and 30 feet of Brown Bears.  Yes, guaranteed.

The seminar is open to six photographers. (Four slots available, two are booked.)

Two members of the PTR team will conduct the seminar (Bill and Melanie) both are recognized internationally for their photographic work, each will offer advice on use of your camera equipment and photographic opportunities throughout the seminar. One PTR member will accompany three photographers at all times, insuring that participants are able to interact with PTR team members as photographs are made.

Two four-wheel-drive vehicles will be used to transport photographers to remote beaches along Alaska's coastline.  All Terrain Vehicles will be used to transport participants to locations for photographing Brown Bears.  While transport will get participants close to animals, all photography will be done while on foot.

Participants will walk with Brown Bears as they move across wet terrain and approach them on foot.  Use of tripods and monopods is appropriate and recommended, but participants must transport such equipment themselves while working among the animals.

Are you:

1.  In good physical condition?  You may be required to walk three hundred yards in wet terrain under harsh weather conditions while carrying your camera gear.

2.  Able to fly in small airplanes? You will fly into a remote region of Alaska and land on a beach, this is not an ordinary aiplane flight.

3.  Not afraid of dangerous situations?  You will be very close to Brown Bears (perhaps as close as 15 feet) while accompanied by an experienced field guide who understands the behavior of these animals.  However, be warned that this activity is dangerous. The field guide does not carry a weapon and participants will not be allowed to carry weapons while attending the seminar.

4.  Able to withstand extreme weather conditions?  Winds of 30-40 MPH are common along with rain and temperatures in the lower 40s.  Expect weather extremes, brilliant sunshine or gray cloud cover.

5.  Able to withstand long work days? We will work in all weather conditons and one can expect 18-hour days, shooting both early in the morning and very late into the evenings (as late at 10:00 PM).

Four days will be devoted to photographing Bald Eagles on remote beaches of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska and five days will be devoted to photographing Brown Bears at Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. An alternative day can be planned while in Homer for those who wish to do an all-day Whale Viewing trip at an additional cost. Arrangements can be made with Silver Salmon Creek Lodge for a half-day boat trip along the coastline of Lake Clark National Park at no additional cost.

The price of the seminar is set at $6,000 per person (price may be more or less depending upon costs of fuel that are affecting travel in the region).

Price Includes:

1. No single supplement is required, cost is per person.

2. Private room at Anchor River Lodge while in Homer. Price includes a continental breakfast.

3. Ground transportation in Homer.

4. Flight to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge.

5. Private room at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. Price at lodge is fixed and is not dependent upon shared accommodations.

6. All meals while at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge.

7. Flight to Anchorage at end of seminar. (Flight to Homer can be arranged if desired.)

8. All park fees and taxes.

9. Field Guide and ground transportation while at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge.

10. One PTR Team member will accompany three photographers throughout the seminar and daily reviews of work by each photographer will be done by the PTR Team using state of the art equipment.

Price Does Not Include:

1. Flights from your origin to Anchorage, flight from Anchorage to Homer, flight to your origin from Anchorage.

2. Tips for staff at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. ($20 per day per person for Field Guides and lump-sum amount for kitchen and house staff is suggested.)

A 10% cash registration deposit is required when the reservation is made, a 40% cash deposit is required by  March 1, 2009, balance of 50% is due on May 1, 2009. In the event that the seminar is cancelled by PTR, all deposits will be returned.  Emergencies which require that a participant cancel a reservation will be dealt with on a personal basis, and funds which are not committed for securing lodging and/or seminar activities will be returned to the participant.

Due to the extreme environmental conditions and the dangers of the seminar, you will be required to waive all liability for personal injury while attending the seminar. Provisions will be made for medical evacuation should that be necessary.

If you have the yearn for adventure, PTR promises that this seminar will be something you will remember for the rest of your life. You can view Bill's tongue in cheek video about doing bear photography below to get an idea of what it is like at Lake Clark National Park.

Please contact us regarding the seminar and for detailed responses to what questions you may have. We will provide you with a detailed itinerary upon request.

--The PTR Team