2022 DOUBLE VISION ALASKA – THE OLD IDITAROD GANG HOLLAND AMERICA PRE-CRUISE EXCLUSIVE PHOTO TOUR/WORKSHOP with Alaskan photographer Jeff Schultz. Including Marine Wildlife, Glaciers & Landscapes

Itinerary 

During this trip the daylight is approximately 17 hours with Sunrise: 5:35 am  Sunset: 10:35 pm / 22:35

ARRIVAL DAY/NIGHT 1: (Wednesday Aug. 3, 2022) Arrival to Anchorage. 

For those traveling from a far time zone, we highly recommend arriving a day or two earlier to acclimatize to the time change.  We are happy to reserve a room at our starting hotel for any previous days you’d like or recommend other options.

Arrive on your own to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) Anchorage, AK.  Please arrive no later than 3 pm.  Transfer on a short, 5-minute ride, free shuttle to our hotel as you arrive.  At 4:00 pm/ 16:00 we meet at our hotel for a meet and greet of guests plus a 2-hour pre-workshop classroom instruction on wildlife and landscape photography and orientation for the trip.  This will be followed by dinner at the hotel.  Overnight at this Anchorage hotel located on Lake Hood in Anchorage.

DAY 2: (Thursday Aug. 4, 2020)  TURNAGAIN ARM AND MATANUSKA VALLEY

We will awake early and take a drive in our luxury van along Turnagain Arm in search of Dall sheep and moose along with summer landscapes. This is a custom day where we let the weather and wildlife opportunities dictate just where we go and when. After a few hours on Turnagain arm we head north into the Matanuska Valley again stopping at off-the-beaten path locations for wildlife and landscapes. In the early evening we arrive at our lodge nestled in between the craggy Talkeetna and Chugach mountains.

DAY 3   (Friday Aug. 5, 2022)   

Day 3 begins with an early-risers (4:30 am for those who want to) sunrise landscape photo shoot - a short drive from the lodge, followed by breakfast.  At noon we are off to photograph more landscapes along the Glenn Highway and the Hatcher Pass area for river, stream and mountain landscape photos. A picnic lunch will be had along the way at a convenient time. We stay in a well-appointed bed and breakfast home in the Palmer area this night and we will dine at a local restaurant.  In the evening, we will drive to new landscape areas.

Day 4  (Saturday Aug. 6, 2022)  HELICOPTER TO ICEBERG LAKE

After breakfast at the B&B, we leave in our van at 6:30 am for a 35-minute drive where we take off in helicopters for a 15-minute flight directly over and in front of the face of a massive 25 mile/ 40km long & 5 mile/8km wide Glacier. We then fly onward up, over and around an iceberg choked lake where a second glacier terminates into this lake. If conditions permit, the doors of the helicopter will be off for the flight in for better aerial images.

After landing at the iceberg strewn lakeside, the helicopters will depart, and we have the area to ourselves for 4-5 hours of Glacier, wildflower, lake and iceberg landscape photography. The combination of lake, icebergs, wildflowers, glacier and the mountain range in the background offer truly unique scenery and unlimited options for various compositions. We have a picnic lunch here and are picked up in mid-afternoon.

After arriving back to the heliport area, we continue in our van for a 2-hour drive south, back through Anchorage, along Turnagain Arm, photographing as we go. Expect to photograph Mountains, waterfalls, and with any luck we will find Dall sheep and/or moose.  Toward the early evening we will arrive into Whittier, Alaska where we overnight.

Day 5 (Sunday Aug. 7, 2022) A DAY ON THE WATER IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND --- AND START OF CRUISE.

After breakfast we board our exclusive boat for a custom photo tour in the magnificent and pristine Prince William Sound.  We will enjoy a full-day trip, photographing icebergs, glaciers, seals, sea otters, sea birds, puffins and perhaps whales or an orca or two.  We will expect to take at least one shore excursion to photograph land-locked icebergs on shore. The massive landscape and the giant glaciers will fascinate you.

We will return to idyllic Whittier in the early evening where we will board our Holland America ship for Dinner and enjoy a relaxing 7-day cruise in Alaska’s Inside Passage.

I (Jeff) will be on the cruise ship and will be able to help you further with your photography at the various locations on the ship.  There is an additional option for a second Photo Tour package which takes place in each of the 3 ports.

At each of the workshop classroom sessions, Jeff will discuss his methods for shooting stellar wildlife and landscape images as is appropriate for the group. During each days’ outings, Jeff will also talk through his methods for making the best image at the current location with the subject at hand. He is NOT there to photograph his own images; he is there to help you take your photography to the next level. Jeff will also cover the following:

• 10 Tips to making better images no matter where you are
• Composition: Do’s, Don’ts, and New Ideas
• What makes a compelling image
• Use of various types of filters
• Combining shutter speeds and f-stops… and the effects of each
• Equipment: What You Really Need, Would Like, & Don’t Need at All

Besides two Canon camera bodies, Jeff brings lenses from 14mm-400mm and flash with off-camera capabilities, tripod, polarizer and split-neutral density filters.

ESSENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT:

*At the very least, please bring:

1. A DSLR camera with two lenses such as a 24-105mm and a 100-400mm would be ideal.
2. Several back up batteries & charger
3. Extra media cards for your camera
4. Tripod

Ideally, if possible, please also bring:

• Additional camera body to allow you to have two different lenses available at once without the need to switch lenses. The 24-105mm and a 100-400mm make a great combination.
• Wide Angle lens such as 16-35mm or equivalent.
  (If you’d like to rent equipment while you are visiting Alaska, we recommend our friends at Stewart’s Photo Shop in downtown Anchorage. Please tell them I sent you. Visit them online at: http://stewartsphoto.com/rentals/
• Polarizing Filter - Jeff uses and recommends Breakthrough: http://breakthrough.photography?rfsn=1496441.1847a
• Graduated Neutral Density Filters:

Jeff carries a 2 and a 3 stop “soft” and "hard" graduated filters by Breakthrough filters:  http://breakthrough.photography?rfsn=1496441.1847a

• Lens shades & cable release
• Mono-pod
• Non abrasive, absorbent cloth
• Laptop computer with image editing/processing software - Jeff uses and recommends BreezeBrowser & Lightroom
• Backpack type of carrying case - Jeff uses and recommends Mindshift or Think Tank. Get free shipping and free gear using this link: http://www.mindshiftgear.com?rfsn=507780.a01562
• Any other easily transported photography gear you like to use.

See a complete list of the gear Jeff uses at: https://schultzphoto.com/jeffs-gear-closet/

Ground Transportation is provided in a 13-passenger van.

The price includes:

• All aspects of the photography workshop/tour
• Round trip ground transportation from cruise ship to the locations listed.
• Picnic lunch each day except Ketchikan day. Be sure to eat breakfast before departing cruise ship.

What’s not Included:

• Air transportation from your home to and from Anchorage, Alaska.
• Personal expenses.
• Any personal gear. You must bring your own photography gear, clothing, toiletries and outerwear.
• Travel insurance

Your safety is ultimately the primary concern.

Physical Requirements: Average.  Nothing strenuous.

• Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
• Weather Conditions: Moderate.  August temperatures range from 45° F (7° C) to 70° F (21° C). May experience rain, wind or sun. Expect Rain.
• Agility: Average to Good. Ability to walk for short durations on uneven terrain.
• Mental Requirements: A flexible and positive attitude is essential
• Photographic Skill Level: Beginning to advanced

NOTE: To participate in this photo tour, you must be SEPARATELY registered, at additional cost, for the 7-day, 7-night 2022 Double Vision Alaska Cruise on Holland America Lines. Full cruise details, pricing and registration is available ONLY through our friend and cruise consultant, Barbara Carpenter here: https://doublevisionalaskacruise.com It is NOT available through Holland America.

DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR UNTIL YOU HAVE A CONFIRMED BOOKING WITH BARBARA FOR THE CRUISE PORTION.

Cruise begins in Whittier, Alaska August 7, 2022 and ends 7 days and 7 nights later on August 14 in Vancouver, BC Canada. 

Deposits:

This deposit policy only applies to the Jeff Schultz photography photo tour portion. It does not apply to the Holland America cruise portion.

Due to Alaska’s short season as well as the high demand for, and limited number of places on this Alaskan photo tour, the following payment conditions apply:

A $500 non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking. The deposit can be made online with a credit card.

The balance of the tour price is due March 1, 2022 via check or wire transfer. Sorry, but a 3% surcharge must be added for credit card payments for the balance.  An invoice for the balance will be sent at least 45 days prior to that time. Payments can be made prior to this date as well.

Cancellation & Refund Policy: 

This cancellation and refund policy only applies to the Jeff Schultz photography photo tour portion. It does not apply to the Holland America cruise portion.

All cancellation requests must be received in writing. Excluding the $500 non-refundable portion of the deposit, the deposits are refundable ONLY if we can fill your space(s) with another booking or the tour cancels. We typically have a waiting list for these trips but cannot guarantee one will be available should you choose or need to cancel.

We are sorry but we cannot offer refunds for delays or cancellations because of weather, flights, or other unforeseen reasons before arriving, during or after the photo tour. We highly recommend arriving in Anchorage 1-2 full days before the trip. Jeff Schultz Photography Inc. is not responsible for additional costs which may be incurred by such delays.

We have the right to cancel this photo tour for lack of registrants up to 60 days prior to the photo tour date. In the case that we cancel the photo tour, 100% of your deposit and payments will be returned. However, Jeff Schultz Photography Inc. does not assume responsibility for any other costs incurred by our client because of our cancellation of the trip.

We are sorry, but due to our short season here in Alaska, we are unable to make exceptions, for any reason, to our cancellation policy including medical or family emergencies.