Photographing Alaska’s coastal wildlife: A cruise through the lens
Guest post
If you’re a serious nature photographer looking for some unique coastal wildlife photo
opportunities, consider going on a dedicated Alaska photo cruise.
Unlike other cruises that cater for casual travellers, a special photo-centred
workshop will provide a much better chance to capture the shots you’ve always
dreamed of.
From the main deck itself, photographers can get panoramic views of Alaska’s grandeur,
making it a perfect spot to capture images of the stunning vistas and the abundant wildlife.
Additionally, factors like transportation, accommodation, food, small group size and the
company of expert photography guides who know how to time the photo session well, are all
taken care of by the cruise line.
Again, a dedicated wildlife photo tour allows you to get close enough to the wildlife in their
natural habitat, in order to get the best angles, as the photo guides are trained to tackle
animals, should the need arise.
Wildlife cruising done right: when to go to Alaska?
While Alaska’s cruise season runs from late April to early October, for a lot of cruisers, mid-June to mid-July is considered the peak time to capture the wild beauty of the Last Frontier.
However, your best chance of getting good snaps of wildlife from the ship and ashore is
between late May and late June, when mother seals and their cubs come out in the open.
For a bear watching shore excursion, the prime months are not until late June or early July.
Some of the popular wildlife activities are:
Whale watching
Cruises to Alaska offer the best chances to watch and take photos of whale species like
humpbacks, orcas, grey whales, fin whales and minke whales. Apart from the orcas, which
can be seen year-round, the other species can only be seen from May to October, before
heading back to their summer homes.
These creatures come to feed in the nutrient-filled waters and can be spotted socializing
freely, including spy-hopping, breaching, tail-swapping and spouting. This has made
watching whales a highlight of any cruise to Alaska. Hence, Alaska tops the list of best
cruises from the US.
Marine animals
The waters of Alaska provide shelter to an abundant array of marine life, which adds an extra
element of surprise to any cruise tour.
Colonies of Steller sea lions can be seen hauling themselves up on the rocks, barking loudly
as they splash in and out of the water. Adorable sea otters, in groups of 100 or more, can be
seen frolicking in the ocean. Harbour seals and their pups can be spotted on the icebergs as
Dall’s porpoises often come swimming in the ship’s wake.
As far as birds are concerned, hundreds of nesting colonies of marine birds can be seen on
the shoreline, including cormorants, puffins, common murres and kittiwakes.
Land animals
Go on a private bear photography workshop with an expert bear-viewing instructor cum
guide for an unforgettable coastal brown bear workshop in the midst of Alaska’s untamed
wilderness.
Spend the day capturing intimate shots of these magnificent animals with their cubs in their
natural habitat and, at the same time, learn some professional tips to elevate your overall
photo shoot experience.
This exciting adventure is perfect for photographers of all levels who are looking to
document their wildlife experience in the heart of Alaska, with complete safety, local
knowledge and artistic expertise.
Birds of Alaska
Alaska is one of the top birding destinations in the world as it enjoys a prime location across
the top of the Pacific Rim, which stretches from North America towards Asia and as a result
draws birds from both hemispheres.
Tens of millions of migratory birds fly in during summer and concentrate in immense
numbers on the coastal wetlands. In addition, the state has a healthy population of resident
species to delight any camera buff attuned to avian life.
Some unique species found in Alaska include American robin, pine Siskin, fox
sparrow, rufous hummingbird, downy woodpecker, song sparrow and the European starling
are commonly sighted by birders. That said, the most elusive bird today in Alaska is the
McKay’s bunting, who lives in an isolated part of the islands of the Bering Straits.
Best photo cruise destinations
From the seals that own the ocean in Kuskokwim to a pod of spyhopping orcas standing
vertically in the water by the side of your cruise ship, are only some of the thrilling subjects
for photographers to capture on an Alaskan cruise coastal and land package.
Seward
Head to Seward, home of the Kenai Fjords National Park for watching breaching humpback
whales. Capture images of these behemoths as they hurl themselves out of the water, or
spot brightly colored puffins as you explore the harmony of Alaska’s coastal ecosystem, one
of the most enthralling waterways in the world.
Look upwards and you will find the majestic bald eagles that rule the Alaskan skies and
leave you in awe with their massive wingspan. As you get close to the large icebergs, you
will spot seals with their young ones resting on the frozen surface.
Kenai Fjords National Park
From Seward, head to the Kenai Fjords, past Resurrection Bay, where wildlife viewing is at
its best among the great cliffs and fjords. You may see a few glaciers, but you have an
excellent chance of clicking pics of sea lions, harbor seals, or even mountain goats and
bears along the coast.
While cruising through the bay, keep a sharp lookout for orca whales(killer whales),
humpback whales, steller sea lions, puffins, harbor porpoises plus a large variety of birds.
Sailing conditions on the bay are perfect, so you will have plenty of chances to photograph
abundant wildlife as well as glaciers.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is another destination in Alaska where you can capture the untamed beauty
through the lens of a camera to make your wildlife photography dreams come true as you
witness nature’s majesty unfolding before your eyes.
Explore the dynamic beauty and the wildlife around this place by getting out on the water in
a low-impact zodiac, an authentic Alaskan way to travel for capturing the best shots.
Embark in a floatplane to Tongass National Forest, a prime site for watching black bears
from a viewing platform overlooking the salmon-filled rapids, a perfect spot for wildlife
photography buffs.
Take a high-speed boat journey to spot coastal wildlife and brown bears foraging in early
summer and whale watching during the later part of the season. Look out for sea lions,
porpoises and active bald eagle nests on the massive cliffs along the rainforest coastline.
Under expert guidance, watch bear cubs playing and wrestling while the mother teaches
then to forage and capture these intimate moments with a camera at your own pace for an
experience few people get to encounter.
Juneau
Whales come to feed in Juneau during the summer months, and this is one place in Alaska
where you are guaranteed to see and take excellent photos of captivating wildlife, including
humpbacks, orcas, and also grey and mink whales.
As many as 65 whales have been spotted in Juneau in a season as they migrate to feed
here in the nutrient-rich waters. There are great chances of photographing harbour seals,
Dall’s porpoises, Sitka blacktail deer in the forests surrounding the Mendenhall Glacier.
Denali National Park
Home to Denali, the tallest mountain peak in North America at 20,300 feet, the legendary
Denali National Park is spread over an area of six million acres of diverse wild terrain.
The park is also the native habitat of Alaska’s Big 5, notably grizzly bear, moose, caribou,
wolves and Dall sheep. Since there is just a single road inside the park, wildlife has been
thriving here since thousands of years, and visitors get to capture images that they could
have never imagined in their wildest dreams.
The Inside Passage
From late spring to early fall, Alaska’s famous Inside Passage is full of life and activity, as at
this time of the year the migration period of several species is in full flow and their ever
changing behavior is a photographer’s delight.
In the early summer months, humpback whales migrate here in large numbers. While orcas
are sighted throughout the season, each month brings it with unique opportunities to take
photos.
In July and August, brown bears are a common sight along the coastal waters as salmon
begin to spawn, and bald eagles hover overhead at all times of the year.
Choice of cruise ship
Your choice of cruise ship will depend on your preferences, ship size and itinerary. Small
ships are highly recommended for wildlife photographers as they can easily navigate the
narrow channels to access more frequent and closer animal sightings.
This offers guests a more intimate and frequent wildlife experience.
To round up
Each image of a species will add to the rich tapestry of life in the wilds of Alaska. A cruise
offers ample opportunities to photograph and take videos of these amazing creatures, for a
once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Alaska’s wildlife.
