PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND PHOTO TOUR
Boat Based Photo Tour
Join Alaskan photographer Ron Niebrugge for this exciting, all inclusive, boat based photo tour into Prince William Sound and Chugach National Forest. We will be living aboard a research vessel and  staying in some of the most beautiful places in the world! Imagine being anchored up for the night in front of an active tidewater glacier, or in a dramatic cove with a giant waterfall!
Many of the tour boats into Prince William Sound may have up to 148 other people on board, and one carries over 300. Many of the boats don’t even have outdoor decks forcing you to shoot through the glass. On this tour, it will be myself and four guests, along with our Captain and a separate cook, all on our own 58 foot boat! We will have all the room in the world to move around. If that isn't enough, the boat also has a motorized Zodiak skiff, so we can go to shore and walk around, set up tripods, you name it. Try doing that on the other tours!
The accommodations are not luxurious but are very comfortable. Sleeping quarters are bunk style in a common cabin. There is a private toilet and shower for passengers. Each bunk has a foam mattress with sheets, blankets, pillow w/pillowcase. Towels and wash cloths are supplied. A steep, narrow passageway leads up to the wheelhouse. The wheelhouse is open to the galley is a great place to hang out.
What will we see? Amazing scenery is a given. We will spend time at active tidewater glaciers and massive waterfalls; rugged mountains and rich rain forest line the shores. Since we don't have a schedule to keep we can spend as much time as we like at these sights.
In addition, we are going to see lots of wildlife! Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Harbor Seals and Bald Eagles are a given. There is always the chance of seeing whales, but we can’t count seeing whales for sure – but believe me we will keep an eye out! The emphasis on the tour will be the amazing landscapes. If whales are a priority, I would recommend our Kenai Fjords Photo tour.
 What is the itinerary? Here is a sample itinerary from a trip when I chartered the same vessel a couple of years ago; this will give you a feel for what the trip could be like. We left Whittier in the morning and made our way to Harriman Fjord stopping to photograph wildlife along the way. That afternoon we went to shore and explored around Barry Glacier where we were able to watch a Black Oystercatcher. We moved that afternoon and went to shore to photograph the beautiful fields of wildflowers near Harriman Glacier. That evening we anchored up within a safe distance of Surprise Glacier so that we could watch, listen and photograph this wonderful sight during the evening.
The next day we went to shore near Surprise glacier and hiked around a hanging glacier and a number of huge unnamed waterfalls! I photographed Sea Otters and Harbor Seals on the ice flows in front of Surprise Glacier along with the rare Kitzlit Murlet. In the afternoon we threaded our way through the narrow Esther Passage and explored numerous little bays and coves before anchoring for the night in front of Cascade Falls, a beautiful waterfall tucked away in a protected bay. Again, we took a trip on the skiff to shore for close up exploring of the waterfall - what a treat!
The third day we visited Columbia Glacier an impressive tidewater glacier. I photographed stunning ice bergs, eagles and the dramatic glacier. That evening we anchored up in another secluded cove and watched black bears make their way down to the shoreline where they caught and feed on salmon.
On the final day we went through another narrow passage and into a protected cove on Culross Island. Again we went to shore and found more waterfalls, crystal clear lakes and streams along with massive granite walls! At the end of this day we returned to Whittier ending a wonderful trip, very tired but completely thrilled!
 Now this is just one possibility of hundreds and you can't hold me to it. We will adjust depending on wildflower conditions, wildlife sightings, weather etc. In fact, we may chose to head straight to the dramatic Southwest corner of the Sound. I will consult with the Captain and other friends boating in the area and plan accordingly. Our plans may continually change as we find amazing photo opportunities - we have complete flexibility!
What about the boat and Captain? The boat has a U.S Coast Guard 5 Star Safety rating. The waters in the Sound are relatively protected making it a very comfortable place to boat. The vessel and Captain are primarily chartered by researchers and our Captain is one of the most knowledgeable naturalist I know. He has been boating in Prince William Sound for over 30 years and knows the area inside and out. When our Captain isn’t aboard his boat, he and his family live on a houseboat tucked away in a protected cove in Prince William Sound – spending time with our Captain will be a treat.
What about Ron? Janine and I have lived in nearby Seward for 18 years and I have spent a fair amount of time in and around Prince William Sound. My first time visiting the Sound was a week long camping trip over 30 years ago. I was hired by the Forest Service to photograph Chugach National Forest including Prince William Sound. You will find my photos illustrating a book on the Chugach National Forest and numerous other publications including the Chugach National Forest brochure. I am a full-time stock photographer - my photography has been our sole source of income for many years now and we regularly sell images to many of the largest magazines in the world. You can read more about me here.
What will I learn? I call this a tour instead of a workshop as the emphasis will be to put us in the best places at the best times and I will be shooting along side my guests. Although there may not be formal classroom type sessions I will be sharing and teaching as we go. For example, as we leave the harbor and begin looking for sea otters I will talk about how I handle exposure and focus for photographing these cute animals. During downtime we will have time for more in depth discussion and I can demonstrate how I process images in Photoshop. We can review photos and pretty much dive into anything the group would like. I used to be a teacher and still love to share and teach.
SCHEDULE
We will leave the Whittier Boat Harbor the morning of Friday, July 2, 2010. All participants should be in Anchorage by July 1, 2010. We will return to the Whittier Boat Harbor in time for dinner on Monday, July 5, 2010. I will send registered guests information on how to get to Whittier from Anchorage.
COST
The trip is $2,595 per person.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
$1,000.00 non-refundable deposit due at registration.
Balance of $1,595.00 is due by April 2, 2010.
Deposits are non-refundable unless we cancel the workshop.
TO REGISTER FOR THE PHOTO TOUR
Call us at (907)224-7280 to reserve your spot.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
All payments and deposits to Niebrugge Images are non-refundable unless the workshop sells out and we are able to fill your spot. If your spot is filled, you will lose your initial deposit only.
We have the right to cancel this workshop for lack of registrants up to 60 days prior to workshop date. In the case that we cancel the workshop your deposit and payments will be returned. However, Niebrugge Images does not assume responsibility for any other costs incurred by customer as a result of the cancellation.
There will be NO REFUNDS for delays or cancellations because of weather, flights, or other reasons before arriving or during the workshop. Niebrugge Images is not responsible for additional costs that may be incurred by such delays.
We highly recommend purchasing trip insurance. One option is: www.insuremytrip.com
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Instruction, the boat and lodging, lunch and dinner the first day, breakfast, lunch and dinner on days two and three, and breakfast and lunch on day four, along with snacks.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Transportation to/from Whittier and your home. Any alcohol and gratuities. We can not provide alcoholic beverages, but you may bring your own if you would like. We also do not provide any personal gear, you will need to be responsible for bringing your camera gear, clothing, toiletries, outwear. I will send registered guests a list of recommended items.
SMOKING
Is not permitted.
SKILL LEVEL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS
All ability levels are welcome. However, a working knowledge of your camera and equipment and a basic understanding of photography is required.
Physical fitness requirements are moderate. You should be able to get in and out of a boat and be able to handle long hikes on uneven, rocky terrain, often uphill, carrying your gear.
HOW DO I GET TO WHITTIER
You will need to drive from Anchorage to Whittier. We will be sending registered guests more information on logistics and getting to Whittier.
See more photos of Prince William Sound by Ron Niebrugge
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