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July 27 - Aug 2, 2026 - Accepting Applications
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When summer comes to Alaska, millions of salmon gather offshore in Bristol Bay. When the waters coming from streams and rivers feeding into the bay smell just right, the salmon begin moving upstream. Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon run is the biggest in the world, with some salmon taking a month or more to make it to their individual spawning grounds – the very place they began life as eggs and then fry. Some of the main salmon routes have so many salmon it takes weeks for all of them to pass, creating a red stripe one can see from the air. |
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Brown bears, normally solitary animals, begin to drift toward favorite “fishing holes” in anticipation of the arrival of the salmon.
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They are suddenly in close proximity with others of their kind. Some they remember and greet with loud displays, often needing to reassert dominance. This can result in friendly “battles”, which are amazing to watch and photograph.
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And, females bring their young to learn to fish. Amazing to watch. But they must keep large males away, as they will kill cubs that are not their own! |
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Every bear develops its own style of fishing. Good moms teach good skills. And some bears just don't seem to know how to do anything but pounce with a huge splash!
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As you might imagine, every time a salmon swimming upstream encounters the confluence of two or more streams, a choice has to be made. They have to “taste” the waters of both streams to know for sure which one to choose. As they mill around to accomplish that, they present a great opportunity for bears – and it is in such spots that bears congregate in significant numbers. |
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Also, obstructions, such as waterfalls, present similar opportunities for the bears – and photographers - as the salmon are held up and then have to leap to get over the obstacle. 
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In 2026, we’ll gather the Katmai Alaska Bears Wild Photography Adventure participants in Anchorage on July 27. The next morning we’ll transfer to Lake and Peninsula Airlines for an amazingh flight to the Lake Illiamna Airport. That flight will take us over inlets and volcanos and glacier clad peaks. Lodge staff will meet us at the little airport and transport us to the Jacques Adventure Lodge and Alaska Grizzly Safaris.
Your room will be a few steps from the water's edge. We’ll have time, that afternoon poke around – maybe even take a hike. Sunrises and sunsets are amazing just outside your front door. |
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Then, it’s four days of small float plane flights out to the Katmai to seek out the spots where the bears are most active. We also have access to small planes with tundra tires for landing on beaches or or goint to sites no one else can get to.
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One or more of those days should (dependent on the salmon run) take us to the fabled Brooks Falls. |
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Bob and Jerry Jacques will look at each day's accomplishments and plan the next day's outing. One of the great things about working with Jerry is that our planes always stay with us. If one spot isn't working or has a weather issue, we can load and reposition without having to call a plane to come help.
Another is that his team have spent thousands of hours in the air, in all seasons, surveying bear and wildlife habitat and numbers. They know every inch of the Katmai - and can get us to places others don't even know about. |
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On the last morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we’ll load back into Lake and Peninsula Airlines and head back to Anchorage. We’ll arrange transfers to Stevens Airport (ANC) or you can make other arrangements if you have more Alaska explorations in mind. |
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This is an active and wild adventure. We'll be walking with gear on our backs over uneven terrain, wearing waders. You should be able to, at home, walk 4 miles a day on uneven terrain (not just in a gym). Waders are provided or bring your own.
We may, occasionally, be in wet conditions. Be prepared to take care of your gear.
Tripods are recommended, and a gimbal head is preferred. If you want to just bring your tripod head, the lodge has legs you can use.
The lodge has 5 cabins, each with two full-sized beds. Expect double occupancy. The lodge has a reputation for its fine dining. Alcohol sales here, though, are illegal. You may bring your own - and bring it to the table if you wish. You'll have electricity and hot water in your room - and there is a dedicated spot in the lodge where people may choose to do their downloading. WIFI is slow and cell phone service non-existant.
We have 5 planes dedicated to our group - two Beavers on floats and 3 soft tire tundra planes for landing on beaches or on improvised runways next to action. The pilots are outstanding and the planes well maintained.
We'll be close to bears - the guides are trained (and armed) to keep us safe. We will follow their instructions and follow accepted practices in terms of distance to bears, harrassment of bears, etc.
This adventure starts and ends in Anchorage, Alaska. We'll convene at a hotel (to be selected) on July 27, have a welcome dinner and orientation. We'll fly to Lake Iliamna on July 28 and have four days of dedicated bear photography July 29 - August 1. We'll fly back to Anchorage on August 2 in time to connect to flights back home.
Group minimum is 5 clients and one leader. We will add more above that if rooms are available, remembering there are only 5 rooms.
Link to the Signup Page |
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2024
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Taking Control in the Mirrorless Era
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Three days of classroom and field time with migrating waterfowl, bald eagles, and macro opportunities. You'll learn how to take control of your mirrorless camera - and take advantage of new developments in the digital darkroom - to yield images that closely match your intentions in the field! Embrace manual - it's easier that the auto modes - and easier than ever in the mirrorless era!. |
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2025 |
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Three days of classroom and field time with migrating waterfowl, bald eagles, and macro opportunities. You'll learn how to take control of your mirrorless camera - and take advantage of new developments in the digital darkroom - to yield images that closely match your intentions in the field! Embrace manual - it's easier that the auto modes - and easier than ever in the mirrorless era. |
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So many birds! Such good photography opportunities. So little physical effort required. Forty percent of the planet's hummingbirds are found in Ecuador. Thirty-seven percent of the tanagers (which don't show up in the Old World at all). Conservation has teamed up with landowners to protect natural cloudforest habitats - and the result is birds sitting on branches predictably in a way you can photograph them. Did we mention Cock-of-the-rock? Or mountain tourcan? Small group so secure your space before it is gone! |
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Borneo! Rainforests. Orangutans. Gibbons. Pygmy elephants. Proboscis monkeys. 420 species of birds, including amazing hornbills and kingfishers, brightly colored little birds. Carnivorous plants. Sun bears. The list goes on and on. We've built an itinerary that takes you into the canopy, on trails by foot, on rivers by boat, and out on night safari. This is not an adventure you want to miss! |
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Join us in Brazil's Pantanal for a wild adventure that features both jaguars and an amazing array of birds, reptiles, and mammals. The Pantanal is the only place in the world where one can reliably find and photograph jaguars - as they are nocturnal hunters everywhere else. The birds here are fantastic - this is one of our favorite places to photograph flying birds (we can help you build your skills). Add in close-up encounters with giant river otters and so much more. Join us for this wild adventure! |
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The Great Migration encounters the Mara River in Tanzania's northern Serengeti. 2-3 million wildebeest and 400-500,00 zebras want to cross the Mara - often high with boiling rapids and hosting giant Nile crocodiles looking to feast! We've design the ultimate photography adventure to put you in a number of right places at the right times - to capture images of the trauma, the terror, the attacks, and the heartening stories of wildebeest succeeding at crossing the river to greener pastures. Are you coming? |
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Turkey sits at a geographical crossroads, which means that, over history, many cultures have passed through Turkey, each leaving a distinct imprint on the culture and the archaeological record. Let's explore some of the great archaeological wonders - while putting ourselves in great positions make exciting art with cameras. Mosques, Fairy Chimneys, Ephasus, Istanbul, Aphrodisia, Pergamum, Assos and so much more. |
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2026 |
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To sit quietly in a bamboo thicket with a gorilla family, interacting with eye contact, observing, and making compelling images is truly a life changing experience. Venture out into the wilds of Rwanda with a small group to experience photographic encounters with wild gorillas, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, and much, much more. Fitness level is necessary to accomplish this adventure. Dates are tentative until we secure permits. |
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Timed to meet the great migration in the Serengeti, our safari takes you to some of the great parks and protected areas in northern Tanzania in search of lions, zebras, giraffes, cheetah, hyenas... Of all our itineraries, anywhere in the world, this one has the best reviews - and is a real life-changing experience! If you'll only be making one photography foray into sub-Saharan Africa in your life - this is the trip! |
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Join us in 2026 as we'll explore favorite haunts and add new landings and vistas. Giant tortoises, flightless frigates, 3 kinds of boobies, land and marine iguanas, sea lions and fur seals, flamingos, and the northernmost penguin in the world. The list goes on and on! Exciting landscapes. So much to learn about geology, biology, and evolution.Truly an inspiring experience - ties the Serengeti in client feedback as the "most life-changing" experience of their lives. |
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Join a small group of photographers as we fly in float planes and tundra planes out into the wilderness of the Katmai Peninsula - in search of great bear photography opportunities. We'll go where the bears are actively catching salmon, including Brooks Falls, and other locations drawing off the Bristol Bay watershed which has the largest salmon runs in the world. Plan to be close to bears - to have great vistas from planes - and to marvel at the vast expanse of wilderness. Group size limited - secure your space. |
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Turkey sits at a geographical crossroads, which means that, over history, many cultures have passed through Turkey, each leaving a distinct imprint on the culture and the archaeological record. Let's explore some of the great archaeological wonders - while putting ourselves in great positions make exciting art with cameras. Mosques, Fairy Chimneys, Ephasus, Istanbul, Aphrodisia, Pergamum, Assos and so much more. |
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