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Recognized as one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles, the
arctic polar bears of on the northern most coast of Alaska will,
literally, take your breath away.
Near the native village of Kaktovik large numbers
of these great carnivores have come ashore from the melted polar ice and
can be seen and photographed with such relative ease and safety. Our
setting for the unique trip is the area around the village located on
Barter Island tucked next to the the Alaskan shores of the Beaufort Sea.
Well north of the Arctic Circle, it is a land dominated by tundra and
rivers and in summer is alive with a diverse number of species both
flora and fauna.
The trip is timed to take advantage of a number of richly photographic
events that all happen in the same area. The first is the arrival of the
polar bears back from their long winter hunting for seals on the polar
ice. The bears come ashore to begin their summer's "walking hibernation"
looking fat and VERY white (due to swimming in salt water).
As the planet’s larges land carnivore, polar bears can be both dangerous
and inviting. They can be playful, curious, and charming one minute and
aggressive the next. Unlike the more classic images of polar bears taken
from the elevated heights of tundra buggies, I prefer to do my
photographing of these magnificent creatures from ground level. The
connection between photographer and subject (not to mention the viewer)
is far more direct and personal. This trip will afford you the very same
opportunity.
 
The second event is the emergence of the tundra wildflowers. The flowers make a wonderful backdrop and
stage setting to photograph the bears and other indigenous wildlife. The
other great event is the arrival of a wide species of birds that nest
and raise their young in the area. The
lagoons South, West and East of Barter Island provide a haven for many
birds, with Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Yellow-Legged Goose
and Speckled Belly Goose often encountered. Ivory gulls may be seen
inland. On the sea can be found loons, teal, guillemots, king eider and
common eiders as well as the beautiful long-tailed duck.
We will have a
unique opportunity to photograph this amazing spectacle of life being
renewed. In addition to the bears and abundant bird life, the area plays
host to a variety of other species including caribou, fox (both red and
arctic), wolves, and ptarmigan.
Mark Lissick/Wildlight Photography
is thrilled to offer a new, special photography
expedition designed
to provide the very best polar bear photo opportunities available.
The most rewarding way to experience Alaska's arctic polar bears is to
immerse yourself in their environment; from the moment you wake up,
 throughout
the day and into the long summer's evening. Located about 340 miles
north of the Arctic Circle, the village of Kaktovik is ideally situated
to allow us this opportunity. As our base for this trip, it is situated
in a remote area that provides the most breathtaking and exciting summer
polar bear photography available, anywhere. There are no roads, no
trails, no tourist traffic and no tundra buggies. Imagine the thrill of
getting up in the morning and walking out to witness polar bears
moving around on the shoreline. Far
away from the bustle of civilization, the village and our hotel offers
us satisfying meals and comfortable, in-suite accommodations in a
pristine environment accessible only by plane. Spectacular wildlife
viewing and photography, good food, and great company is what you can
look forward to. Combined with the opportunity to improve your
photographic skills through profession instruction, field-mentoring and
tech talks make this a trip not to be missed.
 
This is an intensive eight day trip with five days spent in the field
photographing. It is intended for those interested in the ultimate bear
photographic expedition without having to brave winter's chill. You'll
spend the time in the field accompanied by professional photographer
Mark Lissick who will provide field mentoring assistance, tech talks,
slide/music shows and answer the myriad of questions that come from
photographing in this unique environment. Without interference from
other groups we will be able to explore the land, coast and islands
around the area to achieve the best bear photo opportunities.
We will have the potential work with the bears at breathtakingly close
range and is an opportunity definitely not to be missed.
 
Hone your
photographic skills with the guidance of professional nature and
wildlife photographer Mark Lissick
as you spend eight days with a small group of fellow photographers
shooting these magnificent creatures.
As in all Mark's workshops and trips, emphasis is placed
on improving your image making abilities and providing you with helpful
techniques with regard to wildlife and arctic photography. This is achieved
via hands-on mentoring during the numerous field shoots combined with
informative lectures, tech talks, and, for those shooting digitally, reviews
of field work.
To maximize bear viewing
opportunities on this one-of-a-kind expedition space is extremely
limited; reserve your place early.
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I T I N
E R A R Y
(w/o extension) |
| Day 1 |
Arrive in
Fairbanks and transfer to our overnight lodging. Kick off dinner and
orientation in the evening. |
| Day 2 |
Early
morning flight to Kaktovik and check in at our hotel. Bear safety
orientation and field shoots rest of day. |
| Day 3 - 6 |
Daily field
trips to photograph bears and other wildlife. |
| Day 7 |
Mid-afternoon departure from Kaktovik to Fairbanks. Arrive
~5:30pm for late evening flight home or next day Anchorage transfer. |
Registration:
ON-LINE
REGISTRATION
Trip
Costs Include:
Lodging and meals as indicated. Air/ground/water transportation as indicated
above. Applicable entrance fees; taxes
and service charges.
Not Include:
Activities not indicated on itinerary;
guide and staff tips; travel/baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; gratuities; personal use
items such as phone, laundry, etc..
Airfares:
Air fare costs for flights from participant's home city to Fairbanks,
Alaska are not included. Participant is responsible for making their own
arrangements to arrive in Fairbanks in time for the start of the trip.
Deposit and Payment:
A non-refundable deposit of $800.00
USD is
required at the time of registration. A second payment of $1,000.00 USD
is due no later than two hundred and forty days (240) prior to the start
of the trip, with the balance due in full one
hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the start of the trip.
Reservations: Due to the popularity of this trip, making an early reservation is recommended. You can reserve a place by
either
registering on-line or by calling
Wildlight Photography at (612) 804-7377 during the weekday office hours of 9:00 am-4:30 pm CST.
We accept credit cards, or we will hold your
reservation for seven days, while awaiting your personal check or money
order. Make checks payable to "Mark Lissick".
Payments can be mailed to Mark Lissick, c/o Wildlight Nature Photography,
3932 Bridle Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
For international residents: Please contact Wildlight
Nature Photography to discuss payment arrangements.
Cancellation Policy:
Per person charges for cancellations received 180 days or less from the
trip start date are as follows: 180-121 days - 35% of trip cost; 120-91
days - 50% of trip cost; 90 or fewer days
prior to departure - 100% of trip cost. We recommend that you purchase
cancellation insurance as this policy is strongly adhered to. Note: In
addition of cancellation fees, deposits required to guarantee hotel
rooms or local air transportation may be nonrefundable. The purchase of travel insurance
covering baggage, accident/life and trip cancellation is highly
recommended. Wildlight Nature Photography reserves the right to cancel
any group due to insufficient registration. In the even of such
cancellation, those with reservations shall be notified as soon as
possible and a full refund of trip payment will be given. Wildlight
Nature Photography is not responsible for additional expenses incurred
in preparation for a trip.
Payment of deposit represents an acceptance of the
following terms and conditions: Wildlight Nature Photography, its
affiliates and all cooperating airlines and agencies act only in the
capacity of agents in all matter of transportation and tour operation, and
their liability is limited to the terms of the airline tickets, boat, and land
accommodation contracts. They are not responsible for any delays,
inconveniences, accidents, expense or mishap of any kind whatsoever
resulting entirely, or in part, from the negligence of others or from
causes beyond their control. They can accept no responsibility for losses
or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services,
sickness, weather, strike, riot, war, quarantine or other causes. All such
losses or expenses must be born by the participants as program rates
provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved
to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make
any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes
in air schedules, weather or naturally occurring geological events.
Baggage is at owner's risk entirely. No refund can be made for unused
hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips or tours unless arrangements are
made at the time of booking. The right is reserved to decline to accept or
to retain any person as a program member for any reason which affects the
operation of the program or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of the other
program members, and refund or the recoverable land program services is
the limit of the liability of Wildlight Nature Photography and its
affiliates.
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