Does anyone have any suggestions for either a guided or self guided photo trip to Alaska?
I am doing a photoworkshop in Lake Clark aug 15-22 2008.

After that I scheduled a week to do fine art landscape and wildlife photography until Aug 30th.

Would greatly appreciate any suggestions on how to plan my trip so that I maximize my photo opportunities. Any suggestions on landscape locations? Has anyone had any experience with local photographer guides?

Thinking of Kenai area but very open to suggestions. I have heard photographers mention Homer for eagle shots.

You could give these guys a look: http://www.campdenali.com or http://www.akhouse.com/, or if you like rafting: http://www.nahanni.com/ or trekking: http://www.northstartrekking.com/

There's also the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival in November: http://baldeaglefestival.org/

Here are some gov't sites:
http://alaskapeninsula.fws.gov/
http://www.travelalaska.com/
http://www.nps.gov/bela

Mike.

I live in AK. The entire state is a photo-op. I would buy a copy of 'The Milepost'. The 08 edition should be out b4 too long. Then pray for good weather!
Tom

You can ask the state of AK for their travel blurbage. No idea what it says. Mine should arrive in a couple of weeks.

The eagle photo ops in Homer are strictly a winter experience when they are congregated for feeding.

Probably the most successful photographer in the Kenai Penninsula region is Ron Niebrugge in Seward. I don't know if he guides or leads tours.

The suggestions for Denali are good. If you haven't been, it's undoubtedly the most photo-rich area in terms of landscape and wildlife shots per mile.

Alaska is huge beyond the impression you might have from maps. Cartographers shrink it to fit the page when showing the US all on one page. From one end of the state to the other is comparable to the distance between Seattle and Miami or Seattle and Mexico City, depending on how you cant the overlay. In fact it's more than twice the size of Texas. The combined area of parks, monuments and refuges alone is bigger than California. Considering the very limited road access to most of it, you just aren't going to see much in a week. I'd concentrate on one region such as the Kenai or Denali and reserve more extensive coverage for a series of additional trips.

Hank is correct, eagle occurrence may be seasonal. They are attracted to where salmon are spawning so you may see them in trees near streams in the summer and fall.
Here is a shot from a couple days ago just outside my office.
Tom

Well I live in Alaska also, I would stay away from tours. they herd you around too much. I personally have driven this state from Valdez to Prudhoe Bay many many too many times. and as such I have seen a great deal of this state.

Take a trip to Fairbanks via car. go up through Palmer to glennallen. turn right to go to Valdez. the view, animals are spectacular.
Outside of Palmer (going North) you will come into Majestic Valley, the scenery clear up to Fairbanks is spectacular beyond words.
go left and on up through Paxton Spirit Lake will just dazzle you, with it's sheer size, inside of a mountain, top , without a doubt the best snowmaching in the state.

The vast region of the Arctic is my home. but gaining access to a village may not be to your liking at all. but if you ever make it to the Top of the world I would gladly be your host to show you around.

Leave Fairbanks and come down the Parks Highway. anchorage to Fairbanks is like a big capital A go up on the right side, come back down the left side and cross over through denali just like the A. I am sure you will enjoy this eye-poping ride for the scenery is Majestic Mezmerizing, and Mountainous the whole ride !!

shop around for cars for rent.. they are form $500 a week to $1000 a week depending on where you go.. go to the small places on Spenard. You get the best deals there.

and if you ever need a "taxi" .. well just call me, I will be right over !!