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Mar 19, 2016 08:16:17   #
clgonzo wrote:
Has anyone tried out the two-camera cotton carrier vest? If so, what are the pros and cons. Is anyone interested in selling their
two camera vest?


Have it, use it for toting 2 cameras and find it very useful for long days out.
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Mar 18, 2016 21:52:50   #
fantom wrote:
Denali NP is a must see, but you will need to take one of the bus trips deep into the park. You will probably see virtually all of the wildlife that the park has to offer and if the weather cooperates you may even get a glimpse of Denali----but don't count on it. To be safe you will need to reserve the bus trip well in advance. Google it for details.

The drive to Seward is interesting as is the drive to and the boat trips off the Homer Spit. Spectacular scenery and great photo ops for birds such as puffins etc. By all means remember to avoid the chili at the Salty Dog Saloon in Homer. Thats the best advice you will receive on this thread. Heed it well====or you'll be sorry.
Denali NP is a must see, but you will need to take... (show quote)


Thanks everyone for so many wonderful tips - hoggers are great!

We are vegetarian and there's no chili in our diet .....
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Mar 18, 2016 02:12:10   #
TGanner wrote:
Hard to beat Haines, if you are going to be in Southeast Alaska. Here is a sample: https://timenspace.smugmug.com/Collections/Alaska/Alaska-2015

Message me if you want more info on Haines and SE. (I will be off the grid for the next ten days)


Yes indeed ... spectacular. I am tingling all over seeing your collection. Will try to fit it in if I can make the schedule work out. Sending you a PM.
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Mar 17, 2016 12:10:11   #
mas24 wrote:
I hear there are a lot of Moose up there and that some don't take too kindly of you getting that up close photo shot.


These may not be as friendly as the animals in Yellow Stone then .....
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Mar 17, 2016 12:07:41   #
Wingpilot wrote:
In light of that, make sure you also take a drive up the Glenn Hwy, north of Anchorage. The mountains are pretty spectacular along there. Coffee at the Eureka Lodge is still $.25 a cup!!

Don't forget to visit the Musk Ox and Reindeer Farms out of Palmer. You won't find musk ox just anywhere.


Any suggestions Greg, as to a loop or to set up at Anchorage and Fairbanks and do day trips from there? Should we be looking at a third base considering we only have 12 days to work with?
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Mar 17, 2016 12:01:45   #
Wingpilot wrote:
You are coming up here at a rather unique time, as that is essentially late Spring up here. Denali Park won't be open yet, so unless you do fly out to some of the more remote locations (always a great idea, if you can afford it, as it's expensive) to see and photograph some very Alaskan Alaskana, you'll be limited to what you can access by highway.

I second the recommendation going to Seward or Whittier to take a glacier viewing trip. You'll see lots of marine critters and birds, as well as whales. You might even be lucky enough to get some great shots of the orcas. (killer whales) The weather is pretty unpredictable that time of year, so you never know what you're going to get.

Also, I have to concur about leaving the 85mm lens behind. Your other two will do just fine, and unless you see something way off the road or from wherever you happen to be, the 100-400 may or may not be of use. Later in the summer it would be, though.

If you look at Apaflo's images he posted, that will give you a good idea of what you will see in the remote villages and towns. He is in Barrow, and you won't see that sort of thing anywhere else. I'm sure, if you got on a plane and took a flight to Barrow, he'd be more than happy to give you a tour. In the end, your time will be too short. Plan a second, longer trip for more. Oh, and and all-wheel-drive vehicle will do just fine in May. The roads should all be clear and dry, but some of the unpaved side roads might still be unfriendly.
You are coming up here at a rather unique time, as... (show quote)


Thanks Greg - appreciate your suggestions.
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Mar 17, 2016 11:53:33   #
ole sarg wrote:
take a warm coat or big sweater


:thumbup: Yes, will do.
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Mar 17, 2016 11:52:52   #
wotsmith wrote:
What fun!
Our daughter lives in Anchorage so we have been a number of times. Only once in late May, early June. I would take everything except the 85; you wide angles are fine, you don't need more. What you do need is more time in Alaska. It is so big and varied. What you see is so dependent on the time of year. One time in Valdez we saw eagles everywhere, then in another visit, no eagles. For example the water fowl should be coming in in May. What to do and see? Well Denali is great, but a total crap shoot as to what you see. Sometimes nothing in wildlife, sometimes a lot. You will want your best telephoto on 7D; I would look at the trip by boat out of Seward, to see water fowl and glaciers and maybe some whales. Done that 4 times and good weather only once. There are waterbird preserves south of anchorage on the drive toward Seward, ask some locals as to when the birds come. One of the things that should be great while you are there; get a small plane to fly you across the inlet from Homer toward Katmai and there should be a lot of bears on the beach; that is probably my best recommendation. But ask and see if the bears are there before you agree. Good luck. Send PM if you want more.
What fun! br Our daughter lives in Anchorage so we... (show quote)


Thanks Bill.
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Mar 17, 2016 11:51:09   #
mikegreenwald wrote:
I've had six Alaskan trips over about twenty years time.
One was by boat - I rented a small sleep-aboard yacht with two tenders, for family and a few friends, and spent a month (June plus a little) cruising the northwest Canadian coast and south coast of Alaska. The photo ops were uncountable - scenery, birds, seals, bears, etc. At the time I was using film still, with very wide angle to short telephoto lenses, and felt well covered.
The other five trips were in my own airplane, with some digital and some film cameras on different trips. I never felt the need for a truly long lens, but wide angle and short telephoto zooms were useful. I made use of photomerge software, and several of the resulting landscapes are great!
The back country is where you will find most of the unique opportunities. It is difficult to get to some locations, but I was able to hire natives several times to get me to truly spectacular areas. We traveled by four wheel drive vehicle and by very small boats (kayaks and inflatables) on different short trips. Floating the Naknek River was one highlight.
This is a great opportunity, but as others have said above, getting far off the beaten track is the way to go, if you can possibly arrange to do so.
I've had six Alaskan trips over about twenty years... (show quote)


So Mike, your suggestion is to take the 70-200 over the 100-400?
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Mar 17, 2016 11:46:52   #
davefales wrote:
Icy Strait, Tracy Arm, and Sitka by boat are also special...for your second trip to Alaska.


I hope to have a second trip .... with the first one coming after all these years ......
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Mar 17, 2016 11:45:48   #
markngolf wrote:
I took an Alaska trip in 2005 with a 20d, 70 - 200 f/2.8 and 24 - 70 f/2.8 and extender 2x. I don't think I missed very many opportunities. Now I have the 5D M III and the 7D M II and the II versions of both lenses. If I went again, I'd probably take the same two lenses. Of course, If carrying and/or storage is not an issue, I'd probably take the 11-24 or 16 - 35.
Have a great trip!
Mark


Thanks Mark, The debate is between the 24-105 vs. the 24-70 and between the 70-200 and the 100-400. I am leaning towards the latter combinations. Currently I don't have a wider lens (I sold my 16-35 2.8ii) so as to get either the 11-24 or the 16-35 4.0. The price of the 11-24 is what's keeping me at bay. Just thinking if it is the time to pull the trigger now. Few months ago I was in Istanbul shooting inside the Blue Mosque - I was using the 24-105 on the FF and a guy next to me had the 11-24 on his FF and what he could capture compared to mine was eye opening.
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Mar 17, 2016 11:37:22   #
Lenf wrote:
I agree with Appaflo and hpucker99 , they have given you some excellent ideas. You did not say if you are driving or just flying in. But yes please hit the remote villages , take the inland ferry, you can get some great info sent to you from The state of Alaska tourist bureau.. I really would recommend for the first time even taking a cruise ( it may be too late to book one now) so you get to see Alaska from the inland waters and visit some ports and then go back next year knowing where you have been and what you want to expand on.
And Yes plenty of sd cards , you will love the Bears,whales and golf balls in the trees ( Eagles).. Have a great trip...
I agree with Appaflo and hpucker99 , they have giv... (show quote)


Flying in to Anchorage and planning to rent an SUV for the duration.
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Mar 17, 2016 11:35:46   #
hpucker99 wrote:
Take time to take a day cruise out of Seward or Whittier. Most of the tours ramp up after Memorial Day but may be available when you are up here. The Alaska Railroad has a day package that takes the train from Anchorage to Seward for a half day tour of resurrection Bay and then a return back on the railroad.

If you have a car, take a tour down onto the Kenai Penisula to Homer.

You might want to take an overnight trip to one of the remote towns in the Bush, Kotzebue, Nome, Barrow or Bethel.

As for lenses the 24-70 will do fine. The 100-400 will come in handy as will either of the wide angle lenses.
Take time to take a day cruise out of Seward or Wh... (show quote)


Thanks, we are flying in and out of Anchorage and can fit your recommendations in to the plan.
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Mar 17, 2016 11:31:55   #
Apaflo wrote:
Let me suggest something a little different...

You are going to spend a significant amount of money just getting to Alaska and feeding yourself for 12 days. Make the most of it, see the things that are unique to Alaska. Go places where you can photograph an Alaska unlike anything in the Lower-48. Make your trip worth the cost!

The first thing to realize is that in Alaska if you can drive to it with a car it isn't really much different than every place in the Lower-48 where you can drive to with a car. Lots of folks come to Alaska and drive the highway system in a loop from Anchorage to Denali to Fairbanks to Tok and back to Anchorage, and then add maybe another 200 to 300 miles on with trips to Seward or Valdez. If you take a 1000 mile loop through almost any part of the Lower-48 you'll see almost exactly the same thing, and at least as wonderful, and it won't cost nearly as much. So why go to Alaska and do that!

Visit Alaska and see what is unique in Alaska. Get on a plane, not on a road. Visit Dillingham, Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue or Barrow. If you can work out the mechanism, smaller places too, like McGrath, Aniak, Galena, Unalakleet, Wainwright, Anaktuvuk Pass and Kaktovik are all interesting and have accommodations (just not exactly 5 star hotels). What you will see is not available in the Lower-48. The people and the culture, the things they do and the entire way they live, their value systems, are totally different.

In late May you might catch the tail end of Spring Whaling season if you visit Barrow. The sun is up 24 hours a day. There is ice on the Arctic Ocean. You can see how Inupiat Eskimo people actually live, and participate in some of the traditional activities and celebrations (none of which target tourists).

It makes the cost of getting to Alaska money well spent.
Let me suggest something a little different... br ... (show quote)


Thanks Apaflo for great suggestions. Realistically what all can we fit in those 12 days as I am still in the planning stages. An aerial ride sounds inviting. We are very active people and generally would like to be on the go about 10 to 14 hrs a day doing things. Given the timeframe we have at our disposal how much of what you have can be covered doing ample justice for each activity and location? Do you suggest a hub and spoke type of travel to cover much or a loop to the remote areas?

And wonderful shots displayed in your sample. :thumbup:
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Mar 16, 2016 23:45:49   #
BobbieD wrote:
These birds are here year round. I don't see them every day but quite often.


Can you send them my way to Northeast Tennessee .... Nice shots. :thumbup:
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