Gear and Tips to Help You Get the Best Photos of Your Alaskan Cruise
Plan ahead so you don't miss a shot
Contents at a Glance
Alaska Images
Alaskan sunset
Black bear at Mendenhall Glacier, AK
Humpback fluke, AK
Lighthouse, AK
Bald Eagles, AK
Must Have Gear
Consider packing the following items for your cruise
- A quality digital SLR (or two). You may find that it is more convenient to keep a long lens mounted on one camera and a short zoom or fisheye mounted on another.
- A quality digital point and shoot camera (try the Canon G9). It is not always convenient to lug your gear around the ship so having a point and shoot along gives you the option of more mobility without having to miss a photo opportunity.
- 2-3 quality lenses, one of which is a minimum of 200mm. If you hope to shoot that frame-filling image of a majestic bald eagle or massive whale fluke, you need to carry a long lens and, possibly, a teleconverter. Also, consider a wide angle lens for the awesome landscapes that you are certain to encounter.
- Plenty of compact flash cards. It is hard to take your finger off the shutter while the glacier is calving or the humpback is beginning its dive. Pack enough CF cards so you don't have to be stingy while shooting. If you plan to shoot in RAW format, I'd recommend 4 or 8 GB cards.
- An external drive for backup. Maybe overkill...maybe not. Take a look at the Wolverine FlashPac portable storage drive or a similar product.
- A laptop for editing. If you have over-indulged at the buffet and don't feel like putting on your dancing shoes, you can relax in front of your laptop and review the day's shoot.
- A comfortable camera bag or backpack. You need to get your gear to Alaska and back in one piece. You also need to carry and access your gear while on excursions and tours. Invest in a comfortable and well built system to hold your gear. Take a look at the Rotation 360 from Think Tank Photo.
Don't forget
- Extra camera batteries and/or battery charger
- Rain cover for your camera/lens
- Card reader for transferring images from CF to laptop
- Camera/lens cleaning gear
Humpback Whales
Photography Tips
- Most worthwhile images are not made with the lens cover on. Be ready to shoot - the wildlife in Alaska is not limited to the wilderness.
- The sky is likely to be overcast. Check your camera settings and be sure that you are ready to shoot under cloudy skies.
- Capture the action. Check your shutter speed - can you freeze the water dripping from the whale fluke? Adjust your ISO if necessary to allow for a proper shutter speed.
- Stablilize. Much of your photography will be from your cruise ship or from a smaller vessel on an excursion. Be prepared to stabilize your camera. Either invest in image stabilized lenses or bring along a sturdy mono/tripod.
- See the big picture. It is easy to get lost in the moment of calving glaciers and spotting whale tails. Take a moment to study the overall view and determine if you can capture an image that screams "Alaska".
- Don't overlook the details. Opportunities for macro photography abound!
Excursions
When researching excursions, pay attention to the details. How long will you be off the ship? Is lunch provided? Will you be hiking? What type of weather is typical? What type of travel is involved (boat, bus, etc.)? Be sure to pack the right camera gear and dress appropriately for the type of excursion you plan to take.
Camera gear from Amazon
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 08/30/2008)
Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Amazon Price: $1,434.19 (as of 08/30/2008)
Wolverine FlashPac/7160 160 GB Portable Digital Pictures and Data Storage
Amazon Price: $189.99 (as of 08/30/2008)
SanDisk 8 GB Extreme III CF Card SDCFX3-8192-901 (Retail Package)
Amazon Price: $69.40 (as of 08/30/2008)
Workflow Tips
How to manage your cruise images while on board
- Copy images from compact flash card to external drive
- Copy images from compact flash card to laptop
- Put the CF card back into your camera and format the card
- Quickly review the shoot and delete any images that are obviously out of focus or otherwise poor
- Rank your "keepers"
- Add enough metadata to allow for easy identification of location and/or subject once you return home
- If time permits, perform basic image adjustments
- If necessary, use the on board internet service to upload images to your website, blog, etc. (Beware of the cost and speed of the internet service!)
More Alaska Photos from Jarrod Erbe Photography
- Jarrod Erbe Photography
- Images from the Voyage of the Glaciers cruise and excursions
More Camera Gear from Amazon
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Amazon Price: $549.95 (as of 08/30/2008)
SanDisk SDSDRX3-8192-A21 8GB Extreme III SDHC Card with MicroMate Reader (Black)
Amazon Price: $61.72 (as of 08/30/2008)
Canon WC-DC58B Wide Converter Lens for Canon A650IS, G7 & G9 Digital Cameras
Amazon Price: $142.89 (as of 08/30/2008)
Canon LA-DC58H Conversion Lens Adapter for Canon G7 & G9 Digital Cameras
Amazon Price: $21.90 (as of 08/30/2008)
Canon Monopod 100 for SLR Cameras & Lenses
Amazon Price: $33.70 (as of 08/30/2008)
General Tips
- Reserve a room with a balcony. There is plenty to see, even on cruising days. Having your own balcony is a real plus for photographers.
- Prepare for the weather. Hey, it's Alaska! Be ready for cool temperatures and a bit of rain. Be sure to pack so that you can dress in layers, especially on your excursions.
- Plan ahead. Do a bit of research on the areas you plan to visit. What kind of photos do you expect to make in each place? Is there a "must have" image at a particular stop? If so, how will you be certain to capture it? For most folks, an Alaskan cruise is not an every other weekend affair - make the most of yours!
Great Books from Amazon
Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call 2008 (Frommer's Cruises)
Amazon Price: $12.91 (as of 08/30/2008)
Alaska by Cruise Ship: The Complete Guide to Cruising Alaska with Giant Pull-out Map (5th Edition)
Amazon Price: (as of 08/30/2008)
The Digital Photography Book
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 08/30/2008)
The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 08/30/2008)
The Alaska Cruise Handbook: A Mile-by-Mile Guide
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/30/2008)
Helpful Resources
- B&H Photo
- Great source for camera gear
- Think Tank Photo
- Maker of the Rotation 360 and other great gear.
- Gastineau Guiding
- Photo Safari Tours (Juneau)
- Image Examples
- Examples of images from the "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruise.
- Picture Elements Blog
- Discussion and tips for the serious amateur photographer
Travel Gear from Amazon
Turfer Sport Anorak Pullover Packable Jacket
Amazon Price: (as of 08/30/2008)
Precip Jacket - Women's by Marmot
Amazon Price: (as of 08/30/2008)
Marmot Driclime Vest for Men
Amazon Price: (as of 08/30/2008)
Bushnell 10 x 28 Explorer Waterproof Binoculars
Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 08/30/2008)
Blue Embossed Dragonfly Leather Journal - Lined
Amazon Price: $12.50 (as of 08/30/2008)
Cruise Poll
Images of Alaska from CafePress
ALASKA Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Two bald eagles on a rocky outcrop with snow capped mountains in background
Price: 24.99
Alaska - Point Retreat Calendar Print
Point Retreat Lighthouse
Price: 6.99
Black Bear Postcards (Package of 8)
Alaskan black bear
Price: 10.49
Humpback Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Humpback whale fluke
Price: 24.99
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Reader Feedback
Thanks for visiting! Feel free to include your comments below.
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anthropos
I do a lot of photography and always include it on my travel lens. I have several on Spain, India, and China already. You lens is very informative. I give you five stars. Please consider joining our ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TRAVEL Group. Posted August 05, 2008 |
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coopd
Wow! Great tips. Excellent pictures. I also visited your website (erbephoto.com). I am impressed. One day, I hope to visit Alaska. 5* from me :) Posted July 17, 2008 |
