With the advent of smartphone cameras, social media and Instagram filters, it can sometimes feel like amateur photography has become a lost art. If you're the kind of traveler accustomed to toting your DSLR (or even 35mm!) body along on every trip, Alaska could very well be your dream adventure! There are few destinations in the world where you'll be happier to have your trusty camera with you - the blend of landscape and wildlife photography, low-angle lighting and range of terrain will challenge even the best photographer... but the challenge is worth the payoff!
We already recommend that all Alaska travelers bring a backpack along in lieu of a messenger bag or even a large purse, as the weather in Alaska can be unpredictable during the summer and you'll need a good way to haul those layers - so if you're going to have a backpack with you at all times anyway, carrying your DSLR becomes much easier than on other tours!
If you choose to bring your camera, plan your accessory kit accordingly:
1) Given that our Alaska tours take place in the summer, there will be minimal opportunity for night photography or long-exposure shots. As such, you can probably leave your bulb/remote and tripod at home!
2) We've rarely seen need for an external flash or lens shade. Much of our photography has been in flat light conditions. Plan your lens filters - if you choose to use any - accordingly.
3) Your lens choice will be important (as always!). The standard "factory" 35-70mm lens included in many DSLR kits will offer crisp photos, but may not give you the magnification you'd like for some shots. For the most versatility, consider a 70-200mm lens or comparable, which will give you the ability to frame some scenes better than a smaller lens. We've seen some travelers haul lenses as large as 500mm (could be helpful if you're hoping to capture wildlife on the shoreline from the ship's deck), but consider that this will add considerable weight and bulk (and of course, expense!) to your traveling kit.
4) Plan to take a lot of shots, and have a strategy in mind for preserving your favorite shots to avoid losing them - this might mean bringing along a spare memory card or ensuring you have an easy way to upload the photos to a cloud backup location.
5) Lastly, there can be a range of weather - all four seasons, in fact - in an Alaskan summer. Make sure your camera equipment is protected with a weather resistant case to avoid any water damage along the way.
We hope that this has been helpful information for our clients - and don't forget, you can always still use your smartphone for quick Instagram-worthy snapshots, sassy selfies and priceless panoramas if you want to reserve the "big gun" for the breathtaking scenery.
If you're not quite ready to carry a DSLR, don't want to use a digital point-and-shoot but still want some versatility in your photography options, several companies offer aftermarket lens attachments and advanced photography apps for your Android or Apple smartphone, giving you some extra oomph without the added bulk. What's most important is that being a shutterbug doesn't become a burden or a source of stress - we hope that you enjoy your experience above all else!