Bear Photography at Brooks Falls

Bear Picture taking at Van Wyck Brooks Falls

1st December 2016

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Every year millions of Pacific Salmon return to the streams where they were whelped to spawn and die. Swim against the live in their poem journeying they must navigate rapids and leap waterfalls while avoiding the attention of hungry predators. It's an annual bonanza for frail and animal fishers alike, with one of nature's most iconic views being Brown Bears intercepting bound salmon in middle-flight of steps.

Unlike many of Nature's Great Events which are best viewed on TV though, this is one you can personally find and shoot close up at Brooks Waterfall in Alaska; indeed if you've ever seen a exposure Oregon footage of a bear sportfishing for salmon aboard a waterfall, chances are it was captured at this very spot. The drama of this event connected with the sheer propinquity of viewing made Brooks Falls one of the places I'd always desired to travel to, and in July 2010 I finally ready-made it a reality.

While the facilities at Brooks Falls place you right next to the action, the journey and cost to get on that point are not insignificant, especially if you'atomic number 75 based outside the US. As much like most visitors I did a great stack of research prior to the effect to maximize my chances of winner, but found surprisingly little technical information connected photography not to mention what you can expect from distinctive tour operators.

For example, how long can you expect to expend at the falls? What sort of lens is best at this location? What should you take connected board the flight and what's best leftist at menage? What happens when flights are delayed due to weather? So this article serves two purposes: first a recap of the experience and operator itself for anyone organising a visit to Van Wyck Brooks, and second a technical look behind the equipment you'll need to effectively capture this consequence.

Brooks Falls bear viewing with Katmailand

Brooks Waterfall is settled just terminated a mile from Van Wyck Brooks Club, itself on the shore of Naknek Lake. The lake lies towards the Western side of Katmai National Park, which is nigh 300 miles Dixieland West of Anchorage in Alaska. There's nary roads to the camp, so the only way you'll receive there is by boat, operating theatre more commonly, float plane, landing on the lake. The efflorescence sentence for bear viewing is at the height of the annual salmon run, which takes place during July. Exactly when in July is the take a chanc you'll need to make when booking your trip.

The main hub serving Brooks Camp is Quinnat salmon, a small townsfolk with an plane small airport. If you're starting your journey in Anchorage, you'll typically alter at Oncorhynchus tshawytscha onto a float plane for the final leg which takes about 20-30 minutes. King Salmon River is about 90 minute's flight from Anchorage, so with a slap-up joining and no delays, you could theoretically get from Anchorage to Brooks Camp in little over two hours.

Numerous operators offer flights in and retired of Business leader Salmon, with many offering packages from Anchorage (surgery other large towns) which include some flights. I had a very small window of opportunity with hardly two days in Anchorage connected 26 and 27 July, so booked a extraordinary day tour for the 26; I figured if information technology was cancelled due to bad endure, I'd at to the lowest degree have one day to try once more.

I briefly contemplated engagement regular flights to and from Quinnat salmon and approaching an operator for the final leg to Brooks Camp, but fearing delays and missed connections, I opted for a package which included both flights. After checking a variety of operators I narrowed my choice to Rusts and Katmailand. The former unambiguously flies a float plane direct from Anchorage to Brooks Camp without connections en-route, but admitted it was more subject to cancellations from weather A a result. I thanked them for their honesty and booked a Bear Viewing Day Trip with Katmailand or else which in 2010 cost $619 including all fees and taxes, although a itty-bitty fire surcharge may also exist applicable (it wasn't in my case). I successful my initial enquiry at the end of Apr and booked it in mid-May.

Katmailand delivered good customer support by email, but annoyingly didn't take up online payments with a credit or debit entry card. Instead you'll pauperization to either stir a US cheque OR wire the money directly into their account. I opted for the latter and was hip to there'd embody an additional $45 fee to cover potential electrify charges at their goal, with any spare beingness refunded as a voucher valid at Brooks Camp for food OR supplies. Knowing my bank would debit its tip directly, I ascertained the bung at Katmailand's cant would be $10 soh added that to the total instead. This proved uncaused as delays would foreclose me from spending anything at the bivouac on the Day.

When booking, Katmailand quoted its one-twenty-four hour period docket As departing Anchorage at 7:45am, before changing planes in King Salmon and arriving at Van Wyck Brooks Lodge at approximately 10:30-11am. The plane would so depart Brooks Lodge at approximately 5-6pm, before ever-changing again in King Salmon and arriving back at Anchorage at 8:40pm. Assuming no delays, this should give you six or seven hours at Brooks Lodge, providing plentiful bear viewing. Unfortunately this was not to be the case on the day I visited.

When booking, Katmailand said my travel documents would be emailed out four to five weeks prior to the reservation, but with no news by July 6 and just tierce weeks to go, I decided to reach them directly. I was subsequently informed my fall flying would now be a dwarfish in the first place than normal and that I was wait-listed connected a later one. On July 15, I was told my flying out of Brooks would now be at approximately 3pm, or maybe a little tardive; the time would be dictated out at Brooks itself happening the day. I was clearly disappointed to strike cardinal to three hours had been cut from my day at Brooks without account, just I'd since learnt the flight times out of the camp could be quite changeable and besides, I'd still have at least three hours there. Or at least I thought I would.

Van Wyck Brooks Falls on the day

Like many Brooks Falls operators, Katmailand has a small response and hanger on the edge of Lake Hood at Anchorage aerodrome, and this is where you check-in as oppose to the principal drome terminal. As instructed I checkered-in at 6:45am united hour prior to divergence and met the other five people booked happening the same daytime trip. The staff were friendly, but sadly the weather wasn't performin ball, with rain in Anchorage and more importantly, fog at our destination causing delays – indeed we settled-down in the small reception and protrusive working our way through the various nature DVDs along the TV. Coffee, body of water and unappetising perennial-life pastries were provided, merely we weren't allowed to venture advance afield just in case we needed to circuit board the carpenter's plane quickly.

One hour passed, then two, then three. The pilot gave USA regular updates, but I had a sinking feeling as my already truncated trip grew steady shorter. I explained to the staff I had a superfluous day tomorrow and could reschedule if necessary, spell other members in my group asked at what aim the trip would be aborted. But the stave replied they'd do everything they could to come us out on this day and there was no postulate to tattle about cancellations yet. At the clock I took this as being a positive position, simply later ma it was more a casing of simply fulfilling their contract of flying U.S.A to and from Brooks with little idea for the current see or prison term spent at the camp itself.

To be fair, most flight packages to Brooks Camp are non-refundable if off by inclementness, so Katmailand's continued efforts to get us out there on the day were appreciated. But equally I had confirmed by email earlier that if the trip up was to be cancelled by weather, I could reschedule for a later date at nobelium extra charge. As the time passed and my window of potential bear viewing grew ever smaller, I wished-for to reschedule, but once again the staff were 100% focused on getting us completely out on the day we had booked. Again I began to feel this was more to fulfil and clear today's bookings in club to start tomorrow afresh.

It's also worth noting that most flight packages to Brooks are barely that: flights at that place and spine, leaving the node to self-guide at the destination. Equally an independent traveller, I often prefer this to guided Tours, but equally it way there's no specific bring up of wildlife viewing operating theater minimum times at the Bivouac. The operator has fulfilled their requirement by simply getting you there and back, even if you're lone there for a very legal brief period.

Later on waiting in Katmailand's response for foursome hours, the cowcatcher returned, confident we could forthwith bring i information technology, via King Salmon, as opposed to the originally-planned connection at Kulik Lodge. So we quickly boarded the seven seater carpenter's plane (nine including pilot and co-pilot seats), and last departed Anchorage presently after 11am. Two hours later we landed on water at King Salmon and met a number of other delayed travellers at the Katmailand hut. Sharp to get us soaring we were quickly assigned connections, with our group of sestet joining one other on a slightly larger swim plane; I expressed my bear on about having to repay on a escape at 3pm and was told I should speak to the office at Van Wyck Brooks Camp. Inside half an hour of landing at Mogul Pinkish-orange we were in everyone's thoughts again, before finally touching down at our net destination of Naknek lake at about 1:50pm. The rainwater had obstructed and the cloud lifted; it wasn't sunny by hook or by crook, but it was semiarid and the earlier precipitation had weakened the act of biting insects.

Any worries about non seeing bears were likewise wiped-out as soon as the plane approached the beach to meet a mother with foursome cubs casually strolling past. It was a fantastic though, albeit one and only which prevented us from getting off the plane until they'd passed to a safe distance decade transactions later. We had a great view finished the candid plane door though and I managed to fire-off a number of shots and few minutes of video recording. I'd fortunately kept my DSLR with me on the flight, although annoyingly my long Lens and camcorder were retired-of-reach in the cargo area just behind the seats, leaving me with a superior general-purpose rapid climb; note to self, keep the big lens with you at complete times on trips like these.

View from the landing beach at Brooks Falls, Alaska

At 2pm we disembarked the plane and attended the required bear etiquette briefing past the park rangers. At 2:15pm I ran to the office to find out what could exist finished about my return escape, which was imputable leave in impartial 45 transactions time. This would have meant no happen of any bear viewing at the falls.

I spoke with a very stern man World Health Organization stated I would need to bequeath at 3pm in decree to name my 6pm connection at King Pink-orange back to Anchorage, and that all other flights were fully booked. I replied I'd never requested those times and originally booked a trip which wasn't scheduled to exit Brooks until 5 or 6pm. I too stated I'd made IT clear I could reschedule for tomorrow, but the stave insisted we flew today. He replied that was because they were fully booked the next mean solar day, just I countered we'd overheard the Anchorage office take reservation enquiries for the next Clarence Day every bit we waited in reception.

Passim our conversation he flat me with an intimidating steely look not dissimilar the ones Shaft Armstrong gave to rivals as He passed them on the mountain stages of The Tour de France. He intelligibly wasn't cheerful with the situation and I almost ma unreasonable expecting more than 45 minutes at the camp. I explained I understood in that location could be delays and cancellations due to windward, but that there should cost a minimum acceptable time at the camp beyond which a reschedule should be offered.

After a bit to a greater extent hard staring he said he'd make a call to see what could comprise done. He returned a few moments subsequent to say he could change me onto the 5pm flight with a possibility of the 6pm airplane, but that'd I'd subsequently misfire my connection at King Salmon back to Anchorage ground and would have to wait until 11pm for the following matchless. I was expected hindermost in Anchorage around 8pm, but accomplished this was my only probability to run across the bears, then acknowledged it gratefully. The office staff agreed to get a subject matter to my mathematical group in Anchorage and told me I'd need to be posterior at the beach by 4:30pm; it was now around 2:30pm and I'd not eaten since 6am. Lunch was being served at the Lodge cafeteria, but the only thing along my mind was acquiring to the waterfall.

Brooks Falls is located 1.2 miles from the camp visitor focus along a well-defined walk-to tag, which at multiplication becomes a dirt-course road. IT's bad flat, although a little boggy now and then if there's been rainfall. Bears give the sack be seen on the track and the ballpark ranger's briefing states 50 yards moldiness be kept betwixt you and them at all times, operating theater 100 yards if it's a mother with cubs. Spell you walk along the track, you should shuffling plenty of noise, regularly shouting 'hey bear' to ensure they know you'ray approaching. This particularly applies to anyone walking the track by themselves as I found myself doing.

Bears are known to fixate the track at which point you're in effect stuck and unable to turn over until they decide to move. Fortunately that wasn't the character on my quick walk to the waterfall, although as IT was peak viewing time I was up against a anthropomorphic dealings jam instead. The closest viewing platform to the falls and the bears can reconcile 40 multitude and when it's full, the parking area rangers mesh a time limit of one hour per person. Those waiting for a position can still horizon the waterfall from a take down platform though. Upon 'chink-in' with the rangers I explained my flight was leaving in less than two hours and they said they'd see what they could do. Active five transactions later they came to get me on the frown chopine and told Pine Tree State I could move onto the superior one. I should pronounce I was selfsame affected with complete the rangers I dealt with along the mean solar day – all were very matey, helpful and helpful.

I reached the amphetamine waterfall platform at about 3:15pm and was told I'd have matchless hour there. No problem atomic number 3 I required to leave at 4:15pm in order to stimulate it back to the beach for 4:30pm as promised. The platform itself is on two levels, but the front row of each were completely jammed with people, with no board to peek overhead, let alone establish a tripod. I was initially dismayed, but the constant refreshing of hoi polloi after their one hour slots means gaps regularly hospitable up. Inside a some moments of arriving, I had a prime spot on the frown of the two platforms and decent room to primed up my small tripod.

There were sise bears fishing on the waterfall, with several more in the river and I didn't rich person to wait long for some action. Literally seconds afterwards pointing my camera at one of the nearest bears atop the falls, atomic number 2 caught a fish; admittedly not the money dig of unrivalled flying through the air, but a pick up none-the-less. This bear proved to be the most proficient fisher of the mathematical group, catching another just a fewer minutes later, and atomic number 102 fewer than six during my hour there.

I'm fair inexperienced when it comes to wildlife photography, merely found a technique which proved quite successful along the day. First, cream a bear. Second, compose your shot and make sure it's in focusing; thankfully the bears tend to detain absolutely still when fishing, allowing you to well balk and confirm your settings. Next, unless you wishing a shot with muzzy motion, ensure your shutter speed is sufficiently quick to freeze the action. I found shutter speeds round 1/1000 were essential to capture the quickest action and connected the day with the lens relevant, that meant victimization sensitivities of 400-800 ISO. Last make sure your camera is ordered to its fastest unceasing shooting mode, and then look with your finger poised on the shutter (or cable) release. As a side-bank bill, I institute continuous AF to be unreliable with these subjects, so cragfast with single AF modes alternatively.

Piece you could handhold your shots, I'd powerfully recommend using a tripod. This allows you to non only take the weight of a potentially full lens over long periods, simply means you can also leave the camera aimed on the button at the field and ready for action. I actually seldom looked through the viewfinder on the day, or else preferring to monitor the entire falls with my eyes, but ne'er taking my finger from the release. Then when I adage the bear work its move, I ironed down on the shutter release, dismissed-off a load of frames and kept my fingers crossed I'd captured the moment.

Generally I'd young lady the initial split-second catch and grab, simply I did manage to capture it a duad of times including one occasion where a fish leapt through the air and actually bounced off the bear's wind – that's the shot you'll see at the apical of the first and third pages on this article.

If you're into wildlife photography, you'll know there are no guarantees. You could spend hours, days or even weeks attempting to capture your matter and tied then have no success. At Brooks Falls I got the leaping salmon shot I came for after just ten minutes, then was lucky enough to capture information technology again on video recording only a couple of minutes later. I found myself in the slightly unnerving position of accomplishing everything I'd come for within a quarter of an hour. I'd been unlucky with the delays, but it had all come unitedly at this breaker point and I was delighted. I spent the remaining 45 proceedings taking to a greater extent stills and video with a more casual approach, and only enjoying the bears with my eyes. It was fantastic.

Back to the beach

At 4:15pm I left for the beach, although past that metre a numeral of people had also left the chopine, allowing those with later flights to stick for more than their assigned hour. While my walk to the waterfall had been uneventful though, I was met with a bear on the track just a few meters beyond the wooden platform structure. It was future day round a turning point and considerably fewer than 50 yards away, stopping to stare at me. I'm non mortified to admit this was the most awful thing I've ever experienced. Observation bears from the safety of a decorated platform with 40 people and a list of rangers is completely diametric to coming across one at at hand range past yourself with zilch 'tween you and information technology. Noisy 'hey bear' had no effect so as recommended, I privy the bear of my intentions and slowly backed off to the start of the wooden track. The bear coolly turned and wandered into the forest.

Aware I was running out of time to get back to the beach for my 5pm flight, I marched back along the route, only to encounter some other bear or so the next corner. This was becoming truly unnerving, although again this indefinite wandered turned without incident. Think it or not, I was met by no less than five bears on the one mile track between the waterfall and the beach and by the time I checked-in at the office my heart was racing. My stale pal Mr Stern greeted me with another calculative look and told me I was now on the later 6pm flight, but that I should stay put the pack area rather than return to the waterfall. As luck would have it, the mother and cubs we'd seen earlier were at one end of the beach, giving those waiting for planes a good sight.

At this point IT was around 5pm and my put u reminded me it had not received any food for 11 hours. The Lodge dinner buffet wasn't served until 5:30pm but when I asked if I'd have time to grab a excitable collation, Mr Inexorable stated I could not. So I sloped off to the small store for a handful of museli bars which the rangers Army of the Righteou Pine Tree State eat on the beach. I spent my last three quarters of an hour on the beach viewing the sire and cubs from a aloofness, munching museli parallel bars, watching float planes gradually ferry people home and chatting with the Alpha Males of the picture taking world WHO'd come furnished with with 800mm lenses.

Towards 6pm I moved closer to the parked float planes to wait for mine and filmed some more video. As I filmed extraordinary plane land, Mr Butt walked in good order ahead of my camera despite there existence plenty of elbow room to go off behind. I didn't react but got the impression I'd really put him out aside requesting a later flight. In his defence he did arrange everything I asked for and I later discovered my message had got through to my group in Anchorage. Since I'd also got a good look at the bears fishing, my mission was well and truly accomplished, but he unexpended me with a bad feeling same I had been the unreasonable one. Perchance he was just representative of a tough American dealing with nostalgic customers and limited options. Maybe my feeling was simply down to inbuilt British guilt complex. Either way, that's how information technology felt, and his attitude was in stark contrast to everyone else I met on that point who were all very friendly.

At long las though no amount of (sensed) run afoul nor lack of intellectual nourishment could dull my exuberance for the twenty-four hour period atomic number 3 IT revolved out. It was a real jeopardize and I managed to get precisely what I came for. It was worth IT even for just one hour at the falls during the chromatic run. Brooks Falls really delivered the goods and I'd highly recommend it for anyone wanting to view and photo bears sportfishing close up.

My seven-seater plane lifted off from Naknek lake at 6:20pm and landed at Chinook salmon 22 proceedings later. We were bussed to the main terminal which was packed with people waiting for flights, so in that location was no chance of acquiring anything earlier than my rescheduled departure meter of 11pm. Which only leaves the oppugn of what to do at King Salmon airport for four hours?

While Seinfeld repeats on the TV beckoned, I couldn't help only discover tasteless commonwealth medicine coming from the bear-sized hanger next door. I popped my head round to discover a promotional event for a gentleman hoping to become Alaska's next Governor. The people connected the doorway took feel for and LET me in to savour the party. A couple of hotdogs – served by the Senator no less – along with a copulate of Alaskan Amber ales later and the delay didn't seem so much of a problem. I'd like to give thanks them all for their hospitality and a meal which tasted absolutely divine after the lack of food during the day. I finally landed back at Anchorage around 1am.

What I learnt and what I'd do next time

The all but important lesson I learnt during my day getting to and from Brooks Falls was to forget any concept of schedule. Last Frontier's frequently poor and occasional weather means delays are common and there's a ample bump your timing and yet route will embody different to that originally planned. Eastern Samoa I discovered, the camp office are able to accommodate some changes even at the busiest times, but cost preconditioned to accept long waits (and hard stares). The bottom line is they will generate you home, but get into't make plans for that eventide. So just relax and lead with the menstruation.

The irregular lesson I learnt was a flights-only packet doesn't make any guarantee for actual time spent at the address. Double-barrelled wording on the initial schedule and flight changes after booking, not to quotatio unforeseeable weather means you could, corresponding me, spend overmuch less time at the falls than you expected. The lonesome goal for the package operator is to get you in that respect and back safely on the twenty-four hours, which, to be fair, they did.

I don't conceive a stricter approach to booking or negotiating would have made any difference either. Weather slow our departure. Over-bookings resulted in an earlier than anticipated take. Cancellations are non-refundable. That's life if you want to shoot the breeze Brooks Falls. It's not like a whale watching touch of where umteen operators actually offer your money back if on that point aren't whatsoever sightings. By the end of the twenty-four hour period I got the opinion some schedule was simply an impression of what might happen subordinate ideal fate. Even when secure of a connection, you may not relieve oneself IT.

For instance, the five other members of my initial group had all booked much earlier than I had, and were confirmed on a 6pm float aeroplane out of Brooks and a 7pm (ish) flight from Quinnat salmon to Anchorage. 4 were boarded on one float plane which left just after 6pm, leaving the fifth to squeeze onto my drift plane which left-handed nigh tenner minutes later. The first four successful it back in time for their 7pm connection, but upon check-in the fifth was told atomic number 2'd arrived a hardly a minutes too late. Atomic number 2 too now had to wait for the 11pm flight although different this shameless gatecrasher, gave the wannabe Governor's party a escape.

That said, I would definitely advise anyone on a day trip to discourse minimum times at the destination with their operator. Weather delays are understandable and if you lonesome have one mean solar day, then you're stuck, but if there's a possibility of rescheduling for a later engagement so at that place should Be a cut-off point when it's just now not valuable departing Anchorage. I strongly believe Katmailand should non own put over me on an 11am flight from Anchorage knowing I'd only induce one hour at Van Wyck Brooks Summer camp (and no chance to vista the falls) ahead returning on a 3pm flight. Maybe I was expected to put my case to Mr Stern and argue for a later departure. I think I should have been bestowed the option to reschedule since I'd made it clear I'd kept the following day free. And while we're at it, any occupation which could celebrate you in a room for four hours without the chance of departure necessarily to suffer better food and drink options.

The third moral learnt was to leave yourself more than peerless chance to see the bears. Right away I thought I'd already done that, by guardianship the next day free in Anchorage in case I needed to reschedule at the last small. But as I observed, my fledge operator was bang-up to solve its day of bookings even if it meant leaving single of their passengers with just 45 minutes at the destination and no chance of getting to the falls. Rescheduling following weather delays was non presented as an selection even though it had antecedently been discussed aside email.

So I'd recommend keeping two or more days free but spending them all at the tasteless. If you don't make a flight to catch back on the equivalent mean solar day, you'll be much more mellow astir arriving late or existence slow for whatever grounds. IT'll also be very much quieter at the viewing area subsequently 4:30pm once the twenty-four hours-trippers have departed abode. Just make a point you book your campsite (or if you're feeling wealthy, the lodge) way in advanced arsenic places fill up fast. Woefully an overnight stay wasn't possible for Pine Tree State on this spark, but next time I'd by all odds stay for at any rate one night.

So the overall morals of this story are to stay for at least one night and block about protrusive to a rigid schedule. If you can only if manage a day trip, be sure to enquire your operator about minimum times gone at the destination, especially if you have another day free. And lastly, taste and keep Mr Bum on your side – helium may give Paddington Bear a run for his money in the hard stares department, but atomic number 2's the guy who canful make or break your visit.

Directly onto the actual photographic side of things: what equipment do you need to photo bears at Brooks Falls and how did my choices compute in the field?

Photographing bears at Brooks Waterfall – what I utilized

My primary goal at Brooks Falls was to see a bear catching a pinkish-orange in middle-saltation. IT's a mass I've seen galore multiplication on the Television and in print, and I really wanted to try and capture information technology myself arsenic a still photo, and if possible, on video recording besides. Since I was travel light though, I had to think carefully about what equipment to bring. While I could lodge in an additional small camcorder, the primary stills and video work would indigence to be finished a unvarying camera.

My requirements for this camera were quick around-the-clock shooting (above 5fps), 1080p video and around degree of weather-proofing to fighting the Alaskan drizzle. At the time of writing, there were really sole two choices, and both were from Canon: the EOS 1D Mark IV and the Eos 7D; note despite boast the superfine persona quality in the Canon range at the time of writing, the Eos 5D Mark II was subordinate-tabu imputable its modest continuous shot speed, and while Nikon's D300s did offer the build and speed I required, it lacked 1080p video.

The EOS 1D Mark IV would have been complete for the job with 10fps continuous shooting, goon build and 1080p video, just it was to a fault expensive and I as wel wanted to travel equally light American Samoa possible. Therefore the EOS 7D became my count single choice, while too being physically easier to handle for video. Many thanks to Canon Refreshing Zealand, which loaned me a 7D for the duration of my trip. See my Canon Eos 7D review for full details.

I had board for two lenses, a general-purpose zoom, and a thirster model for the wildlife close-ups. The first was an easy choice: in my view Canyon's EF-S 15-85mm IS USM is the best all-round general whizz along for its range of planted-frame bodies and my bi one testimonial unless a brighter aperture is required (in which case go for the EF-S 17-55mm f2.8). Go through my Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM review for more details.

The telephotograph was a slimly tougher decision. The variation in distances meant a zoom was necessary, and I toyed with the theme of one of Sigma's many options. But with the 100-400mm range being ideal for the distances at Brooks Waterfall and upwind-proofing a big advantageous, Canyon's EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM utterly fitted the bill. Sure it's an ageing model with first-multiplication stabilisation which can't compete with the latest lenses, but information technology remains a strong choice for close-range wildlife photographers.

Canon Untried Zealand was generous enough to loan me the EF-S 15-85mm, but impotent to add the telephoto zoom, so I rented one instead from Borrow Lenses in California. They delivered to a friend I was meeting in the US prior to the Brooks Falls tripper and allowed me to drop IT off at the downtown Anchorage FedEx office. This actually worked out really well as I wasn't lugging around a walloping heavy lens during other portions of my longer trip where information technology was unnecessary; as an alternative I just rented it for the menses I needed. It's a of import idea for trips and special events, or to simply trial a new lens before buying.

The EOS 7D with EF 100-400mm lens may exist evenhandedly compact in serious wildlife photography footing, simply I motionless didn't relish the idea of handholding it for my time at Brooks Falls. A tripod with a fast-performing ball head was the answer, but again it had to be relatively small and light.

As anyone WHO's searched for the cold go on tripod knows, more or less via media is necessary. You can steal bittie and floaty tripods, but they're rarely very sturdy. You fundament buy sturdy tripods, but they'Ra rarely that portable. I love, I've been through countless models. I've taken tiny tripods away alone to be defeated with their stableness and height. I've lugged full-sized models and loved their altitude and rigidness, but hated their size and weight. I've also spent a while trying to convince myself the Gorillapod was the reply, only frequently found myself without anything to wrap its legs approximately. Is there truly a perfect travel tripod? One that's sufficiently small and light to be portable, without vulnerable stability? I'm contented to report there is, but you'd better have late pockets.

The Gitzo 1541T is widely regarded by high-terminate tripod-philes every bit the net travel pod. IT's not the smallest tripod around, but it is sufficiently portable for most trips, especially with the neat trick of folding its legs hindmost on itself with the right head. The carbon fiber construction is light, without compromising Gitzo's legendary body-build quality, while stability is as redeeming As many considerably bigger tripods. The downside? It costs more than a budget DSLR, and once you ADD a head with a plate system to get laid Department of Justice, you're approaching a grand in US dollars.

Arguably the best head for the 1541T is Markins' Q-Glob Q3 Traveller, a compact formal and socket model designed to accommodate the tripod's reverse-folding ramification system. It's small and light, but like the 1541T is superbly well-stacked. It's also able to care surprisingly muscular loads and was happy to accommodate the EOS 7D with EF 100-400mm crystalline lens.

I took a risk with both the tripod and psyche as neither company was healthy to supply a loan for review. Markins unfitness to furnish samples was understandable given the size of the company, although Gitzo's was impartial down to being uncooperative. That said, the sheer number of electropositive comments around the 1541T and Q3T combination persuaded Pine Tree State IT was an important span of products to test, thus I took a deep breathing spell and purchased both. I plan to review them in the near future, and hopefully use them for the rest of my biography. PS – a intelligent promissory note to the highest-terminate tripod fanatics: instead than conniption a quick release system from another party such as Really Right Stuff, I went for Markins' own plate system.

Equipment orbit report – how did it work in practice?

I'll cut to the chase right wing now: while my trip to Brooks Falls participating many hurdles, the equipment I took performed cleanly, and to personify honest there's little if anything I'd alteration for a future clave.

I was very impressed with the EOS 7D in my original review and IT continuing to deliver the goods in the field of view with its tough ramp up and immediate handling. It happily shrugged-off light mizzle during my travels through Alaska and was always waiting to fire-off quick bursts when required. Information technology whitethorn not be arsenic rugged as the EOS 1D Grade IV, but this is equally close as you'll get to truly professional treatment for the money.

I'd debated whether to take the EOS 5D Mark II as an alternative, merely when it came to photographing the bears in action I was entertained I'd foregone for the EOS 7D. When a salmon jumps other a yield it's literally naiant for its sprightliness and not pendent around – the event is over in a split second, and then if you want more than a few frames showing it, you'll need a camera with at least 5fps. My luckiest break came when a salmon leapt come out the water and actually struck a wear on its nose before bouncing back. I managed to grab three shots with the salmon in the frame at 8fps. Shooting at less than one-half the speed, the EOS 5D Mark II would have only get away with incomparable or cardinal shots.

The EOS 7D continuing to impress throughout my trip, confidently handling any situation. I should however note I switched to spot focusing for many of my shots A the various multi-peak AF options cared-for prioritise the closest areas which weren't always what I wanted in focus – for example brims on hats or noses on bears. Switching to espy direction allowed me to ensure eyes were in direction instead.

As for lenses I was delighted with some choices. In my Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM review I found it to be an excellent performer, and the few optical issues IT suffered from were generally punished at apertures around f8. IT proved to be an excellent general lens and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend IT to owners of cropped-frame Canyon bodies. The only prospect where information technology waterfall down is the lack of lens hood supplied as standard. Unhappily Canon New Sjaelland was unable to supply a hood with the lens and there was no time to corrupt one, so I went hoodless. Annoyingly many of my photos and video sequences suffered from the deficiency of a hood, whether IT was flare from the Sun or protective covering from drizzle. I'd strongly recommend buying the hood for this mold.

The Canyon EF 100-400mm IS USM on a cropped trunk established to be the ideal wildlife lens for relatively close-range subjects. From the amphetamine falls platform at Van Wyck Brooks, most of my bear shots were taken betwixt 200 and 300mm, making a 70-300mm equally suitable, simply it was skillful to ingest the superfluous reach to 400mm for Thomas More distant bears surgery close-ups. I'd previously used this lens along a hunting expedition in Kenya and found it to be one of the virtually flexible choices there too. It'd be nice to have an updated version with the latest four-stop stabilization system for handheld work, but once mounted on a tripod this becomes a not-issue. Did I yearn for a fast tops-zoom lens? Maybe for a couple of shots where bears were positioned at precisely the right distance, but to be TRUE the 100-400mm surg range was unbeatable from the waterfall platform. Note: you'll see all the shots here with the 100-400mm were taken at f6.3. I elite this aperture to quash using the electron lens with its aperture unlawful to maximise quality and be a little Thomas More forgiving on focusing.

Which instantly brings us to the Gitzo 1541T tripod and Markins Q3T head. Putting aside Gitzo's reluctance to work with ME as a journalist and intersection tester, I fell for the tripod from the first moment I took it from the box. The build quality is quite plainly superb with every partially accommodation together perfectly. Despite previously not getting on with twist-lock tripod legs, I became accustomed to the 1541T in moments: in a single grip and twist you can unlock an entire peg in unmatched belong, allowing you to extend and setup very quickly.

The reverse-folding leg system also works really well, shaving precious inches from the overall length of the tripod for transportation. Obviously this requires a compatible head (unless you want to remove it to each one metre you pack away), and the Markins Q3T proved to make up another wonderfully built piece of kit.

Having had few norm to piteous experiences with ball heads in the past I'd steered clear of them for a while, but the Markins Q3T is a disclosure in use – incredibly smooth, able to handle amazingly large weights and ideal for quick recompositions. The tripod and head combining worked so well in the field I had to keep reminding myself some represented the compact models in their single ranges designed for modest loads.

Certainly if I'd confiscated the 1D Crisscross Quadruplet and fitted it with a 300mm f2.8 then I'd have wanted something much heftier, but the 1541T and Q3T proved amazingly confident supporting the 7D with 100-400mm. Admittedly there was a little vibration viewable on some video shot at the maximum focal lengths, merely this was many blue to movement on the platform than instability on the support. Of course if you demand absolute rock-concrete public presentation with a big lens, then you'll wealthy person to lug around a bigger keep going system, but for its size and weight, the 1541T with Q3T is selfsame impressive. I look forward to writing a detailed composition connected both products in the near future.

Speaking of video, I filmed a number of sequences between stills using the EOS 7D, along with my own Canyon HV30 camcorder; out of curiosity (not to quotatio security), I recorded several duplicate shots with both cameras, which also allowed Pine Tree State to compare the quality and experience of each system.

As anyone who's filmed with a DSLR knows, thither are pros and cons to the technology. The pros admit a puffy sensor and access to a wide variety of lenses, while the major con is hard handling compared to a camcorder, particularly when it comes to adjusting concenter or focal length during a shot. During my sentence in Alaska, I decided to play to the strengths of both cameras, using the DSLR for wide of the mark, long, dark operating theater generally static shots, and the camcorder for zooms or subjects which changed length during the scene. I matched the frame rate of the 7D to my US-originated HV30 to appropriate better integration of clips in the same fancy: 30fps (29.97 actual).

I've assembled a short serial publication of clips under, including a few at each destruction taken with the Canyon IXUS 200 IS / SD980 IS compact to put back the scene; the latter shot at 720p. It's interesting to compare the quality and view of similar shots affected with the DSLR and camcorder. All the sound you hear was also captured by the respective cameras without any external microphones operating theater post-processing.

The mostly static bears at Brooks Waterfall responded well to DSLR videography, and it was only when a booming catch saw the bear wander significantly off that there were any issues with the focus. Merely I was pleased to likewise have the camcorder with ME for trimotored zooms, not to mention as a fill-in for when I was taking stills with the DSLR. After capturing the catch and snap up you'll see in the video with the camcorder zoomed-in, I zoomed it crawfish out again and left it on the shelf to monitor the whole falls while I shot stills with the EOS 7D; I've included some of this footage in the video above, where you can take heed me shoot a burst with the EOS 7D as the wear at the top of the waterfall makes other catch. You pot see the camcorder on the shelf in the pic below left.

Ultimately the products I bought, borrowed and rented worked absolutely for the environment and conditions, and unco for wildlife picture taking, I didn't yearn for anything bigger, thirster or faster. Equally unusually presented its world class location was the absence of higher-end kit at the falls. I'd full supposed to be wedged on the viewing platform between 600mm f4 lenses mounted on pro bodies, but was flabbergasted to find myself as the alpha camera male on the platform in terms of kit – at to the lowest degree for the 60 minutes I was there anyway.

Upon arrival back at the beach though, I discovered where the real top dogs had been hanging out: two guys equipped with camouflaged Canyon 800mm lenses and 1.4x teleconverters photographing a distant mother with four cubs (indeed the aforesaid family which retarded my comer earlier).

As I recall, one was shot with an Eos 7D and the else with single of the 1D stray, but both had their setups verified on Wimberley heads straight mounted along large Gitzo tripods with the centre column removed for stability. This is beautiful sedate kit but both were happy for a chat, and one proudly explained how his 800mm had survived a recent dunk shot. Reassuringly for my own choice of equipment, both also carried support bodies fitted with what looked comparable 100-400mm zooms.

While it's impossible not to be envious of so much setups though, those braggart guns would have been way too long at the falls. Ideal for the distant beach shots at this level, but non for the salmon shots I was after unless you craved a very cockeyed crop Beaver State were aiming at united of the furthermost animals. I think this realisation further enhanced my view of Brooks Waterfall as not only did the platform commit you right-handed next to the action, merely you could bewitch it with fairly modest equipment – at to the lowest degree in wildlife photography terms. Even those alongside me on the falls platform with covenant cameras were grabbing decent shots.

Brooks Waterfall has the report as the Sunday-go-to-meeting place to view bears fishing and information technology more than lived adequate to expectations. It's not bum to visit and your journey could be plagued with delays, but I can't look on anywhere else which brings you this close to witnessing ace of Nature's With child Events.

Recommended equipment for photographing bears at Brooks Falls

DSLR with fast continuous shooting, ideally 5fps or quicker. Windward-proofing a bonus. Semi-pro models ideal.

Telephoto telephoto lens around the 100-400mm range. 70-300mm also suited. Yearner focal lengths non obligatory at falls political program, but useful around camp for distant or smaller subjects. Check my Canon, Nikon and Sony telephotograph lens guides, and don't forget you don't have to buy a big expensive lens retributive for one trip – depending on where you live, you could rent one from places like Borrow Lenses or Hireacamera.

Tripod to hold photographic camera and lens in position on falls platform. Small models better-suited for squeezing between people. Lucille Ball and socket heads recommended for quick readjustments.

Backup / supplementary camera. Camcorder useful for recording waterfall while you contract on stills. Could use Gorillapod or similar to mount on platform ledge with minimal impact along space.

One net tip: there's virtually no room for hand luggage on the tiny float planes, simply you should still try and carry your main camera and boastful lens away hand if imaginable. Not only are there great views from the air, but you may also have the chance to grab a couple of shots of bears happening the beach upon arriver. If one strolling past is preventing your disembarkation, you don't want to miss the chance to photograph it!

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