Dates: June 26-July 3, 2022

Fee:  $4,900

Included:  8 days/7 nights on the island. My photography guiding and instruction the whole week, lodging (double occupancy), meals, and transportation while on the island, local guides, entrance fees to museum and church.

Not included: Round-trip airfare between Anchorage and St. Paul Island, airfare and travel to and from Anchorage, Alaska, alcohol and souvenirs on the island, gratuities.

Deposit:  $1,000 to secure your spot

Balance: $3,900 due by March 15, 2022

Leader:  Bryan Holliday

Group Size: 6 photographers

COVID-19 Protocol: We will be following the guidelines set forth by St. Paul Island, which can be read here.

Would you like to photograph Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin, Parakeet Auklet, Crested Auklet, Least Auklet, Red-faced Cormorant, Northern Fulmar, Red-legged and Black-legged Kittiwake, and more, in flight and up close and personal on the cliffs? Enough said! Join me for an amazing wildlife experience while we photograph the nesting seabirds out on the Pribilofs in the middle fo the Bering Sea. This will be my first trip to St. Paul Island, so the price reflects the fact this is an exploratory trip. While we will be learning the best spots to be with the help of the local guides, I will be right by your side to offer photography tips and instruction to maximize your photo opportunities and come away with outstanding images of the birds on the cliffs and in flight. We should also have opportunities to photography the seal colonies and the arctic foxes that roam the island. They say that St. Paul Island is the Falkland Islands of the Northern Hemisphere.

We will be photographing in the morning, afternoon, and evening. We will have 3 meals a day in the cafeteria that serves the fish cannery and most of the folks on the island. We will have our own beds in shared rooms and common restrooms/shower facilities. We will also be able to visit the historical places on the island and learn its storied past. It’s gonna be one heck of a week of bird photography!

Expected Species:

Itinerary:

Day 1: Fly from Anchorage to St. Paul Island around noon. We should be able to get settled in and have dinner and be able to photograph for the evening.

Day 2-7: Our typical schedule will be to eat breakfast, photograph all morning, eat lunch, photograph in the afternoon (if the light is too harsh, we may choose to work on digital workflow and post-processing), eat dinner, photograph for the evening.

Day 8: There may be time to photograph in the morning before we head to the airport for our flight back to Anchorage.

Travel Considerations: It would be best to arrive in Anchorage the evening before our flight to St. Paul so you don’t miss the flight to the island. You may also wish to allow a day or two flex time after our final day on the island before departing Anchorage in case our return flight is unable to go out due to weather. If we are unable to fly and need to stay longer on St. Paul Island, you will be responsible for any extra expenses. It is a risk we both take. If we do stay longer on the island, I will happily continue to offer guiding and we will photograph as much as we can and make the best of it.

Accommodations: We will be staying at the King Eider Hotel. It is the only hotel on St. Paul Island. Double occupancy. The hotel is European style with shared bathroom facilities. They do have Wi-Fi.

Vehicle: Ground transportation on St. Paul Island is included. We will be driven to various locations each day by the local guides.

Meals: All meals will be at the Trident Commissary, which serves the cannery employees.

Physical Activity: Easy to moderate.

Equipment: Bring the longest focal length you have. I plan on using 600mm with extenders often. Mid-range zooms will also be useful for flight shots. And a landscape lens will come in handy.

Other things to bring: Because St. Paul Island is in the Bering Sea, the weather can best be described as unpredictable. While some days can start out mild and sunny the weather can suddenly turn wet and windy so it is important to pack the right clothing for any conditions you may encounter. A sturdy, soft shell weatherproof jacket with a hood will shed the wet weather and shield against the wind. A fleece or insulated jacket underneath will help keep you warm, dry and comfortable. The island’s terrain is a mix of sandy beaches, damp or wet tundra and rocky, uneven coastline so bring a sturdy pair of outdoor shoes or hiking boots to improve footing and keep you warm and dry. Don’t forget a rainproof hat and a pair of light gloves to keep your hands warm. In summer, the daylight can extend well into the evening hours so bring at least one pair of sunglasses.

Payment: Your deposit can paid with credit card or Paypal by using the link at the top of the page. Once your deposit is processed, I will email you the registration form and waiver so you can print it out, complete it, and send it back. This will hold your spot. The balance can be paid by personal check or credit card (additional transaction fees apply for credit card payment) anytime up to 90 days before the trip.

To sign up for this great trip, please send your deposit through the link at the top of this page. Please call or email me with any questions you may have. 815.721.2218 or bryanholliday@gmail.com