Experience the thrill of photographing bears feasting on salmon in advance of their winter hibernation. Our yacht-based photography workshop, with zodiac boat access to the shore, is limited to just eight quests. Book now and get ready for an unforgettable adventure with Schumann Photo Workshops – coming August 2026!

Our workshop will begin and end in Kodiak, Alaska. On the afternoon of August 2, we will check into our hotel and then meet for an introductory dinner. (Please consider arriving a day early (on August 1) to prevent unexpected travel delays from causing you to miss our August 3 float plane flight out of Kodiak.

We will transfer by float plane to our privately chartered yacht, the Alaskan Dream Catcher, which will be positioned in Geographic Harbor along the Katmai coast. With the Dream Catcher as our base, we will spend seven days and six nights with Captain Rob and his crew, eating delicious home cooking and, most importantly, exploring the best locations along the Katmai coast to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon and eating sedge grass as they prepare for winter. Expect to see and photograph young cubs, mothers, and large male brown bears. Other wildlife we may see include eagles, sea otters, wolves, and puffins.

Captain Rob will, from time to time, reposition the Dream Catcher, taking us to other scenic locations where the salmon are running and the bears are feeding. Our shooting times will begin early each day and conclude well after dinner, as the summer sun rises early and sets late in Alaska. Typically, mid-day will be for resting, image editing, and image reviews. On each outing, we will transfer from the Dream Catcher to the shore with the Zodiacs. Typically, we will walk as much as a mile to reach good locations for photographing the bears active in their environment. The hikes, done in fishing waders, will take us over uneven, muddy ground. A level of fitness necessary for this kind of hiking is a prerequisite.

After a week of making images and having an experience you will cherish for a lifetime, we will return to Kodiak by float plane on August 10, spending that night at our hotel there. Our workshop will conclude the morning of August 11, with flights out of Kodiak.

The registration fee of $11,500 includes workshop tuition, single-occupancy accommodations in Kodiak, meals (excluding alcohol) from dinner on August 2 through dinner on August 10, transportation during the workshop, chest waders and boots, and gratuities for local guides – as your workshop leader, I do not expect or accept gratuities. This workshop is limited to eight guests.

Not included: airfare and transportation to Kodiak, travel insurance, which is recommended but not required, and medical evacuation insurance, which is required.

A deposit of $1000 will secure your place in this workshop. And additional deposit of $4500 is due by January 1, 2026, with the $6000 balance due on April 1, 2026. For more information, or to register, contact me at [email protected] or call 505.901.2544. If I am unable to answer your call immediately, please leave a voice message, and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Cancellation Policy: A deposit reserves your place in the workshop. The remaining balance is due in two payments, one by January 1, 2026, and the final payment by April 1, 2026. Deposits are refundable, less a $250 cancellation fee, up to 120 days prior to your start date. From 120 days to 60 days prior to your workshop start date, deposits can be applied to another Mark Schumann Photo Tours workshop, provided your request to reschedule is received in writing. Though not required, trip-cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.