Alaska Photography Guide

Alaska rewards photographers with wildlife at close (but safe) range, tidewater glaciers and endless light — or endless night, depending on the season.

When to go

• June–July: nearly 24-hour daylight in the south-central region. Golden light lasts for hours late in the evening; there is no real darkness for night photography.
• July–September: brown bears fish for salmon at rivers and falls; coastal meadows bloom in early summer.
• Late August–April: dark nights return and the aurora becomes the main event. Fairbanks sits under the auroral oval and sees aurora on most clear nights in season. See northern lights in Alaska.

Bears

Coastal brown bears are photographed on guided trips to places such as Katmai and Lake Clark, often from viewing platforms or with licensed guides. Follow every distance rule and the guide's protocol — see wildlife ethics.

Seabirds and Kachemak Bay

Homer, at the end of the Kenai Peninsula, looks across Kachemak Bay to glaciers and peaks — a water taxi ride away from hikes to glacier lakes. Boat tours from Homer and Seward reach seabird colonies where horned and tufted puffins nest in early summer, along with sea otters and whales. Use fast shutter speeds and a long lens from a moving boat.

Glaciers

Tidewater glaciers calve into fjords in Kenai Fjords and Prince William Sound; valley glaciers like Matanuska and Exit Glacier are reachable on foot (with guides on the ice). Overcast skies bring out the blue. See glaciers in Alaska.

Practical tips

• Weather changes fast — waterproof everything.
• Distances are huge; fly or take boat tours to reach coastal wildlife.
• Book bear-viewing and lodging months ahead.
• Summer mosquitoes are serious; bring a head net.

Browse all Alaska locations.