David W. Shaw Photo Workshops
- Email address verified
44 reviews
Mar 23 - 28, 2023
Group size: 3 - 5
Bubble-netting Humpback Whales! 2023
Sitka, AK, USA
David W. Shaw Photo Workshops
- Email address verified
44 reviews
Mar 23 - 28, 2023
Group size: 3 - 5
About this trip
Early each spring, hundreds of Humpback Whales migrate across the Pacific to Alaska. The whales have eaten little for months, and by the time they return to Alaska, they are hungry. Fortunately for them, schools of spawning herring are abundant, the perfect food supply. But Humpbacks have a strategy to make catching them even easier, a cooperative feeding technique called “Bubble-net feeding”. A whale, or more often, a group of up to several whales, dives down below a school of herring. They then circle, blowing a stream of bubbles from their blow-holes. They spiral upward and inward, forcing the herring into a tight ball. As they near the surface, all the whales lunge upward, their mouths agape, sucking down hundreds or thousands of fish in the process. This trip, based in the southeast Alaska community of Sitka, is timed to hit the window when the hungry whales are bubble-net feeding like crazy.
What’s included
- Lodging5 nights hotel in Sitka
- 4 day of boat charters
- Guide service
- All meals
- Ground transportation
What’s not included
- Flight to and from AK
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips
Available Packages
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Sitka
Independent Arrival in Sitka. I'll meet you at the airport, or arrange an airport transfer to our hotel. We'll meet for a group dinner where can get to know one another and talk about the next days' adventures.
Your Organizer
David W. Shaw Photo Workshops
44 reviews
David W. Shaw Photography Workshops offers small group photo workshops and tours in Alaska, the lower 48, Africa, South, and Central America. Custom trips and scheduled workshops will take you from the wilds of Alaska's Brooks Range to the wildlife-filled wetlands of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Join me!
Reviews
RP
We just returned from Dave's Pantanal trip. It was simply enchanting experience!. Each and every detail starting from the airport pickup to providing ponchos and rain gear was so well organized. Local tour guides Larissa and Octavio were simply phenomenal n spotting animals, giving photography and lighting tips. So was the boat captain Alex in positioning the boat for best photography experience.
We have been on safaris in India and Africa and getting good large cat sightings is always a challenge. On this tour, we had more than 20 jaguar sightings, many of them incredibly photogenic. Moreover, otters, birds and anteaters made the experience so holistic. It is incredible that a place like Pantanal exists on earth!
Dave, thanks for organizing this!
Raj and Alka
By Raj P for Jaguars of the Pantanal on Oct 24, 2024
It is almost impossible to see jaguars in the wild. I have lived in Latin America for the last 35 years, and have chased them from Mexico and Honduras to Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, without ever seeing a single one.
The Pantanal is out of this world for seeing and photographing jaguars. Simply amazing. David Shaw is a wonderful organizer, photography teacher, and guide. Larissa and Otávio, the local guides, were also amazing, as were drivers Alex and Kerlison. It is an amazing trip in a spectacular and unique place.
By Kurt S for Jaguars of the Pantanal on Oct 21, 2024
A wonderful week in Alaska in the fall. Saw lots of bears enjoying their daily routines. Hotels were all excellent. Everything was well organized and basic needs handled well. Nice people, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I’d recommended this trip. It isn’t strenuous and is interesting and fun.
By Judy A for Fat Bears of Katmai 2024 on Sep 30, 2024
I booked this trip to see bears, but what I got was so much more. The bears weren't even the highlight for me now. It was Alaska. I fell in love with the changing colours of the mountains in the sunlight in Homer, the snowy volcanoes, the permafrost landscape around King Salmon. This trip was life-changing for me.
I was the only David W. Shaw Tour first-timer on the trip, which is a testament to how great a guide, and person, Dave is. It takes an exceptional human to be able to deal with many personalities with grace and kindness and respect. He made all of us feel cared for and special and welcome.
I will definitely book with Dave again, and cannot recommend him enough. Worth every penny.
By Christine F for Fat Bears of Katmai 2024 on Sep 23, 2024
Fat Bears, Alaska that only knows how to WOW, Wonderful Weather and the Best Guide on the planet! I will definitely book with David W Shaw again! This is my 2nd trip with Dave and I came back with a full heart, lots of photos and videos to edit and new friends. Dave is a naturalist, a fabulous photographer with a calm and easy going way about him that allows for a full experience connecting with the environment and other group members! It’s easy to give a good review. Booking with Dave is money well spent.
By Jessica T for Fat Bears of Katmai 2024 on Sep 23, 2024
References
Dave's workshops are incredible! I did the Bears of Brooks last July and we saw them all over the park even though the salmon weren't running. Dave knows all the best spots/timing plus he's super knowledgeable about not only the bears but photography of course, the best of both worlds.. When we had a planned fly in from Homer canceled due to weather, Dave worked to find an alternative and we had a great experience boating in ridiculously close to bears out of Soldotna. Like in a rowboat 10 feet away on the water, an experience that even beats going to Brooks (alternative is flying in and being on the ground with them). You also get time in Homer where you do a marine cruise and see so many animals including puffin and otters- a unique trip. Dave takes care of everything, and tailors to the members of the group needs. Multiple times, a part of our group chose to go for a walk or an extra trip to lower river while waiting on the water taxi, while others waited at the lodge for us. Or, when we had to leave Brooks early one day, he offered a hike around the area or downtime-with a small group we had lots of options when we had downtime. He is also great at helping both advanced photographers and newbies like me get the most out of the experience. I cannot recommend him enough. I'm going to Africa with him next and wish I could just do his workshops all year long.
By Christi C on 25 Jan, 2024