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Join us on a photo tour to the
best place in United States for wild black bears. Expect to shoot thousands of bear photos along with other
wildlife. Explore the beauty of wild Minnesota.
We will have the opportunity to
photograph several different age
groups including cubs, yearlings, and adults. We will see multiple bears and
their different behaviors and family interactions. This is time to visit when the most bears
are in the area.
Here are some quotes from
the world famous wildlife photographer Leonard Rue III about this
location.
"It is, without a doubt, the
best place on the continent to photograph black bears. I know because
I've been photographing, or trying to photograph, black bears for most
of my life".
" The black bears are as
close to an ironclad guarantee as you will ever find in wildlife
photography."
"There is no place that I
know of where a photographer can get more portrait, natural history or
behavioral photographs of bears. In my three days spent there in 2001
and again in 2002, I took more black bear photographs than I have
anyplace else on the continent in all of my 57 years as a professional
wildlife photographer."
 
We will be photographing the
bears from the ground. We we will also have access a viewing deck.
This
allows you to get some bear pictures at eye level even when they are in
the trees. The above two photos were taken with a wide angle lens.
We will also photograph other wildlife
that visits the refuge and the surrounding areas including Songbirds,
Chipmunks, Several species of woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, Red Squirrels, and on rare occasions Wolf.
John
Slonina also leads photo tours and workshops at top locations like
Alaska, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton, and Great Smoky
Mountains all these places are great but for black bear photography this
place is the best.
Since we will be shooting a
high volume of pictures. Please bring lots of cards or film. We
also recommend you bring an portable external hard drive to back up your
images. Several participants took over 5000 bear photos.
John has been coming here for
several years. Every day he has had a bear within photo range almost every
hour on this tour. Usually multiple bears at once some within 20 feet.
But we can’t guarantee we will see any
particular species because as you know wildlife can be unpredictable.
Please look at last years
report.
Click Here for 2011 Trip Reports
and Photos
When:
July 27-31, 2012
Friday-Tuesday
WHERE:
Northern
Minnesota (2 hours northwest of Duluth)
PRICE:
$1595
per person
This
includes instruction and sanctuary fees ($175
day / $700 value).
DEPOSIT:
You can
pay in full or leave a deposit.
$400 per
person.
PAYMENT:
Payment
can be made by check to Slonina Photography.
We also
accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
If you
prefer to use credit card you can call our office at (508) 839-5111 or
use the online shopping cart.
Who Should Attend:
All skill levels are welcome from a beginner to professional.
Anyone with an interest in wildlife
photography (Digital or Film).
Group Size:
Our groups are small in size this
one is limited to 6 people. We will work with each participant to
provide complete, informative, helpful lessons. This also ensures
that no question is left unanswered.
Before and after each workshop we will assess each participants
needs, interests and skills so we can teach techniques that will
help each participant.
Itinerary:
Friday
July 27:
Meet at Hotel by 6pm.
Group meeting and
introductions then and bear safety program. We will
discuss bear behavior and how to properly photograph and meter the
bears to make sure you get the proper exposure.
Saturday-Monday July 28-30th:
We will have access to the refuge
for 4 days. We will have multiple trips back and forth to the refuge to
take advantage of the best light for photography.
The day is paced to
maximize photo opportunities and the schedule will be flexible to
maximize getting the best light. We also will be doing critique to
help you improve your photography.
Tuesday July 31:
We will have our early AM photo
session then return to the hotel for checkout. This will be the
official end of the tour. Participants are welcome to join me
for a return visit to the sanctuary later that day (no
additional fees).
CLICK HERE TO
LEARN WHAT WE COVER
Transportation:
Transportation from hotel to field locations is
included.
Weather and Lighting:
We believe in capturing the best
light our workshop include sunrise and sunset shoots (weather
permitting). Early morning and later afternoon has the best lighting
for photography. It’s also the time wildlife is most active.
For black bears photography we also
love cloudy days. The overcast sky acts like an umbrella to diffuse
the light which is great for photos especially bears. Unless the
weather conditions pose any danger to group we will still stay out.
Rainy conditions can provide some
the moodiest and diffused lighting of any photography trip. You can
get some unique opportunities in these conditions that you could not
get on a sunny day.
What's Included:
Included are instruction and
all sanctuary fees ($700 per person value).
Transportation is included from
hotel to and from refuge.
Not Included:
Food is not included. We will eat at
local restaurants. All
restaurants are affordable.
Flights are not included.
Lodging is not included.
Lodging Recommendations
There are several different lodges,
cabins, and campgrounds nearby.
Here are a few choices. Please feel
free to contact our office for additional info.
a.) North Country Inn: ($40-70 night
range)
Phone: (218) 757-3778
http://www.northcountryinn.com/
b.) Pelican Lake Resort
and Inn (Formally Gateway Lodge): $125 night range
Phone: (800)
860-3613
c.) Cabin O'Pines:
http://www.cabinopines.com/
Getting There:
Plane:
There are two closest major airports are:
Duluth Airport MN (DLH): 2 hours
Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport, MN (MSP):
4 hours
We meet at hotel listed above.
Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel before 60 days of
departure you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 30 days you
will lose deposit amount if we are unable to fill the tour.
About Me:
John Slonina is a professional
nature photographer who has been photographing for over 25 years. He
estimates he has taken over 400,000 photos. John has a love of
natural history as well. You will receive information on photo
technique and the natural world. Understanding the natural world not
only increases your appreciation of nature but also helps you become
a better nature photographer.
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