One of the most fascinating places on earth to visit is Alaska. This pristine region is home to approximately 640,000 residents and at 2.3 times the size of Texas, Alaska is the nations largest state. Alaska has some 570,374 square miles (or 365,039 acres) of lush landscape and some of the most scenic byways and marine highways in the world. Although many vacationers travel to Alaska by plane, many also travel to Alaska by cruise ship.
Alaska is a year round vacation destination with a variety of expedition voyages available all year—even during the colder winter months. Although winter is one of the most scenic times of year to visit Alaska, the shoulder seasons, May and September (also the end of August), are the most popular times to visit.
During the month of May, the climate is warm and the days are long. Wildlife is abundant and flowers are in full bloom. Around the end of August through September, Alaska has the best fall colors in the world with blazing yellow and red trees by Labor Day, with tall mountains with fresh snow on their peaks as a backdrop. Animals begin to feed in the lower elevations, so opportunities to snap a picture increase during this time. In September, in the Interior of Alaska, it also gets dark enough to see the Northern Lights.
If you are interested in an exciting adventure, the opportunity to document the adventure through photography, and learn about photography, you should consider Aperture Academy’s 7-Day Photography Cruise to Alaska. The cruise, which takes place aboard Holland America’s luxury liner Oosterdam, departs from Seattle on August 21, 2011 and returns August 28, 2011.
Presented in collaboration with Canon and Holland America Line, the Aperture Academy photography cruise will feature:
- Presentations by award-winning photographers
- Excursion workshops
- Photoshop classes
- Canon print classes
- Printing labs run by Canon
- Personalized instruction from “from a team of highly experienced photographers, teaching you what YOU want to learn.”
According to the official Aperture Academy website, guests will have a front row seat to the “beautiful Alaskan landscape (rugged mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and lush forests) and amazing Alaskan wildlife (grizzly bear, eagles, whales, otters and more).
The cruise will sail from Seattle to:
- Glacier Bay (Day 3)
- Juneau (Day 4)
- Sitka (Say 5)
- Ketchikan (Day 6)
- Canada-Victoria, B.C. (Day 7)
Each day, whether at sea or exploring Alaska, guests will have unlimited opportunities to photograph the landscape and wildlife, learn, and socialize. The following information is just one example of what to expect. Please note that the information below is from the official Aperture Academy website.
Day 3
The fun begins as we enter Glacier Bay…it will be all hands (holding cameras) on deck for this workshop. We’ll glide through the glacier-heavy waters, and instructors will work with you to achieve the best results while photographing the majestic blue chunks of ice as they float in the bay and fall from the glacier into the sea. The rest of your day will be free to explore the ship, relax, or partake in the Photoshop classes available on the boat with our Adobe certified instructors. Whether your version of raw is from the camera or in the form of sushi on the ship, the day is full of opportunity and fun for you aboard the Oosterdam.That evening will be geared towards photography adventure as the award winning team of instructors from the Aperture Academy give slide-show talks and entertaining presentations about some of their favorite expeditions behind the lens. Whether it’s spending a week with grizzlies in the wilds of Alaska, braving 30 ft. swells in the seas surrounding Antarctica, or backpacking for 2-months in Iceland, our instructors have been all over the planet and experienced some of the best it has to offer. Sit back, relax, and let them entertain and educate you.
When you are ready to book your cruise, visit the Aperture Academy website at www.apertureacademy.com to get started. On the website, you can also review more details about Aperture Academy, the photography cruise package, the itinerary, and how the pricing works.
Aperture Academy Contact
Aperture Academy
1875 S. Bascom
Suite 600
Campbell, CA 95008
Phone: 408-369-8585
E-mail: info[at]apertureacademy.com