Contents

Rearview Mirror - Summary of the past week
Headlights - Our schedule as to where we will be heading

(Note: click on any photo for a larger image/slideshow)

Rearview Mirror

Sunday: Preparation
Sunday was a day of preparation, catching up on work, and getting ready for my trip.

Monday: The Big Trip
Monday morning, the Pine Island Taxi picked me up at 4:00 a.m. and the big trip began.



Basically it was all day on planes, but things went smoothly, and I was in my hotel (the Lands Inn) in Homer by 8:00 p.m. Alaska time (midnight Eastern) after a sixteen-hour journey.

Tuesday
I awoke in the pre-dawn to the sound of wind and rain (sunrise was not until 9:07 a.m.). At 7:00 a.m. our group got together for breakfast. Nice group of people--six of the ten participants had been on past photo workshops with our leader, Artie Morris, a world-famous bird photographer. We had an Aussie, a Brit, and a Russian, with the rest being Americans coming from various states.

We then spent the remainder of the morning looking at past Homer eagle slides, discussing what to expect, and recommendations as to what to shoot. We had a group lunch, and then mid-afternoon headed for the boats. In just a few minutes we were in eight-foot seas and 30-knot winds. No worries, though, as there was room for the six of us and our gear to fit inside the cabin, and the ship and its captain were well-made for these waters. After about 20 minutes the waves calmed. It was chilly on deck but tolerable, as everyone was appropriately dressed. For about three hours we shot eagles in flight along with the always-present gulls. Great fun.











Late afternoon we motored home in much calmer waters, docked, unloaded, and returned to the Lands Inn. Three of us met for dinner (I had the halibut, which was excellent, complimented by a local ale) and talked photography. Back in my room, I edited shots for an hour or so and then went to bed. Great day.

Wednesday
Yikes! The weather was still a “challenge” with high winds and big waves, but no rain. My room was 20 yards from Kachemak Bay, and you could hear the sound (often “roar”) of the waves most all the time. Here is a morning view. At 9:30 a.m. we headed for the boats, stopping to shoot eagles and the occasional otter and other bird species. We returned at noon and then did the same routine in the late afternoon. Here are a few pics from the day.



















Thursday
Following a similar pattern, we made a morning and an afternoon boat cruise.

Headlights

I’m writing this at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, and I need to pack to take the “adventurous” drive back to Anchorage. I’m riding along with Aussie Mark, and we hope to get some good photos along the way. Hence, I don’t have time to finish all the shots from the entire week as I usually do, but next week I will publish the pics from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Should be fun....

Tags: Homer, Alaska, Bird photography