“To all photography, nature, and wildlife-loving adventurers, I cannot recommend Wild Compass Tours enough! A female-owned and run company that cares about every aspect of the trip, and making sure you have not only every possibility to get great wildlife pictures, but also make sure you have an outstanding adventure as well!
I’d been hoping for a while to land a spot on the Kodiak tour, as I’d been an Instagram follower for a couple of years and was always amazed how Shayne McGuire could capture such raw beauty and emotion in the wild. The chance to witness that in person and maybe get a few shots myself was too hard to pass up, and who doesn’t want to see a bear? From my first interactions with Shayne on the telephone, I knew this trip was going to be something special. Shayne called me back the same day, and explained to me with a down-to-earth friendliness and unending enthusiasm, the details of the trip, the wildlife we could see, and what to expect from the ever-changing weather. She was straight up that it could rain 10 to 12 hours a day, and that we would be out in the elements sitting in it and waiting for something to happen. I’d have to be able to carry my own backpack with my gear, we’d be hiking up and downhill to our cabins, and hiking along the river’s edge and through it, and they’d be there to help us if we needed it.
As a person raised to appreciate nature and the unpredictable hazards and beauty that it brings, all of this sounded fantastic! I didn’t have the full-frame camera or length of lens that would be needed, so Shayne hooked me up with the right guy from the camera rental shop, and with a few weeks of practice, I figured I’d be able to at least get something in the frame and get it focused. I didn’t have a backpack to carry all of this new fancy gear, and Shayne didn’t want me to waste money on purchasing one, so she and her husband Danny braved the heavy southern California traffic to hand-deliver one to me!
Every aspect of the trip was thoughtfully planned, from a gorgeous seaplane ride over the green mountains and rivers of the Alaskan wilderness, to the remote lodge hosted by a family who welcomed us with endless hospitality, warm home-cooked meals, and a cozy bed in a cabin with a beautiful view! Each day after breakfast we geared up and hopped on the boat, wildlife guide at the helm, and we stayed out all day, not a moment wasted. High-speed boat rides through the pristine coastal waters, surrounded by small islands populated by only the local wildlife, we saw whales, sea lions, sea otters with new pups, and puffins! A boat ride in the other direction and we were able to photograph foxes along the coast in the early morning light, eagles, and then up the river in search of bears! Shayne would call out settings, and I quickly realized that I didn’t know half of what I needed to. Being in the presence of a professional photographer is a humbling experience, but she was always interested in getting us the best shot. She explained the importance of aperture priority, white balance, iso and shutter speed. Finding the balance to get the correct exposure and a great shot. I listened, and learned on the go, “combat photography” she called it, as we set up our tripods along the river’s edge, keeping quiet and keeping our distance as the bears fished for salmon before us. We watched and photographed, and then hopped back into the boat to go further up the river, as the bear guide and Danny pushed us through the shallow waters when the tide was low.
Everything was taken care of for us, we just had to show up, listen, take pictures, and have fun! The times we did spend waiting were moments to take in the scenery, watch the salmon try to make it upstream, get to know the other guests, and eat our lunches complete with homemade cookies! My goal was to come home with at least one decent shot, but I ended up coming home with so much more. A newfound appreciation for the wildlife, photos I didn’t think it would be possible for me to take, friends I hope to see again and memories that will last a lifetime. You can go on an average photo tour anywhere, but if you want to live and breathe the experience with a kick-ass wildlife photographer, and have a blast while doing it, then Wild Compass Tours is for you! I’m signed up for next year already, you should be too! See ya’ on the next adventure!”
– Kathleen D.
