My Alaskan Adventure

A few months ago, my wife and I embarked on a cruise from Seattle to Alaska with the Norwegian Cruise Line. This was one of the most magical trips I’ve ever taken. I don’t say that lightly or jokingly, but it’s true. Our seven days in Alaska were perfect. The weather held out extremely well, the cruise line and service were amazing, and the overall trip was something that we both really needed.

Of course, as a photographer, I couldn’t resist bringing a couple of cameras along to capture the breathtaking scenery. However, this was not a dedicated photography trip. Photography wasn’t the main purpose, so I didn’t have opportunities to wake up before sunrise or stay out in locations past sunset. Our schedule was dictated by the cruise, the daily activities we chose, and at some point, we were just literally at sea. Even though photography wasn’t the main focus of this trip, I still took over 2,000 pictures. Not all of them were great, and many were for panoramic shots, but I’m quite pleased with the results.

The Gear I Packed

For this trip, I brought along my FUJIFILM X-T5 with a Tamron 18-300mm lens, Ricoh GR IIIx, and FUJIFILM XF10. I could have brought more cameras, but I wanted to keep things as light as possible. I started the trip shooting in the HEIC format on the X-T5 but quickly realized I needed to shoot in RAW as well. That’s the beauty of having two memory card slots.

Capturing the Essence of Alaska

Despite the challenges of shooting on a non-photography trip, I managed to capture some stunning images. One of the highlights was Glacier Bay National Park. The overwhelming beauty of the glaciers and the pristine wilderness was almost too much to take in. At one point, I even told my wife that I felt “photographed out.” The amazing thing about this trip is that you could visit Alaska 100 times and have a different experience each time.

Below are some of my favorite images from each stop we made on our journey:

Glacier Bay National Park

Juneau

Skagway

Ketchikan & Vancouver Island

Overall, I’m pretty happy with the images I captured. This trip reminded me that sometimes, even when photography isn’t the main focus, you can still find beauty and inspiration in unexpected places. Alaska’s vast and varied landscapes offer endless opportunities for photographers, and I can’t wait to return for another adventure.