If you were designing the perfect day for photographers in Alaska, it might look exactly like this.
But what did I do? I left my camera behind, because honestly, I’d gotten tired of carrying it around and not getting the shots I’d wanted. I decided to just use my phone for pictures and live in the moment. Which, really, can sometimes make a day more special.
Juneau greeted us with that classic Southeast Alaska mood – soft light, a hint of mist, and the kind of atmosphere that makes everything feel just a little more dramatic (and a lot more photogenic). This excursion promised two of the area’s biggest highlights – Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching – but what made it special was how thoughtfully it was put together.
We started in a small group – just a dozen of us, split into two even smaller crews – which immediately made things feel more personal and less like we were being herded from one photo stop to the next. Our guide wasn’t just a guide… he was a naturalist and a photographer. That combination? Gold.
Our first stop: Mendenhall Glacier.
A short, easy walk took us along one of the Steep Creek trails to an overlook, and honestly, it was one of those places where you don’t quite know where to point your camera first. The glacier stretched out in that quiet, powerful way glaciers do – massive, ancient, and just a little bit blue in all the right places. The surrounding scenery didn’t exactly take a back seat either – everything from rushing water to forest textures to distant mountain layers kept pulling the eye (and the lens) in different directions.
Then came part two… and arguably the main event.
We boarded a low-profile, single-deck exploration boat – and right away it was clear this wasn’t your average whale-watching setup. This thing was built for photographers. Low to the water, unobstructed sightlines, and windows on both sides that could be raised up so you weren’t shooting through glass (a detail photographers everywhere silently cheer for). Even the vans we rode in earlier were set up for presentations—these folks knew their audience.
Out in Stephens Passage, the water was relatively calm, the air crisp and cold, and the anticipation high.
And then… whales.
We were lucky enough to see two humpback whales, and there’s just no way to overstate how special that is. Even when you’re watching through a viewfinder, there’s always that moment where you forget to take the picture because you’re just… watching. The slow rise, the breath, the curve of the back – it never gets old.
What I appreciated most about this entire experience was how intentional it felt. Everything – from the small group size to the equipment to the pacing – was designed with photographers in mind, whether you’re just getting comfortable with your camera or you’ve been doing this for years.
No rushing. No fighting for a spot. Just time, space, and a whole lot of beauty.
On the way back to our ship we took in the totem poles that lined the main thoroughfare.
Do I regret not taking my camera – not really. Alan took care of getting the whale shots, and I took care of just taking it all in.