Question about Alaska

Just wondering if anyone has been to Anan Wildlife Observatory? I'm thinking of going this summer and would like hear from others who have been.

Yes I have been. Look at my bear shots (They are labeled as to where shot). Also the many bald eagle shots with the very 'green' bg are from there. It's dark there take a 2.8 lens a 300 2.8 with tc's would be most ideal.

morehtml wrote in post #9443971
Yes I have been. Look at my bear shots (They are labeled as to where shot). Also the many bald eagle shots with the very 'green' bg are from there. It's dark there take a 2.8 lens a 300 2.8 with tc's would be most ideal.

Wow! The images on your website are incredible! You've already answered my first question, lens choice. But I have plenty more:

1. How many times have you been?
2. Did you take a guided tour?
3. Did you take a boat or plane from Wrangell?
4. How was the weather?
5. Was it very crowded?
6. Did you use fill flash on any of your shots?

Thank you for your response. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill

texasred wrote in post #9444448
Wow! The images on your website are incredible! You've already answered my first question, lens choice. But I have plenty more:

1. How many times have you been?
2. Did you take a guided tour?
3. Did you take a boat or plane from Wrangell?
4. How was the weather?
5. Was it very crowded?
6. Did you use fill flash on any of your shots?

Thank you for your response. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill

1. How many times have you been? 1

2. Did you take a guided tour? A 'guide' went with us to take pepper spray. There is really little need for a guide as you walk on a trail to a gated platform. But there is a fairly high possibility of meeting bears on the trail as there are literally dozens in the immediate area during salmon run time.

3. Did you take a boat or plane from Wrangell? When I went this place was only accesible by float plane.

4. How was the weather?
The forest is very wet and has a dense canopy. Rain/mist/fog can be expected. But overcast will not ruin your shots.

5. Was it very crowded? During the salmon run the park issues only so many permits per day to visit the platform. "Visits to the Anan Wildlife Observatory are restricted by USFS permit to a maximum of 64 per day from July 5th through August 25th. " Obviously this is when it's best to go!

6. Did you use fill flash on any of your shots? I did not use flash.

You might need a 70-200 2.8 or similar too in addition to the 300 as bears and eagles can be pretty close.

morehtml wrote in post #9444498
1. How many times have you been? 1

2. Did you take a guided tour? A 'guide' went with us to take pepper spray. There is really little need for a guide as you walk on a trail to a gated platform. But there is a fairly high possibility of meeting bears on the trail as there are literally dozens in the immediate area during salmon run time.

3. Did you take a boat or plane from Wrangell? When I went this place was only accesible by float plane.

4. How was the weather?
The forest is very wet and has a dense canopy. Rain/mist/fog can be expected. But overcast will not ruin your shots.

5. Was it very crowded? During the salmon run the park issues only so many permits per day to visit the platform. "Visits to the Anan Wildlife Observatory are restricted by USFS permit to a maximum of 64 per day from July 5th through August 25th. " Obviously this is when it's best to go!

6. Did you use fill flash on any of your shots? I did not use flash.

You might need a 70-200 2.8 or similar too in addition to the 300 as bears and eagles can be pretty close.

Permit numbers are down to 60/day for 2010. By crowded, I guess what I meant was referring to the amount of space on the platform for the number of permits. Did they have the photo blind when you were there? Was it good enough for you to consider going again?

Shots were good all around the platform, most much better than the photo 'blind'. No reason to be stuck in 1 place in the 'blind' when the animals don't care. The blind just looks direct at the falls. People arrive at different times during the day so it was not crowded. Yea I'd go again send me your tickets!

texasred wrote in post #9447404
Permit numbers are down to 60/day for 2010. By crowded, I guess what I meant was referring to the amount of space on the platform for the number of permits. Did they have the photo blind when you were there? Was it good enough for you to consider going again?

morehtml wrote in post #9449370
Shots were good all around the platform, most much better than the photo 'blind'. No reason to be stuck in 1 place in the 'blind' when the animals don't care. The blind just looks direct at the falls. People arrive at different times during the day so it was not crowded. Yea I'd go again send me your tickets!

Haven't bought my tickets yet. Still trying to decide if it worth only going up for two days. Thank you for the info.