National Geographic Expedition in Alaska with photographer Susan Seubert

Being on board any National Geographic Expedition ship is a magnificent experience for myriad reasons, not the least of which is the incredible staff of naturalists.  It’s wonderful to be having a nice cup of tea and listening to a talk about whales, then glancing out the window and seeing the very animal being discussed in its natural habitat, just off to the side of the ship.  This type of expedition travel also happens to be fantastic for photography.  The captain and the expedition leader make it a priority to take us to the most beautiful places. Their keen local knowledge all but guarantees an enormous amount of wildlife sighting, which makes for fantastic picture-taking opportunities.

Last August, I was invited to be the National Geographic Photography Expert on board the National Geographic Sea Bird for the expedition to Alaska’s Inside Passage.  Every day was packed with great opportunities to see wildlife, such as humpback whales and bears, experience unbelievable landscapes and, using their fleet of zodiacs, get up close and personal to calving glaciers. Here are a few pictures from our first full day on board.  I hope this gives a flavor of what it’s like to travel with National Geographic and I encourage you to join us for one of our many adventures throughout the world.

The National Geographic Sea Bird docked in Juneau –  Canon 5D Mark III + 24-105mm

Our first glacier! This is the South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm Fjord. Photographed with a – Canon 5D Mark III + 70-200mm

The glacial ice is incredibly blue. We were here on an overcast day and the colors were just amazing – Canon 5D Mark III + 70-200mm lens

Along the steep walls of the Tracy Arm Fjord, we were treated to a small herd of Mountain Goats with their yearlings, grazing just few hundred yards from our zodiac – Canon 7D + 70-300mm lens

I can’t think of any place else that will deliver hot chocolate to your zodiac while waiting to witness calving glaciers – Canon 5D Mark III + a 24-105mm lens

As we were transiting out of Tracy Arm Fjord, we came across this black bear, foraging for food along the water’s edge. The colors of the water and foliage really stand out against the black fur of this animal. Canon 7D + 70-300mm lens

Later that afternoon, a wet landing at Williams Cove took us to the pristine rain forest.  These colorful mushrooms were everywhere – Canon 5D Mark III + 24-105mm lens

In a couple of weeks, I am heading next to Central America with National Geographic Expeditions, where we’ll be in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, then on board the National Geographic Sea Lion which will take us down the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and Panama to explore the parks that are filled with wildlife, and, for the grand finale, a transit through the Panama Canal.  See you on board!