Update from the Field – Marine Wildlife of Alaska: Kenai Fjords

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick update from the field as we just had a rather epic Photo Safari out on the water in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska!

We have just finished the trip and the wildlife was exceptional – early June is the best time of year for many species of wildlife in the deep fjords off the Kenai Peninsula and mountain range.

This year was nothing short of incredible.

We were able to capture high quality images of lunge feed Humpback Whales, Orcas in FULL BREACH out of water and probably the best images of Stellar Sea Lions I’ve ever had the opportunity to capture. Aside from that we saw well over 100 Bald Eagles along the Turnagain Arm, literally hundreds of Harbor Seals floating on icebergs in Northwestern Fjord and some great captures of both Horned & Tufted Puffins in flight.

We also had the chance to photograph Porpoises, Fin Whales, Kittiwakes, Oyster Catchers, Cormorants, Mountain Goats, Bears and more.

The weather was socked-in and cloudy with a bit of rain the first day and then brilliant & sunny today out on the water of Resurrection Bay most of the trip  – the snow-capped peaks of Kenai Fjords were absolutely breathtaking against the green-blue Alaskan waters. Plenty of Halibut fisherman out but not many tourists this time of year (except us photographers!)

Below are some of the first images from this trip with many more to come. If you are interested in a unique on-the-water Safari join us next year on our signature Marine Wildlife of Alaska: Kenai Fjords Photo Trip.

Russ Nordstrand

Russ Nordstrand is an award winning Landscape & Wildlife Photographer based in Flagstaff, Arizona. His Fine Art Prints are hanging in private collections throughout the world and he runs Photography Tours & Workshops in the most beautiful and inspirtational locations in the Western United States and beyond.

Russ has been hiking, backpacking, photographing and guiding people in the wilderness areas, deserts, canyons and mountains of the world since 1997. He has logged thousands of miles on the trail and for many years in the past decade over half of his nights were spent in a tent in some far flung outdoor destination.