Finland Photo Tour- January 4 – 10, 2026

May 20, 2025

Join award winning photographer and international tour leader, Denise Ippolito for a Finland photo tour in January. I will be joined by legendary landscape photographer Christian Høiberg and internationally acclaimed tour leader Kah-Wai Lin .

During this tour we will visit some of the best locations in the world for winter wonderland photos. This will be the first time I am visiting, so I am going to be well armed with drivers, helpers, award winning photo guides and photo instructors (all very knowledgeable about these specific locations) and I have worked with them all in the past and they are a great team. Plus, I am also hiring two specialized local guides to join us on one of our excursions so that we can make the most of our time there. I am really looking forward to this adventure. I hope you can join me.

Dates: January 4-10, 2026

Price per person: US$4700. based on double occupancy, Single supplement: US$750

Limit: 8 – 10 participants, Exact times and details will be provided to all via an additional information sheet once we get our entire group together.

All locations require a fair bit of walking. There are trails that are easy to follow. Everyone can move around and decide for themselves how much walking they want to do. There will be plenty of assistants to help if needed. At Kuntivaara no walking is required, but if you choose to explore the options are endless. All locations are huge! So we can spread out across several kilometers if we want.

If a geomagnetic storm is in progress, aurora photography will be possible. Its a bit south of the aurora oval, but it is still possible from our locations and our guides have photographed the aurora there several times.

Temperatures range from -5 to -35 degrees Celsius. So, basically you need thick down jackets, snow pants, warm boots (I’ll wear my Arctic Muck boots), basically everything you need for cold weather photography. If you have been to Norway or Japan in the winter this trip will be similar but slightly colder. It will not be wet or windy, and that is a plus for photography.

Snowshoes are available for rent if needed.

Included:

Ground transportation

Hotel Accommodations

Entrance fees to all sites

Snow mobile transport to Kuntivaara

Two professional local guides to Kuntivaara

Award winning photography instruction

Snacks and warm drinks at Kuntivaara

Not included:

Airfare to and from Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)

Meals and drinks

Personal items and laundry.

Deposit Information:
A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 due at sign up. Final payments are due July 30, 2025. Full payments are always welcomed.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS TOUR CLICK HERE.

All photos in this post are courtesy of my guides.

Coastal Brown Bear with Cubs ~ June 14-21, 2026 ANNOUNCED!

May 14, 2025

Coastal Brown Bear with Cubs
A Creative Adventure Workshop
June 14-21, 2016- $8999.

Join Donna Bourdon and Harold Klein on a spectacular adventure to Katmai National Park, AK to photograph Coastal Brown Bears with cubs. June is prime time for viewing and making images of small, young milk-laced mouth cubs. In addition to making portraits of both adults and cubs, we hope to photograph the wrestling youngsters and the tender nursing scenes. At this time of year the bears are either grazing in lush grass or clamming. There will also be some two- and three-year old cubs to add to the fun. And we will get to photograph it all!

Itinerary-

June 14th-arrive via float plane from Kodiak to Katmai (where our yacht will be mooring)

The float plane will pick everyone up from the Best Western Kodiak Inn - departure time from the hotel is 8:00am. It is best to arrive the night before or even two nights prior to the start of the trip - this is Alaska and fog is an issue for flights-so be prepared. The float plane trip is not included in the price and runs approximately $850.00 for the round trip fare. It is about a 45 minute flight (those suffering from motion sickness should be fine, as I (Denise) never get sick on this flight and I suffer terribly from motion sickness. I also never got sick on the boat. I think because it is anchored just off-shore in relatively calm waters. And we get off the boat frequently.

We should have time for an afternoon photoshoot with the bears on our first day.

Our daily schedule: June 15-20th

Just after breakfast (when the fog usually lifts) we will travel by skiff to just outside the shore area - which requires about 250 feet of walking in water, wearing hip waders (provided by the boat). You will need to carry your equipment. In the past we have only had a few times where this was difficult and everyone helped each other. Some women were in their 80’s when they did this, so it is not too hard, but you need to have decent balance to walk in the water with your gear. You can place your camera gear in a dry bag/backpack for safety if you need to. The water is usually knee deep.

Once on shore, we walk with the bears and photograph for around 3-4 hours depending on the action/weather/light. Our knowledgeable guide will assist everyone along with Donna and Harold--both have done this trip multiple times. After our adventure we will return to the boat for a delicious dinner together.

Each day we will have 2 outings, sometimes we will be photographing on land, and other times from the skiff depending on location/conditions. As we continue to explore parts of the Katmai Wilderness, each new day will unfold unique photography situations. The beauty of Alaska will keep you coming back year after year; it just seeps into your soul. Photoshop, Lightroom, image review, gear assistance will be done on our downtime.

*There should be time in between our outings to photograph from the boat, both landscapes and marine life. There will also be time to fish for halibut for those interested, you will need to get a permit ahead of time.

June 21st- the last day

Early morning photo shoot - typically on land, then we will pack up our gear and get ready for the float plane pick up which is usually late morning/early afternoon to fly us back to Kodiak.

I recommend booking a night’s stay at the Best Western in Kodiak after our trip as there can be delays with weather, high seas, fog, etc… This will make your flight home a more relaxed experience.

*This itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions, weather and boat captain.

Included:

All accommodations onboard the yacht

All meals and beverages

Guide fees

Permits for Katmai NP

Hip wader rentals

Daily transport from boat to shore

Shared accommodation- 2 per room, no single supplements available

Not Included:

Airfare to Kodiak

Float Plane

Hotel bookings before/after trip

Excess baggage fees

Alcoholic beverages, laundry or personal items. (Laundry is available at a fee)

Tips for crew (approximately $300pp)

Any emergency services, if needed.

*A detailed PDF will be sent to all participants with all logistics, gear and clothing suggestions. This trip needs a minimum of 8 -please don’t make any flight arrangements until we have reached our minimum.

Deposit Information: A non-refundable deposit of $2,000. Final payments are due February 10, 2026. Final payments are via check or wire transfer only. If paying via wire transfer- fees for both ends of the transfer are your responsibility. Credit cards will not be accepted for any payment other than deposit. Full payments are always welcomed via check or wire transfer. All checks made payable to: Denise Ippolito LLC.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

*Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Puma, Patagonia
Shot with the Sony 400-800mm lens @800mm, this is a huge crop that was done intentionally to show you that the lens is sharp—yet not to be compared to a prime lens—imho.

My Thoughts on the Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 lens

May 12, 2025

**This is not meant to be a technical lens review—but rather my thoughts on whether or not I will be using the lens in the future.

I recently borrowed the Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 lens from my good friends at B&H photos for my Patagonia trip. I wanted to use the lens in place of the Sony 200-600mm lens because I wanted the additional reach to shoot the pumas with and I heard it was sharp at 800mm. I also thought I could put the lens to the test in the field and get a good idea of whether or not to add it to my lens line up. I’ll be referring to the two lenses as the 2-6 and the 4-8 from now on to save time.

So, after shooting and carrying around the 4-8, I would like to share my thoughts on why I won’t be keeping the lens. AND the good features about the lens for those of you that are considering purchasing one.

The 4-8 is a bit heavier than the 2-6 BUT it also has 200mm more reach. it does not use the same replacement foot as the 2-6, it uses the SF-04 by Leofoto. I needed to use a plate since I didn’t have time to get the new foot before I left. I like to carry my lens by the foot as I never use a strap.

The lens is an f/6.3 to f/8, it starts off at f/6.3 then jumps quickly to an f/8 at 600mm’s. The 2-6 that I already own is an f/6.3 at 600 mm’s. I’m not fond of the backgrounds when using the f/6.3 but they are manageable in terms of softness but with the f/8 unless you are shooting with sky, water, distant backgrounds, against the snow or soft backdrops your images can look kind of documentary and that does not appeal to my style of photography. Also, to maintain a decent shutter speed at f/8 you need to crank your ISO. That hurt me in the field when the light was low. It’s unfortunate because the lens is priced very reasonably (I did hear that it just jumped up $500.00 since I got it) AND the additional reach is very nice and comes in handy for wildlife and birds.

I like the internal zoom just as the 2-6 has and I liked the feel of the lens in my hands. I handheld it, used a tripod, and shot action and portraits. I climbed around rough terrain up and down and never felt the lens was a burden. My images at 800mm were sharper than I had expected. I think they would have been sharper if I could have used a lower ISO.

My action shots with 4-8 using my Sony A1 body were fine. But I did not shoot any birds in flight so I can’t completely speak to that. When I used the crop factor in my camera my action shots were not quite as sharp. It could have been the wind as we struggled with high winds during the trip on quite a few of the days.

Overall, the lens is decent for the money. I can see it being a viable lens for many photographers. I can’t help but think after this trip that a 600mm prime lens will be back on the table for me…

If you have any thoughts to share, please leave them in the comments so that others can benefit from your experiences. Thanks.

*And PS-I have no skin in the game here.

New Team Member ~ Harold Klein

May 8, 2025

I am pleased to announce that the newest member of our team is Harold Klein. Please join me and the team in welcoming Harold. His technical background, love for innovation and his ability to share that knowledge along with his passion for the great outdoors makes him a perfect fit.

Harold has been a part owner in the West Yellowstone Camera Store for the past 5 years. He has been leading photographic adventures from Brazil to Alaska. When he was not busy helping folks figure out camera issues in the store he was out leading photographic adventures from Brazil to Alaska. Not to mention, leading guided photographic trips into Yellowstone National Park both during the day and at night.

Harold has joined me in Bosque, Katmai, Patagonia, and the Falkland Islands- where we first hashed up this idea. He has been terrific in the field and most helpful to clients with their gear and laptops.

Plans are underway for another Bear Boat trip to Alaska! Yippee! Harold was on “Chuck Keim’s old boat” with me many years ago but has been working closely with the new owners on their new luxury boat for years. Both he and Donna are looking forward to getting the trip together…stay tuned for more details, as it will be announced soon. I may even have to join this adventure! SIGN UP HERE!

To read more about Harold and to get to know him a bit more check out his bio HERE.

Patagonia Trip Report

May 1, 2025

I arrived in Santiago 2 days before my trip start date. I like to have a break from the two flights required for me to get to Punta Arenas from New York. I usually fly out of JFK to get a non-stop flight to Santiago. The hotel in Santiago is convenient and familiar. In the morning after a nice rest, I fly to Punta Arenas. I know I could fly directly to Punta Arenas or even Puerto Natales with a Santiago layover but again, it’s all part of the slower pace I like to set for myself on longer journeys.

Once I got to Punta Arenas, I walked around by the water, had a leisurely dinner and spent the night. In the morning, we headed out on our road trip to Torres de Paine. We stopped midway for a nice lunch and a cappuccino.

The group was a good one. Lots of returning clients that have become friends over the years. Donna Bourdon, Beverly Still, Harold Klein, Kitty Kono, Craig Elson and his beautiful wife Lisa who did a lot of hiking, Diane Crowe, Frances Fuji and her husband Tom. Tom is not a photographer, but I think he enjoyed spending time in the field with the group. We all enjoyed cocktail hour and our wonderful dinners, not to mention our double desserts!! Our guides were all fabulous as were the hotel staff. Actually, everyone along the way was wonderful. Chile is a beautiful country, and the people are always so nice.

One of my first up-close experiences with puma (mountain lion) in Chile was inside Torres del Paine NP many years ago. We hiked up a moderately sloped mountain to observe and hopefully photograph a female puma named “Rupestre.” She was on a mission to get back to her kill. Our guide told us that she had taken down a guanaco earlier and was going back to feed on it.

When puma leave their prey, they cover it so that birds and other animals don’t get to it. It also helps to protect the meat from the sun. The behavior is interesting to watch as they maneuver their giant paws over debris and dirt to cover the kill.

As we made our way up the mountain it was amazing to see how easily she managed the terrain. Her strides were consistent, and she moved at a remarkable pace— we had zero chance of keeping up with her, but we were able to maintain a safe distance and still keep her in our sight.

Once we reached the top, we photographed her as she fed on the guanaco. She didn’t eat much; it seemed more like she was just checking on her kill but had a few bites just for good measure. After she was done, she covered the remaining meal and quietly waked away.

It was a heart beating moment to see a puma at close range. It was also a day I’ll never forget. Her intense eyes and heart-shaped nose were highlighted by her golden toned coat. The shades of grey on her face made her a standout beauty. It was love at first sight for me. I’ve been hooked on big cats ever since. My quest to photograph these large cats in their natural environment has been a dream come true.

I’ve had the good fortune to see and photograph both Rupestre and four of her cubs when they were first brought out of their den. I’ve also returned to watch as the young cubs have grown and now have families of their own. My favorite daughter is Dania, she reminds me of her mother at an early age. Dania now has two beautiful cubs approximately 4 months old.

On our last evening in Patagonia, we saw Rupestre, she looked thin, her eyes were filled with bugs, she had more scars than I had seen on my last visit. She looked worn down and tired. It was a somber glance that my guide and I shared. We have both loved this puma for years. His words to me… “she looks old” cut me like a knife. I knew he was right, and I nodded to him in agreement. I took comfort in the fact that I just spent time with two of her offspring; they were both healthy and thriving.

One of Rupestre’s daughters (Dania) with her two cubs. The cubs have not been named yet.
I focus stacked this image using one focus point on the back cub and one on the mother to get them all in focus.

My first Guanaco chase at a close distance. This was at 800mm and cropped lightly.

After taking down a Guanaco, Coiron rested for quite awhile before sitting up.

I look forward to another adventure with the puma in Patagonia. It is truly a unique experience. Plans are underway for a 2027 return trip. All of my pumas shots were captured with the Sony A1 and the Sony 400-800mm lens.

On one of our last days of the photo tour we stopped along the road to photograph a medium sized stand of dead trees that were burned during the fire of 2011-2012. One person trying to light toilet paper set the massive fire leaving behind an acres and acres of destruction.

The stand of trees had some underbrush growth of autumnal colors. It actually looked really pretty with the fall colors and white stick trees all grouped together. I began looking for compositions using the mountain as a backdrop. Then a large truck went down the road kicking up all kinds of dust and dirt. They are doing some road construction inside the park. The dust entered the field of dead trees creating a fog-like background. It looked magical with the light coming into the frame from the top. I spent most of my time there playing around with the fake fog, so I didn’t get a lot of time to capture any in-camera blurs as I had initially intended. But I was very pleased with some of my shots from that quick stop.

For this shot I waited until some of the dust settled and tried to create a slight silhouette.

In Photoshop, I used several different blend mode, then brought it into Nik Color Efex to add some filtering.

Everywhere you look in Torres del Paine NP you are surrounded by mountains and peaks, towers and glaciers, blue/green lagoons and lakes, it can take your breath away. There is just too much to photograph and while you are there you feel pulled in all different directions trying to capture everything.

We got some snow on the mountains overnight, my initial thought was to capture a B&W of the scene, but the blur color tones appealed to me.

I wrote some of my thoughts down regarding the Sony 400-800mm lens after using the lens (almost exclusively) during my trip. I will share that in my next blog post, along with some of my other shots from the trip.

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