The Northern Lights were truly mesmerizing, showcasing nature's beauty at its finest.
Terence M.
My fifth excursion with Dave — and once again, it did not disappoint.
Janet B.
I strongly recommend Dave for photography trips with an element of adventure.
Ann T.
Alaska Range Aurora Photography Workshop
April 3-7, 2027
For many, seeing and photographing the northern lights or aurora borealis is a life goal… and it should be!
I’m offering this aurora itinerary for the second year that will carry us from the interior Alaska city of Fairbanks to the eastern Alaska Range where we’ll base from the beautiful Black Rapids Lodge. This spectacular location has dramatic mountains, glaciers, ice caves, and access to both the north and south side of the mountains, optimizing the chances for clear skies.
Daytime explorations will focus on the rugged mountains and glaciers of the Alaska Range, while each night we’ll head out to hunt for the aurora borealis, as it swirls above the snow-covered peaks.
Food at the lodge is excellent, the rooms are comfortable, and cozy nooks, couches, and firesides offer perfect places to kick back with a good book during downtime.
Join me on this winter adventure in Alaska!
Scheduled Workshops
3-7 April, 2027
$4200/person double occupancy ($500 single supplement)
Trip Overview
South and east of Fairbanks lies the dramatic mountains of the eastern Alaska Range, an ideal place for landscape photography. Over 100 miles from the nearest population center, there is no light pollution to speak of, and with mountains and glaciers as our foreground there are few places better for the northern lights.
Our home will be at the Black Rapids Lodge, an elegant place, perched on a hill above the Delta River. With comfortable rooms, good food, a blazing fireplace, and many cozy nooks to curl up with a good book, this is a great place to base our adventure. From the deck or your room window, you’ll be afforded views across the frozen river valley to the snow covered peaks of the mountains. Nearby lie glaciers, ice caves, and mind-blowing mountains.
This photo workshop is an opportunity to spend five days and four nights receiving one-on-one photography instruction and feedback from professional photographer David W. Shaw. On the workshop, you’ll take your image-making to a new level with creative photo exercises, technical assistance, and post-processing demonstrations.
"This was my fifth excursion with Dave, my third Aurora trip with him, and once again it did not disappoint. We were very lucky to get a spectacular and unforgettable sky show our very first night. I stayed at the Lodge at Black Rapids and absolutely loved it there — the lodge was warm and cozy, the views were spectacular, and the food was absolutely delicious."
Janet B.
Itinerary
Day 1
Plan to arrive in Fairbanks the day before the trip begins. Mid-morning on Day 1, I will pick you up from your chosen hotel and we will head off for the Black Rapids Lodge. It’s a 3-4 hour drive, but we will take our time, have lunch along the way, and stop for many photos as the mountains draw closer and closer. We’ll arrive in the early afternoon, have time to settle in, take a walk on the local trails, or just kick back and look at the view. After dinner, we’ll head out for our first aurora hunt!
Day 2-4
With 3 full days to explore, we’ll get to check out the nearby ice caves, photograph the peaks of the wild Delta Range and enjoy some time to kick back at the lodge in front of the fire with a good book. We’ll head out each evening to search for the northern lights. There will be workshop sessions in post-processing, composition, night photography and other topics.
Day 5
We’ll make a mid-morning departure from the lodge, and turn our wheels back toward Fairbanks. We plan to arrive in the early to mid-afternoon, in time for late afternoon or evening flights back home, or to set off on independent adventures.
- 4 nights lodging at Black Rapids Lodge
- All meals during the workshop
- Ground transportation between Fairbanks and Black Rapids Lodge
- One-on-one photography instruction from David
- Nightly aurora-hunting excursions
- Workshop sessions in post-processing, composition, and night photography
- Flights to and from Fairbanks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips
- Travel Insurance — strongly recommended. You can compare plans at Squaremouth.
- Personal camera gear
Will we actually see the aurora?
No guide can guarantee the northern lights — they depend on solar activity and clear skies, both outside anyone’s control. That said, I have an excellent track record: every aurora trip I’ve led has resulted in successful sightings and photography. Black Rapids’ location, far from city lights, and access to both the north and south side of the Alaska Range gives us excellent odds, and we’ll go out hunting every clear night of the trip.
What if it’s cloudy the whole trip?
Black Rapids Lodge sits in the middle of a mountain range, which means we often have a shot at clearing skies on one side even when the other is socked in. Daytime, we’ll be photographing the mountains and glaciers regardless of aurora conditions, so cloudy nights don’t mean a wasted trip — but I won’t pretend that weather is something I can control.
What gear do I need for aurora photography?
You’ll want a camera capable of manual exposure control and a fast wide-angle lens (f/2.8 or faster is ideal) for the night sky, plus a sturdy tripod — handheld aurora shots don’t work. A second lens with more reach is useful for the mountain and glacier photography during the day. I’ll send a complete packing list when you book, and I’m happy to answer specific gear questions. If you’d like to get your eyes on the packing list, you can also find it HERE.
Do I need aurora photography experience?
No. This trip is rated easy fitness and is built for photographers of all experience levels. I’ll walk you through camera settings, composition, and technique for night photography as part of the workshop sessions.
How cold will it be?
Interior Alaska in late winter is genuinely cold, especially at night when we’re out shooting. Nighttime temperatures will vary from -15F to +20F, and daytime temps will likely be in the teens to twenties. I’ll provide guidance on appropriate layering and gear when you book. And high quality winter gear is available for rent from several outfitters in Fairbanks.
How late do we stay out for the aurora?
It depends on the activity. On a strong night, we’ll often be out until 1-3am chasing the best displays — the northern lights don’t run on a schedule, and the best show of the trip can easily happen well after midnight. Expect some genuinely late nights, with time to rest the following day.
When should I arrive in Fairbanks, and when can I book my return flight?
Plan to arrive in Fairbanks the day before the trip starts (lodging that night is not included, so you’ll need to book your own). For departure, we expect to be back in Fairbanks in the early-to-mid afternoon on Day 5, so booking a late afternoon or evening flight home should give you a safe buffer.
Aurora Gallery
