© Meghan Kelly
With Michael Snedic and David Burren
11-23 June 2017
Join us on this 12-day photographic adventure in the Russian Far East. We travel by small expedition ship, exploring the wildlife and scenery of the Sea of Okhotsk.
The Sea of Okhotsk is a northwestern arm of the Pacic Ocean, lying between Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s Hokkaido island. This is a seldom-visited but amazingly-rich region. We expect to see many hundreds of thousands of animals, including mammals such as whales, bears, many seals (including Ringed, Ribbon, Larga, and Bearded along with Sea- lions) but in sheer numbers mostly birds. As well as the many species of sea-birds along the coast, the forests ashore will also yield other species.
We will have 10 photographers on this expedition, being led by two professional nature photographers and tutors: Michael Snedic and David Burren. As we travel around the sea, we will be photographing from our ship, from Zodiacs, and from land.
Photographers of all experience levels are welcome. Michael and David will be guiding you and supporting your photography during the expedition. Not just in taking photographs in the eld, but also in reviewing and re ning your photos along the way using software such as Adobe Lightroom.
Contact Michael Snedic directly
on +61 408 941 965
© J E Ross
© M Kelly
Your photography leaders
On this expedition you will have access every day to two professional nature photographers and instructors. Michael and David are there to help you photograph the stunning scenery and wildlife we will encounter. We will be conducting a series of classes throughout the voyage, as well
as being on-hand throughout the outings.
As full-time professionals, Michael and David are both accredited members of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP). As well as being experienced photographers they’re both experienced photographic tutors, and regularly run workshops together.
Michael Snedic
Michael is an experienced (20-years) and widely published photographer, writer and photo expedition leader. His photography articles and images have featured in numerous publications in Australia and across the world.
Michael is owner of WildNature Photo Expeditions and presents exciting photography workshops and tours to many wonderful photographic and travel destinations. He is also an Australian Ambassador for both Lowepro and LensCoat. Michael loves sharing his photographic knowledge and passion with workshop participants, helping them improve their photographic skills.
David Burren AAIPP AAPS
David has been photographing since the 1970s (professionally since 2002). As well as winning awards for his photography, and teaching the eld craft to hundreds of people, his IT background has provided important tools in managing the photography work flow.
He is an Adobe Certi ed Expert, and has spent years teaching Photoshop and Lightroom at a tertiary level and to individuals and groups. As the principal of LuminOdyssey Photo Expeditions, David regularly conducts photographic workshops and tours to destinations around Australia and the globe.
Itinerary:
Day 0 (11 June)
We start in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Before 1945 this area was part of Japan, and the pagoda-roofed building which is now the Regional Museum was the centre of Japanese administration. Yuz-Sak is an interesting mixture of Soviet-era architecture, mixed history and the surrounding wilderness.
We meet up at our hotel for a final briefing. Depending on when you arrive we can take advantage of the day to explore this remote corner of Russia.
Day 1
We travel to the port of Korsakov and board our ship the Spirit of Enderby. As we sail into the Sea of Okhotsk and head north we settle in to ship-board life.
Day 2 – Tyuleniy Island
This island is a stronghold of Northern Fur Seals and Steller’s Sea-lions. Conditions-permitting we will be photographing these animals from land as well as sea.
Day 3 – Pil’tun Bay
Pil’tun Bay is an important habitat for Western Grey Whales, which we will be searching for by Zodiac.
Days 4 – Iony Island
This tiny rock in the middle of the Sea of Okhotsk is covered in birds, with sea-lions thrown in for good measure to fill the gaps. There’s no room for us to land, but we expect to photograph guillemots, kittiwakes, and various species of auklet (and sea-lions of course).
Day 5-6 – Shantar Archipelago
This group of islands is in the western corner of the Sea of Okhotsk, and is the last place to thaw out in summer. While the ice can restrict where we go, it does increase our chances of seeing seals, especially the iconic Ribbon Seal.
Days 7 – Mal’minskie Islands
Another birding hot-spot, this is a breeding location for many species. Spectacled, Common and Brünnich’s Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Rhinoceros, Crested and Parakeet Auklet, Horned and Tufted Puffin: the list goes on. Of course this also supports a population of Steller’s Sea-eagles. As well as exploring the islands from the water and landing in the one permitted location, we also get to explore the taiga forest on the mainland.
Days 8 – Okhotsk Town
Today we get to meet the locals and absorb some culture in this historically-important town. Today it’s the centre of the region’s fishing industry.
Day 9 – Talan Island
Talan is famous as a breeding site for hundreds of thousands of Crested Auklets, along with Black-legged Kittiwakes and Steller’s Sea-eagles. We explore the island by sea and by land. In the evening the huge flocks of Crested Auklets gather at sea before coming ashore.
Days 10 – Koni Peninsula
This mountainous region is part of the Magadanskiy Zapovednik Reserve, and on our landings along the coast we hope to nd animals such as Brown Bear.
Days 11 – Yamskiye Islands
No landings are permitted here, but we Zodiac around the coast of these islands which are claimed to hold the largest bird colony in the North Pacific (the largest island has 7 million nesting birds). This will include at least guillemots, auklets, puffins, and fulmars.
Day 12 (23 June) – Magadan
This morning we arrive in the city of Magadan, and leave the Spirit of Enderby behind. We leave our luggage at our hotel before heading out with a local ornithologist on an optional tour to Olskaya Lagoon (a bird staging area on the East Palaearctic flyway) to get our last wildlife fix. The following morning we head to the airport to start our homeward journeys.
© A Terauds Wrangel
© Heritage Expeditions
© A R Russ Auklets
© M Kelly
© M Kelly
© N Russ Steller
Health and Fitness
Anyone in normal good health can join us on this adventure. There are no special fitness requirements, although we will be often climbing into and out of the in atable Zodiac boats, and walking on shore.
The ship has a doctor and basic medical facilities on board. If you have specic health concerns or dietary requirements the staff at Heritage will be able to help.
© Heritage Expeditions
Our Ship
Heritage Expeditions’ Spirit of Enderby is a great small expedition ship. The ship regularly visits both polar regions and is a very capable vessel. She also has plenty of vantage points for scenic and wildlife photography from all around the ship.
The ship will also have non-photographer passengers (she takes up to 50 in total) and while we will be mingling with them and sharing the ship and the general expedition experience, the photographic advice/instruction will be for our group. On outings we usually operate as a group with dedicated Zodiacs. LuminOdyssey works closely with the Heritage expedition team throughout (and before) the voyage to optimise operations on both sides to help everyone.
© M Kelly
Inclusions
- Photography tuition throughout the expedition.
- Transfer from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk hotel to ship, and to Magadan on completion of the voyage.
- Shipboard accommodation.
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners onboard.
Coffee, tea, cocoa available around the clock. - All ship-based excursions.
- Pre- and post-departure materials.
Exclusions
- Airfares and other travel expenses to/from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk/Magadan.
- Hotels in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Magadan.
- Optional Magadan birding (approx US$90).
- Passport/visa expenses. We provide assistance with Russian visa paperwork, but you’re responsible for the actual visa.
- Personal/travel insurance coverage.
Heritage will discuss with you the required insurance coverage (due to the remoteness of our destination). - Onboard bar, laundry, and telecommunications charges. Internet access is not available onboard.
Prices
The trip is being put together with our partners at Heritage Expeditions in Christchurch, and they take care of the bookings and travel arrangements for us, while we run the photography program.
Do note that these prices are the same as for booking this voyage directly with Heritage. We’ve managed to arrange a deal where by booking as part of our group you essentially get access to our photography program for free!
There are a variety of cabin classes, mostly twin- share cabins. Your choice of berth/cabin type directly impacts the price of your ticket.
The twin-berth cabins can be reserved as single cabins for 1.8x the standard price. There’s also a mandatory charge of US$500 per person to cover local fee payments.
| Main deck triple: | US$6,700 |
| Main deck: | US$7,800 |
| Superior: | US$8,300 |
| Superior Plus: | US$9,000 |
| Mini Suite: | US$9,400 |
| Heritage Suite: | US$10,300 |
These prices are in US dollars per berth. A 25% deposit is required to secure your place.
How to book
To reserve your place, to get onto the waitlist once it’s booked (there are often cancellations in the long lead- up to these expeditions) or just to ask more questions about the workshop, contact Michael or David:
Contact
Michael Snedic: Contact Form or call +61 408 941 965.
