Category Archive

The world lost a wonderful photographer, tour leader, and human recently with the passing of Charles “Chas” Glatzer.

When I received the news, I could look outside the window of the bear lodge where I was staying and see the spot where I last saw Chas. It was the place where our groups shared the above-pictured bear. In typical Chas fashion, he shared a “secret” bear with us and even offered to send me some of his Super Gloves.

I first got to “know” Chas in the ‘90s as I started to ramp up my passion for photography. At the same time, the internet was becoming a thing, and I began interacting with Chas on the nature forums at photo.net, then NPN, NSN, and finally on social media. In those early years, Chas would share his experiences from his days printing images and from his time photographing a public aquarium near his home. I learned so much from him over the years, especially during those early days when all I wanted to do was learn. It was fun to follow Chas’s career from those early days of the internet to today, when he was widely considered a master photographer and an exceptional tour leader. Chas was always gracious with his knowledge. I finally met him in person in 2003 in Homer.

Name a photographer, and my mind immediately goes to a particular image. For Chas, it is a wonderful image of a bull moose photographed from a bridge in Jasper National Park. He created many beautiful images, but that photograph—and the story behind it—is still the first thing that comes to mind.

Rest in peace, Chas. You will be missed

June is almost here – getting excited for another year of Alaska bears! It should be a good year for cubs, fingers crossed!

Finally I’m caught up on my editing and adjusting – had never been so far behind. So, have lots of images that I haven’t shared here to share over the next few weeks. Sow and two cubs from Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

I spend pretty much all summer in Alaska around bears. That said, I was surprised to travel to Arizona at the beginning of September and run into a bear! This is a black bear at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, Arizona. It was checking out the bird feeders for food.

I have an unexpected cancellation opening up a cabin for a single traveler or couple on my Inside Passage Alaska Bear and Whale trip. We usually see lots of whales and bears, but so much more including stunning tide water glaciers, all on the very comfortable 87 foot classic wooden yacht. For more information, check out our website: Alaska Photo Tours.

Also, for the first time ever I still have a bit of space on my Alaska Bear and Puffin trip. This isn’t a tent camping trip, no we return each day to a very comfortable lodge with amazing food! But the real highlight is the bears, and based on all the mating activity I saw last year, we should have a number of spring cubs this year as well!

There are two amazing location in which I have been guiding photo tours to for more than 15 years.