Dear Friends and Fellow Photographers,

I’m thrilled to share the exhilarating experience of photographing one of nature’s most majestic raptors—the Steller’s sea eagle—amidst the breathtaking pack ice off Hokkaido’s northern coast. There is nothing like joining a Hokkaido photography tour, it's the wildlife birding, adventure of a lifetime. 

Imagine the scene: a frosty dawn, our ship gently navigating the drifting ice, the air crisp and filled with anticipation. Suddenly, from the swirling mists and icy blue landscape, these magnificent eagles appear—wings outstretched, eyes sharp, every feather illuminated by the golden light. With a body length of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) and an extraordinary wingspan that can reach 2.5 meters (over 8 feet), Steller’s sea eagles are among the largest and most powerful raptors on Earth. Sharing this icy stage are the impressive white-tailed eagles, nearly as large, boasting a wingspan of up to 2.4 meters (about 7.9 feet) and a body length of up to 94 centimeters (3.1 feet). These regal birds also use the pack ice as their winter fishing platform, diving and swooping with breathtaking precision. Each moment is a spectacle, an opportunity to capture the raw power and grace of these incredible raptors as they hunt and soar over the frozen sea.

This experience is not just about witnessing these raptors; it’s also an immersive hands-on photography workshop. With me as your workshop leader, you'll have the chance to improve your skills in photographing not only these awe-inspiring eagles, but also and never ending list of other wildlife that thrive in Hokkaido's winter landscape. Whether you're aiming for dynamic action shots of raptors fishing from the ice or intimate portraits of the other creatures that call this place home, I’ll be there to provide personalized instruction and support. The ever-changing ice floes create a dramatic backdrop, and the proximity to the birds means you’ll have unparalleled opportunities for both close-ups and wide environmental shots. Together, we’ll tackle the unique challenges of photographing from a moving vessel in the cold, ensuring you leave with both incredible memories and images to match.