
© Brad Josephs
Encounter Alaska’s giant grizzlies on Bears of Brooks Falls Photo Expedition. You’ll photograph these enormous brown bears in the golden glow of autumn as they congregate in Brooks Falls, gorging themselves on salmon in preparation for their long winter’s sleep. This immersive adventure is designed with the experienced nature photographer in mind. You’ll visit Brooks Falls during the off-season when tourists are few but plenty of bears remain and get iconic shots of wildlife under the expert guidance of our Expedition Leaders. Capture exhilarating images and build your portfolio through daily workshops and coaching in post-processing and editing techniques. You’ll leave this in-depth expedition with exceptional photographs and remarkable memories of your time with the world’s largest coastal grizzlies.
Enjoy this roundup of some of our favorite photographs of brown bears feasting on the bounty of the summer salmon runs, taken by Nat Hab travelers and guides in Brooks Falls and Katmai National Park. Also featured are some outstanding entries from our Wildlife Photo Contests of years past.

© Drew Hamilton

© Mona Wong

© Benjamin Spalding

Red-legged gulls are often found waiting for brown bears to catch salmon and later will eat the scraps. © Justin R. Gibson

A perfectly-timed shot. © John Baston

A cub delights in his catch of the day. © Lisa Wakida

© Matt Goddard

A brown bear shakes off water droplets after a day of fishing. © Jennifer Fogle Smith

Salmon isn’t the only sea delicacy giant grizzlies feast on—bears also dig for razor, butter and steamer clams in the tidal flats. © Bruce Faanes

© Tom Gutierrez

Bear claws in the rushing falls create a fascinating focal point. © Drew Hamilton
One of our most seasoned guides, Brad Josephs, is a professional nature photographer and highly trained naturalist who leads Nat Hab’s Bears of Brooks Falls Photo Expedition. Specializing in bear biology and ecology, he has an intimate knowledge of grizzlies and has decades of experience guiding travelers through coastal Alaska to encounter these captivating creatures. Below is a selection of photos Brad has taken over the years of brown bears as they seize spawning salmon from the falls and feed in coastal waters.

© Brad Josephs

© Brad Josephs

An Alaskan brown bear in the fiery light of dawn. © Brad Josephs

© Brad Josephs

© Brad Josephs

Sunrise and sunset create ideal lighting conditions for nature photography. © Brad Josephs

The competition is fierce as two males attempt to capture a succulent salmon. © Brad Josephs

The captivating stare of a bear in Brooks Falls. © Brad Josephs

An entrancing wildlife portrait. © Brad Josephs

Flounder often make their way into freshwater to feed on salmon eggs and carcasses during the spawning season. This was likely this cub’s first catch! © Brad Josephs

A striking wildlife shot in black and white. © Brad Josephs

© Brad Josephs

© Brad Josephs

A thrilling chance encounter with a bear and a bald eagle. © Brad Josephs

What can be found at the end of the rainbow? If you’re in Alaska, it might be a bear! © Brad Josephs

© Brad Josephs
Eager for some photo tips before your Alaska adventure? Be sure to watch Brad’s Daily Dose of Nature, Photographing Bear Behavior: The Quest for Food.