Welcome to the 2024 Alaska magazine photo contest! The Grand prize includes a one-year subscription to Alaska magazine and printed photo in a 2025 edition of Alaska magazine, as well as 2 tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. More details under Rules & Prizes.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists in our 2023 photo contest, 2022 photo contest, 2021 photo contest and 2020 photo contest!
Upload your photos and enter by clicking here. You may upload 3 photos max, and the photos need to be a maximum 2MB.
Title: Follow the Leader
Votes: 15
Category: Wildlife
Views: 555
Description: Took this photo on one of the happiest days of my life. My husband and I decided to do something we had wanted to do for years which was take a flight with Alaska Bear Adventures. We didn't know exactly which location we were going when we got in the plane because of weather, but as the pilot was strapping me in he said "Guess where you're going" to which I replied "Katmai?" because weather seemed slightly better there. But as he shut the door he winked and said "Lake Clark!". I was so excited! I would've been happy no matter what, but I really wanted to go to Lake Clark. It did not disappoint! We estimate we had about 20 brown bears surrounding us that day both clamming on the mudflats and munching on sedge in the field. It was the most truly immersed in nature I have ever felt and will never forget that beautiful July day. This photo was one of the last I took that day. While walking in waders on the mudflats, this beautiful mama and her 3 cubs walked closer and closer to us. We crouched down to not disturbed her and I stayed ready with my camera. I will never forget the sound of her opening the clams with her surprisingly dexterous paws or the squeaks and cries from the 3 cubs wanting to be fed. Eventually she decided to head towards the shore past us and that's when the cubs spread out perfectly and I captured this shot!
