Steve Rubin Photography

06/18/2026

06/16/2026

Some wildlife encounters are easy.

This wasn’t one of them.

To reach these bears in Alaska’s Katmai wilderness, we flew onto a remote beach, suited up in waders, and hiked nearly four miles through mud, tundra, and multiple stream crossings—some of them downright intimidating while carrying camera gear.

But every step was worth it.

We watched bears graze, run across the tundra, dig for clams… and eventually witnessed something I had never seen before.

Let’s just call it…

🐻 Bears making bears. 🐻

Nature is wild, unpredictable, beautiful—and occasionally hilarious.

Have you ever had a wildlife encounter you’ll never forget?

06/12/2026

What I thought would be a simple transfer day from Seward to Homer turned into one of the most memorable days of the entire Alaska trip.

We stopped along the way for what became an incredible bald eagle photography session at Ninilchik, with adults and juveniles flying, fighting over food, and soaring against snow-covered mountains that created some of the most spectacular backdrops I’ve ever photographed.

Getting the shots wasn’t exactly glamorous. I ended up soaked, muddy, and at one point so stuck in the wet sand that I needed help pulling my foot free. As wildlife photographer Steve Perry says, if you didn’t get dirty shooting wildlife, you probably weren’t working hard enough.

Later that evening, we headed back out to Anchor Point for Eagle Hunt #2. Only in Alaska are you still photographing in bright daylight at 8:30 PM.

And then… we found something unexpected on the beach.

Be sure to watch to the end for the official diagnosis from our Alaska medical team. 😄

🦅 Ninilchik & Anchor Point, Alaska
📷 Canon EOS R5 Mark II

06/04/2026

Day 2 reminded us that wildlife photography doesn’t come with guarantees.

You can spend hours searching, waiting, and hoping while nature follows its own schedule.

Day 3 was different.

A bald eagle greeted us as we left the harbor. Then came humpback whales, sea otters, puffins, Steller sea lions, and finally the immense glaciers of Kenai Fjords.

By the end of the day, we had traveled more than 100 miles on the water, and Alaska reminded us exactly why patience matters.

Sometimes the best wildlife encounters aren’t the ones you plan.

They’re the ones you earn.

06/03/2026

Day 2 in Alaska.

This morning we headed into Kenai Fjords National Park with cameras in hand and high hopes. Like most wildlife outings, you never really know what you’re going to get.

To be honest, the whale activity was a little underwhelming. We saw a few, but nothing like the dramatic encounters photographers dream about.

That said, Alaska still found ways to keep things interesting.

Sea lions hauled out on the rocks, sea otters floating nearby, glaciers around every turn, and a mountain goat kid that looked like it had absolutely no concern for gravity.

Not every day in wildlife photography is about the big, headline-making sightings. Sometimes it’s about slowing down, being present, and appreciating whatever nature decides to share. The whales may not have put on the show we were hoping for, but a day spent exploring Kenai Fjords with good people, incredible scenery, and a few memorable wildlife encounters is still a pretty good day in my book.

Photographer friends, what’s the most memorable wildlife encounter you’ve had that wasn’t the one you were hoping for?

06/02/2026

Woke up this morning, and the first order of business was getting my gear ready for the week ahead.

One of the first things I did was completely reconfigure my camera bag from TSA Travel Mode to Field Ready Mode.

If you’re wondering why those are two different things, you’re not alone.

Everything came out, everything got rearranged, and now the gear is ready to go.

Photographer friends: do you reconfigure your camera bag once you arrive?

Tonight I met the rest of the group, went through orientation, and started hearing about the adventures ahead.

The gear is ready. The group is together.

Tomorrow we start chasing wildlife, and I can’t wait to see what Alaska has in store for us.

06/01/2026

The Alaska trip almost ended before it started.

A major delay threw a wrench into the plans. Two re-bookings, a lot of airport walking, and one very long travel day later, I finally found myself headed north again.

A special thanks to a Delta gate agent named Alana, who refused to stop looking for options and ultimately found the solution that saved the trip.

Twenty-four hours later…

I’m finally in Alaska.

Tomorrow the photography adventure begins.

Tonight, there’s a hotel bed with my name on it.

Finally.

05/30/2026

It was a pleasure attending the Artist Reception for *The Wonder of Looking Close* at the Page Walker Arts & History Center.

This exhibition features the work of photographers from the Capital City Camera Club, and I was honored to have my image *Cradled in Curves: A Baby's Warm Embrace* included in the show.

One of the most rewarding parts of any exhibition is watching people pause, look closely, and connect with the images. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared a conversation, and spent time with the artwork.