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arct ic c ircle

arc t i c c i rc l e a rc t i c c i rc l e

yellowknife

igloolik

cape dorset

elu inlet lodge

resolute bay

pond inlet

vancouver

minneapolis

chicago

winnipeg

riding mountain

churchill

C A N A D A

U N I T E D S T A T E S

©Doug Ross

Summer AdventuresPassportsAll international travellers are required to have passports to enter Canada. Well before your departure, we invite you to visit the Government of Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration website for more information: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp

All travellers to and from the United States are required to have a passport. For more info visit: http://travel.state.gov

Currency ExchangeWe suggest you exchange your currency into Canadian dollars prior to your Churchill departure. Currency exchange can be completed at any bank or in the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in Churchill at most shops, hotels and restaurants. There is also a debit machine at the Royal Bank in the Bayport Plaza.

GratuitiesIn North America, ‘tips’ are given to service staff for their excellent service. Some per person tipping suggestions (in Canadian dollars - CAD) are: Interpretive Guides $15 per day; Tundra Buggy and boat drivers $10 per excursion; Hotel housekeeping staff $2 per day; Restaurant staff 15% per food bill (before taxes) only on meals not included in the cost of your tour. Hint: in Manitoba, tax on goods and services is 13% - while in restaurants, a suggestion is to tip your waiter the amount of tax you have been charged.

Daylight in ChurchillDuring your adventure you can expect 17 hours of daylight. The later the season, the fewer the daylight hours.

Extend Your StayAll of our Churchill summer adventures include overnight stay sin Winnipeg. However, if you would like to add more time in Winnipeg please contact our office for more information.

Traveler ExpectationsUnpredictable conditions in the north make it necessary for you to come prepared to be flexible. We want nothing more than for every one of our guests to enjoy their time with us! Churchill is a very unique destination and you are about to participate in a very exciting adventure.

Churchill Travel Guide App The only travel app specifically for guests visiting Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Get the most out of your experience, by connecting with the community’s wildlife, culture, cuisine and living history. Visit Churchill.Travel for more information.

Travel InsuranceTravel in Canada’s north is not like visiting many parts of the world. You will be travelling to a remote destination. We strongly encourage you to purchase trip cancellation and medical evacuation insurance, as some medical insurance policies do not cover these expenses while travelling. Optional insurance can be purchased through one of our Adventure Planners at anytime - feel free to call us to request a quote.

Other Websites www.polarbearsinternational.orgwww.WapuskAdventures.comwww.TravelManitoba.com

International: 1 (204) 949-2050 North America (toll-free): 1 (800) 663-9832info@frontiersnorth.comwww.frontiersnorth.comJoin our community Facebook.com/frontiersnorth

Follow us Twitter.com/frontiersnorthRead our blog Frontiersnorth.com/blogFollow us on Instagram FrontiersNorth

G R E E N

L AN

D

arct ic c ircle

arc t i c c i rc l e a rc t i c c i rc l e

yellowknife

igloolik

cape dorset

elu inlet lodge

resolute bay

pond inlet

vancouver

minneapolis

chicago

winnipeg

riding mountain

churchill

C A N A D A

U N I T E D S T A T E S

Cameras Any type of camera can be used to capture images while viewing beluga whales, polar bears, or other summer wildlife. Many compact cameras are more than sufficient, particularly when wildlife is close by, but a camera with a zoom or supplementing your kit with a telephoto lens allows more flexibility. Any camera with interchangeable lenses is a great idea for those who wish to capture images of wildlife and the surrounding landscape. If you’ll be at water level with the belugas on a zodiac or kayak, you may even consider bringing a waterproof camera to capture some underwater photos.

Lenses A midrange zoom lens allows for quick maneuverability and composure. For those with interchangeable lenses, it’s a good idea to have at minimum wide and midrange lenses on hand (less than 80 mm and 70- 200 mm, respectively). You may also consider adding a good telephoto lens to complete your kit (greater than 200 mm). Wide angle lenses are well suited for capturing images of beluga whales and landscapes, while longer lenses are great for other wildlife such as foxes and birds. Longer lenses also give the illusion of being closer to eye level with your subjects. Autofocus settings (AF) work well the majority of the time but rely on contrast, so they may not function well when photographing belugas below the water surface. When the belugas surface, most autofocus systems perform acceptably.

Memory Cards Ensure you have enough memory card storage with you, bring extra memory cards and/or have a secondary storage device such as a laptop and/or external hard drive handy. It’s not uncommon to use 32 GB of storage – or more – in a single day. PRO TIP: If a memory card is damaged or images inadvertently deleted, it can be difficult to retrieve lost images. Unless shooting continuous HD or 4K video, it’s best to travel with multiple low capacity cards rather than a single high capacity card (eg. four 16 GB cards versus one 64 GB card).

Batteries Keep a set of spare batteries charged and on you at all times. There are no outlets to charge batteries on the Tundra Buggy® or in the boat. Make sure to also pack your battery charger and travel plug adapter if required, so you can recharge batteries at your overnight accommodations.

Camera Support On landMost compact cameras can be handheld, but cameras with longer lenses may require support to obtain sharper images. A saddlebag-

style beanbag, monopod or window mount are best for photography and video on the Tundra Buggy. Expect some movement when the Tundra Buggy is stationary, particularly on windy days. Tripods are not recommended for use on Tundra Buggy excursions, as they can get in the way of others on the Tundra Buggy and pose a tripping hazard.

On waterHandheld support will work best for capturing images of beluga whales from a boat. It can be difficult to predict where the whales might surface, so hand holding the camera allows for a quick reaction and maneuverability. Lenses of longer focal length that can be comfortably handheld work well and do not require additional support. Light Metering When photographing white belugas, take care when filling the viewfinder with the whale as the meter may register incorrectly, making the image too dark. Metering of the whale and water together will generally provide the most pleasing results. Digital camera users can check the image histogram to verify the correct exposure. Also consider using a polarizing filter, particularly when pointed towards the sun or at belugas below the surface. This will help reduce glare and reflections, providing more pleasing results.

Light Sensitivity During beluga viewing activities, the water may be choppy so you will need to compensate for the movement of the boat and the whales. Digital capture at ISO 400 combined with a shutter speed greater than 1 over the focal length of your lens usually works well. For bright summer days on land when the sun is out, it is recommended to set your camera settings to ISO 100.

SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS©Doug Ross

©Eric Lindberg