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Since 2017, we have been lucky enough to have seasoned photographers John D’Onofrio and Alan Sanders sharing their passion and expertise with our passengers. We wanted to highlight their backgrounds with you as well as our Photography Workshops on the M/V David B.

John D’Onofrio’s photography has been exhibited widely in museums and galleries around the United States and utilized by the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, the National Parks Foundation, the North Cascades Institute, and Defenders of Wildlife, and the NBC and ABC television networks.

His images have been published in numerous calendars and magazines, including National Geographic Adventure, Trail Runner, Washington Trails, Tracks and Trails, and coffee table books including The Wild Nearby: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the North Cascades (Mountaineers Books) and The Salish Sea (Sasquatch Press). His film, Cascadia Dreams, a multi-media collaboration with photographer Lance Ekhart and Native American Flute Master Gary Stroutsos was featured as part of the San Juan Islands Film Festival.

He is the publisher/editor of Adventures Northwest Magazine and the author of Hiking Mt. Baker & the North Cascades (Hancock House) and co-author of Images of America: Mount Baker (Arcadia Publishing).

A life-long wilderness traveler, he is inspired by the luminous landscapes of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest and has made it his life’s work to share these deep connections through photography, literature, and film. Committed to helping others capture both the grandeur and intimate details of our diverse landscapes, he has led photography workshops for the past eight years aboard the M/V David B and at the North Cascades Institute, and loves nothing more than a good adventure. Check out his website at www.jdonofrio.com.

Alan Sanders has been making photographs since the 70’s and teaching photography since the 80’s. He has taught at the University of Alaska, Anchorage and Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.

As a recovering commercial photographer specializing in advertising and public relations, Alan now concentrates on his own fine art photography. His photographs have been in many group and one person shows over the years. He has work in the permanent collections of several museums as well as many private collections. Alan has also spent many years doing custom printing, both analog and digital, and still loves to see a good quality print.

Currently he teaches workshops at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham as well as at location workshops, mostly in Alaska on the M/V David B.

To see Alan’s workshops visit his website.

To learn more about John and Alan, listen to our Northwest Navigation Podcast where we talk with them about their philosophies, photography, wilderness, and being in the moment. Listen here…

So, are you ready to see the world through a new lens? Check out our website for more details on our photography workshop itineraries, rates, and availability. We can’t wait to see you on board! 

Photography Workshops on the David B

Have you ever imagined capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park or Tongass National Forest? Maybe you’ve wanted to view the serene landscapes of the San Juan Islands through your lens? Well, guess what, our photography workshops aboard the Motor Vessel David B are just the ticket for that!

Picture this: You’re surrounded by majestic narrow Yosemite-esque granite fjords, with a camera in hand and a heart full of adventure. Our photography workshops are a journey of discovery. And don’t worry if you’re just starting out or if you’re a seasoned pro – our workshops are perfect for all skill levels.

For the last seven years we’ve teamed up with up Adventures Northwest Magazine editor and photographer John D’onofrio, and seasoned photography and Lightroom instructor, Al Sanders to inspire and guide your photographic journey. John and Al are not just experts; they’re passionate about sharing their knowledge, and their enthusiasm for the art of photography. Their love of the craft will inspire you to capture those picture-perfect moments. Since we are limited to a maximum size of eight participants there is plenty of one-on-one time with our instructors.

Our guests often tell us how these workshops have transformed their photography skills.

Absolutely an enchanting experience. Learning to see things differently…opens your eyes to seeing beauty in all things. Superb instruction and wonderful people. If you are thinking about this workshop – Do not hesitate. Sign up. 

-Gayle S. 2023 

So, are you ready to see the world through a new lens? Check out our website for more details on our itineraries, rates, and availability. We can’t wait to see you on board!

Christine
Chief Naturalist, Head Chef, First Mate and Avid Photographer

It’s been really yellow here lately.

We’ve had the most dramatic autumn in memory here. There’s been so much stunning yellow foliage that the local newspaper even ran a front page story about it.  On the final day of the drama we had a really crisp calm morning and as the sun was rising, I watched a huge big-leaf maple in our neighborhood drop all of its leaves.

They piled up in a perfect circular pattern under the tree, on the yard, in the street and on the cars parked below it. It was like watching enormous snowflakes. By mid-morning the tree was bare. All that remained of the beautiful show was the thick pile of bright yellow leaves in the exact outline of their tree.

Then the leaves in the street got driven over and turned to squishy mush, and the ones on the cars were brushed off so by lunchtime the whole scene was gone. Later that afternoon the weather changed, and a big wind and rain blew all the yellow away. All that remained was a fleeting memory of the yellow and my few pictures that didn’t really capture it.

I always feel like Autumn is a time to reflect on our time, our just-completed season on the boat, our families and our lives. There’s a certain sadness about the fleeting nature of everything around us and it’s particularly obvious and apparent in the fall. We have a tradition of remembering the loss of family and friends with a celebration on the Day of the Dead which fits very well into this reflection. There’s a vivid reminder in nature’s drama around us that our own time is fleeting as well.

But, it’s also a time to plan and prepare for what’s ahead. We’re busy setting our schedules for 2024, organizing and planning what we’re going to do next summer, and getting all the details taken care of so we can do it again. We’re also hard at work on the boat, prepping it for winter and doing projects to make it better for next summer. Like the tree’s dormant stage in winter, our dormant stage doesn’t show much on the outside, but there’s a lot going on that is really important when it comes summertime.

I’m a little sad that the colorful show at the maple tree couldn’t continue. I really enjoy that the cycle goes on though. That’s the most beautiful part.

Today the trees are bare, there’s frost on the grass, the sky is crystal clear and we’ve got a fire going in the woodstove at our house. We’re hard at work on boat projects and office projects and website work.

It looks a lot like winter here today.

Triple Ginger Cookies — recipe by Christine Smith