You are browsing archives for

Category: Travel

News from the Chilkoot

August 15, 2019Written by tganner

It has been an interesting and unusual year in the Chilkoot River corridor. With the advent of the pink salmon migration and the emergence of our brown bears I would like to share some news of the season. About the Chilkoot The Chilkoot watershed lies north of Haines Alaska and comprises approximately 100 square miles […]

Nature Photography, Photography, Travel, Wildlife Photography

Ridgecrest California Earthquakes | A report from the home front

July 7, 2019Written by tganner

11 Comments

Ridgecrest California Earthquakes | A report from the home front

Ridgecrest California earthquakes have dominated many lives and much of the news over the Independence Day weekend of 2019. I own a home in Ridgecrest though I am currently in my residence in Alaska. I have been inundated with many phone calls, texts, and social media messages asking how our lives and property are faring. […]

General, Travel

Chilkoot River Management Plan

May 9, 2019Written by tganner

In Search of Sheep | Photography Dharma in Kluane

April 28, 2019Written by tganner

3 Comments

– A journey into the Yukon Territory and Kluane in pursuit of Dall Sheep- Chapter 1 – the Death Star The journey in search of the Dall Sheep of Kluane National Park begins with boots on the ground, or in the 21st century, with rubber on the road. This last year my wife Carolyn and […]

Nature Photography, Travel, Wildlife Photography

Forget the cruise ship tours, Tom is the real deal My wife and I had the pleasure of taking a private nature and photography tour with Tom, and it was an unforgettable experience. His depth of knowledge about the local wildlife, natural surroundings, and the rich history of the area was truly outstanding. Tom's enthusiasm and passion for Nature were contagious—he was fully engaged, personable, and genuinely committed to making our experience special. We came away with not only incredible photos( using our I phone) but also a much deeper appreciation for the region. Highly recommended!
read moreread less

Ed M 5/21/2025
Excellent private tour of Haines! Our family visited Haines and we were lucky to be able to see it with Mr. Tom Ganner. He was a very gracious host. He met us at the ferry terminal and was the perfect guide. He is knowledgeable, kind and introduced us to his beautiful city. He covered both the cultural aspects of the area as well as the State Parks in the area. He is a professional photographer and took us to spots from where we could admire natural beauty. We also had time to explore the downtown area. He finally dropped us back to our ferry terminal to Skagway. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. I will highly recommend Mr. Ganner’s services.
read moreread less

Maninder K 8/18/2025
Amazing private photography tour Had an absolutely amazing day with Tom. Incredibly knowledgeable about wildlife, photography, Haines history, and indigenous culture. Tom is very personable, a great teacher and story-teller and a wonderful conversationalist. We give him our highest recommendation - you won't be disappointed.
read moreread less

David W 10/01/2024
Excellent Tour with Tom Ganner After our airplane trip over the glaciers was cancelled at the last minute, I looked for alternatives tours to do while our ship was in Haines. I came along Tom's offering, read the reviews, and was happy that he wasn't booked the next day.

Tom met us at the dock in his Subaru, which was a little cramped for 5 people (including Tom), but we managed. Tom took us to a number of excellent spots that we would not have gotten to if we had done a boat tour. Tom is very knowledgeable about the history of Haines and has an indepth knowledge of the best places to go near Haines to see wildlife and beautiful scenery.

During our trip we saw bears,salmon, bald eagles, and some unusual migrating birds called Surf Scoters. Tom took us to some beautiful places and provided us with some excellents pointers on how to take beautiful scenery pictures. The places he took us to were fabulous.

Overall, a fantastic tour and education. Well worth the money. I would highly recommend spending a morning or afternoon with Tom if you visit Haines.
read moreread less

LonestarSpartan 9/14/2026
Best of Haines Haines is real Alaska, a beautiful place. Tom Ganner was a wonderful host showing us many sites not typically visited but regular tours. He listened to our wishes and we had a great day together. We left with terrific memories and beautiful photographs. I highly recommend Tom.
read moreread less

Joe C 8/20/2024
The day started at 6.30 am and had watched 8 Bears fishing by 8am. We also saw about 30 Bald Eagles and a tour of Haines Tom is a very interesting person who has also been a teacher in the past. He is passionate about both wildlife and photography so his guidance was invaluable in getting the best results from our experience. However, his knowledge is also much broader and we would definitely recommend him to anyone visiting Haines
read moreread less

Sunshine60338478290 9/21/2024
Great Tour, Perfect Day On a cruise and had not scheduled anything for Haines. thought we should take a day off. Well, my wife wasn't feeling well and I decided at the last minute to book a tour with Tom. It was terrific. Tom mixes just the right blend of history/culture, nature, and photography. Although there's never any guarantees with wild animals, we saw black bear and brown bear (i.e. Grizzly with cubs), eagles, etc. Tom knows the area like the back of his hand and seems to know everyone in the community. Great eye for spotting birds, bears, etc. Also, I went to book the afternoon before - he fortunately had an opening and the communication through Viator was really great. Finally, check out his website and there's a link to "Smugmug" which is his photography site. His images are really beautiful. I would book him again if/when I return to Haines. (PS: if you're there on a cruise, the early evening sail out of Haines when the sun is setting is one of the most magical experiences you will ever experience - weather permitting)!!! (Note that all of the attached pictures except the Eagle were during the tour with Tom).
read moreread less

AlanB781 8/27/2026
Bears, landscape, totems, oh my! Epic day. I can’t say enough about our day trip with Tom! He was very educated on the history and geography of Haines. As a photographer I appreciated his skill and art, but mostly his ethical and mindfulness of protecting nature and wildlife. We were lucky enough to see and photograph a local bear which was amazing. Tom was quick to share his technical expertise as well as composition suggestions. It was private without the crowds and we all enjoyed it immensely. Thank you so much Tom Ganner Photography. We highly recommend!!!
read moreread less

Jamie B 8/27/2024
We love it! Took a small group photo tour with Tom Ganner and it was the highlight of our trip. He was a wonderful instructor. Took us to great ohoto locations around Haines, helped us with camera settings and setting up an exceptional picture. He was also informative about the area and had a fun sense of humor. Strongly recommend this tour if you are in the Haines, AK area!!
read moreread less

Diana M 7/31/2024
The Best Photography Outing of My Alaska Cruise As someone who’s really into nature photography, I planned my Alaska cruise hoping to capture as much of Southeast Alaska’s wild beauty as I could. I was traveling with my family on one of the big cruise ships, and Haines was one of our stops. It quickly became my favorite part of the trip—and that’s all thanks to Tom Ganner Photography.

Right from the start, Tom was awesome to work with. He got back to me quickly when I asked about a date in May and helped me plan an outing that fit perfectly into the short time I had while in port. He really got what I was looking for and made sure I got the most out of the day.

Tom knows Haines and the surrounding area inside and out. He took me to some incredible, off-the-beaten-path spots that most visitors don’t get to see—places full of wildlife and stunning landscapes. Every stop felt purposeful and just what I wanted to experience.

What really stuck with me was how much Tom cares. He listens closely to what you want and goes out of his way to help you reach your goals, whether it’s landscapes, wildlife, or both. He’s generous with his knowledge—not just about the local nature and culture, but about photography too. I didn’t just leave with great photos—I learned new techniques and ideas.

Tom clearly loves what he does. Our outing was so engaging that we went over the planned time, but he still made sure I got back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. That kind of care and professionalism made the whole experience stress-free and even more memorable.

Tom’s more than a guide—he’s a storyteller, a teacher, and someone who really respects the land he calls home. If you’re visiting Haines—especially on a cruise—I recommend booking with Tom. You’ll come away with amazing photos, great memories, and a real connection to the place.
read moreread less

Odyssey60696654092 6/06/2025