Last night before Alan Eischens approached Front Street, Jeff Schultz, Iditarod’s official photographer was out in the chute setting up a photo.  It was dusk or a little darker and what he had in mind was to catch Eischens and the dog team as they came into the chute with the strings of suspended Christmas lights going back and forth across the street as a background.  He was deciding on f-stop, exposure length and ISO in order to achieve his desired outcome.  Earlier in the evening he’d gone out and followed a musher on the sea ice before coming into Nome with the setting sun in the background.  Another quite amazing shot.

Scenic Northern Lights 300

After meeting Joe Redington Sr. and learning about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Jeff’s camera lens became focused on not only the rugged beauty of the 49th state but also the dogs of the state’s official sport, mushing.  Schultz found a pilot with an adventurous spirit similar to his own and shot his first race in 1981.

No matter what the weather or the time of day or night, Jeff can be seen along the trail at easily accessible locations but more often at tough to get to spots capturing the essence of the race.  through his talents, never ending energy, boundless enthusiasm and drive to get the perfect shot, race fans can experience the thrill and challenge as well as the rugged beauty of the trail along with the character of the canine athletes and their mushers.

Lev Shvart’s Siberians NL 300

Having known Jeff Schultz since I began volunteering for the race more than ten years ago, I’ve always admired his talents and abilities to capture amazing photos.  This past January, I enrolled in a photo trek with Through The Lens Alaska with Schultz as the instructor.  The Photo Treks webpage says Alaska Photo Treks are all about you, your camera, and getting your best shots ever!  That describes the Norther Lights 300 workshop conducted by Jeff perfectly.

As a teacher, Jeff applies the best practices of learning, explanation, demonstration, practice and evaluation.  It was the optimal learning opportunity with incredible subjects, scenery and instruction.  The Northern Lights 300 Photo Trek offered all of that and more.     

Snowmachine to strategic photo locations

Included in the photo trek was an evening classroom session reviewing camera functions and the photo basics.  Our subjects on the first day were the mushers and dogs as they prepared for and started the Northern Lights 300 sled dog race.  After a few mushers went down the trail, so did we.  Jeff had arranged for snowmachines to transport us to places on the trail with unique views of scenic backdrops for dogs or just exceptional locations for capturing sled dogs in action.  After the teams were on their  way, workshop participants flew out to the turn around point of the race on Finger Lake, Winter Lake Lodge.  Had the weather cooperated, we’d have gotten to set down along the trail to capture more incredible images of the canine athletes and the beautiful Alaska Range.

Windy at Finger Lake

We arrived at Winter Lake Lodge just ahead of the Dog Teams.  Teams would be taking a mandatory rest so we had the chance to capture day time images, sunset images, night images, early morning and sunrise images.  All of this happened with Jeff at our side offering instruction and suggestions.  Once the teams had departed From Winter Lake Lodge, we focused on Carl Dixon’s Winter Lake Lodge team and the incredible show mother nature provided with the mountains, stars and northern lights.  Jeff direct our focus to a particular aspect depending on what mother nature presented.  

The dipper with the early stages of Northern Lights

She was very generous with stars and northern lights and Jeff had us well prepared with techniques to capture both.  Be it using tripods, F-stop, exposure or ISO, we were ready.  Capturing stars, star streaks and northern lights was an entirely new experience for me, how awesome to learn those techniques and be able to put them into practice during the Junior Iditarod and also in Unalakleet and Nome.  

Hospitality at Winter Lake Lodge is one of a kind and over the top.  The cuisine served by the lodge chefs was extraordinary.  We experienced a cooking class conducted by Kirsten Dixon, participated in yoga, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, mushing and if desired received a complimentary massage.  The guest experience provided by the Winter Lake Lodge staff was first-class times 100.

Northern lights at Cantwell Junior Iditarod

If you’re wishing to expand your photographic horizons while receiving excellent instruction and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Alaska, attending a Jeff Schultz Through The Lens workshop would be a great experience.