Churchill, Manitoba | September 13-18, 2026
A Personal Review
Quick note before we start
This review is based on my personal experience, and someone else’s experience may look completely different. I review workshops and guided trips through the lens of my framework and criteria, which you can read here:
👉 https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/how-i-review-photography-workshops-and-the-framework-i-use
If you’re curious why I do workshops and why I review them, you can read that here:
👉 https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/why-i-do-photography-workshops-and-review-them
At a Glance
Type: Workshop
Workshop Leaders: Sergius Hannan and Kris Luckenbach
Guides: Discover Churchill
Primary subject: Polar Bears
Bonus opportunities: Northern Lights and Beluga Whales
Accommodations included: Yes
Food included: Yes
Group size: 8 participants
Shooting schedule: Golden hour, blue hour, mid-day, and night
Physical demands: Low
Overall feel: A fun experience with knowledgeable workshop leaders and excellent guides
Best fit for: Photographers of any experience level looking to spend time with these beautiful apex predators
Where this was
The workshop was located in the little town of Churchill, Manitoba, approximately 624 miles north of Winnipeg. Getting there from Spokane wasn't terrible, but once we reached Winnipeg, we had to stay overnight to make sure we could catch the one Calm Air flight to Churchill the next morning.
As we heard several times throughout the trip, Churchill is the “self-proclaimed polar bear capital of the world.” How true is that statement? I did some very non-scientific statistics scouting on the claim and came away thinking that there is some truth to it.
As the Hudson Bay ice melts during the summer months, polar bears are forced off the ice and onto land, where they wait for the ice to return. Churchill happens to be in a pretty remarkable location for that wait. According to Polar Bears International, it comes down to a combination of geography and ocean currents, along with freshwater from the Churchill, Nelson, and Hayes Rivers flowing into the shallow coastal waters. Because freshwater freezes at a higher temperature than saltwater, this contributes to an earlier freeze-up around Churchill.
I was curious why polar bears are attracted to this particular stretch of Hudson Bay, and suddenly it started to make sense. These beauties have been fasting for months and are waiting to get back onto the ice where they can hunt seals. With the earlier freeze-up around Churchill, this is one of the first places that can happen. It was all coming together for me!
And there really may be something to that “polar bear capital of the world” claim. According to Natural Habitat Adventures, by mid-October, between 600 and 1,000 polar bears can gather along a roughly 100-mile stretch of coast between the Churchill and Nelson Rivers, which they describe as the largest concentration of polar bears on the planet.
Keep in mind that I was there in mid-September, so I suspect the concentration of polar bears wasn't nearly what you might see later in the fall. But the benefit of September? Hardly any other visitors. And spectacular fall colors!
Why I chose this trip
I became intrigued by the idea of photographing polar bears after my second wildlife photography trip last year to Klahoose Wilderness Resort to photograph grizzly bears for the first time (review found here). I had such a great time and thought that if I loved grizzlies so much, I would love photographing polar bears too.
As I researched the different options available and looked at shots of polar bears from photographers I admired, I found myself drawn to photos of polar bears in fall colors. Don’t get me wrong, the white-on-white of polar bears in the snow is spectacular. But the dichotomy of a white polar bear surrounded by fall colors feels so unexpected. And as if polar bears in fall colors weren't enough, the timing of this trip also offered the possibility of photographing beluga whales and the northern lights. Neither was the reason I wanted this time of year, but having both as potential bonuses certainly didn't hurt.
Let the research begin! So many workshop options and so many guides to choose from. Should I go to a workshop, or should I go with a guiding outfitter out of Churchill? After reading websites and reviews, my gut said to call Discover Churchill and spend some time picking their brain. I ended up talking to Drew Hamilton for quite a while, asking every question I could think of. He answered everything I tossed at him and, bonus, he let me know that most of their guides were wildlife photographers themselves. While they didn't have any spots available for polar bears in fall color, which is what I was hoping for, I booked a spot on a later November trip.
Fast forward about two weeks. I had recently put down a deposit on a 2027 Alaskan brown bear workshop with Ray Hennessy, who was partnering with Sergius Hannan. That led me to Sergius' website to check out his work and, lo and behold, there it was: a polar bear workshop in fall colors. With openings!
I called. He answered. We talked. And it just so happened that his workshop was partnering with none other than Discover Churchill. I thought, I wonder if Drew would let me transfer my deposit to Sergius' polar bears in tundra fall colors? Worth a shot!
Drew and Sergius made it happen, and everyone was happy! And to add to how cool this workshop was going to be? Kris Luckenbach was co-leading with Sergius. Incredible!
Workshop vs Guided Trip, and How That Shaped the Experience
Before I talk specifically about this trip, it's important to explain how I view workshops versus guided photography trips, because they aren't the same to me. When I sign up for a workshop, I'm not just looking for someone to get me in front of wildlife. I'm looking for someone who can help me become a better photographer. I expect teaching, feedback, and support in addition to access to great subjects. A guided photography trip may offer amazing wildlife access, but a workshop should also provide intentional learning opportunities. One isn't better than the other. They're different, and the expectations should be different too.
I would consider Sergius and Kris’ polar bears in Churchill to be a workshop. There was intentional instruction in the field, along with reminders to push myself a little harder creatively. Both Kris and Sergius were available to help with creative and technical questions. They also offered a class on setting up the Insta360 cameras we brought in preparation for our outing with the beluga whales, as well as optional Lightroom organization and editing time for those who wanted that type of instruction.
Where I think the workshop could have been stronger was in the overall structure of the instruction. The opportunities to learn were there, but at times they felt a little informal and more spontaneous than planned. I would have loved to see a little more structure around what we were going to work on photographically each day, followed by some discussion or review afterward. The instruction was there. I just think tightening up how it was delivered would have made the workshop component even stronger.
Sergius and Kris as Workshop Leaders
Because Sergius and Kris partnered with Discover Churchill for this workshop, it gave them the opportunity to focus on helping the group be successful photographically. While we did break into two groups for transportation purposes, we all had access to both Sergius and Kris throughout the trip, and they each brought their own perspective to our time in the field.
There was a wide range of experience within the group and, from my observation, they both did an extremely good job of meeting everyone at the level they were at. Some needed more help, while others needed little to no assistance at all. No matter the experience level, both Sergius and Kris were there to help.
I spent the week with Sergius as my van leader and, true to my style, he got peppered with technical questions during our van time. He did a really great job answering them and never made me feel like his way was the way, only one way. This is an important distinction for me. There are so many ways to approach photography, both technically and creatively, and anyone suggesting there is only one truly right way to handle something behind the lens gives me a little bit of the ick. Sergius didn't do that. He shared how he approached things and why, but I never walked away feeling like his way was the only way.
Going into the trip, I spoke with Sergius about my goals and how I wanted to be pushed in the field to try different things. He honored that request throughout the week with little reminders to slow down and mix things up. Settings, perspective, foreground, vertical versus horizontal. I can get pretty lost in the moment when I have an exciting subject in front of me, so I appreciated having Sergius occasionally sit next to me and gently ask, “Did you think about...?” Those little prompts were often all I needed to step out of the moment, consider my options, and make sure I wasn't falling into a repetitive shooting pattern. It was exactly the kind of push I had asked for going into the workshop.
I didn’t spend the same amount of time with Kris as I did with Sergius, but that certainly didn’t shield him from my questions! He answered everything I threw at him with ease and a great attitude. Kris is funny and easygoing, and I was really glad he was with us.
While Kris is an excellent photographer, he is also a phenomenal videographer and, honestly, I thought I would be picking his brain a lot more about video. But when it comes down to it, as much as I would love to love capturing, editing, and posting videos, I just don’t like it. Social media makes me feel that I should want to like it. But I just don’t.
Overall, I felt the field instruction was at a good level, and both Sergius and Kris were fun to hang out with for the week. They were both low-pressure, willing to share their knowledge and, frankly, just truly nice humans.
The Discover Churchill Guides
Gosh. Where do I start? I guess I should just say it like it is. These guys were absolutely phenomenal! Their knowledge of the area and the polar bears themselves was the perfect balance of fun facts, humor, and storytelling.
They kept us safe and, just as importantly, they kept the bears safe. They handled the logistics behind the scenes so we had very little to think about other than where the bears were and how we wanted to compose our next shot.
Remember when Drew told me that most of their guides were wildlife photographers themselves? That ended up being every bit as valuable as I had hoped. They understood what we were looking for photographically and truly knew how to get us into a good position with the best light possible.
There is a lot of value in having someone along who knows an area this well, but when that same person also understands wildlife photography, it takes things to another level. I honestly can't say enough good things about the Discover Churchill guides we had with us.
A special thank you to Dave Sandford and Tomas Taylor, our incredible guides, and to Drew Hamilton and Alex De Vries for all the work behind the scenes that made us feel so well taken care of.
Ethics and Safety
Manitoba has rules in place to protect both the polar bears and the people who come to see them. In the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, permitted vehicles aren't allowed to approach a polar bear within 100 meters, and baiting or harassing the bears is prohibited. A bear can, however, choose to come within that 100 meters on its own. In other words, the bear gets to make that decision.
As our guide, Discover Churchill was responsible for making sure we operated appropriately, followed the rules, and, most importantly, stayed safe. All of the guides with us did a phenomenal job on each of these fronts. I felt we operated with integrity the entire week, and both the bears’ well-being and the participants’ safety were handled very intentionally.
Many of us have heard the saying about bears, “If it’s black, fight back; if it’s brown, lay down; if it’s white, goodnight.” It’s a rather dramatic nod to just how dangerous these apex predators can be. I had quite a few loved ones concerned about my safety going into this workshop. Honestly, I did not feel unsafe a single time during the trip.
While firearms with lethal ammunition were available (as required by their permit), the guides relied on reading bear behavior and using non-lethal deterrents to keep bears and guests safe. Bear bangers, rocks to bang together, and rattles were available to redirect a bear if needed. Dave and Tomas stressed several times throughout the week how important it is for the bears to learn that approaching people is an absolute no-no. A bear that becomes too comfortable around people can make some poor choices and potentially land itself in Churchill’s Polar Bear Holding Facility, better known as the “polar bear jail.”
It just so happened that while we were there, we got to witness a polar bear being released from the holding facility and relocated by helicopter. It was a pretty cool sight to see and another part of Churchill’s relationship with polar bears that I hadn’t expected to experience.
Fortunately, very little redirection was needed with the bears we encountered. The rocks only came out twice during the entire trip, and only once did the guides actually need to bang them together to redirect the bears away from us. They listened well.
When it comes to ethics and safety, I would have zero concerns recommending Discover Churchill.
Bonus Opportunites: Beluga Whales and Northern Lights
One of the cool bonus opportunities of heading to Churchill to photograph polar bears this time of year is that you still have a chance of hanging out with the beluga whales and catching the northern lights on clear nights.
According to Discover Churchill, beluga whales arrive in the Churchill area during the summer months, but as temperatures begin to cool in the fall, they start migrating north for the winter. That means a September trip can still offer a chance to see them, although the odds aren't nearly what they would be during the summer. Unfortunately, while we did get out on the water with high hopes, we didn't encounter a single beluga during a boat ride that lasted several hours. We got goosed. Which does happen in wildlife photography. Guess I'll need to go back again to see these “canaries of the sea.”
September also gave us the opportunity to photograph the northern lights. Discover Churchill considers August and September one of the times when the odds of seeing the aurora increase, making this time of year pretty special if you're hoping for a chance at bears, belugas and borealis on the same trip. There were two evenings when it was clear enough to go out and photograph the northern lights, and most of the group joined those outings.
That was my first time experiencing the northern lights, but it also meant some pretty late nights with a short turnaround before the next morning's golden hour shoot. Late nights really aren't my cup of tea, but I had to try it at least once to see how I liked it. It was a phenomenal sight! I can't really see myself getting into that type of photography, given my aversion to staying up past 9:00 p.m. (okay...that's a lie...8:00 p.m.).
I loved that this experience gave us more than just polar bears. Just polar bears...that's funny!
Time of Day and Light
Morning and evening golden hours were prioritized throughout the week, and later departure or return times were considered on days with overcast skies or rain.
Overall, I was pleased with the effort to get us out in the best light possible throughout the week. Keep in mind that Discover Churchill offers several types of tours, so if you book directly with them and prime light photography is your jam, make sure you book a photography-specific option or call to confirm that early mornings and sunsets will be a priority.
Accommodations and Food
All of the accommodations and food were included in the cost of the trip. The selection of both is fairly limited in a town the size of Churchill, but it was still very nice not to have to worry about either one.
We stayed at the Polar Boutique Inn and Suites, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. You could tell they took pride in their accommodations. I would have zero reservations about staying there again.
During September, food could be a little tricky if you didn't have someone holding your hand. Some restaurants were open and some were not, and some even had those tricky variable hours of a true small town, the "I'm at the dentist and will be back soon" type of variable.
Breakfast was provided by the Polar Boutique Inn and Suites and was your garden-variety continental breakfast, with some protein options and a robust bread and pastry offering. Lots of coffee was available for those early morning get-ups!
All lunches and dinners were arranged by Discover Churchill. Some were served in the field, while others were at local restaurants. I certainly didn't expect Michelin-starred meals on this trip, considering everything it takes to get food into this little town, but I was impressed with the quality. Everything was delicious!
As a photographer, I found it incredibly beneficial to have hot meals brought to us in the field when the shooting was good. I'm not sure if those meals were planned that way or if Discover Churchill was calling an audible, but either way, they worked out perfectly. Some of the in-field meals were even delivered personally, with a smile, by Alex De Vries, the owner of Discover Churchill. And, to be quite honest, those hot meals really hit the spot on some of the colder days we spent in the field.
Each participant was given a food survey before the trip, and allergies and food intolerances were handled with care.
Overall, the food and accommodations were great and handled pretty seamlessly by Discover Churchill.
Group Size and How It Affected the Experience
The workshop was capped at eight participants. During the day, we broke into two groups of four, with Sergius riding with one group and Kris with the other, giving us a 1:4 workshop leader-to-participant ratio for portions of the day. We kept the same workshop leader in our van throughout the week, which I liked.
Admittedly, when we all ended up together in the field, which happened fairly often, we had quite a large footprint as a group. When you added our eight participants, workshop leaders and guides, and occasionally another small group that Discover Churchill was running, there were times when we had as many as 17 people on site. That is a little large for my taste. Well...a lot of large for my taste.
In my research leading up to booking, eight participants seemed to be pretty standard for this type of workshop, and that number made sense to me considering we were partnering with a guide who operates vehicles specifically for polar bear viewing. What I hadn't really considered was how much larger the group could feel once everyone came together in the field. With that being said, I never observed the polar bears appearing bothered by our presence, even when we were gathered as a larger group.
The tundra is vast, and most of the time the bears were a decent jaunt away from where we were. I never felt like I was jockeying for a good shooting position because there was plenty of room for everyone.
All of the participants were great, and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone!
Photo credit - Sergius Hannan
Photo credit - Dave Sandford
Photo credit - Dave Sandford
Communication, Logistics and Feeling Cared For
Each trip leader has a very different communication style. Some are very thorough with pre-trip PDFs, answering every question under the sun. A few struggle to communicate promptly. Some set up a WhatsApp group, and others don’t. I will say that the trips that communicate via WhatsApp before and, especially, during the trip tend to go much smoother.
Sergius handled all of the pre-trip communication and did a great job making sure we had the information we needed before leaving on our journey. I had a few questions several weeks before the trip that he answered promptly (love that!), and he set up a WhatsApp group about a week before we left. Questions were asked and answered, and you could tell everyone was getting excited about the trip!
Communication was handled well throughout the week, and you always knew where you needed to be and when. Both Sergius and Discover Churchill communicated plans the evening before and, when needed, throughout the day.
Going in, I was a tad nervous about having someone else arrange flights for me because I had never experienced that before. As part of the package, our hotel in Winnipeg and flights between Winnipeg and Churchill were arranged by Discover Churchill. Everything went smoothly, so my worries were unfounded!
Overall, I felt very well cared for throughout the trip. Communication was excellent, logistics were well planned, and I never felt like I had to worry about what was happening next.
Reflection
Churchill polar bears in fall colors delivered in spades, and I could not have been more pleased with the opportunities we were given. Yes...we were a little early for the heavier concentration of polar bears, but the trip was perfectly timed to miss the heavier concentration of people as well. More often than not, we had these beauties all to ourselves. There were times when we had company in addition to our group, but it really didn't happen much during the week.
I came home with beautiful photographs of these stunning apex predators in exactly the environment I had hoped to photograph them in. Looking back, I wouldn't trade the smaller number of bears we encountered for the experience we had. The fall colors, the lack of crowds, and the amount of time we were able to simply spend with the bears made September feel like exactly the right choice for me.
If I had to go back and choose whether I would photograph polar bears in fall colors knowing what I know now? In a heartbeat. It was everything I had hoped for and then some.
I will be back. I still need to see these gorgeous bears in the snow and ice. I need to return in the summer to actually see the belugas. And I need to come back so Dave can deliver me my ptarmigan shots.
Until we meet again, Churchill.
A few shots from my time in Churchill with Sergius, Kris, and Discover Churchill.
Read my workshop review framework: https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/how-i-review-photography-workshops-and-the-framework-i-use
Read why I do workshops and why I review them: https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/why-i-do-photography-workshops-and-review-them
