A shaky photo of a polar bear from a crowded ship’s rail used to be the best a wildlife trip could offer. Guests fought for a spot at the railing, adjusted around someone else’s shoulder in the frame and hoped the animal didn’t move before the shutter caught up. That tradeoff is no longer the default, as a handful of expedition operators have stopped treating photography as something guests squeeze in around the itinerary and started building the itinerary around photography instead, with dedicated instruction, smaller groups and routes chosen for light and access rather than convenience.
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