Hummingbird High Speed Flash Photography
Photo Tour and Workshop
with a special optional
Bat Shoot!
Price: $2,545 includes both Hummingbirds and Bats
Dates: May 5-10, 2012 NEW DATE ADDED!
INCLUDES all lunches, a welcome dinner, and lodging,
plus all the flash equipment necessary for the shoot!
This is one of our most popular shoots. WE SUPPLY ALL THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, nature supplies the birds!
As you'll see, besides hummers, there are a variety of other birds and animals to film as well.
The photo shoot price includes lodging (single occupancy),
lunches and some dinners,
and ALL OF THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, LIGHT STANDS, SLAVE UNITS, NECESSARY FOR DOING THIS SHOOT!
This Shoot also includes instruction on how to set up a hummingbird shoot of your own; as well as how to clone and use Masks in Photoshop for the most effective hummingbird compositions!
2012 DATES:
Dates: May 11 -16, 2012
May 16 -21, 2012
Preceeded by the
Arizona DIGITAL Complete Nature Photo Course
the foundation for your photography!
Special Bat shoot Portfolio
The following is the entire brochure, providing all the information
you'll need to decide upon this tour. It will take a few minutes to read.
For even more information, read the 'trip report 2009' or 'trip report 2010' or 2011 Trip Report.!
The Mountains of southern and southeastern Arizona are home to the greatest variety of hummingbirds in North America. From our base at the world-famous Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, nestled in the rugged Santa Rita Mountains, we'll concentrate upon photographing several species of hummingbirds at our feeders.
In a typical year we film three or four different species, including the brilliant and common Broad-billed, the huge Magnificent, and the less frequently seen Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, and occasional Broadtailed, Blue-throated, Rufous, or Calliope.
Our photographers will be shooting at our flash setups, featuring a variety of flash equipment.
You DO NOT need to know or understand electronic flash, and you DO NOT need to have your own flash equipment along! Everything is set up for you, and ready for you to start filming these incredibly colorful and exciting birds. However, the equipment that we will be using for this flash shoot is readily available to any photographer, and you will learn how to make these set-ups yourself, at home or in the field. But for this shoot -- all of that work is done for you!
You'll be filming at a variety of electronic flash and natural light setups. Each participant is rotated on a scheduled route through all our setups, insuring the likelihood of capturing activity at each setup during the course of your shoot. It must be remembered that these are wild birds, and patience is required for success with some species. However, by having time at all the feeders over several days, most everyone enjoys success at each setup. Of course, you're also free to trade off, pass on, or substitute with your fellow participants at any feeder, depending upon what's "hot" and what's available.
Let me stress the importance of this: If you were limited to your own flash system at your own setup, you would be at the mercy of the birds visiting ONLY your feeder. Sometimes, as you'll see, birds prefer one feeder over another and ignore one setup for hours or days at a time. Imagine if that was your feeder! By rotating people through all the flash setups, you are insured to 'hit' great action through the course of the shoot, and usually every single day. That's simply not possible if you are limited to one personal flash setup.
u -- all you need to d
o is focus and shoot!
But there's more to shoot besides hummingbirds ... Our week of shooting offers several other exciting photo possibilities ...
Natural light songbirds .... We'll have a variety of 'stations' setup for feeding a variety of songbirds common around the lodge. These include Mexican or Gray-breasted Jays, harlequin-colored Acorn Woodpeckers, Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Scott's Orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, pine siskins, and the ubiquitous House Finch.
We'll also be setting up two or more 'insect feeders,' where insectivorous birds that avoid seed feeders may gather to eat easy nutritious mealworm snacks. It's possible we'll attract the vividly colored Painted Redstart, as well as Black Phoebes, Flycatchaters, and Kinglets.
Our 'Water Set' - Virtually right in front of your lodging we set up a natural light water set that allows you to shoot virtually water-level images of birds and mammals drinking at our water set. We usually have Western gray squirrels, black-headed grosbeaks, acorn and Arizona woodpeckers, lesser goldfinches, pine siskins, house finches, bridled titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and a few other species of songbird, all drinking within easy range of your lenses. Like all of our natural light sets, the water set is available all of the time, although it is particularly productive in the late afternoon.
Flash Setups with Birds ... We'll also be trying to attract the smallest owl in North America, the tiny Elf Owl, to our insect feeders. If this works, it may be possible to film this owl perched above our insect baits. Additionally, we'll try do one or more flash setups of insect-eating birds, like the Bridled Titmouse, Redstart, and others.
Nocturnal Mammals ... The Madera Canyon area is home to a variety of interesting night-active mammals. These include Ringtailed Cats, Raccoons, Skunks, Opossums, Kangaroo Rats, White-throated Woodrats, and Whitetail Deer. By simply walking the canyon's trails a few minutes after sunset, you're likely to see one or more of these species. Some, unaccustomed to people, are extremely approachable. We also have flash setups at food sources or water lures for nocturnal shooting.
One evening you may have the option to film Bannertailed Kangaroo Rats near their dens in the desert. These incredibly cute, gerbil-like rodents are easy to film with a flash setup, provided the photographer is patient, and quiet! It's a fun, unique shoot! Because of hunta virus, we cannot take people down to the kangaroos as part of an organized shoot. However, if you wish, we will show you where the kangaroo rat burrows are, should you still wish to attempt photographing them.
Usually, by Mid-May nectar-feeding Long-nosed Bats will visit our feeders after dark. If they do, as part of the optional Bat Shoot, we'll do a remote flash setup that's almost guaranteed to capture a bat in flight -- if they visit!
The beautiful Ring-tail, or ringtailed cat (a distant relative to the raccoon) usually visits our set-ups, and you'll also have the opportunity to photograph this semi-arboreal mammal at a special night set.
Whitetailed Deer are very common, and can be seen at almost any time of day. At our water baits near the lodge, we'll try to capture these animals with flash.
Insects and Spiders ... Our natural light flower/hummingbird feeders often attract spectacular bees, wasps, and butterflies. In the desert, there's scorpions, and unique green Lynx spiders.
Reptiles and Amphibians ... The area around our lodge is home to several small, harmless herptile species that make great shots. Side-blotched, Striped Plateau, and Clark's Spiny Lizards sun themselves along the paths and trails. In the desert, we might find Horned and Earless Lizards. For macro enthusiasts, these subjects are a rewarding challenge! Along the water's edge you might find cryptically colored, but extremely cute, Canyon Treefrogs huddled on the boulders.
I always buy an Arizona Hunting License, which allows me to legally collect reptiles, especially snakes, that are crossing roads and would otherwise be smashed by cars. We usually have an opportunity to photograph one or more rattlesnakes in this way, and if you think 
you're not interested in snakes (and that's how most people feel), you will surprise yourself when you're comfortably photographing a rattlesnake safely and at eye-level with the snake! It's a real thrill, especially for people who have never seen a rattlesnake in the wild.
Scenics, Plants, Night Scapes .... The stream that 'usually' runs adjacent our Lodge affords wonderful riparian river habitat images. Arizona Sycamores, Alligator Juniper Trees, Cacti, Phlox, and other plants are common and atrractive. Some cacti are typically in bloom in sheltered areas of the canyon, and their blooms are spectacular! The mountain landscapes, especially at the desert's edge at dusk, are wonderful. And, for those willing to stay up late, you'll have at least one chance (weather permitting) to film Star Trails framed by the rugged Santa Rita's.
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum ... No visit to southern Arizona and the Tucson area would be complete without a visit to this incredible museum/zoo, and we'll spend a morning at the museum. We'll have breakfast early, right outside of the zoo, and we'll provide our tips and shooting guide to this wonderful, photo-friendly zoo. The Hummingbird Aviary is worth the visit alone, but the new Roadrunner exhibit, as well as the Bird Aviary, Prairie Dogs, Lizard enclosure, and wild, but very tame Cactus Wrens make for a great morning (or several) shoot.
PHOTOSHOP INSTRUCTION
For a variety of reasons, but primarily because a simple tube feeder provides the greatest opportunity for a variety of poses (and not simple side-views as would occur if a flower was used to attempt to hide a feeder), we'll be adding flowers, if required, digitally after the shoot. We provide a variety of different flowers, and we'll spend at least one non-shooting session time demonstrating how to make convincing, exciting composites.
We have a very thorough and detailed PDF and Word document file that goes through this process step-by-step, and you'll master one of the neatest aspects of Photoshop through these sessions.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Participants are invited to bring along a Portfolio of up to 40 images for projection for everyone's enjoyment and, if requested, critique.
The Bat Shoot
On each Hummingbird Photo Shoot we'll also be offering an High Speed Bat shoot, . We'll be shooting the bats at one or two different locations, which will include the desert waterhole at 'The Pond,' where we'll have a good chance of photographing the large, beautiful Pallid Bat as it swoops across the water for a drink. Three other species regularly visit the pond, including Little Brown and Big Brown Bats, and occasionally a Townsend's Big-eared Bat.
In Madera Canyon, we will probably shoot Lesser Long-nosed Bats as they visit one of our hummingbird feeders for a drink. These nectar-feeding bats usually return to the canyon by early May, and once here, regularly visit the hummingbird feeders to steal a drink.
Also in the canyon, if stream conditions permit, we'll be doing a setup along the stream where as many as six different species of bats may come to drink. Some years, winter snow fall is so heavy that the stream is too full to provide a likely target spot for setting up a camera trap. If that is the case, then we'll concentrate on the shooting opportunities at The Pond and at the hummingbird feeders.
Bat photography is exciting and challenging -- which is why you don't see very many people doing this! It requires using a remote camera-tripping device like the ones we will be using -- the PhotoTrap, and for a camera to either be hard-wired to the PhotoTrap or set on Bulb. There are advantages, and disadvantages, to either method, including obtaining a good composition and obtaining sharp focus.
To address the latter, we'll photograph the bats with our cameras set on Bulb, so that when a bat crosses the PhotoTrap beam the flashes will fire instantaneously. In this way, if you are focused on the beam point you should have a perfectly focused image. This requires that you use some type of remote release or camera trigger like the Pocket Wizard. We use Canon Electronic Releases with an accessory Long Extension (Allen's Camera sells both) that gives us more than 20 feet of working distance between operator and camera.
Bats do not fly all night, or they do so with sufficient irregularity that manning a camera all night isn't productive. Generally, our shooting will last for about two hours after sunset, with shoots concluding between 10 and 11PM. Bat shooting is, unlike the hummingbirds, not a high volume shoot, and you can expect to expose less than thirty images per session.
That said, it's possible that on a given evening bats may visit our sites more than a hundred times, but I don't want to paint a rosy, exceptional picture.
With all that said, the bat photography is exciting and unique and a lot of fun, even if it is frustrating and, sometimes, unrewarding. But the effort is worth it, and one great bat photo -- unobtainable no other way -- will be worth your while!
Program Specifics:
Food and Lodging: The price of the shoot includes five nights lodging at the Santa Rita Lodge, world-famous among birders for its hummingbird and birding potential. Near gourmet lunches and several dinners are included, but breakfasts (except for the day to the Museum) are not. Participants will have an opportunity to buy breakfast items at the supermarket in nearby Green Valley. Lodging is based upon single occupancy. Non-photographic spouses are welcome, and will be charged only for food and transportation costs.
Image Enjoyment and Evaluation: Participants are encouraged to bring along a portfolio of images for DIGITAL projection. These can be on a CD or DVD, or most easily, simply transfered to a CF card we can load into our computer. This is a favorite activity enjoyed by most as simply a slide-sharing session, although comments, criticism, or helpful tips will be offered if desired. Should you wish, you can bring along your own slide carousel with your slides premounted. We WILL NOT have a slide projector along, however we will show your slides PROVIDED that you bring along the projector.
Flash Setups and Rotation: Participants will be assured an equal amount of time at the many setups provided. However, you're welcome to 'sit out' a session to pursue personal projects. You should have a minimum of eighteen hours scheduled time with the high speed flash systems, insuring razor-sharp images.
Additionally, you're invited to bring along your own flash systems, if you so desire, to set up a hummer station in front of your cabin. A warning, though: A few people have brought flash systems along but no one has ever, EVER, set up their own system. That's because our setups provide enough shooting, the feeders are established, the birds are coming in, and the extra work simply wasn't worth it!
Equipment Required: The shoot is designed for digital SLR equipment. A variety of lenses can be used. Most participants enjoy their greatest shooting flexibility with a zoom lens -- 70-200, 70-300, 80-400, or 100-400. A 200mm macro lens or a telephoto of 300mm or greatercan also be used for most setups. If you are using a fixed telephoto, you'll enjoy best results with a 300mm and 1.4X, a 400mm, or a 500mm lens.
You may wish to bring a 200mm macro lens, or a 70mm- or 80-200mm zoom with extension tubes for close ups of hummingbirds at one of the feeders. You'll have plenty of room to bring whatever gear you might need. We will provide details on all suggested gear to registered participants.We strongly recommend that you bring along one TTL flash of our own. This can be useful for tripping our flashes in some of the hummer sets and nocturnal mammal setups (via slaves), and for TTL fill-flash for the natural light bird feeders. If you wish to shoot the mammal setups, you may need additional accessories like long cable releases or remote trippers.
For the special Bat Shoot Option, you will neede a long cable release or Pocket Wizard to trip your camera. Your camera will be on Bulb, and you must be able to close your camera's shutter remotely when bats trip the flashes. We strongly recommend long electronic cable releases for this. Short releases will also work, provided that you can 'lock' the release button so that the camera will continue to fire when set on a continuous mode. Most do, and the only exceptions are the camera models that provide a small, hand-held IF release that must be held right in front of the camera. These do not work!
Patience: As I said earlier, we are photographing wild birds. On occasion, photographers have spent an entire 1 and 1/2 hour session and exposed only five frames. Conversely, the same feeder, days later, yielded hundreds of images in the same time period. Some birds, like the Magnificent, are wary, and require either using a remote release, or being behind the camera when the bird suddenly appears at the feeder. Others are extremely tolerant of motion -- last year one participant shot headshots of feeding hummers with his macro! Although you'll probably only need one 'knock out' shot of a hummer, most participants expose several hundred images of hummingbirds, and perhaps another several hundred of the songbirds, mammals, and other subjects available with the natural light setups.
About Your Photo Leaders
My wife Mary Ann and I strive to provide the most comfortable, enjoyable, and thorough shooting experience we think you'll ever experience. Both Mary and I are photographers, and I'd hope you've seen our credits. Our work regularly appears in National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Natural History, Living Bird, Birder's World, Wildlife Conservation, and most nature/wildlife calendars.
I hope you've seen some of our books. To date I've written five, A Practical Guide to Photographing American Wildlife; The Wildlife Photographer's Field Manual; The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography; Designing Wildlife Photographs; and Photographing on Safari. Mary's written ten children's books, including Woodpeckers; Leopards; Grizzly Bears; Cobras; Boas; Pythons; Rattlesnakes; Garter Snakes; and Flying Squirrels, and an adult book on the Amish. Both Mary and I are at work on several new book projects. Additionally, in 1994 Mary won two first place finishes in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, in Bird Behavior and with Endangered Species.
More importantly, as photography instructors we are dedicated to providing you with the help, instruction, and information you'll need to have a most successful shoot. We're confident you'll enjoy this experience (many participants do the trip each year!), and we hope that this shoot will be just one of the many we will share together. In fact, many of our offerings are filled with repeaters, and many of our extensive trips are not advertised for this reason.
Disclaimer
Although we'll have several flash systems setup and ready to go, the unforeseen can happen. We've rarely had rain, and it's not expected this time of year, but it could happen. One or more flash systems could break down, or you could be plagued with bad luck and never have a bird at your feeder when you're there -- though that's never happened! The natural light setups simply require that you are there, but YOU must have the energy and ambition to capitalize on these opportunities. Great images can require shooting a lot of film, and having patience, so bring both with you for this shoot!
Special Cancellation Policy for the Hummingbird High Speed Photography
Due to the payment schedule imposed by the lodge, please note the following payment schedule and cancellation policy listed below:
Deposit to Insure Your Spot:: $500 upon registration
Full Payment due: 90 days before the shoot $250 cancellation fee.
Cancellation penalty 46-60 days before the start of the shoot: $500 (1000% of deposit) plus 25% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 31-45 days of the shoot: $500 (100% of deposit) plus 50% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 30 days of the start date: No refund is possible.
The Hummingbird Shoot is LIMITED to Six photographing participants. Non-photographing spouses are welcome, and a fee is assessed for food, operating expenses, and insurance.
More About Your Leaders
Hummingbird High Speed Flash Photography
Photo Tour and Workshop
with a special optional
Bat Shoot!
Price: $2,545 includes both Hummingbirds and Bats
Dates: May 5-10, 2012 NEW DATE ADDED!
INCLUDES all lunches, a welcome dinner, and lodging,
plus all the flash equipment necessary for the shoot!
This is one of our most popular shoots. WE SUPPLY ALL THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, nature supplies the birds!
As you'll see, besides hummers, there are a variety of other birds and animals to film as well.
The photo shoot price includes lodging (single occupancy),
lunches and some dinners,
and ALL OF THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, LIGHT STANDS, SLAVE UNITS, NECESSARY FOR DOING THIS SHOOT!
This Shoot also includes instruction on how to set up a hummingbird shoot of your own; as well as how to clone and use Masks in Photoshop for the most effective hummingbird compositions!
2012 DATES:
Dates: May 11 -16, 2012
May 16 -21, 2012
Preceeded by the
Arizona DIGITAL Complete Nature Photo Course
the foundation for your photography!
Special Bat shoot Portfolio
The following is the entire brochure, providing all the information
you'll need to decide upon this tour. It will take a few minutes to read.
For even more information, read the 'trip report 2009' or 'trip report 2010' or 2011 Trip Report.!
The Mountains of southern and southeastern Arizona are home to the greatest variety of hummingbirds in North America. From our base at the world-famous Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, nestled in the rugged Santa Rita Mountains, we'll concentrate upon photographing several species of hummingbirds at our feeders.
In a typical year we film three or four different species, including the brilliant and common Broad-billed, the huge Magnificent, and the less frequently seen Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, and occasional Broadtailed, Blue-throated, Rufous, or Calliope.
Our photographers will be shooting at our flash setups, featuring a variety of flash equipment.
You DO NOT need to know or understand electronic flash, and you DO NOT need to have your own flash equipment along! Everything is set up for you, and ready for you to start filming these incredibly colorful and exciting birds. However, the equipment that we will be using for this flash shoot is readily available to any photographer, and you will learn how to make these set-ups yourself, at home or in the field. But for this shoot -- all of that work is done for you!
You'll be filming at a variety of electronic flash and natural light setups. Each participant is rotated on a scheduled route through all our setups, insuring the likelihood of capturing activity at each setup during the course of your shoot. It must be remembered that these are wild birds, and patience is required for success with some species. However, by having time at all the feeders over several days, most everyone enjoys success at each setup. Of course, you're also free to trade off, pass on, or substitute with your fellow participants at any feeder, depending upon what's "hot" and what's available.
Let me stress the importance of this: If you were limited to your own flash system at your own setup, you would be at the mercy of the birds visiting ONLY your feeder. Sometimes, as you'll see, birds prefer one feeder over another and ignore one setup for hours or days at a time. Imagine if that was your feeder! By rotating people through all the flash setups, you are insured to 'hit' great action through the course of the shoot, and usually every single day. That's simply not possible if you are limited to one personal flash setup.
u -- all you need to do is focus and shoot!
But there's more to shoot besides hummingbirds ... Our week of shooting offers several other exciting photo possibilities ...
Natural light songbirds .... We'll have a variety of 'stations' setup for feeding a variety of songbirds common around the lodge. These include Mexican or Gray-breasted Jays, harlequin-colored Acorn Woodpeckers, Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Scott's Orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, pine siskins, and the ubiquitous House Finch.
We'll also be setting up two or more 'insect feeders,' where insectivorous birds that avoid seed feeders may gather to eat easy nutritious mealworm snacks. It's possible we'll attract the vividly colored Painted Redstart, as well as Black Phoebes, Flycatchaters, and Kinglets.
Our 'Water Set' - Virtually right in front of your lodging we set up a natural light water set that allows you to shoot virtually water-level images of birds and mammals drinking at our water set. We usually have Western gray squirrels, black-headed grosbeaks, acorn and Arizona woodpeckers, lesser goldfinches, pine siskins, house finches, bridled titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and a few other species of songbird, all drinking within easy range of your lenses. Like all of our natural light sets, the water set is available all of the time, although it is particularly productive in the late afternoon.
Flash Setups with Birds ... We'll also be trying to attract the smallest owl in North America, the tiny Elf Owl, to our insect feeders. If this works, it may be possible to film this owl perched above our insect baits. Additionally, we'll try do one or more flash setups of insect-eating birds, like the Bridled Titmouse, Redstart, and others.
Nocturnal Mammals ... The Madera Canyon area is home to a variety of interesting night-active mammals. These include Ringtailed Cats, Raccoons, Skunks, Opossums, Kangaroo Rats, White-throated Woodrats, and Whitetail Deer. By simply walking the canyon's trails a few minutes after sunset, you're likely to see one or more of these species. Some, unaccustomed to people, are extremely approachable. We also have flash setups at food sources or water lures for nocturnal shooting.
One evening you may have the option to film Bannertailed Kangaroo Rats near their dens in the desert. These incredibly cute, gerbil-like rodents are easy to film with a flash setup, provided the photographer is patient, and quiet! It's a fun, unique shoot! Because of hunta virus, we cannot take people down to the kangaroos as part of an organized shoot. However, if you wish, we will show you where the kangaroo rat burrows are, should you still wish to attempt photographing them.
Usually, by Mid-May nectar-feeding Long-nosed Bats will visit our feeders after dark. If they do, as part of the optional Bat Shoot, we'll do a remote flash setup that's almost guaranteed to capture a bat in flight -- if they visit!
The beautiful Ring-tail, or ringtailed cat (a distant relative to the raccoon) usually visits our set-ups, and you'll also have the opportunity to photograph this semi-arboreal mammal at a special night set.
Whitetailed Deer are very common, and can be seen at almost any time of day. At our water baits near the lodge, we'll try to capture these animals with flash.
Insects and Spiders ... Our natural light flower/hummingbird feeders often attract spectacular bees, wasps, and butterflies. In the desert, there's scorpions, and unique green Lynx spiders.
Reptiles and Amphibians ... The area around our lodge is home to several small, harmless herptile species that make great shots. Side-blotched, Striped Plateau, and Clark's Spiny Lizards sun themselves along the paths and trails. In the desert, we might find Horned and Earless Lizards. For macro enthusiasts, these subjects are a rewarding challenge! Along the water's edge you might find cryptically colored, but extremely cute, Canyon Treefrogs huddled on the boulders.
I always buy an Arizona Hunting License, which allows me to legally collect reptiles, especially snakes, that are crossing roads and would otherwise be smashed by cars. We usually have an opportunity to photograph one or more rattlesnakes in this way, and if you think you're not interested in snakes (and that's how most people feel), you will surprise yourself when you're comfortably photographing a rattlesnake safely and at eye-level with the snake! It's a real thrill, especially for people who have never seen a rattlesnake in the wild.
Scenics, Plants, Night Scapes .... The stream that 'usually' runs adjacent our Lodge affords wonderful riparian river habitat images. Arizona Sycamores, Alligator Juniper Trees, Cacti, Phlox, and other plants are common and atrractive. Some cacti are typically in bloom in sheltered areas of the canyon, and their blooms are spectacular! The mountain landscapes, especially at the desert's edge at dusk, are wonderful. And, for those willing to stay up late, you'll have at least one chance (weather permitting) to film Star Trails framed by the rugged Santa Rita's.
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum ... No visit to southern Arizona and the Tucson area would be complete without a visit to this incredible museum/zoo, and we'll spend a morning at the museum. We'll have breakfast early, right outside of the zoo, and we'll provide our tips and shooting guide to this wonderful, photo-friendly zoo. The Hummingbird Aviary is worth the visit alone, but the new Roadrunner exhibit, as well as the Bird Aviary, Prairie Dogs, Lizard enclosure, and wild, but very tame Cactus Wrens make for a great morning (or several) shoot.
PHOTOSHOP INSTRUCTION
For a variety of reasons, but primarily because a simple tube feeder provides the greatest opportunity for a variety of poses (and not simple side-views as would occur if a flower was used to attempt to hide a feeder), we'll be adding flowers, if required, digitally after the shoot. We provide a variety of different flowers, and we'll spend at least one non-shooting session time demonstrating how to make convincing, exciting composites.
We have a very thorough and detailed PDF and Word document file that goes through this process step-by-step, and you'll master one of the neatest aspects of Photoshop through these sessions.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Participants are invited to bring along a Portfolio of up to 40 images for projection for everyone's enjoyment and, if requested, critique.
The Bat Shoot
On each Hummingbird Photo Shoot we'll also be offering an High Speed Bat shoot, . We'll be shooting the bats at one or two different locations, which will include the desert waterhole at 'The Pond,' where we'll have a good chance of photographing the large, beautiful Pallid Bat as it swoops across the water for a drink. Three other species regularly visit the pond, including Little Brown and Big Brown Bats, and occasionally a Townsend's Big-eared Bat.
In Madera Canyon, we will probably shoot Lesser Long-nosed Bats as they visit one of our hummingbird feeders for a drink. These nectar-feeding bats usually return to the canyon by early May, and once here, regularly visit the hummingbird feeders to steal a drink.
Also in the canyon, if stream conditions permit, we'll be doing a setup along the stream where as many as six different species of bats may come to drink. Some years, winter snow fall is so heavy that the stream is too full to provide a likely target spot for setting up a camera trap. If that is the case, then we'll concentrate on the shooting opportunities at The Pond and at the hummingbird feeders.
Bat photography is exciting and challenging -- which is why you don't see very many people doing this! It requires using a remote camera-tripping device like the ones we will be using -- the PhotoTrap, and for a camera to either be hard-wired to the PhotoTrap or set on Bulb. There are advantages, and disadvantages, to either method, including obtaining a good composition and obtaining sharp focus.
To address the latter, we'll photograph the bats with our cameras set on Bulb, so that when a bat crosses the PhotoTrap beam the flashes will fire instantaneously. In this way, if you are focused on the beam point you should have a perfectly focused image. This requires that you use some type of remote release or camera trigger like the Pocket Wizard. We use Canon Electronic Releases with an accessory Long Extension (Allen's Camera sells both) that gives us more than 20 feet of working distance between operator and camera.
Bats do not fly all night, or they do so with sufficient irregularity that manning a camera all night isn't productive. Generally, our shooting will last for about two hours after sunset, with shoots concluding between 10 and 11PM. Bat shooting is, unlike the hummingbirds, not a high volume shoot, and you can expect to expose less than thirty images per session.
That said, it's possible that on a given evening bats may visit our sites more than a hundred times, but I don't want to paint a rosy, exceptional picture.
With all that said, the bat photography is exciting and unique and a lot of fun, even if it is frustrating and, sometimes, unrewarding. But the effort is worth it, and one great bat photo -- unobtainable no other way -- will be worth your while!
Program Specifics:
Food and Lodging: The price of the shoot includes five nights lodging at the Santa Rita Lodge, world-famous among birders for its hummingbird and birding potential. Near gourmet lunches and several dinners are included, but breakfasts (except for the day to the Museum) are not. Participants will have an opportunity to buy breakfast items at the supermarket in nearby Green Valley. Lodging is based upon single occupancy. Non-photographic spouses are welcome, and will be charged only for food and transportation costs.
Image Enjoyment and Evaluation: Participants are encouraged to bring along a portfolio of images for DIGITAL projection. These can be on a CD or DVD, or most easily, simply transfered to a CF card we can load into our computer. This is a favorite activity enjoyed by most as simply a slide-sharing session, although comments, criticism, or helpful tips will be offered if desired. Should you wish, you can bring along your own slide carousel with your slides premounted. We WILL NOT have a slide projector along, however we will show your slides PROVIDED that you bring along the projector.
Flash Setups and Rotation: Participants will be assured an equal amount of time at the many setups provided. However, you're welcome to 'sit out' a session to pursue personal projects. You should have a minimum of eighteen hours scheduled time with the high speed flash systems, insuring razor-sharp images.
Additionally, you're invited to bring along your own flash systems, if you so desire, to set up a hummer station in front of your cabin. A warning, though: A few people have brought flash systems along but no one has ever, EVER, set up their own system. That's because our setups provide enough shooting, the feeders are established, the birds are coming in, and the extra work simply wasn't worth it!
Equipment Required: The shoot is designed for digital SLR equipment. A variety of lenses can be used. Most participants enjoy their greatest shooting flexibility with a zoom lens -- 70-200, 70-300, 80-400, or 100-400. A 200mm macro lens or a telephoto of 300mm or greatercan also be used for most setups. If you are using a fixed telephoto, you'll enjoy best results with a 300mm and 1.4X, a 400mm, or a 500mm lens.
You may wish to bring a 200mm macro lens, or a 70mm- or 80-200mm zoom with extension tubes for close ups of hummingbirds at one of the feeders. You'll have plenty of room to bring whatever gear you might need. We will provide details on all suggested gear to registered participants.We strongly recommend that you bring along one TTL flash of our own. This can be useful for tripping our flashes in some of the hummer sets and nocturnal mammal setups (via slaves), and for TTL fill-flash for the natural light bird feeders. If you wish to shoot the mammal setups, you may need additional accessories like long cable releases or remote trippers.
For the special Bat Shoot Option, you will neede a long cable release or Pocket Wizard to trip your camera. Your camera will be on Bulb, and you must be able to close your camera's shutter remotely when bats trip the flashes. We strongly recommend long electronic cable releases for this. Short releases will also work, provided that you can 'lock' the release button so that the camera will continue to fire when set on a continuous mode. Most do, and the only exceptions are the camera models that provide a small, hand-held IF release that must be held right in front of the camera. These do not work!
Patience: As I said earlier, we are photographing wild birds. On occasion, photographers have spent an entire 1 and 1/2 hour session and exposed only five frames. Conversely, the same feeder, days later, yielded hundreds of images in the same time period. Some birds, like the Magnificent, are wary, and require either using a remote release, or being behind the camera when the bird suddenly appears at the feeder. Others are extremely tolerant of motion -- last year one participant shot headshots of feeding hummers with his macro! Although you'll probably only need one 'knock out' shot of a hummer, most participants expose several hundred images of hummingbirds, and perhaps another several hundred of the songbirds, mammals, and other subjects available with the natural light setups.
About Your Photo Leaders
My wife Mary Ann and I strive to provide the most comfortable, enjoyable, and thorough shooting experience we think you'll ever experience. Both Mary and I are photographers, and I'd hope you've seen our credits. Our work regularly appears in National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Natural History, Living Bird, Birder's World, Wildlife Conservation, and most nature/wildlife calendars.
I hope you've seen some of our books. To date I've written five, A Practical Guide to Photographing American Wildlife; The Wildlife Photographer's Field Manual; The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography; Designing Wildlife Photographs; and Photographing on Safari. Mary's written ten children's books, including Woodpeckers; Leopards; Grizzly Bears; Cobras; Boas; Pythons; Rattlesnakes; Garter Snakes; and Flying Squirrels, and an adult book on the Amish. Both Mary and I are at work on several new book projects. Additionally, in 1994 Mary won two first place finishes in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, in Bird Behavior and with Endangered Species.
More importantly, as photography instructors we are dedicated to providing you with the help, instruction, and information you'll need to have a most successful shoot. We're confident you'll enjoy this experience (many participants do the trip each year!), and we hope that this shoot will be just one of the many we will share together. In fact, many of our offerings are filled with repeaters, and many of our extensive trips are not advertised for this reason.
Disclaimer
Although we'll have several flash systems setup and ready to go, the unforeseen can happen. We've rarely had rain, and it's not expected this time of year, but it could happen. One or more flash systems could break down, or you could be plagued with bad luck and never have a bird at your feeder when you're there -- though that's never happened! The natural light setups simply require that you are there, but YOU must have the energy and ambition to capitalize on these opportunities. Great images can require shooting a lot of film, and having patience, so bring both with you for this shoot!
Special Cancellation Policy for the Hummingbird High Speed Photography
Due to the payment schedule imposed by the lodge, please note the following payment schedule and cancellation policy listed below:
Deposit to Insure Your Spot:: $500 upon registration
Full Payment due: 90 days before the shoot $250 cancellation fee.
Cancellation penalty 46-60 days before the start of the shoot: $500 (1000% of deposit) plus 25% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 31-45 days of the shoot: $500 (100% of deposit) plus 50% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 30 days of the start date: No refund is possible.
The Hummingbird Shoot is LIMITED to Six photographing participants. Non-photographing spouses are welcome, and a fee is assessed for food, operating expenses, and insurance.
More About Your Leaders
Hummingbird High Speed Flash Photography
Photo Tour and Workshop
with a special optional
Bat Shoot!
Price: $2,545 includes both Hummingbirds and Bats
Dates: May 5-10, 2012 NEW DATE ADDED!
INCLUDES all lunches, a welcome dinner, and lodging,
plus all the flash equipment necessary for the shoot!
This is one of our most popular shoots. WE SUPPLY ALL THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, nature supplies the birds!
As you'll see, besides hummers, there are a variety of other birds and animals to film as well.
The photo shoot price includes lodging (single occupancy),
lunches and some dinners,
and ALL OF THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, LIGHT STANDS, SLAVE UNITS, NECESSARY FOR DOING THIS SHOOT!
This Shoot also includes instruction on how to set up a hummingbird shoot of your own; as well as how to clone and use Masks in Photoshop for the most effective hummingbird compositions!
2012 DATES:
Dates: May 11 -16, 2012
May 16 -21, 2012
Preceeded by the
Arizona DIGITAL Complete Nature Photo Course
the foundation for your photography!
Special Bat shoot Portfolio
The following is the entire brochure, providing all the information
you'll need to decide upon this tour. It will take a few minutes to read.
For even more information, read the 'trip report 2009' or 'trip report 2010' or 2011 Trip Report.!
The Mountains of southern and southeastern Arizona are home to the greatest variety of hummingbirds in North America. From our base at the world-famous Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, nestled in the rugged Santa Rita Mountains, we'll concentrate upon photographing several species of hummingbirds at our feeders.
In a typical year we film three or four different species, including the brilliant and common Broad-billed, the huge Magnificent, and the less frequently seen Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, and occasional Broadtailed, Blue-throated, Rufous, or Calliope.
Our photographers will be shooting at our flash setups, featuring a variety of flash equipment.
You DO NOT need to know or understand electronic flash, and you DO NOT need to have your own flash equipment along! Everything is set up for you, and ready for you to start filming these incredibly colorful and exciting birds. However, the equipment that we will be using for this flash shoot is readily available to any photographer, and you will learn how to make these set-ups yourself, at home or in the field. But for this shoot -- all of that work is done for you!
You'll be filming at a variety of electronic flash and natural light setups. Each participant is rotated on a scheduled route through all our setups, insuring the likelihood of capturing activity at each setup during the course of your shoot. It must be remembered that these are wild birds, and patience is required for success with some species. However, by having time at all the feeders over several days, most everyone enjoys success at each setup. Of course, you're also free to trade off, pass on, or substitute with your fellow participants at any feeder, depending upon what's "hot" and what's available.
Let me stress the importance of this: If you were limited to your own flash system at your own setup, you would be at the mercy of the birds visiting ONLY your feeder. Sometimes, as you'll see, birds prefer one feeder over another and ignore one setup for hours or days at a time. Imagine if that was your feeder! By rotating people through all the flash setups, you are insured to 'hit' great action through the course of the shoot, and usually every single day. That's simply not possible if you are limited to one personal flash setup.
u -- all you need to do is focus and shoot!
But there's more to shoot besides hummingbirds ... Our week of shooting offers several other exciting photo possibilities ...
Natural light songbirds .... We'll have a variety of 'stations' setup for feeding a variety of songbirds common around the lodge. These include Mexican or Gray-breasted Jays, harlequin-colored Acorn Woodpeckers, Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Scott's Orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, pine siskins, and the ubiquitous House Finch.
We'll also be setting up two or more 'insect feeders,' where insectivorous birds that avoid seed feeders may gather to eat easy nutritious mealworm snacks. It's possible we'll attract the vividly colored Painted Redstart, as well as Black Phoebes, Flycatchaters, and Kinglets.
Our 'Water Set' - Virtually right in front of your lodging we set up a natural light water set that allows you to shoot virtually water-level images of birds and mammals drinking at our water set. We usually have Western gray squirrels, black-headed grosbeaks, acorn and Arizona woodpeckers, lesser goldfinches, pine siskins, house finches, bridled titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and a few other species of songbird, all drinking within easy range of your lenses. Like all of our natural light sets, the water set is available all of the time, although it is particularly productive in the late afternoon.
Flash Setups with Birds ... We'll also be trying to attract the smallest owl in North America, the tiny Elf Owl, to our insect feeders. If this works, it may be possible to film this owl perched above our insect baits. Additionally, we'll try do one or more flash setups of insect-eating birds, like the Bridled Titmouse, Redstart, and others.
Nocturnal Mammals ... The Madera Canyon area is home to a variety of interesting night-active mammals. These include Ringtailed Cats, Raccoons, Skunks, Opossums, Kangaroo Rats, White-throated Woodrats, and Whitetail Deer. By simply walking the canyon's trails a few minutes after sunset, you're likely to see one or more of these species. Some, unaccustomed to people, are extremely approachable. We also have flash setups at food sources or water lures for nocturnal shooting.
One evening you may have the option to film Bannertailed Kangaroo Rats near their dens in the desert. These incredibly cute, gerbil-like rodents are easy to film with a flash setup, provided the photographer is patient, and quiet! It's a fun, unique shoot! Because of hunta virus, we cannot take people down to the kangaroos as part of an organized shoot. However, if you wish, we will show you where the kangaroo rat burrows are, should you still wish to attempt photographing them.
Usually, by Mid-May nectar-feeding Long-nosed Bats will visit our feeders after dark. If they do, as part of the optional Bat Shoot, we'll do a remote flash setup that's almost guaranteed to capture a bat in flight -- if they visit!
The beautiful Ring-tail, or ringtailed cat (a distant relative to the raccoon) usually visits our set-ups, and you'll also have the opportunity to photograph this semi-arboreal mammal at a special night set.
Whitetailed Deer are very common, and can be seen at almost any time of day. At our water baits near the lodge, we'll try to capture these animals with flash.
Insects and Spiders ... Our natural light flower/hummingbird feeders often attract spectacular bees, wasps, and butterflies. In the desert, there's scorpions, and unique green Lynx spiders.
Reptiles and Amphibians ... The area around our lodge is home to several small, harmless herptile species that make great shots. Side-blotched, Striped Plateau, and Clark's Spiny Lizards sun themselves along the paths and trails. In the desert, we might find Horned and Earless Lizards. For macro enthusiasts, these subjects are a rewarding challenge! Along the water's edge you might find cryptically colored, but extremely cute, Canyon Treefrogs huddled on the boulders.
I always buy an Arizona Hunting License, which allows me to legally collect reptiles, especially snakes, that are crossing roads and would otherwise be smashed by cars. We usually have an opportunity to photograph one or more rattlesnakes in this way, and if you think you're not interested in snakes (and that's how most people feel), you will surprise yourself when you're comfortably photographing a rattlesnake safely and at eye-level with the snake! It's a real thrill, especially for people who have never seen a rattlesnake in the wild.
Scenics, Plants, Night Scapes .... The stream that 'usually' runs adjacent our Lodge affords wonderful riparian river habitat images. Arizona Sycamores, Alligator Juniper Trees, Cacti, Phlox, and other plants are common and atrractive. Some cacti are typically in bloom in sheltered areas of the canyon, and their blooms are spectacular! The mountain landscapes, especially at the desert's edge at dusk, are wonderful. And, for those willing to stay up late, you'll have at least one chance (weather permitting) to film Star Trails framed by the rugged Santa Rita's.
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum ... No visit to southern Arizona and the Tucson area would be complete without a visit to this incredible museum/zoo, and we'll spend a morning at the museum. We'll have breakfast early, right outside of the zoo, and we'll provide our tips and shooting guide to this wonderful, photo-friendly zoo. The Hummingbird Aviary is worth the visit alone, but the new Roadrunner exhibit, as well as the Bird Aviary, Prairie Dogs, Lizard enclosure, and wild, but very tame Cactus Wrens make for a great morning (or several) shoot.
PHOTOSHOP INSTRUCTION
For a variety of reasons, but primarily because a simple tube feeder provides the greatest opportunity for a variety of poses (and not simple side-views as would occur if a flower was used to attempt to hide a feeder), we'll be adding flowers, if required, digitally after the shoot. We provide a variety of different flowers, and we'll spend at least one non-shooting session time demonstrating how to make convincing, exciting composites.
We have a very thorough and detailed PDF and Word document file that goes through this process step-by-step, and you'll master one of the neatest aspects of Photoshop through these sessions.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Participants are invited to bring along a Portfolio of up to 40 images for projection for everyone's enjoyment and, if requested, critique.
The Bat Shoot
On each Hummingbird Photo Shoot we'll also be offering an High Speed Bat shoot, . We'll be shooting the bats at one or two different locations, which will include the desert waterhole at 'The Pond,' where we'll have a good chance of photographing the large, beautiful Pallid Bat as it swoops across the water for a drink. Three other species regularly visit the pond, including Little Brown and Big Brown Bats, and occasionally a Townsend's Big-eared Bat.
In Madera Canyon, we will probably shoot Lesser Long-nosed Bats as they visit one of our hummingbird feeders for a drink. These nectar-feeding bats usually return to the canyon by early May, and once here, regularly visit the hummingbird feeders to steal a drink.
Also in the canyon, if stream conditions permit, we'll be doing a setup along the stream where as many as six different species of bats may come to drink. Some years, winter snow fall is so heavy that the stream is too full to provide a likely target spot for setting up a camera trap. If that is the case, then we'll concentrate on the shooting opportunities at The Pond and at the hummingbird feeders.
Bat photography is exciting and challenging -- which is why you don't see very many people doing this! It requires using a remote camera-tripping device like the ones we will be using -- the PhotoTrap, and for a camera to either be hard-wired to the PhotoTrap or set on Bulb. There are advantages, and disadvantages, to either method, including obtaining a good composition and obtaining sharp focus.
To address the latter, we'll photograph the bats with our cameras set on Bulb, so that when a bat crosses the PhotoTrap beam the flashes will fire instantaneously. In this way, if you are focused on the beam point you should have a perfectly focused image. This requires that you use some type of remote release or camera trigger like the Pocket Wizard. We use Canon Electronic Releases with an accessory Long Extension (Allen's Camera sells both) that gives us more than 20 feet of working distance between operator and camera.
Bats do not fly all night, or they do so with sufficient irregularity that manning a camera all night isn't productive. Generally, our shooting will last for about two hours after sunset, with shoots concluding between 10 and 11PM. Bat shooting is, unlike the hummingbirds, not a high volume shoot, and you can expect to expose less than thirty images per session.
That said, it's possible that on a given evening bats may visit our sites more than a hundred times, but I don't want to paint a rosy, exceptional picture.
With all that said, the bat photography is exciting and unique and a lot of fun, even if it is frustrating and, sometimes, unrewarding. But the effort is worth it, and one great bat photo -- unobtainable no other way -- will be worth your while!
Program Specifics:
Food and Lodging: The price of the shoot includes five nights lodging at the Santa Rita Lodge, world-famous among birders for its hummingbird and birding potential. Near gourmet lunches and several dinners are included, but breakfasts (except for the day to the Museum) are not. Participants will have an opportunity to buy breakfast items at the supermarket in nearby Green Valley. Lodging is based upon single occupancy. Non-photographic spouses are welcome, and will be charged only for food and transportation costs.
Image Enjoyment and Evaluation: Participants are encouraged to bring along a portfolio of images for DIGITAL projection. These can be on a CD or DVD, or most easily, simply transfered to a CF card we can load into our computer. This is a favorite activity enjoyed by most as simply a slide-sharing session, although comments, criticism, or helpful tips will be offered if desired. Should you wish, you can bring along your own slide carousel with your slides premounted. We WILL NOT have a slide projector along, however we will show your slides PROVIDED that you bring along the projector.
Flash Setups and Rotation: Participants will be assured an equal amount of time at the many setups provided. However, you're welcome to 'sit out' a session to pursue personal projects. You should have a minimum of eighteen hours scheduled time with the high speed flash systems, insuring razor-sharp images.
Additionally, you're invited to bring along your own flash systems, if you so desire, to set up a hummer station in front of your cabin. A warning, though: A few people have brought flash systems along but no one has ever, EVER, set up their own system. That's because our setups provide enough shooting, the feeders are established, the birds are coming in, and the extra work simply wasn't worth it!
Equipment Required: The shoot is designed for digital SLR equipment. A variety of lenses can be used. Most participants enjoy their greatest shooting flexibility with a zoom lens -- 70-200, 70-300, 80-400, or 100-400. A 200mm macro lens or a telephoto of 300mm or greatercan also be used for most setups. If you are using a fixed telephoto, you'll enjoy best results with a 300mm and 1.4X, a 400mm, or a 500mm lens.
You may wish to bring a 200mm macro lens, or a 70mm- or 80-200mm zoom with extension tubes for close ups of hummingbirds at one of the feeders. You'll have plenty of room to bring whatever gear you might need. We will provide details on all suggested gear to registered participants.We strongly recommend that you bring along one TTL flash of our own. This can be useful for tripping our flashes in some of the hummer sets and nocturnal mammal setups (via slaves), and for TTL fill-flash for the natural light bird feeders. If you wish to shoot the mammal setups, you may need additional accessories like long cable releases or remote trippers.
For the special Bat Shoot Option, you will neede a long cable release or Pocket Wizard to trip your camera. Your camera will be on Bulb, and you must be able to close your camera's shutter remotely when bats trip the flashes. We strongly recommend long electronic cable releases for this. Short releases will also work, provided that you can 'lock' the release button so that the camera will continue to fire when set on a continuous mode. Most do, and the only exceptions are the camera models that provide a small, hand-held IF release that must be held right in front of the camera. These do not work!
Patience: As I said earlier, we are photographing wild birds. On occasion, photographers have spent an entire 1 and 1/2 hour session and exposed only five frames. Conversely, the same feeder, days later, yielded hundreds of images in the same time period. Some birds, like the Magnificent, are wary, and require either using a remote release, or being behind the camera when the bird suddenly appears at the feeder. Others are extremely tolerant of motion -- last year one participant shot headshots of feeding hummers with his macro! Although you'll probably only need one 'knock out' shot of a hummer, most participants expose several hundred images of hummingbirds, and perhaps another several hundred of the songbirds, mammals, and other subjects available with the natural light setups.
About Your Photo Leaders
My wife Mary Ann and I strive to provide the most comfortable, enjoyable, and thorough shooting experience we think you'll ever experience. Both Mary and I are photographers, and I'd hope you've seen our credits. Our work regularly appears in National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Natural History, Living Bird, Birder's World, Wildlife Conservation, and most nature/wildlife calendars.
I hope you've seen some of our books. To date I've written five, A Practical Guide to Photographing American Wildlife; The Wildlife Photographer's Field Manual; The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography; Designing Wildlife Photographs; and Photographing on Safari. Mary's written ten children's books, including Woodpeckers; Leopards; Grizzly Bears; Cobras; Boas; Pythons; Rattlesnakes; Garter Snakes; and Flying Squirrels, and an adult book on the Amish. Both Mary and I are at work on several new book projects. Additionally, in 1994 Mary won two first place finishes in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, in Bird Behavior and with Endangered Species.
More importantly, as photography instructors we are dedicated to providing you with the help, instruction, and information you'll need to have a most successful shoot. We're confident you'll enjoy this experience (many participants do the trip each year!), and we hope that this shoot will be just one of the many we will share together. In fact, many of our offerings are filled with repeaters, and many of our extensive trips are not advertised for this reason.
Disclaimer
Although we'll have several flash systems setup and ready to go, the unforeseen can happen. We've rarely had rain, and it's not expected this time of year, but it could happen. One or more flash systems could break down, or you could be plagued with bad luck and never have a bird at your feeder when you're there -- though that's never happened! The natural light setups simply require that you are there, but YOU must have the energy and ambition to capitalize on these opportunities. Great images can require shooting a lot of film, and having patience, so bring both with you for this shoot!
Special Cancellation Policy for the Hummingbird High Speed Photography
Due to the payment schedule imposed by the lodge, please note the following payment schedule and cancellation policy listed below:
Deposit to Insure Your Spot:: $500 upon registration
Full Payment due: 90 days before the shoot $250 cancellation fee.
Cancellation penalty 46-60 days before the start of the shoot: $500 (1000% of deposit) plus 25% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 31-45 days of the shoot: $500 (100% of deposit) plus 50% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 30 days of the start date: No refund is possible.
The Hummingbird Shoot is LIMITED to Six photographing participants. Non-photographing spouses are welcome, and a fee is assessed for food, operating expenses, and insurance.
More About Your Leaders
Hummingbird High Speed Flash Photography
Photo Tour and Workshop
with a special optional
Bat Shoot!
Price: $2,545 includes both Hummingbirds and Bats
Dates: May 5-10, 2012 NEW DATE ADDED!
INCLUDES all lunches, a welcome dinner, and lodging,
plus all the flash equipment necessary for the shoot!
This is one of our most popular shoots. WE SUPPLY ALL THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, nature supplies the birds!
As you'll see, besides hummers, there are a variety of other birds and animals to film as well.
The photo shoot price includes lodging (single occupancy),
lunches and some dinners,
and ALL OF THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, LIGHT STANDS, SLAVE UNITS, NECESSARY FOR DOING THIS SHOOT!
This Shoot also includes instruction on how to set up a hummingbird shoot of your own; as well as how to clone and use Masks in Photoshop for the most effective hummingbird compositions!
2012 DATES:
Dates: May 11 -16, 2012
May 16 -21, 2012
Preceeded by the
Arizona DIGITAL Complete Nature Photo Course
the foundation for your photography!
Special Bat shoot Portfolio
The following is the entire brochure, providing all the information
you'll need to decide upon this tour. It will take a few minutes to read.
For even more information, read the 'trip report 2009' or 'trip report 2010' or 2011 Trip Report.!
The Mountains of southern and southeastern Arizona are home to the greatest variety of hummingbirds in North America. From our base at the world-famous Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, nestled in the rugged Santa Rita Mountains, we'll concentrate upon photographing several species of hummingbirds at our feeders.
In a typical year we film three or four different species, including the brilliant and common Broad-billed, the huge Magnificent, and the less frequently seen Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, and occasional Broadtailed, Blue-throated, Rufous, or Calliope.
Our photographers will be shooting at our flash setups, featuring a variety of flash equipment.
You DO NOT need to know or understand electronic flash, and you DO NOT need to have your own flash equipment along! Everything is set up for you, and ready for you to start filming these incredibly colorful and exciting birds. However, the equipment that we will be using for this flash shoot is readily available to any photographer, and you will learn how to make these set-ups yourself, at home or in the field. But for this shoot -- all of that work is done for you!
You'll be filming at a variety of electronic flash and natural light setups. Each participant is rotated on a scheduled route through all our setups, insuring the likelihood of capturing activity at each setup during the course of your shoot. It must be remembered that these are wild birds, and patience is required for success with some species. However, by having time at all the feeders over several days, most everyone enjoys success at each setup. Of course, you're also free to trade off, pass on, or substitute with your fellow participants at any feeder, depending upon what's "hot" and what's available.
Let me stress the importance of this: If you were limited to your own flash system at your own setup, you would be at the mercy of the birds visiting ONLY your feeder. Sometimes, as you'll see, birds prefer one feeder over another and ignore one setup for hours or days at a time. Imagine if that was your feeder! By rotating people through all the flash setups, you are insured to 'hit' great action through the course of the shoot, and usually every single day. That's simply not possible if you are limited to one personal flash setup.
u -- all you need to do is focus and shoot!
But there's more to shoot besides hummingbirds ... Our week of shooting offers several other exciting photo possibilities ...
Natural light songbirds .... We'll have a variety of 'stations' setup for feeding a variety of songbirds common around the lodge. These include Mexican or Gray-breasted Jays, harlequin-colored Acorn Woodpeckers, Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Scott's Orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, pine siskins, and the ubiquitous House Finch.
We'll also be setting up two or more 'insect feeders,' where insectivorous birds that avoid seed feeders may gather to eat easy nutritious mealworm snacks. It's possible we'll attract the vividly colored Painted Redstart, as well as Black Phoebes, Flycatchaters, and Kinglets.
Our 'Water Set' - Virtually right in front of your lodging we set up a natural light water set that allows you to shoot virtually water-level images of birds and mammals drinking at our water set. We usually have Western gray squirrels, black-headed grosbeaks, acorn and Arizona woodpeckers, lesser goldfinches, pine siskins, house finches, bridled titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and a few other species of songbird, all drinking within easy range of your lenses. Like all of our natural light sets, the water set is available all of the time, although it is particularly productive in the late afternoon.
Flash Setups with Birds ... We'll also be trying to attract the smallest owl in North America, the tiny Elf Owl, to our insect feeders. If this works, it may be possible to film this owl perched above our insect baits. Additionally, we'll try do one or more flash setups of insect-eating birds, like the Bridled Titmouse, Redstart, and others.
Nocturnal Mammals ... The Madera Canyon area is home to a variety of interesting night-active mammals. These include Ringtailed Cats, Raccoons, Skunks, Opossums, Kangaroo Rats, White-throated Woodrats, and Whitetail Deer. By simply walking the canyon's trails a few minutes after sunset, you're likely to see one or more of these species. Some, unaccustomed to people, are extremely approachable. We also have flash setups at food sources or water lures for nocturnal shooting.
One evening you may have the option to film Bannertailed Kangaroo Rats near their dens in the desert. These incredibly cute, gerbil-like rodents are easy to film with a flash setup, provided the photographer is patient, and quiet! It's a fun, unique shoot! Because of hunta virus, we cannot take people down to the kangaroos as part of an organized shoot. However, if you wish, we will show you where the kangaroo rat burrows are, should you still wish to attempt photographing them.
Usually, by Mid-May nectar-feeding Long-nosed Bats will visit our feeders after dark. If they do, as part of the optional Bat Shoot, we'll do a remote flash setup that's almost guaranteed to capture a bat in flight -- if they visit!
The beautiful Ring-tail, or ringtailed cat (a distant relative to the raccoon) usually visits our set-ups, and you'll also have the opportunity to photograph this semi-arboreal mammal at a special night set.
Whitetailed Deer are very common, and can be seen at almost any time of day. At our water baits near the lodge, we'll try to capture these animals with flash.
Insects and Spiders ... Our natural light flower/hummingbird feeders often attract spectacular bees, wasps, and butterflies. In the desert, there's scorpions, and unique green Lynx spiders.
Reptiles and Amphibians ... The area around our lodge is home to several small, harmless herptile species that make great shots. Side-blotched, Striped Plateau, and Clark's Spiny Lizards sun themselves along the paths and trails. In the desert, we might find Horned and Earless Lizards. For macro enthusiasts, these subjects are a rewarding challenge! Along the water's edge you might find cryptically colored, but extremely cute, Canyon Treefrogs huddled on the boulders.
I always buy an Arizona Hunting License, which allows me to legally collect reptiles, especially snakes, that are crossing roads and would otherwise be smashed by cars. We usually have an opportunity to photograph one or more rattlesnakes in this way, and if you think you're not interested in snakes (and that's how most people feel), you will surprise yourself when you're comfortably photographing a rattlesnake safely and at eye-level with the snake! It's a real thrill, especially for people who have never seen a rattlesnake in the wild.
Scenics, Plants, Night Scapes .... The stream that 'usually' runs adjacent our Lodge affords wonderful riparian river habitat images. Arizona Sycamores, Alligator Juniper Trees, Cacti, Phlox, and other plants are common and atrractive. Some cacti are typically in bloom in sheltered areas of the canyon, and their blooms are spectacular! The mountain landscapes, especially at the desert's edge at dusk, are wonderful. And, for those willing to stay up late, you'll have at least one chance (weather permitting) to film Star Trails framed by the rugged Santa Rita's.
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum ... No visit to southern Arizona and the Tucson area would be complete without a visit to this incredible museum/zoo, and we'll spend a morning at the museum. We'll have breakfast early, right outside of the zoo, and we'll provide our tips and shooting guide to this wonderful, photo-friendly zoo. The Hummingbird Aviary is worth the visit alone, but the new Roadrunner exhibit, as well as the Bird Aviary, Prairie Dogs, Lizard enclosure, and wild, but very tame Cactus Wrens make for a great morning (or several) shoot.
PHOTOSHOP INSTRUCTION
For a variety of reasons, but primarily because a simple tube feeder provides the greatest opportunity for a variety of poses (and not simple side-views as would occur if a flower was used to attempt to hide a feeder), we'll be adding flowers, if required, digitally after the shoot. We provide a variety of different flowers, and we'll spend at least one non-shooting session time demonstrating how to make convincing, exciting composites.
We have a very thorough and detailed PDF and Word document file that goes through this process step-by-step, and you'll master one of the neatest aspects of Photoshop through these sessions.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Participants are invited to bring along a Portfolio of up to 40 images for projection for everyone's enjoyment and, if requested, critique.
The Bat Shoot
On each Hummingbird Photo Shoot we'll also be offering an High Speed Bat shoot, . We'll be shooting the bats at one or two different locations, which will include the desert waterhole at 'The Pond,' where we'll have a good chance of photographing the large, beautiful Pallid Bat as it swoops across the water for a drink. Three other species regularly visit the pond, including Little Brown and Big Brown Bats, and occasionally a Townsend's Big-eared Bat.
In Madera Canyon, we will probably shoot Lesser Long-nosed Bats as they visit one of our hummingbird feeders for a drink. These nectar-feeding bats usually return to the canyon by early May, and once here, regularly visit the hummingbird feeders to steal a drink.
Also in the canyon, if stream conditions permit, we'll be doing a setup along the stream where as many as six different species of bats may come to drink. Some years, winter snow fall is so heavy that the stream is too full to provide a likely target spot for setting up a camera trap. If that is the case, then we'll concentrate on the shooting opportunities at The Pond and at the hummingbird feeders.
Bat photography is exciting and challenging -- which is why you don't see very many people doing this! It requires using a remote camera-tripping device like the ones we will be using -- the PhotoTrap, and for a camera to either be hard-wired to the PhotoTrap or set on Bulb. There are advantages, and disadvantages, to either method, including obtaining a good composition and obtaining sharp focus.
To address the latter, we'll photograph the bats with our cameras set on Bulb, so that when a bat crosses the PhotoTrap beam the flashes will fire instantaneously. In this way, if you are focused on the beam point you should have a perfectly focused image. This requires that you use some type of remote release or camera trigger like the Pocket Wizard. We use Canon Electronic Releases with an accessory Long Extension (Allen's Camera sells both) that gives us more than 20 feet of working distance between operator and camera.
Bats do not fly all night, or they do so with sufficient irregularity that manning a camera all night isn't productive. Generally, our shooting will last for about two hours after sunset, with shoots concluding between 10 and 11PM. Bat shooting is, unlike the hummingbirds, not a high volume shoot, and you can expect to expose less than thirty images per session.
That said, it's possible that on a given evening bats may visit our sites more than a hundred times, but I don't want to paint a rosy, exceptional picture.
With all that said, the bat photography is exciting and unique and a lot of fun, even if it is frustrating and, sometimes, unrewarding. But the effort is worth it, and one great bat photo -- unobtainable no other way -- will be worth your while!
Program Specifics:
Food and Lodging: The price of the shoot includes five nights lodging at the Santa Rita Lodge, world-famous among birders for its hummingbird and birding potential. Near gourmet lunches and several dinners are included, but breakfasts (except for the day to the Museum) are not. Participants will have an opportunity to buy breakfast items at the supermarket in nearby Green Valley. Lodging is based upon single occupancy. Non-photographic spouses are welcome, and will be charged only for food and transportation costs.
Image Enjoyment and Evaluation: Participants are encouraged to bring along a portfolio of images for DIGITAL projection. These can be on a CD or DVD, or most easily, simply transfered to a CF card we can load into our computer. This is a favorite activity enjoyed by most as simply a slide-sharing session, although comments, criticism, or helpful tips will be offered if desired. Should you wish, you can bring along your own slide carousel with your slides premounted. We WILL NOT have a slide projector along, however we will show your slides PROVIDED that you bring along the projector.
Flash Setups and Rotation: Participants will be assured an equal amount of time at the many setups provided. However, you're welcome to 'sit out' a session to pursue personal projects. You should have a minimum of eighteen hours scheduled time with the high speed flash systems, insuring razor-sharp images.
Additionally, you're invited to bring along your own flash systems, if you so desire, to set up a hummer station in front of your cabin. A warning, though: A few people have brought flash systems along but no one has ever, EVER, set up their own system. That's because our setups provide enough shooting, the feeders are established, the birds are coming in, and the extra work simply wasn't worth it!
Equipment Required: The shoot is designed for digital SLR equipment. A variety of lenses can be used. Most participants enjoy their greatest shooting flexibility with a zoom lens -- 70-200, 70-300, 80-400, or 100-400. A 200mm macro lens or a telephoto of 300mm or greatercan also be used for most setups. If you are using a fixed telephoto, you'll enjoy best results with a 300mm and 1.4X, a 400mm, or a 500mm lens.
You may wish to bring a 200mm macro lens, or a 70mm- or 80-200mm zoom with extension tubes for close ups of hummingbirds at one of the feeders. You'll have plenty of room to bring whatever gear you might need. We will provide details on all suggested gear to registered participants.We strongly recommend that you bring along one TTL flash of our own. This can be useful for tripping our flashes in some of the hummer sets and nocturnal mammal setups (via slaves), and for TTL fill-flash for the natural light bird feeders. If you wish to shoot the mammal setups, you may need additional accessories like long cable releases or remote trippers.
For the special Bat Shoot Option, you will neede a long cable release or Pocket Wizard to trip your camera. Your camera will be on Bulb, and you must be able to close your camera's shutter remotely when bats trip the flashes. We strongly recommend long electronic cable releases for this. Short releases will also work, provided that you can 'lock' the release button so that the camera will continue to fire when set on a continuous mode. Most do, and the only exceptions are the camera models that provide a small, hand-held IF release that must be held right in front of the camera. These do not work!
Patience: As I said earlier, we are photographing wild birds. On occasion, photographers have spent an entire 1 and 1/2 hour session and exposed only five frames. Conversely, the same feeder, days later, yielded hundreds of images in the same time period. Some birds, like the Magnificent, are wary, and require either using a remote release, or being behind the camera when the bird suddenly appears at the feeder. Others are extremely tolerant of motion -- last year one participant shot headshots of feeding hummers with his macro! Although you'll probably only need one 'knock out' shot of a hummer, most participants expose several hundred images of hummingbirds, and perhaps another several hundred of the songbirds, mammals, and other subjects available with the natural light setups.
About Your Photo Leaders
My wife Mary Ann and I strive to provide the most comfortable, enjoyable, and thorough shooting experience we think you'll ever experience. Both Mary and I are photographers, and I'd hope you've seen our credits. Our work regularly appears in National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Natural History, Living Bird, Birder's World, Wildlife Conservation, and most nature/wildlife calendars.
I hope you've seen some of our books. To date I've written five, A Practical Guide to Photographing American Wildlife; The Wildlife Photographer's Field Manual; The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography; Designing Wildlife Photographs; and Photographing on Safari. Mary's written ten children's books, including Woodpeckers; Leopards; Grizzly Bears; Cobras; Boas; Pythons; Rattlesnakes; Garter Snakes; and Flying Squirrels, and an adult book on the Amish. Both Mary and I are at work on several new book projects. Additionally, in 1994 Mary won two first place finishes in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, in Bird Behavior and with Endangered Species.
More importantly, as photography instructors we are dedicated to providing you with the help, instruction, and information you'll need to have a most successful shoot. We're confident you'll enjoy this experience (many participants do the trip each year!), and we hope that this shoot will be just one of the many we will share together. In fact, many of our offerings are filled with repeaters, and many of our extensive trips are not advertised for this reason.
Disclaimer
Although we'll have several flash systems setup and ready to go, the unforeseen can happen. We've rarely had rain, and it's not expected this time of year, but it could happen. One or more flash systems could break down, or you could be plagued with bad luck and never have a bird at your feeder when you're there -- though that's never happened! The natural light setups simply require that you are there, but YOU must have the energy and ambition to capitalize on these opportunities. Great images can require shooting a lot of film, and having patience, so bring both with you for this shoot!
Special Cancellation Policy for the Hummingbird High Speed Photography
Due to the payment schedule imposed by the lodge, please note the following payment schedule and cancellation policy listed below:
Deposit to Insure Your Spot:: $500 upon registration
Full Payment due: 90 days before the shoot $250 cancellation fee.
Cancellation penalty 46-60 days before the start of the shoot: $500 (1000% of deposit) plus 25% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 31-45 days of the shoot: $500 (100% of deposit) plus 50% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 30 days of the start date: No refund is possible.
The Hummingbird Shoot is LIMITED to Six photographing participants. Non-photographing spouses are welcome, and a fee is assessed for food, operating expenses, and insurance.
More About Your Leaders
Hummingbird High Speed Flash Photography
Photo Tour and Workshop
with a special optional
Bat Shoot!
with a special optional
Bat Shoot!
Price: $2,545 includes both Hummingbirds and Bats
Dates: May 5-10, 2012 NEW DATE ADDED!
INCLUDES all lunches, a welcome dinner, and lodging,
plus all the flash equipment necessary for the shoot!
Price: $2,545 includes both Hummingbirds and Bats
Dates: May 5-10, 2012 NEW DATE ADDED!
INCLUDES all lunches, a welcome dinner, and lodging,
plus all the flash equipment necessary for the shoot!
This is one of our most popular shoots. WE SUPPLY ALL THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, nature supplies the birds!
As you'll see, besides hummers, there are a variety of other birds and animals to film as well.
As you'll see, besides hummers, there are a variety of other birds and animals to film as well.
The photo shoot price includes lodging (single occupancy),
lunches and some dinners,
and ALL OF THE FLASH EQUIPMENT, LIGHT STANDS, SLAVE UNITS, NECESSARY FOR DOING THIS SHOOT!
This Shoot also includes instruction on how to set up a hummingbird shoot of your own; as well as how to clone and use Masks in Photoshop for the most effective hummingbird compositions!
2012 DATES:
Dates: May 11 -16, 2012
May 16 -21, 2012
Preceeded by the
Arizona DIGITAL Complete Nature Photo Course
the foundation for your photography!
Special Bat shoot Portfolio
The following is the entire brochure, providing all the information
you'll need to decide upon this tour. It will take a few minutes to read.
The following is the entire brochure, providing all the information
you'll need to decide upon this tour. It will take a few minutes to read.
For even more information, read the 'trip report 2009' or 'trip report 2010' or 2011 Trip Report.!
The Mountains of southern and southeastern Arizona are home to the greatest variety of hummingbirds in North America. From our base at the world-famous Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, nestled in the rugged Santa Rita Mountains, we'll concentrate upon photographing several species of hummingbirds at our feeders.
In a typical year we film three or four different species, including the brilliant and common Broad-billed, the huge Magnificent, and the less frequently seen Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, and occasional Broadtailed, Blue-throated, Rufous, or Calliope.
Our photographers will be shooting at our flash setups, featuring a variety of flash equipment.
You DO NOT need to know or understand electronic flash, and you DO NOT need to have your own flash equipment along! Everything is set up for you, and ready for you to start filming these incredibly colorful and exciting birds. However, the equipment that we will be using for this flash shoot is readily available to any photographer, and you will learn how to make these set-ups yourself, at home or in the field. But for this shoot -- all of that work is done for you!
You'll be filming at a variety of electronic flash and natural light setups. Each participant is rotated on a scheduled route through all our setups, insuring the likelihood of capturing activity at each setup during the course of your shoot. It must be remembered that these are wild birds, and patience is required for success with some species. However, by having time at all the feeders over several days, most everyone enjoys success at each setup. Of course, you're also free to trade off, pass on, or substitute with your fellow participants at any feeder, depending upon what's "hot" and what's available.
Let me stress the importance of this: If you were limited to your own flash system at your own setup, you would be at the mercy of the birds visiting ONLY your feeder. Sometimes, as you'll see, birds prefer one feeder over another and ignore one setup for hours or days at a time. Imagine if that was your feeder! By rotating people through all the flash setups, you are insured to 'hit' great action through the course of the shoot, and usually every single day. That's simply not possible if you are limited to one personal flash setup.
u -- all you need to do is focus and shoot!
But there's more to shoot besides hummingbirds ... Our week of shooting offers several other exciting photo possibilities ...
Natural light songbirds .... We'll have a variety of 'stations' setup for feeding a variety of songbirds common around the lodge. These include Mexican or Gray-breasted Jays, harlequin-colored Acorn Woodpeckers, Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Scott's Orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, pine siskins, and the ubiquitous House Finch.
We'll also be setting up two or more 'insect feeders,' where insectivorous birds that avoid seed feeders may gather to eat easy nutritious mealworm snacks. It's possible we'll attract the vividly colored Painted Redstart, as well as Black Phoebes, Flycatchaters, and Kinglets.
Our 'Water Set' - Virtually right in front of your lodging we set up a natural light water set that allows you to shoot virtually water-level images of birds and mammals drinking at our water set. We usually have Western gray squirrels, black-headed grosbeaks, acorn and Arizona woodpeckers, lesser goldfinches, pine siskins, house finches, bridled titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, and a few other species of songbird, all drinking within easy range of your lenses. Like all of our natural light sets, the water set is available all of the time, although it is particularly productive in the late afternoon.
Flash Setups with Birds ... We'll also be trying to attract the smallest owl in North America, the tiny Elf Owl, to our insect feeders. If this works, it may be possible to film this owl perched above our insect baits. Additionally, we'll try do one or more flash setups of insect-eating birds, like the Bridled Titmouse, Redstart, and others.
Nocturnal Mammals ... The Madera Canyon area is home to a variety of interesting night-active mammals. These include Ringtailed Cats, Raccoons, Skunks, Opossums, Kangaroo Rats, White-throated Woodrats, and Whitetail Deer. By simply walking the canyon's trails a few minutes after sunset, you're likely to see one or more of these species. Some, unaccustomed to people, are extremely approachable. We also have flash setups at food sources or water lures for nocturnal shooting.
One evening you may have the option to film Bannertailed Kangaroo Rats near their dens in the desert. These incredibly cute, gerbil-like rodents are easy to film with a flash setup, provided the photographer is patient, and quiet! It's a fun, unique shoot! Because of hunta virus, we cannot take people down to the kangaroos as part of an organized shoot. However, if you wish, we will show you where the kangaroo rat burrows are, should you still wish to attempt photographing them.
Usually, by Mid-May nectar-feeding Long-nosed Bats will visit our feeders after dark. If they do, as part of the optional Bat Shoot, we'll do a remote flash setup that's almost guaranteed to capture a bat in flight -- if they visit!
The beautiful Ring-tail, or ringtailed cat (a distant relative to the raccoon) usually visits our set-ups, and you'll also have the opportunity to photograph this semi-arboreal mammal at a special night set.
Whitetailed Deer are very common, and can be seen at almost any time of day. At our water baits near the lodge, we'll try to capture these animals with flash.
Insects and Spiders ... Our natural light flower/hummingbird feeders often attract spectacular bees, wasps, and butterflies. In the desert, there's scorpions, and unique green Lynx spiders.
Reptiles and Amphibians ... The area around our lodge is home to several small, harmless herptile species that make great shots. Side-blotched, Striped Plateau, and Clark's Spiny Lizards sun themselves along the paths and trails. In the desert, we might find Horned and Earless Lizards. For macro enthusiasts, these subjects are a rewarding challenge! Along the water's edge you might find cryptically colored, but extremely cute, Canyon Treefrogs huddled on the boulders.
I always buy an Arizona Hunting License, which allows me to legally collect reptiles, especially snakes, that are crossing roads and would otherwise be smashed by cars. We usually have an opportunity to photograph one or more rattlesnakes in this way, and if you think you're not interested in snakes (and that's how most people feel), you will surprise yourself when you're comfortably photographing a rattlesnake safely and at eye-level with the snake! It's a real thrill, especially for people who have never seen a rattlesnake in the wild.
Scenics, Plants, Night Scapes .... The stream that 'usually' runs adjacent our Lodge affords wonderful riparian river habitat images. Arizona Sycamores, Alligator Juniper Trees, Cacti, Phlox, and other plants are common and atrractive. Some cacti are typically in bloom in sheltered areas of the canyon, and their blooms are spectacular! The mountain landscapes, especially at the desert's edge at dusk, are wonderful. And, for those willing to stay up late, you'll have at least one chance (weather permitting) to film Star Trails framed by the rugged Santa Rita's.
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum ... No visit to southern Arizona and the Tucson area would be complete without a visit to this incredible museum/zoo, and we'll spend a morning at the museum. We'll have breakfast early, right outside of the zoo, and we'll provide our tips and shooting guide to this wonderful, photo-friendly zoo. The Hummingbird Aviary is worth the visit alone, but the new Roadrunner exhibit, as well as the Bird Aviary, Prairie Dogs, Lizard enclosure, and wild, but very tame Cactus Wrens make for a great morning (or several) shoot.
PHOTOSHOP INSTRUCTION
For a variety of reasons, but primarily because a simple tube feeder provides the greatest opportunity for a variety of poses (and not simple side-views as would occur if a flower was used to attempt to hide a feeder), we'll be adding flowers, if required, digitally after the shoot. We provide a variety of different flowers, and we'll spend at least one non-shooting session time demonstrating how to make convincing, exciting composites.
We have a very thorough and detailed PDF and Word document file that goes through this process step-by-step, and you'll master one of the neatest aspects of Photoshop through these sessions.
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Participants are invited to bring along a Portfolio of up to 40 images for projection for everyone's enjoyment and, if requested, critique.
The Bat Shoot
On each Hummingbird Photo Shoot we'll also be offering an High Speed Bat shoot, . We'll be shooting the bats at one or two different locations, which will include the desert waterhole at 'The Pond,' where we'll have a good chance of photographing the large, beautiful Pallid Bat as it swoops across the water for a drink. Three other species regularly visit the pond, including Little Brown and Big Brown Bats, and occasionally a Townsend's Big-eared Bat.
In Madera Canyon, we will probably shoot Lesser Long-nosed Bats as they visit one of our hummingbird feeders for a drink. These nectar-feeding bats usually return to the canyon by early May, and once here, regularly visit the hummingbird feeders to steal a drink.
Also in the canyon, if stream conditions permit, we'll be doing a setup along the stream where as many as six different species of bats may come to drink. Some years, winter snow fall is so heavy that the stream is too full to provide a likely target spot for setting up a camera trap. If that is the case, then we'll concentrate on the shooting opportunities at The Pond and at the hummingbird feeders.
Bat photography is exciting and challenging -- which is why you don't see very many people doing this! It requires using a remote camera-tripping device like the ones we will be using -- the PhotoTrap, and for a camera to either be hard-wired to the PhotoTrap or set on Bulb. There are advantages, and disadvantages, to either method, including obtaining a good composition and obtaining sharp focus.
To address the latter, we'll photograph the bats with our cameras set on Bulb, so that when a bat crosses the PhotoTrap beam the flashes will fire instantaneously. In this way, if you are focused on the beam point you should have a perfectly focused image. This requires that you use some type of remote release or camera trigger like the Pocket Wizard. We use Canon Electronic Releases with an accessory Long Extension (Allen's Camera sells both) that gives us more than 20 feet of working distance between operator and camera.
Bats do not fly all night, or they do so with sufficient irregularity that manning a camera all night isn't productive. Generally, our shooting will last for about two hours after sunset, with shoots concluding between 10 and 11PM. Bat shooting is, unlike the hummingbirds, not a high volume shoot, and you can expect to expose less than thirty images per session.
That said, it's possible that on a given evening bats may visit our sites more than a hundred times, but I don't want to paint a rosy, exceptional picture.
With all that said, the bat photography is exciting and unique and a lot of fun, even if it is frustrating and, sometimes, unrewarding. But the effort is worth it, and one great bat photo -- unobtainable no other way -- will be worth your while!
Program Specifics:
Food and Lodging: The price of the shoot includes five nights lodging at the Santa Rita Lodge, world-famous among birders for its hummingbird and birding potential. Near gourmet lunches and several dinners are included, but breakfasts (except for the day to the Museum) are not. Participants will have an opportunity to buy breakfast items at the supermarket in nearby Green Valley. Lodging is based upon single occupancy. Non-photographic spouses are welcome, and will be charged only for food and transportation costs.
Image Enjoyment and Evaluation: Participants are encouraged to bring along a portfolio of images for DIGITAL projection. These can be on a CD or DVD, or most easily, simply transfered to a CF card we can load into our computer. This is a favorite activity enjoyed by most as simply a slide-sharing session, although comments, criticism, or helpful tips will be offered if desired. Should you wish, you can bring along your own slide carousel with your slides premounted. We WILL NOT have a slide projector along, however we will show your slides PROVIDED that you bring along the projector.
Flash Setups and Rotation: Participants will be assured an equal amount of time at the many setups provided. However, you're welcome to 'sit out' a session to pursue personal projects. You should have a minimum of eighteen hours scheduled time with the high speed flash systems, insuring razor-sharp images.
Additionally, you're invited to bring along your own flash systems, if you so desire, to set up a hummer station in front of your cabin. A warning, though: A few people have brought flash systems along but no one has ever, EVER, set up their own system. That's because our setups provide enough shooting, the feeders are established, the birds are coming in, and the extra work simply wasn't worth it!
Equipment Required: The shoot is designed for digital SLR equipment. A variety of lenses can be used. Most participants enjoy their greatest shooting flexibility with a zoom lens -- 70-200, 70-300, 80-400, or 100-400. A 200mm macro lens or a telephoto of 300mm or greatercan also be used for most setups. If you are using a fixed telephoto, you'll enjoy best results with a 300mm and 1.4X, a 400mm, or a 500mm lens.
You may wish to bring a 200mm macro lens, or a 70mm- or 80-200mm zoom with extension tubes for close ups of hummingbirds at one of the feeders. You'll have plenty of room to bring whatever gear you might need. We will provide details on all suggested gear to registered participants.We strongly recommend that you bring along one TTL flash of our own. This can be useful for tripping our flashes in some of the hummer sets and nocturnal mammal setups (via slaves), and for TTL fill-flash for the natural light bird feeders. If you wish to shoot the mammal setups, you may need additional accessories like long cable releases or remote trippers.
For the special Bat Shoot Option, you will neede a long cable release or Pocket Wizard to trip your camera. Your camera will be on Bulb, and you must be able to close your camera's shutter remotely when bats trip the flashes. We strongly recommend long electronic cable releases for this. Short releases will also work, provided that you can 'lock' the release button so that the camera will continue to fire when set on a continuous mode. Most do, and the only exceptions are the camera models that provide a small, hand-held IF release that must be held right in front of the camera. These do not work!
Patience: As I said earlier, we are photographing wild birds. On occasion, photographers have spent an entire 1 and 1/2 hour session and exposed only five frames. Conversely, the same feeder, days later, yielded hundreds of images in the same time period. Some birds, like the Magnificent, are wary, and require either using a remote release, or being behind the camera when the bird suddenly appears at the feeder. Others are extremely tolerant of motion -- last year one participant shot headshots of feeding hummers with his macro! Although you'll probably only need one 'knock out' shot of a hummer, most participants expose several hundred images of hummingbirds, and perhaps another several hundred of the songbirds, mammals, and other subjects available with the natural light setups.
About Your Photo Leaders
My wife Mary Ann and I strive to provide the most comfortable, enjoyable, and thorough shooting experience we think you'll ever experience. Both Mary and I are photographers, and I'd hope you've seen our credits. Our work regularly appears in National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Natural History, Living Bird, Birder's World, Wildlife Conservation, and most nature/wildlife calendars.
I hope you've seen some of our books. To date I've written five, A Practical Guide to Photographing American Wildlife; The Wildlife Photographer's Field Manual; The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography; Designing Wildlife Photographs; and Photographing on Safari. Mary's written ten children's books, including Woodpeckers; Leopards; Grizzly Bears; Cobras; Boas; Pythons; Rattlesnakes; Garter Snakes; and Flying Squirrels, and an adult book on the Amish. Both Mary and I are at work on several new book projects. Additionally, in 1994 Mary won two first place finishes in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, in Bird Behavior and with Endangered Species.
More importantly, as photography instructors we are dedicated to providing you with the help, instruction, and information you'll need to have a most successful shoot. We're confident you'll enjoy this experience (many participants do the trip each year!), and we hope that this shoot will be just one of the many we will share together. In fact, many of our offerings are filled with repeaters, and many of our extensive trips are not advertised for this reason.
Disclaimer
Although we'll have several flash systems setup and ready to go, the unforeseen can happen. We've rarely had rain, and it's not expected this time of year, but it could happen. One or more flash systems could break down, or you could be plagued with bad luck and never have a bird at your feeder when you're there -- though that's never happened! The natural light setups simply require that you are there, but YOU must have the energy and ambition to capitalize on these opportunities. Great images can require shooting a lot of film, and having patience, so bring both with you for this shoot!
Due to the payment schedule imposed by the lodge, please note the following payment schedule and cancellation policy listed below:
Deposit to Insure Your Spot:: $500 upon registration
Full Payment due: 90 days before the shoot $250 cancellation fee.
Cancellation penalty 46-60 days before the start of the shoot: $500 (1000% of deposit) plus 25% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 31-45 days of the shoot: $500 (100% of deposit) plus 50% of all other monies received.
Cancellation penalty within 30 days of the start date: No refund is possible.
The Hummingbird Shoot is LIMITED to Six photographing participants. Non-photographing spouses are welcome, and a fee is assessed for food, operating expenses, and insurance.
More About Your Leaders
