2015 South Texas Birding Experience (private blinds)

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All-Inclusive Bird Photography Workshop May 14-18 2015

Limited to six (6) photographers; includes double-occupancy lodging, meals, and private blind access

If you want frame-filling shots of small birds, then this is how it's done. The 2015 South Texas Birding Experience gets you up-close and personal to a diverse group of feathered friends, some of which aren't seen anywhere else in the USA, like golden-fronted woodpeckers and green jays. Our location is on private property, meaning this is about as low-stress as you can get. We stay at a private game lodge, with all meals provided, including happy hour with complimentary adult beverages each evening. During the day, I'll personally assist each of the photographers with post-processing and camera techniques.

Our shooting locations feature two ranches, each of which has multiple blinds that are optimized for either morning or afternoon light.

Most of the blinds feature ponds, so you'll be able to get shots of the birds as they bathe or hunt insects. Lots of other animals frequent the properties, too, including squirrels, javelina, snakes, frogs, and lizards. The animals are accustomed to the blinds and often show up within minutes of us settling in to our positions.

I've been shooting at this location since 2006 and I know that it is about as close you'll ever come to a guaranteed wildlife photography experience.

You'll have the opportunity to photograph unique bird species up-close, including:

• Crested Caracara

• Harris Hawk

• Green Jay

• Painted Bunting

• Blue Grosbeak

• Bullock's Oriole

• Indigo Bunting

• Green-tailed Towhee

• Northern Cardinal

• Great Kiskidee

• American Roadrunner

• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

• Long-billed Thrasher

• Roadrunner

Recommended Gear

I recommend either a 400mm lens or equivalent (300mm + 1.4x extender) on a crop-sensor DSLR or a 500mm lens or longer with a full-frame DSLR. The Nikon 80-400mm VRII lens on a DX body is an excellent option; Canon shooters might consider the 100-400mm zoom on a crop body. If you don't have a long lens in your bag, you might consider renting a lens for the week from a reputable dealer such as lensrentals.com (http://www.lensrentals.com). You'll also need a sturdy tripod and a flash (optional). You can bring a macro lens for insect/reptile photography during other parts of the day when we're not in the blinds.

What's Included

The registration fee of $2299

• Three full shooting days in the private photo blinds, providing close-up access and clean backgrounds for perfect photographs of rare and unusual species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. These blinds are meticulously maintained by photographers, for photography, and offer some of the best settings for bird photography possible.

• Four nights double-occupancy lodging at an air-conditioned private game lodge with Wi-Fi Internet access, where we'll be able to review photos and process our images each day. Contact me if you require a single room and I can check availability and pricing.

• Home-cooked meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour (this is absolutely one of the best parts of the trip). Beer, wine, and bottled water are also included. Rib night is to die for, and did I mention there would be pie?

• Transportation to and from the field shooting sites each day

• Over the shoulder support with your photography technique. Photo review and critique and software training. I'll make sure you've got your camera set up for optimal results. We'll go through your images after each shooting session to ensure you're getting the keepers you deserve. My goal is to ensure that each of you goes home with as many keepers as possible!

What Isn't Included

• Airfare to and from McAllen (MFE)

• Transportation to and from Campos Viejos Ranch from MFE

I will provide all transportation from the ranch to the shooting locations.

• Travel Insurance: Due to the nature of this workshop, I am unable to offer refunds after March 1st, 2015 unless I am able to back-fill your space. If you are concerned about a cancellation, I recommend purchasing trip insurance to cover the costs of the workshop in the event you are unable to attend. I recommend getting a quote from Squaremouth.com (http://www.squaremouth.com), a travel insurance broker that lets you choose a custom coverage amount and can also provide medical evacuation coverage.