Florida Birding Photo Safari: Viera/St. Augustine
Details
Florida Space Coast Birding Adventure
Exclusive group: Limited to 8 photographers!
RSVP DEADLINE: March 6, 2015
April is peak nesting season in Florida, and we can expect to see lots of waterfowl, egrets, herons, spoonbills, & more. We may also see bald eagles and sandhill cranes!
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Join Jason Odell to photograph some of Florida's premier birding locations. Our destinations include:
• Viera Wetlands (Ritch Grissom Memorial Refuge): Home to coots, grebes, green herons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and river otters.
• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Lots of herons, egrets, and roseate spoonbills, plus the occasional alligator and even bald eagles.
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm: An incredible rookery where you can see birds in full breeding plumage displaying, building nests, and caring for chicks. There are also loads of gators!
Recommended Gear
Camera & sturdy tripod: If you have a long lens, a Wimberley Head or Sidekick is optimal.
Telephoto lens: I recommend something that can get you to at least 400mm focal length without a teleconverter. The Nikon 80-400mm VR or Canon 100-400mm IS would be ideal. Zooms are perfect for the Alligator Farm; you might want a longer lens for the wildlife refuges. However, most of these birds will be large and fairly close to us, so you don't need a massive lens most of the time.
Teleconverter (optional): 1.4x and/or 2x for the refuges
Laptop computer: for image review and processing
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Itinerary
• Sunday, April 12: Meet in Hotel Lobby (Melbourne) at 3pm for orientation session followed by afternoon shooting at Viera Wetlands
• Monday, April 13: Shooting in Viera Wetlands (morning & evening). Mid-day image critique and post-processing/workflow tutoring with Jason.
• Tuesday, April 14: Morning shoot at Merritt Island NWR (Black Point Drive), followed by lunch at Dixie Crossroads (home of the famous rock shrimp) in Titusville. We will then travel to St. Augustine by car. Afternoon/Evening shoot at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
• Wednesday, April 15: Morning and afternoon shooting at the Alligator Farm. Mid-day image review and critique session.
• Thursday, April 14th: (Optional) Sunrise shoot at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine; depart for home.
Workshop Fee: $899 per photographerFull payment is required after February 13, 2015
The workshop fee includes the following:
• All classroom and field instruction, personal image review/critiques with Jason Odell
• Hands-on post processing instruction
• Photography pass to St. Augustine Alligator Farm (you will get to keep the pass for personal use). This pass includes admission and early access to the Alligator Farm before it opens to the general public, and is good for one year!
Transportation, meals, and lodging are not included with the workshop fee. I encourage carpooling.
Cancellation Policy
• Deposits are non-refundable unless the workshop is cancelled. Fees are due in full by February 13, 2015.
• Cancellations between 60-30 days from the workshop will be refunded 50% less the deposit
• Cancellations within 30 days of the workshop are non-refundable
Trip Insurance: You may wish to consider purchasing travel insurance through 3rd-party providers, such as Squaremouth.com (http://www.squaremouth.com/) in case you need to cancel.
Nearest Airports: Orlando International (MCO) or Jacksonville (JAX)
Lodging
I have reserved a discounted block of rooms at the group hotels in Melbourne, FL and St. Augustine. You will be instructed how to make reservations after you register for the workshop.