The South Texas Birding Experience

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/5/2/6/event_90658662.jpegBird Photography at its Finest

May 30- June 3, 2012

Join the "Image Doctors" Jason Odell & Rick Walker for an all-inclusive bird photography experience in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Here, you'll be able to photograph hard to find bird species from within blinds, allowing you to get shots that would be next to impossible otherwise. This is an all-inclusive trip limited to six photographers for a special small-group setting.

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

Crested Caracara Harris Hawk Green Jay Painted Bunting Bullock's Oriole Green-tailed Towhee Northern Cardinal Great Kiskidee American Roadrunner Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Long-billed Thrasher Our Location: The Texas Rio Grande Valley

We'll be shooting on private ranch property in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, near Roma and Rio Grande City. The Rio Grande Valley is home to numerous neotropical birds that can't be seen anywhere else in the USA. The ranch sites offer photo blinds for both morning and afternoon shooting and are not open to the public. Moreover, the blinds have been carefully constructed to include perches, feeding stations, and water features, which not only attracts the birds but creates unique opportunities for reflections and other action shots. You will not find a more premium birding location anywhere with clear lines of sight and such a diversity of animals. Other animals also use the water holes, including snakes, frogs, lizards, insects, javelina (peccary) and deer. You can see a gallery of some of Jason's images taken at these sites here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpodell/sets/72157626984509331/). We will have three full days of shooting; you'll have ample opportunities to get those "keeper" shots.

Your Instructors: Over 60 years of combined photographic experience

I will be joined on this workshop by Rick Walker, co-host of The Image Doctors photography podcast. Rick and I have both photographed this location extensively, and offer our students full instruction on the use of cameras, lenses, tripods, and flash. We'll also have the opportunity to assist you with digital post-processing and workflow techniques, so bring your laptop! Rick and I have over 60 years of combined photographic experience and have been leading workshops since 2007.

Equipment Recommendations

We 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 200-400mm VR 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.

Accommodations and Meals

We've arranged special accommodations for this workshop at a nearby hunting lodge. This facility offers double-occupancy rooms, air conditioning, and a meeting area with free Internet access (WiFi). Your meals will also be provided with your instructional fee, including:

Light breakfast Snacks for the field Full lunch Happy Hour (including beer and wine) Full Dinner Transportation

We will pick you up from the McAllen Airport (MFE) on Wednesday, May 30th and return you there on Sunday, June 3rd. We will also provide all transportation to and from the field locations as part of your tuition. We'll work with you to coordinate airport pick-up times. We'll also transport you to and from the field sites each day.

Tuition and Fees

The fee for this photo safari is $2899 per photographer and includes:

All permits and shooting fees for three days of private blind access Field and classroom instruction sessions each day, including image critique and review Double-occupancy lodging at an air-conditioned private lodge All meals, plus a happy hour each evening with beer and wine Transportation to and from the McAllen International Airport (MFE) to our lodge Airfare to and from McAllen, Texas is not included with tuition

Refund/Cancellation Policy

To reserve your space, we must receive your tuition payment in full by March 31, 2012. If you need to cancel your reservation you will be refunded your fee balance less a 10% administrative charge if we can back-fill your slot. Otherwise, tuition is non-refundable after April 1, 2012.

Due to the unique nature of this event, we require four (4) participants in order to conduct this trip. If we do not get the minimum participants, we will refund your tuition in its entirety. Please do not book airfare until we confirm the workshop!

Trip Insurance

If you are concerned about a cancellation, we recommend purchasing trip insurance to cover the costs of the workshop in the event you are unable to attend. We 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.