Five Cheap, Small Group IPTs: Gatorland and DeSoto. I Go With One. Always.
Why Cheap?
Today, there is a proliferation of bird photography workshops , often by folks whose only qualification is owning a camera body. I am pretty well off financially but I would love to see folks join me, enjoy the best nature photography instruction that money can buy, and learn a ton in the process rather than waste their money.
Why Small Groups ?
I absolutely love working with only four or five photographers. We can get all of our work done gathered around a laptop in either a small meeting room or after lunch. And in the field, smaller groups are a pleasure.
Why Go With Only One?
I have always promised to go with one client and have done so on rare occasion. Why? Imagine that you commit to taking some time off from work and buying a plane ticket to attend a photography tour. Then two weeks before the trip, the leader writes and says, “I am cancelling the trip because I am not gonna make enough money.” That never worked for me and never will.
Note: on some really expensive trips where I need to lay out a large amount of money (say to lease a boat) I will stipulate far in advance something like “Limit 13; this trip needs nine photographer to run.” Can you say Galapagos?
IPT Stuff
All IPTs include an introductory briefing before the IPT begins so you know what to expect, frequent in-the-field instruction and guidance (priceless), image editing and small group Photoshop instruction during and after lunch. Breakfasts are on your own so that we can get in the field early.Lunches are on me. Dinners are on your own as well so that we can get to bed as the days in spring will be long.
Rides with the leader on a limited basis are available for $50/day.
Discount Info
Register for two of the IPTs below and apply a discount of $200 to your total. Register for three of the IPTs below and apply a discount of $300 to your total. Sign up for DeSoto #2 and Gatorland #3 (back to back) and apply a $300 discount to your total.
Registering for an IPT
To register for any of the IPTs above call Jim or Jen in the office at 863-692-0906 from Monday morning through Friday lunch with your credit card in hand to leave your $500 non-refundable deposit. Balances may not be paid by credit card so you will be asked to send a check for your balance along with the signed paperwork that you will find here.
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Great Egrets in breeding plumage are quite beautiful |
Gatorland IPT #1. Sunrise: 7:25am, Sunset: 7:40pm
3 1/2 DAYs: THURS 22 March through and including the morning of SUN 25 MAR. $1599. Limit 5 photographers.
(2 1/2 DAY option) FRI 23 March through and including the morning of SUN 25 MAR. $1199.
Must purchase Gatorland Photographers Pass. Click here for details. All early entry. Late stays Friday and Saturday. Thursday late-stay is under discussion. Gatorland IPT #1 is best for killer breeding plumage Great Egrets. With chicks. Also Wood Stork and Cattle Egret. Surprisingly, there are already more than a few Snowy Egrets and Tricolored Herons in breeding plumage! Learn to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret Gatorland spots, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations.
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Spring at DeSoto is often magical |
DeSoto IPT #1 Sunrise: 7:07 am. Sunset: 6:22pm.
3 DAYS: SUN 15 APR thru the morning session on WED 18 APR. Limit 5 photographers.
You must purchase a season Parking Pass in advance for early entry. Click here and scroll down for info. If you are not a local, the six month pass if fine. Best to order by mail. Join me to photograph a wide variety of birds of the shore including pelicans, gulls, terns, sandpipers, oystercatchers, heron, egrets, and night-herons. Many in full breeding plumage. Most are ridiculously tame. Osprey likely. Learn to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret DeSoto locations, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations. Enjoy some great sunrises and sunsets.
Which will offer better opportunities, Desoto #1 or DeSoto #2? I have no idea. Both have the potential to be great.
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Tame birds in breeding plumage are great fun. |
Gatorland IPT #2. Sunrise: 6:48am. Sunset: 7:58pm.
3 1/2 DAYs: THURS 26 APR through and including the morning of SUN 29 APR. $1599. Limit 5 photographers.
(2 1/2 DAY option) FRI 27 APR through and including the morning of SUN 29 APR. $1199.
Must purchase Gatorland Photographers Pass. Click here for details. All early entry. Late stays Friday and Saturday. Thursday late-stay is under discussion. Gatorland IPT #2 should have lots of chicks, and lots of birds in breeding plumage. We will get to photograph Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, and Wood Stork. The Cattle Egrets in full breeding plumage will be present in good numbers. Learn my Gatorland strategy, to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret Gatorland spots, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations.
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DeSoto is one of the very few bird photography hotspots that can be great any given day of the year/strong> |
DeSoto IPT #2. Sunrise: 6:41am. Sunset: 8:12pm.
SUN 13 MAY thru the morning session on WED 16 MAY: 3 1/2 DAYS: $1599.
You must purchase a season Parking Pass in advance for early entry. Click here and scroll down for info. If you are not a local, the six month pass if fine. Best to order by mail. Join me to photograph a wide variety of birds of the shore including pelicans, gulls, terns, sandpipers, oystercatchers, heron, egrets, and night-herons. Many in full breeding plumage. Most are ridiculously tame. Osprey likely. Learn to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret DeSoto locations, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations. Enjoy some great sunrises and sunsets.
Which will offer better opportunities, Desoto #1 or DeSoto #2? I have no idea. Both have the potential to be great.
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Large Tricolored Heron chicks (lower left) are to die for! |
Gatorland #3. Sunrise: 6:33am. Sunset: 8:10pm.
3 1/2 DAYs: THURS 17 MAY through and including the morning of SUN 20 MAY. $1599. Limit 5 photographers.
(2 1/2 DAY option) FRI 18 MAY through and including the morning of SUN 20 MAY. $1199.
Must purchase Gatorland Photographers Pass. Click here for details. All early entry. Late stays Friday and Saturday. Thursday late-stay is under discussion. Gatorland IPT #3 is best for medium sized chicks of the following species: Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, and Tricolored Heron. Head portraits of handsome fledged Great Egrets are pretty much guaranteed. Learn to get the right exposure, flight photography techniques, my secret Gatorland spots, how to see the best situations (nobody is better at that than me), and how to make great images in extremely cluttered situations.
