Spring Songbird Workshops

Spring Songbirds Workshop

Each Spring, as the temperatures rise, songbirds return to their breeding ranges in North America. Many find their way to the Northeastern U.S. where birders and photographers alike flock to city parks to catch a glimpse of these colorful birds. While these locations make for easier sightings, they’re not always ideal for photography. The birds at these parks are merely stopping by to rest and forage before continuing their journey. They don’t sit still for long, and they seldom come down from the canopy. If they do, they usually visit a water source or feeder. Whatever it is they do, it’s also usually brief.

That is why you wants to find these birds in their preferred nesting habitat. Here, these birds are more consistent and active. Males lay claim to territory by singing from select perches to attract mates and thwart other males. When they hear an intruder, they investigate. When they see an intruder, they take action. They do all of this in a fairly confined area, where they’re movements and behaviors can become predictable to the observational birder. This is where I photograph them.

If you’d like to try your hand at songbird photography, why not do so with a little guidance. This Spring, join me, Matt Malwitz, for an in-the-field songbird photography workshop. This won’t be your typical “point and shoot” type of workshop either. I want to teach you a thing or two. During this outing, we’ll cover my process of find and photographing these birds. We’ll discuss how to find and identify songbirds, how to approach and move around wildlife, and different photographic techniques, all while photographing birds in the field.

Our goal will be to capture stunning images of two or three species, prioritizing quality shots over quantity of birds. We won’t get good looks at everything, and some birds are trickier than others, but that’s all part of the fun. As the saying goes, “if it were easy, everyone would do it”. So, why not give bird photography a chance.

Spaces are limited, so choose your date soon.

Sign up here. 

For more information on songbird photography, why not check out our webinar here.

All the best,

Matt 

Upcoming Photo Excursions Announced

Additional information is available by clicking on any trip name listed below. Every trip includes a pre-trip session, and Saturday Focus Session Review.

Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, NJ – Sunday, March 24, 2013
Price: $250 with registration required. Register
Our friends from Tamron will be joining us for this event. They will have an assortment of Tamron lenses to borrow and try during the trip.

 

Grounds for Sculpture – Sunday, April 14, 2013
Price: $99.99 through March 17th then $129.99  with registration required. Register
Our friends from Lensbaby will be joining us for this event. They will have an assortment of Lensbabies lenses to borrow and try during the trip.

Includes bus transportation, admission, and lunch.  

grounds-for-sculpture

 

Rockland Boulders Dugout Experience – Meetup Rockland County, NY – Thursday, May 16, 2013

Tickets: $50.00 with registration required. Register

rockland-boulders

 

Register Now

 

Photo Meetup – Rockland Boulders Dugout Experience & Fireworks

Join Bergen County Camera for an exciting opportunity to photograph a Rockland Boulders baseball game from the Dugout! So whether you are looking to build your sports photography portfolio or just love baseball and photography, this should be a great event. This is a meet-up trip and does not include transportation. Ticketing details will be provided to all attendees. Parking is $5 per vehicle. We will meet at the front entrance to the Rockland Boulders stadium on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 6:30PM. Ballpark food and refreshments will be served in the Dugout before the start of the game at 7PM. Our group will have exclusive access to the Dugout right next to the Boulders dugout. We’ll have all our long Nikon and Canon lenses for you to try out during the event.

A pre-trip lecture will be held in our Westwood store on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. The pre-trip lecture will cover what you should expect, what to bring, and how to get the best shots! Tickets are $50.00 each and include access to the Dugout and ballpark refreshments.

Rockland Boulders Dugout Experience – Meetup Rockland County, NY – Thursday, August 9, 2012
Tickets: $50.00 with registration required. Register

Includes: Hamburgers, Hotdogs, water, soda and after game Fireworks!

A release will be required for the Rockland Boulders and Bergen County Camera.

Advance registration required.

Register Now

Please give us a call or send an email if you have any questions about our photo excursions. Hope you can join us!

Photo Excursions for June – New York Botanical Gardens

Additional information is available by clicking on any trip name listed below.

All classes include:

  • Informational session Thursday evening before the trip – photography suggestions and event preparation
  • Trip themed focus session on the Saturday before the trip – suggestions on how and what to shoot
  • Photo Critique and trip roundup at a Saturday focus session a week or two after the trip

New York Botanical Gardens Bronx, NY – Sunday, June 10, 2012
Tickets: $129.99 with registration required. Register

Register Now

Please give us a call or send an email if you have any questions about our photo excursions. Hope you can join us!