#602 Photographing Raptors at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy Sat-Sun July 6-7, 2024

This two-day workshop will enable students to get up close and personal with birds of prey - so close, in fact, that a 200mm lens will be more than powerful enough to fill the frame. On Saturday afternoon,  you learn what to do, and perhaps more importantly, what not to do. The emphasis is upon practical information that will help you in the field. The lighting for raptor and bird images is very, very different from any other genre of photography you will have ever encountered.  You will quickly learn why you approach birds differently than other subjects. Students also learn how to find birds close where you can photograph them, a most important skill. You will photograph peregrine falcons, red tail hawks, the most photogenic African hawks (called Auger buzzards in that part of the world), various owl, etc. up close and very personal. Shoot from less than ten feet away, and even closer. Thus, nothing longer than a 200mm lens can give you head shots. You will look through the viewfinder to see; the raptors looking back at you eye to eye. It does not get any better than that! We have had the good fortunate of working with the same falconers with the same natural rural area for many years. We shoot near Pointe Peele in Canada (Simcoe, Ontario), and can car pool to and from the Detroit Michigan area. One of the objectives is that the students have fun. The other objective (more important) is that you get great images. Enjoy!  Registration is limited to twelve students. Sign up soon! Plan to stay in a local motel or air B&B overnight (Simcoe, Ontario from $100.00 - $150.00)  after the Saturday afternoon shoot and then a Sunday morning shoot before we return home. Make sure you bring your passport or at least a Michigan Enhanced Drivers License to get into Canada and back. Food and Lodging not included. This two-day workshop will put you in a few feet from Raptors flying!  So close in fact, that you can shoot with a 200mm lens.  Drive there Saturday morning. Shoot Saturday afternoon. Stay overnight. Shoot Sunday morning and drive back Sunday afternoon.  Food and Lodging not included. Weather and skies permitting we will also attempt to photograph the night sky on the shores of Lake Erie.  A new moon is scheduled and if possible we will photograph the Milky Way and/or an Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)