Just Added
- June 5-6, 2010
- June 12-13, 2010
Completed
- February 6-7, 2010
- February 13-14, 2010
- February 20-21, 2010
- February 26-27, 2010
- February 27-28, 2010
- March 20-21, 2010
- April 3-4, 2010
Arthur Morris’ BIRDS AS ART Approved
These workshop has been specially designed to help photographers to improve their image quality; both in composition and exposure under the direction of an experienced professional nature photographer. You will be creating images with award-winning nature and avian photographer Robert Amoruso. I will help you to understand the importance of light-angle and head-angle, how to use fill-flash to tame high-contrast and how to use your camera’s histogram and exposure compensation to obtain the correct exposure.
The workshops are limited to 6 persons maximum and will be $350 per person for two full days which include 4 full sessions of in-the-field image creation in the AM and PM and two classroom image critiquing sessions in the afternoons. The image critiquing sessions are designed to identify how I can improve your images while we are at the workshop. One-half and one-day pricing, as well as couple and friends discounts available. See the Cost & Terms section.
Participants will be required to purchase a photo pass to attend these workshops (various pass types are available to meet your needs).
Those that regularly visit the Alligator Farm may ask why visit Gatorland? Well, as someone that has visited and photographed at both, I have found that Gatorland offers opportunities not found elsewhere and with the Photo Pass hours, you will be there during optimal light conditions (early AM and late afternoon to dusk). What do I feel makes Gatorland so special?
To name a few advantages:
- Large and long boardwalk that lets the photographers spread out.
- Longer boardwalk translates into a larger area for the birds to nest in. More birds equal more photographic opportunities. The alligator swamp at Gatorland is large.
- Both sides of the swamp are photographable and have great variety with constant activity during our photography hours.
- The three story tower with its second story boardwalk gives you an overlooking view of the rookery and some interesting opportunities at birds in flight and on nests.
- You can shoot down at birds flying above the water.
- You are at the same height as many of the birds in flight.
- Cormorants nesting in the cypress trees next to the tower are more easily photographed.
- Photographers with longer lenses (500mm, 600mm) will have eye-level views of nesting birds.
- Along the boardwalk there are two cabanas and the tower structure that are in shade and have benches. These offer a respite from the sun and a place to sit down.
- A newly added boardwalk cover near the beginning of the walk adds additional cover and is located at one of the more active flight areas in the rookery.
- For those visiting with relatives, Gatorland offers a plethora of entertainment options. Go to www.gatorland.com to explore them in more detail.
Typical Workshop Day
- Meet at the entrance to Gatorland at 7:15 AM to allow for equipment set-up. Gatorland opens promptly at 7:30 AM for photographer entry only.
- Enter Gatorland at 7:30 AM
- Photograph until around 10:30 AM on sunny days, longer if overcast.
- Lunch around 11 AM. Well will dine at one of the restaurants near Gatorland.
- Afternoon classroom session from 1:15 PM to 3:15 PM.
- Begin afternoon photography session at Gatorland around 3:30 PM. You must return before Gatorland’s normal 5 PM closing to get back in.
- Photograph until dusk (around 7:30 PM depending upon sunset).
- Workshop ends at dusk when Gatorland closes.
What techniques are covered in the field?
A few are…
- Head-angle. Eye contact is very important in avian photography to create expressive, intimate images of birds. If the bird is looking away from you, the image generally is not appealing.
- Light-angle. By understanding light and its angle to the subject and how it will portray the subject you can create more appealing images.
- Fill-flash will be demonstrated. If you have flash and a better beamer, bring it.
- Flash as Main Light can be used to illuminate the bird and by underexposing your ambient light setting, you can achieve a dark background like that show in the image at right.
- Exposure with DSLR cameras will be explained throughout the workshop. We will be telling you what we’re using and why.
- Exposure compensation, working in manual mode and automatic modes and exposure compensation in automatic mode will be explained including how to use the histogram.
- Making sense of confusing clutter. Rookery photography is particularly challenging when trying to compose images amongst all the clutter. Robert will help you identify opportunities in the field that will result in uncluttered images. Techniques include limited depth of field.
- Photographing the nest. You want the chicks as visible as possible and without branches blocking the eyes. Look for the adults feeding the chicks. How will you know? We will cover that.
Equipment Needs
- Camera – though the workshop is geared to digital SLR’s, film camera and digital fixed zoom lens camera owners will find a majority of the information presented useful.
- Lens – intermediate (300mm, 400mm) and long (500mm and 600mm) telephoto lenses can be used. Don’t fret if you are using an intermediate telephoto lens, it will work great at Gatorland.
- Flash – though not required it will extend your shooting into the more contrasty parts of the day by allowing you to fill the shadows with the flash lowering the tonal range (contrast) of the subject and producing a more pleasing affect. Better Beamers (get info and purchase here http://www.birdsasart.com/accs.html#BEAMER) are needed of lenses over 300mm long.
- Tripod and head. Tripods are A-O.K. at Gatorland. If you are proficient at handheld you can go that route as well. I do both tripod and handheld photography.
Who is your workshop instructor?
Robert Amoruso, an award-winning nature and avian photographer will be your instructor. Robert won the Bird’s category in the 2006 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards and placed in the top-ten, top-100 and top-250 in NANPA’s 2008 Member Showcase competition.
An approved Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART workshop instructor, Robert began studying with Artie in 2003 and became a BIRDS AS ART IPT co-leader in 2005. He has a long history in photography beginning in 1980 as a landscape photographer and expanding to avian and other wildlife subjects in 2003. Recent interests include High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) photography.
Robert can be reached at the following:
www.wildscapeimages.com (image gallery)
www.wildscapeimages.biz/blog/ (workshop info)
407-808-7417 (mobile phone)
Clothing
Temperatures can vary so dress in layers and have rain gear ready in case of a shower. Large plastic trash bags work great for covering equipment quickly. The cabanas provide protection as well and you can continue to photograph.
Download the Workshop Brochure at
http://www.wildscapeimages.biz/storage/PIW/2010-Gatorland-FPIW-June.pdf.
Cost & Terms
- Economic Stimulus Pricing
- $350 per person for 2-day workshop (Saturday and Sunday)
- $200 per person for a single day of the workshop (either Saturday or Sunday)
- $100 per person for ½ day (either morning or afternoon on Saturday or Sunday)
- Couples and Friends
- Bring someone along and both will receive a 10% discount over the above pricing.
- Just let me know you are signing up together.
- Hotel, meal and travel costs are not included. Participants will have to purchase Photo Pass to Gatorland for $99.99 or three one-day passes for $29.99 each. See below for more info on Gatorland and pass purchases.
- A 50% deposit will be required to reserve a spot. The remaining balance is due one month before the workshop.
- Refunds will only be issued for cancellations if the workshop is full and we can fill your slot.
- Please send your check to Robert Amoruso at the following address. Credit Cards can be honored but checks, money orders or bank checks are preferred.
Robert Amoruso
Wildscape Images
12472 Lake Underhill Rd., No. 148
Orlando, FL 32828
- If you have any questions on the Gatorland workshop, please contact Robert Amoruso at wildscapeimages@att.net or 407-808-7417 (mobile phone).
Lodging
I suggest lodging fairly close to the park but away from Disney if you wish to save money. If you have any questions on lodging, please contact me and I will provide a list of prospects. Online agencies such as www.expedia.com and www.orbitz.com can be used.
Gatorland Photo Pass Description
Specifically designed for Photographers and Bird Watchers, the Gatorland Photo Pass allows for unlimited entry to Gatorland during normal business hours (not valid for special events) for the period of one year from date of issue. In addition, the Photo Pass allows for “Dawn to Dusk” access to the Rookery section only with early entry at 7:30 am and the ability to stay past closing time until dusk during the photo pass period (February 4, 2009 to June 28, 2009). Cost is $99.99 for the annual photo pass and $29.99 for the single day photo pass.
Go to http://205.178.158.118/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=16&Page=2 for more info.
Tickets are available online and can be pre-purchased to allow easy access for early entry. Go to www.gatorland.com for more info on Gatorland. If you don’t get a pass before arriving, don’t worry I will get you in the first morning and then you can purchase the pass on-site later that day.
Images from Gatorland
This image of a Great Egret was made on March 22, 2008. It was raining lightly that day which produced a nice diffused light and streaks of rain in the image due to the slow shutter speed. Fill-flash, like that used in the image below to fill in the shadows, will be taught during the workshop.
Nikon D300, Nikon 200-400mm VR @ 300mm, 450mm (in 35mm film)
1/125 sec, f/5.6, Mode: Manual, ISO: 400, Flash: On
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