Description:

On this tour we will do a mix of;and based photography along with some photography from a boat. We will start on the East coast of Florida, photographing shore birds. Then we will move to Vero Beach, where we will photograph nesting Osprey by boat. Then we move to Boynton Beach for some more land-based photography in wetland areas. This will give you a rich variety of species to photograph. Plenty of wading birds, shore birds and raptors. Rest assured, you will come back with thousands of images to look through and a bird photography portfolio that you will be able to share with others proudly. On location, Nikhil will be leading you to best locations at favorable times and also helping you with ideas and settings needed for the photgraphic opportunities. There will be some image feeback sessions arranged. However, we will maximize our time in the field. When we return and have chance to look thorugh all the images, an online feedback session will be held via zoom as well.

Equipment You Should Bring

Tour participants should have a minimum focal length of 500mm. A longer telephoto lens and tripod and/or monpod is recommended. Well before the start of the tour, a full gear and packing list will be provided so you can prepare for this trip.

What You’ll Learn

• Best settings to photograph birds in action
• How to best use your autofocus settings
• Tips for photographing birds in flight
• How to capture compelling portraits of birds
• How to handhold short and long lenses and get sharp images
• How to get complimentary backgrounds for the birds you photograph
• How to effectively use backlighting and the how to capture the best silhouettes
• Composition and creating effective environmental photographs
• Plus several other photographic techniques

Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to changes based on weather conditions. We will be out early and late to take adantage of the best light and bird activity.

April 22

For our first evening together we will meet for a group dinner at 7pm near the hotel in St. Petersburg. During dinner we will discuss our plans for the next day and answer any questions partipants may have about the tour.

April 23-24

Our focus in St. Petersburg will be on shore birds and we should have a variety of species to photograph. We will be hoping to find a reddish egret feeding but we almost defintely get to photograph royal terns, least terns, black skimmers, roseate spoonbiils, great egrets, snowy egreats, black-bellied plovers, piping plovers, wilson's plover and more! overnight in St. Petersburg

April 25

We will make one last trip out to the beach to photograph shore birds. We will return to the hotel, check out and drive to Vero Beach. After settling into the hotel we will have a feedback session that evening followed by dinner. Overnight in Vero Beach.

April 26

We will spend two hours in the morning and evening photographing nesting Osprey for a boat. They should have larger chicks at this time of the year. This make the chicks more visible in the nests and that also means the adult Oprey will be working hard to keep them well fed. Bring your shorter lenses for some landscape photo opps as well. The cypress trees the Osprey nest in are very photogenic. We will take advantage of the best light by being out for the first and the last 2 hours of light. Overnight at Vero Beach.

April 27

We will head to photograph the Oprey again, for 2 hours. After the session, we return to the hotel to check out and drive to Boynton Beach. After settling into the hotel we will have a feedback session that evening followed by dinner. Overnight at Boynton Beach.

April 28-30

We will visit different wetland areas to photograph a variety of wading birds. They will be at least one session dedicated to photography burrowing owls. They should have chicks at this time of the year that have just started venturing out of the burrows. Depending on local reports we might try and find barred owls as well. Overnight at Boynton Beach.

May 1

On our last morning we will head to a wetland (close to the hotel) for the sunrise shoot. The tour ends after the morning session and we return to the hotel to check out.

Please contact Nikhil if you have any questions.

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