by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Nov 12, 2021
Assateague Island National Seashore
Fall Photo Workshop
Led by Irene Hinke-Sacilotto and sponsored by the Assateague Island Alliance.
Fall Program: Oct 27 – Oct 29 2023
Twisted tree at sunrise
This Assateague Island National Seashore Photo Workshop is designed for those with a basic knowledge of the operation of a 35 mm SLR digital camera an interest in nature photography and who desire to improve their photographic skills and optimize the use of their camera. Program includes field sessions on Assateague Island, instructive slide programs, and critiques of participant images. Topics discussed include 1) equipment selection and operation, 2) composition, creativity and perspective, 3) metering and exposure, 4) lighting, 5) digital media and image storage, 6) basic image manipulation and 7) locating, approaching and photographing wildlife.
Sanderling landing.
Snow fence with ripples in the sand at an early hour. Assateague Isand National Seashore
During the Friday evening orientation, departure times, current field conditions, potential subjects, equipment needed, safety, field ethics, and other logistical topics will be discussed. Prior to dawn on Saturday, the class participants will depart for the beach to photograph sunrise and take advantage of the soft, warm early morning light. Potential subjects include the sunrise, sand dunes, shells, the surf, beach vegetation, fisherman, the wild horses of Assateague Island, and local wildlife including whitetail deer, fox, raccoons, herons, rails, geese, ducks, shorebirds and other resident and migratory species. Mid-day will be set aside for editing images, followed by a critique of photos taken during the morning. The remainder of the afternoon will be devoted to more photography of island inhabitants, the beach and sunset. Sunday, photography will begin at dawn and continue through the morning. Mid-day editing will be followed by a final critique of images. The number of participants is limited to 12.
Wild horses on Assateague Island interacting.
SCHEDULE (2024):
Friday
Orientation (7:00 PM-8:30 PM)
Saturday
Sunrise –9:30 AM (photography)
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (edit images, lunch)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (critique of images)
3:00 PM – Sunset (photography)
Sunday
Sunrise – 9:30 AM (photography)
Mid-Day (lunch & prep images for review)
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (critique)
Cedar Waxwing feeding on berry on Assateague Island
Notes:
Timing of excursions will be adjusted as needed based on the weather, subject availability, and desires of the class participants. Orientation, lectures and critiques will be held in the Assateague Island’s Visitor Center.
A pre-class assignment will be provided via e-mail along with guidance for submitting images for Friday night’s orientation.
Assumes a basic knowledge of your D-SLR digital camera and familiarization with basic terms such as F-stop, ISO, & exposure plus the ability to perform minor edits on images and download your image files to e-mail or a thumb drive for the critique sessions. A laptop computer or tablet is required for image editing and transfer.
For those from out of state requiring overnight accommodations, rooms are available in Salisbury, West Ocean City, & Berlin, MD. (Approximately half hour or less travel time).
If COVID 19 continues to be an issue, special health precautions may apply such as mask wearing, social distancing, etc.
Price: $ 375
Register early since this workshop fills rapidly.
On the beach I found some goldenrod scattered along the dues. Knowing this was a plant the monarchs favored, I searched for flowering plants along the beach.
White-tailed Deer eating leaves.
To register contact: The Assateague Island Alliance.
Click on the following link to register:
https://assateagueislandalliance.org/collections/artist-workshops/products/assateague-nature-photography-fall-2023-workshop
Email: info@assateagueislandalliance.org
Phone: 410 629-6095/443 614-3547
Bald Eagle in pine.
Double-crested Cormorant swimming partially submerged.
Fawn in fall color
Cancellation Policy:
For cancellations made within 30 days of the start date, no refunds will be given. If AIA cancels the workshop participants will receive a full refund.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jun 6, 2015 | Bird behavior, Bird photography, Digital Photography, Nature Photography, Photo classes, Photo instruction, Photo Technique, Photo Workshops
Rudy Turnstone.
Value of Patience when photographing wildlife.
The key to good wildlife photography is patience. During my photo workshop on Assateague Island, I observed two ruddy turnstones at Ferry Landing. Class participants took several fine photos capturing interaction between the two. Since I don’t typically photogrpah with the class, I could not resist returning to the same area on the following day in hopes of having similar success. That morning I spent several hours photographing ruddy turnstones, willets, and least sandpipers until canoers arrived interested in launching their boats from the shore. My patience resulted in several great shots including one showing the turnstone flipping shells in search of food, another feeding on eggs, one bathing, another stretching its wings, etc. If you want to capture action, you must watch and wait. If lucky, you will be able to capture behavior that you can not see with your eye. Of course you need fast shutter speeds for this. That is where fast lenses and cameras that perform well at high ISOs give you an advantage, With careful observation, you may be able to predict what is coming next which makes your images more unique. This sense of satisfaction is part of the reward for pursuing wildlife photography.
RuddyTurnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone bathing.
ruddy turnstone
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Feb 20, 2015 | Assateague, Bird behavior, Brazil, Chicoteague, Nature Photography, Photo Technique, Photo Tours, Photo Workshops, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Animals are more active early I the morning and late in the day as opposed to mid-day when the light is harsh and temperatures are higher. Therefore you have the best chance to capture images that are dynamic at these times. Cameras that perform well (little noise) at higher ISOs are beneficial when the light is low and yet fast shutter speeds are still required.
Spectacled caiman on a ranch in Ibera Argentina. Late afternoon and warm color.
On a pond in the Falklands. Skipped dinner to photograph this and other birds on the pond.
Careful observation of your subject over time is the key to capturing action and behavior. Alterations in body posture, shifting weight, and adjustment in muscle tension (whether noted cognitively or sensed subliminally) can suggest some change in behavior. For instance, shifting of body weight of a resting animal may indicate it is ready to stand or possibly stretch.
Jack Rabbit stretching.
Birds stretching or flapping wings can often precede flight. Sandhill cranes lean forward before flying. Herons often bend knees and stretch out neck before flying. Seabirds landing on rocky cliffs often employ their wings to provide stability. Birds bathing typically splash while cleaning feathers and then shake off the excess water.
Catching its balance after landing on rock ledge.
Canvas back bathing.
Cinnamon teal bathing.
Black-necked swan taking off from pond. Neck outstretched preceded flight.
Humpback whale preparing to dive. Can predict the point at which the fluke will appear dripping water by observing the curvature of the tail at its base.
Leaning forward before flight. Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache.
Bends knees and leans forward before flight.
Chattering and agitated movements within a flock of birds frequently precedes the arrival of more members of their flock, the departure of birds, or the approach of a threatening predator.
Puffin landing. Birds on the ground became animated as the other approach.
Greese were vocal and agitated before leaving the pond.
Photography during breeding season is often rewarding since activities increase – turkeys strut, elk lock antlers, deer mark territory, etc. Nurturing behavior between adult and young often results in touching photos.
Black Browed Albatross preening each other. Pair bonding during breeding season.
Otter protecting young. Difficult to get this photo since rocks were slippery.
King penguin caring for new born.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jan 4, 2015 | Digital Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Photo Tours, Photo Workshops, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Requirements
Knowledge of Equipment —
- Check settings heading out for a day of shooting. If camera has be to the shop for repair or cleaning, often the service people change the settings back to the defaults.
- Make sure the camera batteries are fully charged and there is a memory card of an appropriate size in place. Always carry spares.
- When traveling I back up my images onto two 1 or 2 T portable drive connected to my laptop. Then I import them into Lightroom and verify that they were transferred without any glitches or corrupted files. Only then do I format my memory card. I prefer to start with a clean card each day, 16 or 32 G. At home, I will copy the files from the smaller drives to a larger one.
- As you approach your subject, from a distance preselect the lens and settings that are most appropriate. for the situation. Consider the direction, quality, and color of the light when choosing your approach. Be aware of subtle changes in muscle tension and poses that may indicate action (addressed in later blog) and be prepared to act instantaneously.
Sandhill crane. Saw this crane approaching a pond filled with other birds. Selected my 600 mm lens and set aperture large enough so would be using a fast shutter speed. SInce it was the end of the day, also elevated my ISO. Locked focus on bird at a distance and continued to follow it as it landed. Took a series of shots.
Osprey Nest – Selected 80-400 mm zoom lens and elevated ISO. Waited patiently for the osprey t leave the nest. Took a series of shots. Photographed from the water but nearly drowned my camera when stepped into a hole where the water reached my waist.
Knowledge of Subject —
- Research your subject’s behavior. Where and when is it found? What is its temperament?
- Speak with others familiar with your subject including researchers, biologists and even learning tips from hunters as to the subject’s behavior and tolerance.
- Approach from down wind if animal has an elevated sense of smell as does the Giant Anteater. Those with long/pointy noses tend to have better sense of small than others.
Capuchin Monkey. All animals are attracted to food and are easier to photograph when their attention is on something other than you,
Giant Anteater at termite mound, Pantanal, Brazil. Long nose and good sense of smell so approach animal from down-wind.
Patience and persistence —
- Spend as long as possible with your subject. It some times takes a long time to capture what you are after and may required repeated attempts on different days and with different weather conditions. Avoid distractions and keep your focus. However if another great photo opportunity comes along, go ahead and pursue it.
- Before beginning a project and while at the scene, develop in your mind a vision of what you hope for in terms of results but never limit yourself to just this.
- Continue to develop your skills, trying to surpass previous accomplishments.
- Don’t give up. Look at other ways to achieve your goal. Perhaps move to achieve a better camera angle, light, and background.
Herring Gulls, Common bird by interesting pose.
Canvasback. Often after preening, birds flap their wings to get rid of loose feathers. Watched and waited for one of the ducks to splash water as it flapped its wings.
King Eider, Watched the eiders approach to the beach and waited for nearly an hour before captured this shot.
Curiosity & ability to observe —
- Help you be engaged with the subject and become sensitive to subtle changes in posture, etc. that may precede some behavior of interest.
- No time for snoozing. I find my mind engaged in a detective game. What it happening & why”. What’s next? What do you want to show? What fascinates you?
Billing – greeting and pair bonding. Showing intruder that this is there territory.
Northern Shovler. Anticipated flapping affer some time preening.
Atlantic Puffins. When one animal approaches another there is likely to be some interaction – friendly or otherwise.
See next installment regarding wildlife photography – locating subjects.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Jun 25, 2012 | Nature, Photo Tours, Photo Workshops, Wildlife
The last Chincoteague photo workshop I conducted was fun as usual. Great people and myfavorite location to offer programs. Saturday mornings dawn photography on the beach was very productive with wind swept waves backlit by the sun and feeding sanderlings racing along the shore to beat advancing waves. Attracted by an abundant supply of horseshoe crab eggs, other migrating shorebirds were prsent in large numbers on the mud flats at low tide and along the shore of Toms Cove –dowitchers, godwits, dunlin, ruddy turnstones, willets, plovers and more. Great photo opportunities were presented by terns and egrets catching fish in the borrow ditch just a few feet away, sometimes catching two at a time and fighting over prime fishing territory. A pair of oystercatchers nesting near the ocean parking lot calmly posed for photographs those who remained in the car. Black skimmers engaged in courtship antics nearby. This program was sponsored by Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
Coming up are two nature photography workshops, “Wildlife Photography” at Norfolk Botanical Gardens, 24 – 26 Aug. Plus a basic editing class at the gardens the same week. Just added to my schedule is a new Chincoteague weekend scheduled for 10 – 12 Aug and sponsored by the Ward Museum of Waterfowl Art, Salisbury University
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