Artistic Bird Photography Workshop

Have you ever watched birds fly, swoop, eat, fight, court, or play out any of their myriad of amazing behaviors and said to yourself: I wish I could capture this moment? Birds provide a fascinating and inspiring subject to the photographer, and also a hugely challenging one. Artful bird photography is inspired by and celebrates our fascination with birds from our own backyards to vast natural expanses. It is a way of seeing birds and striving to photograph them in ways that capture our imagination.

Unique Photo Opportunities Await You

Hands-on photo shoots will be conducted at Sylvan Heights Bird Park, a unique 18-acre facility featuring walk-through aviaries that give an up-close view of a variety of birds from around the world, ranging from waterfowl to parrots, flamingos, exotic birds and more! It is the largest bird park in North America and the largest waterfowl park in the world.  Additionally, before our hands-on session at Sylvan Heights we will have a series of live webinar sessions to get participants prepared with equipment and techniques. Then a week after our hand-on sessions, we will have a follow-up webinar when class participants can receive feedback on a selection of their workshop images. All webinar sessions will be recorded so they can be reviewed afterwards.

Note, for those with mobility issues, lots of photo opportunities are available with just limited walking. Rolling photo bags can be used on the paved walkways.

What will you learn? 

• The difference between artistic and documentary bird photography, considering such factors as composition, subject isolation, story-telling and visual impact
• Key bird photography features for camera, lens, and other accessory equipment
  
• Technical shooting considerations and techniques
• How to shoot common bird photography scenarios including backyard, captive, and in the wild
• How to shoot individuals or groups of birds, either in flight or at rest
• How to deal with environmental considerations from time of day and seasons, to wind and atmospheric conditions
• Practical bird photography tips
• Post-processing considerations for bird images
• Resources for bird photography

Who Should Attend 

What's included with your tuition

• Over 10 hours of lectures on bird photography planning, equipment and shooting techniques (offered as live, interactive webinars)
  
• Lecture notes and resource handouts
  
• Hands-on photo shoots, guided by two instructors
  
• 2 days admission to Sylvan Heights Bird Park
  
• Follow-up webinar when class participants can receive feedback on a selection of their workshop images
  
• 2 boxed  lunches while at Sylvan Heights Bird Park
  

What's not included with your tuition

• Lodging
• Ground Transportation to Sylvan Heights Bird Park
  

About the Instructors

Having access to two instructors means more personal attention to your individual learning needs thanks to a low student to instructor ratio.

Mary Louise Ravese specializes in fine art nature and travel photography from locations across the world. Her photographs are in private, university & corporate collections in over 40 states and are exhibited nationally. She has published images in calendars, magazines, books and websites. Mary Louise is a regular speaker and competition judge for photography clubs. She also enjoys teaching on a wide range of topics related to nature, travel and creative photography. Based in North Carolina, Mary Louise leads classes and workshops at a variety of locations across the US and abroad. 

Alan Clark is an award-winning nature and landscape photographer who combines his 30+ years of professional environmental work with a life-long passion for nature and photography.  Alan worked as a coastal wetlands biologist for over seven years with the State of Maryland, taking evening classes in photography at the Maryland Institute of Art. Since retiring as an environmental planner from North Carolina  in 2012, he has been able to devote time to his photographic art.  He has won or placed in numerous nature photography contests and juried shows including, but not limited to, Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine’s Annual Photography Contest, the Appalachian Mountain Photography Contest, Carolina Nature Photographers Association’s (CNPA) Member’s Choice Contest, Augusta Photo Festival and the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Native Bird Contest.  He has had four solo exhibits and is a regular contributor to the North Carolina Nature Conservancy’s “Afield” magazine and other nature publications.

We're working to keep you safe

Read our COVID-19 Policy

Download our Participant Waiver Form