Backyard 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. This workshop teaches you the gear to use, the settings, technique and composition guidance to capture artful backyard bird photographs.

Unique Photo Opportunities Await You

Hands-on photo shoots will be conducted at a private property location in Clemson, SC that was specifically designed for backyard bird photography. This shooting location offers multiple perches, water features, and two large photo blind structures, each large enough to each comfortably accommodate 5 photographers at a time.  The birds are acclimated to the setting and come in relatively close to the blinds – typically within 10-25 feet. As a result, heavy super telephoto lenses are not required and more manageable zoom lenses in the 150 – 600 mm focal length range can work very well in this environment.  Additionally, before our hands-on session in Clemson, SC we will have a series of live webinar sessions to get participants prepared with equipment and techniques. Then 3 weeks 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, one photo blind is very easy access from your car, the 2nd photo blind with a reflecting pond is a 5-10 min walk, or accessible via a golf cart driven by the property owner.

What will you learn? 

• What camera, lens, and accessory features are needed for backyard bird photography
  
• Camera settings and techniques for common backyard bird photography scenarios
  
• How to shoot individuals or pairs of birds, perched or coming / going from perches
• Practical bird photography tips
• Post-processing considerations for bird images
• Key factors for creating a bird-friendly habitat suitable for photography in your own backyard
  

Who Should Attend 

What's included with your tuition

• Over 8 hours of lectures on backyard bird photography planning, equipment and shooting techniques (offered as live, interactive webinars)
  
• Lecture notes and resource handouts
  
• 1.5 days hands-on photo shoot at private location, guided by two instructors
  
• Follow-up webinar when class participants can receive feedback on a selection of their workshop images
  
• Boxed  lunch on the full day photo shoot
  

What's not included with your tuition

• Lodging
• Ground Transportation to Clemson, SC
• Meals other than 1 lunch on location
  

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.