Blogging about Wildlife, Photography, Conservation and Everything In Between
Last years backpacking and nature photography workshop in the Sierras was a blast. It was a unique workshop to instruct and a great experience for all involved. So, we decided to do it again this year!
Sunrise over Sierras
Check out the full details here!
I recently scheduled two photography workshops for the month of May. Many of you expressed interest in upcoming workshops so I wanted to let you know about them. Both workshops are very limited in terms of number of participants since I want to ensure everyone gets the individualized attention they deserve. This also means though that they fill up really quickly.
May 5th, 2012 – Moving Away from Auto
This workshop is designed to get you moving away from shooting in the auto function to allow you to be in control of your camera. With the gained knowledge in this workshop your creativity can take off and you can create the images you desire. This workshop is appropriate for people who have recently purchased their cameras and are ready to move to the next step or for people who are ready to make the leap into the manual modes of your camera. Limited to 4 participants. Full Details
May 11th and 12th, 2012 – Taking Your Images to the Next Level
This workshop is designed to get you to make pictures not just take them. We will cover a range of topics and will stress the importance of making conscious decisions about what picture you are trying to achieve and changing your camera settings to get those results. This workshop is appropriate for people who know basic camera functions but are looking to improve their picture quality. Limited to 8 participants. Full Details
Finally, feel free to message me back if neither of these workshops suits you and why. If I get enough of a response with common interests/needs that are different from the above I will try to arrange a workshop that fits those requests. Also, check back since I will be scheduling more workshops in the future.
Camera Trap Set under Rock Overhang - Copyright: Chris Wemmer
Those of you interested in camera traps all have visited or should immediately go to Coder’s Camera Trapping Blog which is written by Chris Wemmer, better known as the Codger or simply Codg. Every year Codg teaches a workshop at the San Francisco State University Sierra Nevada Field Campus about everything having to do about camera trapping wildlife including the history of camera trapping, camera trap sets (what they are and what makes a good set a good set), using attractants, doing biological surveys using camera traps, building your own homebrews, and he even discusses animal psychology in regards to camera traps. How cool is that ?!?!
If you have the smallest interest in using camera traps to photograph wildlife you simply need to take this class!
Besides an immense amount of useful camera trapping knowledge, this workshop taught me some very very important lessons including:
- I need to become a far better naturalist. This is the key to all nature photography success. Chris was a Smithsonian scientist for decades, leading many exciting adventures, but most importantly he was and most definitely still is one of the most knowledgeable naturalists I have ever met. (He would never admit this of course, but trust me, its amazing all the things he knows!)
- I need to experiment more. Placing the camera in ‘obscure’ places seemed to become the theme for our workshop and it was really exciting to do so. Not only are the perspectives unique but the potential for interesting pictures is also quite high.
- oh yeah, the final lesson is to not use credit cards (still good on that account). That’s right you will not only get camera trap lessons but life lessons!
The whole experience is a blast. We had a great group of people participating in the class, people coming from all parts of life including Carl, a photographer who’s career spanned taking picture in the Vietnam War to being the director of photography at the Smithsonian (his Smithsonian photography focused on natural history as well as cultural images). Lissa, is a graduate student at SFSU using camera traps for her thesis (crazy cool, I know), and Audrey who recently graduated from SFSU is getting a lot of field and lab experience before applying to grad schools (her main interest are Coyotes so if you hear of any cool studies with these canines please let me know and I’ll pass it on to her). We even had people from past years show up, including Bill, Sean, and Ken (Ken writes another great blog, which you also need to check out), so you can see that once you take the class you are hooked!
Here are some pictures from the workshop taken by the other participants during the short span of the week we were in the Sierras. To see the images the cameras took that we placed there you will need to check Codger’s blog in about a month (I personally can’t wait!)
The Camera Trapping Gang - Copyright: Chris Wemmer
Codg showing us how to make a make-shift post for your camera trap - Copyright: Lissa
Ken making set in tree trunk, Carl is enjoying the view 
- Copyright: Lissa
The crazy 'obscure views' we hope to get in a month - Copyright: Lissa, a self portrait here
Checking Camera Trap Images back at the Campus - Copyright: Lissa
Fred - Codg's awesome dog - Copyright: Chris Wemmer
Enough said, time for you to head over the Codg’s blog and get fascinatingly lost in camera trapping stories. Thanks to all for making the whole week a blast!
Sierras in Fall Colors
I met Skip Spitzer recently who not only is a great guy but who also leads backpacking workshops every summer in the Sierras to teach people how to properly and safely use the backcountry. So we decided it would be a great idea to combine our two workshops.
September 7 (late afternoon) to 11, with September 2 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) pre-trip class
Take your nature photography to the next level while learning how to be safe and comfortable in spectacular places most other photographers can only see in pictures.
Other nature photography trips get you to a beautiful place once. This joint backpacking and photography workshop teaches you how to get to what you want to shoot, when you want to shoot, safely and comfortably, again and again.
Join me and Getting Deeper into the Wilderness principal Skip Spitzer on this moderate, four-night journey to some amazing and popping Sierra beauty of California’s Emigrant Wilderness.
Who is this workshop for?
Our curriculum focuses on beginning to intermediate backpackers and intermediate to advanced photographers (but beginning photographers are welcome).
This workshop is limited to just six participants.
What’s included?
This workshop includes:
o Preparatory and skills handouts
o A day-long, pre-trip backpacking and nature photography class
o Pre-trip support
o A four-night trip (with two full layover days), in-depth backcountry and photography instruction, and ample time for shoots.
Wilderness photography topics include:
o Reading light and how to utilize it best for powerful images;
o Understanding shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for decisive exposure choices;
o Compositional rules and how to break them;
o Filters and their effects;
o Working a scene to get those “Wow!” shots;
o Using digital features to the fullest;
o Photographing wildlife; and
o Topics by request.
Mule Deer
Backpacking topics include:
o Getting ready (gear and how to acquire or make it, conditioning, trip planning, packing and adjusting your pack, and more)
o Wilderness skills (water, “Leave no Trace” principles, ropes and knots, Sierra geology and ecology, group decision-making, mosquito management, hazards, and more)
o Core wilderness activities (hiking form and protocol, navigating, food storage, storing food, backcountry food systems, doing what a bear does, sleeping, and more)
o Topics by request (e.g., using hiking poles, going off-trail, scrambling, wilderness yoga, etc.)
What does it cost?
Cost for this workshop is $1500 per person. This price includes our tasty and healthy meal plan (we handle all the kitchen gear too), fuel, extensive instructional materials, and campground and backcountry wilderness permits.
To register, visit:
http://www.gettingdeeperintothewilderness.com/register.html
Your instructors
Skip Spitzer is a skilled and experienced facilitator, educator, and outdoorsman with more than 30 years experience backpacking. He runs Getting Deeper into the Wilderness, and also leads wilderness trips for other backpacking and sustainable living groups. Skip is certified in Wilderness First Aid by the Wilderness Medicine Institute. He is also Principal at Root Action Consulting, providing strategic planning, facilitation, and other support to non-profit and grassroots organizations.
Sebastian Kennerknecht — you already know about me but if you really want me to brag about myself here is some CV type information: I am represented by Minden Pictures, a wildlife and nature stock photo agency representing the world’s best natural history photography. Am a former field and workshop assistant to Frans Lanting, and a behavioral ecologist; my exhibitions include Seabirds of Midway Atoll, California Birdlife, Brown Pelicans, and Endangered Neighbors (currently showing at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History). And finally, my photographs have been published in National Geographic Kids, The Economist, Bay Nature, among other publications.
Photo Workshop Group, Santa Cruz, California
It was my honor to teach a workshop through the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History a week ago. Thanks to the twelve participants it was sold out and we had a blast talking about photography. Friday night was a lecture that covered concepts including exposure, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, perspectives, and creating a story. On Saturday we got to implement these concepts starting bright (well, actually it was completely dark) and early at 5:00am. I loved though how everyone was upbeat and excited to start photographing even though it had meant that they had only gotten a few hours of sleep.
Here are a couple examples of pictures taken by workshop participant Allison Garcia:
Copyright: Allison Garcia
Copyright: Allison Garcia
Close the end of the workshop, around 9:30 I did an example walk through of how I approach a scene both mentally and physically to get (hopefully) that wow shot!
Working a Scene
Sometimes that means having to get into the water….
Me in Tidepool, Copyright: Allison Garcia
We concluded the workshop at 10:00 and I was really happy to have taught this group since I felt like I started with students and left with friends.
If you are ever interested in participating in a workshop, check for news here on the blog or visit the Lessons and Workshop Page on the regular website for the most up-to-date information.
