This is a unique field trip / workshop experience for a limited group of photographers with advanced skills. Both parts are included in the event price, and please note that the field trip is on either Thursday or Friday and the workshop is on Saturday. The field trip will take you to San Luis Pass, an area of beaches located on the west end of Galveston Island. The mud flats and dunes hold a wide variety of photo opportunities for area birds. Exact locations visited will be based on light, wind, tides and availability of birds.

During the workshop, images captured the day before will be shown and critiqued. Topics discussed will depend on the group but could include shooting techniques, equipment, processing and bird behavior.

Suggested equipment for the field trip: Digital SLR camera with a 300mm or greater lens, 1.4 xs or 2.0x extender for added magnification, flash, tripod, small camera bag, water sandals, towel, hat, snacks and water. There is the possibility most of the trip will be spent on foot outside the bus.

To register for this package, you must click on both the field trip and workshop activities. The price listed includes both.

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You can learn certain rules and guidelines to help you take better nature pictures, but it can be quite difficult to develop your own style and artistic vision, or to capture really unique images. Learn how to go beyond the basic rules of composition to take pictures that are uniquely your own and have that "something extra" that sets them apart. You will learn what it takes to take the difficult images and learn the shooting techniques and strategies you need in the field to capture that decisive moment that defines a special image.

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East Beach is a small spit of land with shoreline and gentle surf on one side and tidal marsh on the other. Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, the many different herons and egrets, Laughing Gulls and other birds fly overhead as they move through the area. This event will concentrate on capturing images of birds in flight but won’t pass up a great opportunity to photograph a Tri-colored Heron or Reddish Egret feeding in the marsh.

Suggested Equipment: Digital SLR with a 300mm or greater lens. Smaller digital cameras with a 10x or 12x will be adequate. Other equipment including a tripod, flash, and 1.4x or 2x extender will enhance your experience. Bring a small to mid-sized camera bag to carry your equipment in the vehicle, plus snacks and water. Minimal walking required.

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Interesting photos happen when you combine several images into a composite that captures all the dynamic range the human eye can see. Grand landscapes come to life when you combine 15 or 20 images into a panoramic photo. After a short lesson, the group will head outside for an hour capturing HDR images around the festival headquarters. Then the workshop will move back indoors for a chance to see how the instructor’s images are downloaded and then processed using Photomatix and Photoshop CS5.

Suggested Equipment: Digital SLR with a wide angle lens. Smaller point-and-shoot camera that can be operated in the manual or aperture priority mode with a wide angle lens. Tripod, flash, camera manual, flash manual, extra batteries for camera and flash. Small camera bag that will hold equipment. Sturdy walking shoes. Expect to cover several blocks during the outing. Bring some water and snacks. Laptop with Photomatix loaded for indoor portion of workshop is okay.

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If you have learned the basics of photography and still feel that there is something lacking in your photographs, perhaps it’s time to learn the essentials of composition and design. Using principals of lighting, proper subject placement and design elements, your photos can have impact and hold the viewer's attention. This course will cover proper composition, use of design elements, patterns and use of composition. We will briefly review the basics then move on to intermediate design techniques and use of the proper focal length for the effect you want.

Attendees might want to pair this course with the Basic Nature Photography, Photography Basics, Easy Birding/Shorebirds or Easy Birding/Songbirds.

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“Sometimes my pictures work and sometimes they don’t!” That’s a common complaint that indicates it’s time to review the basics of photography. Both a seminar and field trip are included in this event, which will cover light meters, the relationship between aperture and shutter speed, camera modes, lenses, flash, stopping action, ISO, white balance and resolution. Digital SLR cameras will be emphasized but all cameras operate with the same principles so owners of the smallest camera can benefit from this class. Please bring camera, flash, camera manual and flash manual to class.

To register for this package, you must click on both the seminar and the field trip. The price listed includes both. Further discussion of these topics will be included in the Basic Nature Photography seminar.

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Photographers don’t need to spend hours processing a single image. A simple workflow is the key to getting images processed and uploaded to the web or in the hands of clients in a short period of time. Demonstration of techniques that can be applied to Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, or Aperture. No need to bring your laptop or camera to this class.

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This program is designed to teach photographers of all levels the basics of preparing their images for the web. In this new digital age, half the battle is capturing the image properly in the field. The second half is being adept with your processing skills so that the images we strive for in the field get the recognition they deserve once they get to the viewers. Whether the ultimate destination is for viewing on the web, your laptop portfolio, or your own digital slide show at home, this program will help you show your work at its best.

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