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Birds of Prey:  Fast Action + Creative Portraiture
 

 

Northumberland

Scheduled Dates:

Saturday 11 May 2024 

Saturday 18 May 2024

Wednesday 18th September 2024



Also Available On Request All Year Round



 

Raptors workshop image eagle owl
Raptors workshop image long eared owl

Every bird of prey offers a unique range of photographic challenges, and you'll get to grips with them all on this Raptors: Fast Action and Creative Portraiture wildlife photography workshop.
 
Hone your photographic skills with an inspirational range of raptors including all of Britain's owls and a selection of birds of prey from around the world, in the glorious countryside of Northumberland.  Please note that due to bird 'flu restrictions flight shots will take place in Andy's studio.
 
Backdrops may include bluebell swathes in native woodland at this time of year, waterfalls, farmland, coastal settings (depending on tides) and studio micro habitats.  All our settings are stunning and appropriate to our subjects.

Raptors workshop image long eared owl
Raptors workshop image barn owl

Workshop Content Includes

 

  • Dynamic composition
     

  • Working with light
     

  • Camera settings for fast action and creative portraiture
     

  • Focus - keeping your subject sharp 
     

  • Exposure triangle:
     

  • Aperture - retain a sharp subject and a blurred out background 
     

  • Shutter speed and its creative use
     

  • ISO - completing the exposure triangle
     

  • Exposure compensation - the final frontier
     

  • Creative inspiration

​

Workshop subjects may include

 

  • Tawny, snowy, eagle, little, short eared,
    long eared and barn owls

  • kestrel

  • buzzard,

  • harris hawk

  • a selection of other raptors 

 

*Please note that species may alter subject to

weather & wellfare of the animals.

Raptors workshop image little owl
Raptors workshop image barn owl with prey

Advantages of a Workshop Environment

 

While these birds and animals are not wild, we work with the finest falconers in the finest surroundings to recreate the most natural and wild shots possible. 

 

And of course when you're honing your skills there are huge advantages to learning under controlled conditions: the birds don't fly away, never to return!

 

We can also set the flight path of the birds and recreate it time after time until you are confident in your new techniques, capture your perfect shot and are ready for the less predictable birds and animals you'll find out in the wild.

 

 

  • Small group: everyone gets a great position and lots of tutor time

  • Beginner friendly - no question too daft - ask away any time!

  • More advanced - try new techniques and expand your creative vision

  • Group and individual advice throughout the day

  • Field craft tips

  • Option to try wildlife videography

 

An All-Round Great Day and Experience!
 
Our day is more than just photography, it's a fantastic all round experience.  
 
You will get up close and personal with all of our subjects, interact with them, learn loads about them from our knowledgeable falconers Andy and Juanita, and you can even help with handling them when you've got your shots.
 
You'll also have the option to try your hand at DSLR videography with BBC natural history presenter and film maker Trai Anfield too!

Raptors workshop image barn owl

2024 Dates and Rates
 
Saturday 11 May 2024 
Saturday 18 May 2024
Saturday 27th July 2024
Wednesday 18th September 2024


Also Available On Request All Year Round

Rates
£165 per person as part of a scheduled group (3-4) people
£500 for 1or 2 person private workshop - dates on request
 
Includes all photography and videography tuition,
falconry, mammals and reptiles, location transfers.
 
Please bring a packed lunch

 

BOOKING
please choose your date from the selection below and follow the links for secure online booking
or
contact us here

Additional Information

 

 

Equipment

  • A DSLR or bridge camera is ideal for this workshop. A lens, or lenses, covering a range from approximately 50-200mm or more is perfect.  But we believe that we can get the best out of whatever gear you have - so bring whatever you have!  We have had participants come along with compact cameras and the latest iPhones, and they have gone home with new skills and great shots.  Contact Trai before the workshop and she will let you in on some useful apps that will allow you to access the manual settings of the latest iPhone cameras.

  • A tripod is essential for long exposure shots at the waterfall, with a remote release handy if you have one.

  • Filters: Trai Anfield is sponsored by Lee Filters so there will be a range of filters and holders for you to experiment with on the day.

Clothing

We always say prepare for the worst of the British weather and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Warm and waterproof outer wear that you don't mind kneeling or even lying down on the ground in.

Sturdy footwear, waterproof if possible.

 

 

Facilities  

Toilet facilities are available at our base before and after we set off into the Northumberland countryside and at lunch time.

 

 

Accessibility   

Most of our sites on this workshop are accessible with only a short walk on relatively flat but unpaved ground.  We can help with carrying gear if necessary. Access to the waterfall, however, requires walking down a steep unpaved track with short but significant dips, and which can be slippery underfoot if recent weather has been wet.  

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