Wildlife Photography: 

Fast Action + Creative Portraiture

A PERFECT GIFT!

Raptors: Fast Action + Creative Portraiture

Northumberland

1 day photography / videography workshop

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Next Scheduled Dates:

Saturday 22 May 2021 - POSTPONED - new dates soon

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Please note: this is one of very few workshops we can run at the moment, and in the interests of safety social distancing measures will be in place throughout.  In accordance with current Covid19 advice we have limited the number of places to 4 and all participants will be required to wear masks (self provided) and remain 1+ metres apart at all times.  

*For full safety measures please refer to the booking section below.

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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, all in the glorious countryside of Northumberland.

Backdrops include bluebell swathes in native woodland at this time of year, waterfalls, farmland, coastal settings (depending on tides) and purpose built reflection pools and micro habitats. All our settings are stunning and appropriate to our subjects.

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Workshop subjects are likely to include

• Tawny, snowy, eagle, little, short eared, long eared and barn owl, hovering kestrel, buzzard, peregrin falcon, jay, harris hawk and a selection of raptors from around the world

*Please note that species may alter subject to weather & wellfare of the animals.

Workshop Content:

• Dynamic composition

• Camera settings for fast action and creative portraiture

• Focus - keeping your subject sharp 

• Exposure - working with aperture, shutter speed and ISO

• 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

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!

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Please note that your booking constitutes acceptance of the need to prioritise safety for yourself and all others associated with the workshop at all times.  This means you agree to adhere strictly to the government's current Covid19 advice throughout, which includes the wearing of masks when necessary.  Anyone not complying with safety measures will be asked to leave the workshop.  No refund will be offered in this circumstance.
 

Please do not attend the workshop if you or your family are showing any symptoms of Covid 19.  

We cannot accept responsibility for any subsequent infection.

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- This workshop will be 100% held outdoors in the beautiful Northumberland countryside

- No group transport: we will travel separately to the meeting point

- Places are strictly limited to 6

- Please do not greet anyone by shaking hands and avoid physical contact at all times

- Only touch your own photography equipment

- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth

- Guests are asked to please arrive with your own masks (N95, R95, KN95 or surgical masks) and they must be    worn according to WHO safety standards.

- 1m+ distancing will be maintained
- Hand sanitiser will be available at all times 
- Trai will also wear gloves when helping with guest cameras

Informal Track and Trace BackUp

As an extra measure we ask if you have a positive Covid-19 test result within 14 days of your workshop or safari, please let us know immediately, so that we can inform the other members of the group, asking them to self-isolate. 

Other than that it will be business as usual with the most wonderful and creative photographic opportunities!

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"At this time of social distancing, and the wearing of face masks when at a distance of 1 metre or less, it is necessary to continue with as many pastimes as we can.

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Having experienced one of your Photographic Workshops I believe my safety and the safety of the whole group was well managed and at no time did I consider myself at risk. 

I consider the workshop met all necessary controls to maintain a safe environment.  At the same time, interaction was still possible to provide the necessary coaching along with questions and answers.

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Overall, the session was without doubt a valuable experience.  I learnt some very useful tips and the day gave me further confidence to tackle tricky lighting conditions in the future.  Looking forward to other workshops!"

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JIM IMBER, pictured above right attending our recent Raptors workshop

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Combine Raptors With Any Other Workshop For Discounts!

Suggested combinations:

Farne Islands Summer Seabird Special

Introduction To Wildlife Film Making

Gannets of Bass Rock

Macro, Mini & Exotic

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Email Us To Book This Workshop In Combination With Any Other and receive 10% discount on each one!

Or combine this Raptors workshop with glorious Northumberland coastal landscapes!  Contact Us For Details

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.

Our Base and Meeting Point

Andy Howey’s Birds of Prey Centre 

The Riding Stables

Haggerston Castle Holiday Park,

Off the A1
Near Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Northumberland.
TD15 2PA

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.