Dates: March 10-12, 2019

Fee:  $599

Included:  2 nights lodging at Battiste’s B,B&B (double occupancy), photo blind use, hands-on photo instruction, post-processing tips and instruction, image review and critique, breakfast and brunch both days

Not included: Travel to and from Hereford, AZ, personal items, dinners, tips

Balance: $599 per person due when signing up

Leader:  Bryan Holliday

Group Size: 4 photographers

Join me for a 2 day, 2 night bird photography workshop, hosted at the wonderful bed and breakfast owned and run by Tony and Julie Battiste in Hereford, Arizona. We will immerse ourselves in bird photography, utilizing the birds that come to Tony’s setups in the yard and garden. We will spend time in and around his photo blind, shooting the birds as they come to feed. We will also have image review and post-processing sessions after our brunch each afternoon. We will spend the afternoon at a different local location, depending on the conditions, and photograph the birds there. The emphasis the whole time will be how to grow as a bird photographer. We will focus on how to best use natural light for bird photography (I rarely use flash, but can help you if you wish), how to choose better backgrounds, and how to properly use your camera to come up with the best exposure. If you don’t shoot in manual mode, prepare to be challenged to do so!!

Expected Species: Pyrrhuloxia, Northern Cardinal, Acorn Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cactus Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Mexican Jay, Bushtit, Bridled Titmouse, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, Curve-billed Thrasher, Lesser Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-eyed Junco, Dark-eyed Junco. Possible species include Hepatic Tanager, Pine Siskin, Cassin’s Finch, Greater Roadrunner, Lark Sparrow.

Itinerary:

Sunday, March 10: Arrive any time in the afternoon, get settled into your room, spend time in the yard photographing and birding as you wish. 6 p.m meet and greet and introductory slideshow in the B&B family room.

Monday, March 11: Get up early, continental breakfast and coffee in your room. Meet at 7:00 a.m. to head out to the yard and blind for our morning photography session. We will shoot until mid-morning when the light becomes too harsh. If it’s cloudy, we can shoot longer.

Delicious brunch as a group, made by the amazing Julie Battiste!

After eating, we will rest a bit while dumping memory cards and culling your images from the morning.

We will reconvene in the family room for some digital workflow and post-processing instruction. I will show you how I handle and process my files to create master files, web files, and printing files. You will then have a chance to work on some of your own photos with my help. This is casual and open-ended so you can ask whatever questions you have and I can help you with whatever you may need.

We will then head back out for our afternoon photography session at a nearby location, depending on conditions. I will make that call that day. We will shoot until we lose the light.

Dinner will be on your own. There are a couple nearby restaurants, and more up by Sierra Vista (15 minute drive). You are also welcome to bring dinner items to cook in your kitchenette at the B&B.

Tuesday, March 12: Same morning schedule as Monday, followed by brunch again.

After brunch, you can head back to your room, refresh, and dump your memory cards from the morning. We will then reconvene in the family room for our post-processing, image sharing and critique. The workshop will then conclude mid-afternoon so you can travel home or to your next destination.

Travel Considerations: Battiste’s Bed, Breakfast and Birds in Hereford, Arizona is our destination. Hereford is about a 15 minute drive south of Sierra Vista.

The address is: 4700 E Robert Smith Lane, Hereford, AZ 85615

Accommodations: Double occupancy. Shared bathroom and kitchenette.

Vehicle: Bring your own vehicle.

Meals: Breakfast and brunch provided each day. Dinners on your own.

Physical Activity: Easy!

Equipment: Bring your longest lens and a medium focal length lens if you have them. 400mm and longer are best for this type of bird photography. You’ll also need your laptop. Make sure to bring your batteries, chargers, memory cards, and card readers. Flash is not necessary.

Other things to bring: Water bottle, sunscreen, snacks, layers of clothing. It can be chilly in the morning and warm in the afternoon.

Payment: You can use your credit card or PayPal when you sign up!

To sign up for this great trip, please send your payment through the link at the top of this page. Please call or email me with any questions you may have. 815.721.2218 or bryanholliday@gmail.com