Dates: Trip 1: Nov. 27 - Dec. 1, 2018

Fee:  $1,899

Included:  Guiding and photo instruction, 8 total shooting sessions in the field, introductory slideshow, afternoon post-processing and digital workflow sessions, image review and critique

Not included: Airfare, car rental, refuge entrance fees, lodging, meals, personal items

Fee: $1,899 due in full to secure your spot

Leader:  Bryan Holliday

Group Size: 6 photographers

Dates: Trip 2: Dec. 2-7, 2018

Fee:  $2,299

Included:  Guiding and photo instruction, 10 total shooting sessions in the field, introductory slideshow, afternoon post-processing and digital workflow sessions, image review and critique

Not included: Airfare, car rental, refuge entrance fees, lodging, meals, personal items

Fee: $2,299 due in full to secure your spot

Leader:  Bryan Holliday

Group Size: 6 photographers

Join me in New Mexico for an unforgettable week of photography at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, the sounds, the backgrounds, and the colorful light in the valley all make for a very special setting to create spectacular images. This trip is open to all skill levels and really sets up well for those who wish to learn more about birds in flight photography and hone their exposure skills. I have been going to Bosque almost every year for the past decade, sometimes going twice. This will be my 14th trip.

I am offering two tours, the first one being one day shorter than the second, so you may choose the one you prefer.

Itinerary: We will depart in the morning so we arrive at the refuge while it is still dark and can be set up to shoot at first light. Where we start depends upon the refuge conditions, the weather, and the bird behavior. We will photograph until mid-morning when the light becomes harsh and then it will be time to break for lunch. We will rendezvous at our early afternoon location for our informal image review, post-processing, and digital workflow sessions. These will be tailored to what will be most helpful to you and improving your images. We will then head back out for our afternoon shooting session and photograph until we run out of light.

Travel considerations: If flying, you will want to fly into Albuquerque, New Mexico and rent a car there. From Albuquerque, it is a 74 mile drive on Interstate 25 to Socorro. You will need to plan to be in Socorro, NM at noon on the first day of the tour for our meet and greet and introductory slideshow. We will then caravan down to the refuge for our first afternoon/evening shoot to become familiar with the refuge and our gear. This will set us up to be ready for our first morning shoot the following morning, starting when it’s dark.

Accommodations: There is a decent selection of hotels and motels in Socorro, NM, which is just up the interstate from the refuge. Stay at the place you prefer and we will rendezvous in the morning at a set location in Socorro before caravanning down to the refuge. It is about a 20-25 minute drive from town to the refuge, depending on where we start our morning. Make sure to book in advance to secure your room.

Meals: There are enough restaurants in Socorro to keep us from starving. Most hotels have continental breakfast, but they don’t always serve it early enough to enjoy before we go. So it’s often grab and go or have other options that you bring with you to the refuge. There are a handful of fast food places, a diner or two, a burger place, and a couple grocery stores, including Walmart. The Socorro Springs Brewery is a nice place to enjoy dinner. Closer to the refuge in San Antonio is the Owl Bar and the Buckhorn Saloon. They both serve famous New Mexico green chili cheeseburgers.

Refuge Entrance Fees: There are multiple options for the refuge entrance fees. Click here to check them out.

Expected Species: The tens of thousands of Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, and Sandhill Cranes are the stars of the show. We should also have opportunities with various waterfowl that also use the refuge. There are different raptors around, along with large flocks of blackbirds, a variety of sparrows, flycatchers, and quail that we will photograph when the opportunities present themselves. The focus will be on creating artistic and dramatic images of the cranes and geese in the beautiful light to make the most of the colors.

Payment: Since this trip is right around the corner, your full payment can paid with credit card or Paypal by using the link at the top of the page. Once your payment is processed, I will email you the registration form and waiver so you can print it out, complete it, and send it back.

What to bring: I will send a detailed list of information upon registration.

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