Charles (Chas) Glatzer
PO Box 987 Horse Shoe, NC 28742
P / 828-891-4082
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My success as a commercial photographer has been characterized by my ability to see and understand light. Wildlife photography is the same without exception. Light quantity, quality and direction should be assessed independently, although together they render the image. The amount of illumination determines the exposure, while the quality and direction of the light source relative to my position renders the scene and subject as viewed. Being aware of the lighting direction relative to the subject will allow you to choose a camera position that will enhance your unique vision, as well as the subject.
\"Light Illuminates, Shadow Defines\" Every Instructional Photographic Workshop has but one goal; offering the participant the most education for the dollar. Planned by a professional photographer for photographers, each is unique, dedicated to bringing you only the finest in photographic instruction. Our workshop schedule with new and exciting venues are sure to please even the most discerning wildlife and nature photographer. Expand your photographic horizons. Learn to Shoot the Light.
Photo Travel Review Magazine; \"In the world of nature photography, one name stands above all others ... Charles Glatzer. He is recognized worldwide as the absolute master of light. Publisher, writer, mentor, teacher, photo entrepreneur, he is legendary and is one of very few photographers who has earned a Masters of Photography Degree. Shoot the Light Workshops by Charles Glatzer has earned the Photo Travel Review Magazine rating of six stars the highest rating the PTR Team has given any workshop provider. We have done so in view of Glatzer's contribution to the photographic community over many years, and for his continuing willingness to serve as mentor and teacher to others who strive to improve their photography. Moreover, the testimonials of hundreds of workshop attendees speak loudly about how well his tours have been received. If one wants to attend a photographic workshop that offers adventure, opportunities to learn and improve ones photographic skills, one cannot go wrong in choosing Shoot the Light in our view the best of the best.
f you are unsure of which trip you should take, the dates available or require additional information, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to discuss your interests, offering suggestions for the best Workshops based on your equipment, physical condition and area of interest. We will respond to you within 24 hours in most cases. e-mail info@shootthelight.com / telephone 828-891-4082 You will find communication prompt, enjoyable and helpful.
Some of our workshops require hiking, boat landings, etc. While every effort is made to ensure comfort, and minimize exertion, this can prove at times an arduous task for some. Should this be of concern please feel free to discuss this with the photo workshop leader(s). You are under no obligation to participate in all activities, and every effort will be made to accommodate your request.
Payment; Our standard workshop payment policy for our published prices require an initial non-refundable & non-transferrable fee for reservation of space. Balance is due in full 120 days prior to the workshop date, unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list, forfeiting your initial (non-refundable) deposit.
Payment may be made by personal check or money order made payable in U.S. Funds to the order of Shoot the Light, Inc., wire transfer, ACH, invoice. We accept most major credit cards, by phone, in our office at 828-891-4082. Payments may also be mailed to: Shoot the Light, Inc. P.O. Box 987, Horse Shoe, NC 28742
NOTE- Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and fuel surcharges incurred before trip departures will be applied to final balance due.
Please note that price increase adjustments may apply.
Please be advised that Shoot the Light does not provide carpooling arrangements or assumes any liability for such arrangements. Carpooling, ride-sharing, or any similar arrangements during the workshop are strictly private arrangements among the participants. Participants are responsible for the risks associated with this travel.
Trip Insurance; We highly recommend you consider purchasing trip insurance in the event of weather, illness or any other emergency, which delays or prevents you from reaching your destination during your trip.. The following link will take you to a web page offering trip and travel insurance. You will find getting multiple insurance quotes for your trip value takes about 15 seconds and you will receive 6 different quotes side by side so that you may compare the features of each. InsureMyTrip.com. Our company will not be responsible for any loss damage or injury suffered aboard an airplane or a charter plane. The contract or ticket issued by them will constitute the sole contract between the airline or charter company with the passenger.
Cancellations, Delays & Refunds; We strongly encourage obtaining Trip or Travel Insurance to cover eventualities that may cause travel difficulties or losses you may incur, of which Shoot the Light Inc. is not responsible beyond our control. Again, we strongly encourage our participants to obtain Trip or Travel Insurance to cover any unforeseen situations occurring before or during the trip that would cause losses not covered by our policy.
Trip Cancellation For Any Reason Prior To Trip Date; Deposits are to be considered Non-Refundable, at our discretion we may choose to offer a refund or roll over the deposit to another workshop within a year of cancelation. NO REFUND will be provided on cancellations made within 120 days of an STL Workshop, and from 60 days for a One on One session. We highly recommend obtaining Trip/Travel Insurance to cover any/all unforeseen circumstances that may prohibit you from accompanying us on the workshop or Day in the Field session includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i) physical events such as acts of God, including but not limited to lightning, earthquakes, fires, explosions, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, storm warnings, landslides or other weather events that cause disruption, breakage or damage to, or necessitate a precautionary shut-down or operation reduction of any kind or character; (ii) weather related events affecting an entire geographic region or causing evacuation thereof, such as low temperatures or high temperatures; (iii) acts of others such as strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances, riots, sabotage, hostilities (whether war is declared or not) insurrection or wars, invasions, acts or threats of terror or of the public enemy; action or inaction of a governmental authority (including government order or law), embargo or blockade; or (iv) epidemic, pandemics, travel bans, shelter in place orders, national or regional emergencies, diseases or public health emergencies, sanctions, quarantine or orders of quarantine or (v) any other cause, whether of the kind specifically enumerated above or otherwise, which is not within the control of a person.
CHANGES IN ITINERARY – The operator reserves the right to make changes in the trip itinerary whenever judged necessary by circumstances beyond control, or natural force circumstances. In this case no Refund will be made. Depending on the circumstances we will do our best to apply 100% of your deposit toward your future trip.
Admin Fee; A $250 fee will be imposed if switching workshop is deemed applicable, with written notification and within the time allotment stated above.
Weather Delays: There shall be NO REFUND for weather delay or cancellation because of weather before arrival or during the scheduled workshop. Shoot the Light Inc. is not responsible for any additional costs that may be incurred by weather delays or cancellations due to weather, flight delays, or otherwise. Confirmation We will confirm receipt of your payment by email and/or telephone. In the event payment is not received within 10 days of the booking date, we will make a courtesy telephone call to you provided you have supplied us your telephone number. If it is determined that payment was lost or delayed in the mail, you will be given the opportunity to Overnight Express Mail or Wire the funds to maintain your reservations. If we are unable to reach you by the phone number provided, your booked dates will be released. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have regarding our policies.
This payment and booking policy is written in simple terms. If you do not understand any part of it please inquire of us to be more specific and we will be happy to explain any part you may not understand. If you do not ask, we assume you understand our policy as we intended it.
Shoot The Light®, Charles Glatzer and any of their agents, representatives, employees, guides, joint ventures, partners, service providers or providers of accommodations (collectively, the \"Provider Group\") reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any participant, attendee or other in any workshop, regardless of whether a deposit has been accepted or the workshop has commenced and full payment have been made, should, in the sole and absolute discretion of any member of the Provider Group, such participant, attendee or other have impeded the operation of the trip or the rights, safety, welfare or enjoyment of other members of the trip. Refunds of any amounts paid to Provider Group (i) prior to departure for the workshop shall be in accordance with the published policies of the Provider Group and (ii) after the departure for the workshop, IF ANY, shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of Provider Group, it being agreed that removal from a workshop in progress may result in complete forfeiture of any amounts previously paid. Agreement to the forgoing terms and conditions is a condition precedent to enrollment in any workshop..
A Day in the Field Join Charles Glatzer M.Photog, Canon Explorer of Light for individualized or private group day(s) of instruction in the field and/or in the classroom.
One-on-one or small private group ensures the best instruction possible. This hands-on personalized workshop is designed for nature photographers who wish to dramatically increase their technical ability while learning to see and shoot the light. \"A Day in the Field\" is structured around your specific needs and photographic goals. Charles will review your images and talk with you prior to your arrival to design a lesson plan tailored to making the most of your time together. Numerous participants feel a private lesson is more advantageous than working in a larger group.
Join Charles for a day(s) of outstanding nature photography and instruction in the beautiful mountains of western NC.
Topics may include:
* Setting up your Canon R5/R5 Mark II/R1 for your specific needs.
* How to easily shoot and process HDR images
* Night sky photography
* Sunrise/Sunset
* Understanding lighting quality, quantity, direction and how they relate to overall image impact.
* How lighting ratios effect both the subject and background.
* Understanding Metering Patterns and Priority Modes
* How to best expose and meter for the most important highlight, compress and expand image contrast and brightness range with Mirrorless cameras
* When and how to use flash for fill, balanced to ambient, and as the main source.
* Proper AF and Manual focusing technique; to best achieve sharp In-flight images
* How to produce exacting image sharpness, the tools and techniques required, and how to apply them in the field.
* What to look for in the all-important background.
* Post-production CS, LR, DXO, Luminar NEO
Fee -$3000 per day, plus expenses. Group discounted rates available upon request. Bookings by appointment only, with deposit 50% required to reserve dates.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
The photographs, artwork and articles contained herein are all original productions of Charles Glatzer, and as such are protected by the various trademarks and copyrights of same. It is unlawful to download, copy, redistribute, and/or republish any part of this website without the expressed prior written consent of the owners and holders of the trademarks and copyrights.None of the images contained here may be altered, copied, used in whole or in part in any manner whatsoever.
Removal of the Charles Glatzer watermark from photographs is prohibited and no image contained here may be used to form a graphical link from a website. The Charles Glatzer name identified in this site is also copyrighted by the owner. All other products or services which may be referenced on this site are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information on this web site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Information may be changed or updated without notice. Charles Glatzer may also make improvements and/or changes to the content at any time without notice.
Any comments or materials sent to Charles Glatzer including questions, comments, suggestions, or the like regarding the content shall be deemed to be non-confidential and as such, Charles Glatzer shall have no obligation of any kind with respect to such feedback and shall be free to reproduce, use, disclose, exhibit, display, transform, create derivative works and distribute the feedback to others without limitation. Further, Charles Glatzer shall be free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques contained in such feedback for any purpose whatsoever.
Charles Glatzer provides Internet links to other remote sites and services. Charles Glatzer and its assigns, shall not be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, consequential or other damages for use of this website or other hyper linked websites. Charles Glatzer makes no representations whatsoever about any other web site, which may be linked herein.
In addition, a link to a non-Charles Glatzer web site does not mean that Charles Glatzer endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content, or the use, of such web site. All Charles Glatzer text, graphics, and the selection and arrangement thereof are the copyrighted works of Charles Glatzer © 1995-present. All rights reserved. Shoot the Light is a registered Trademark
Mike is a Massachusetts-based wildlife photographer who specializes in birds. He began his professional photography career in 2005 after working 27 years as a Software Engineer.
In May 2011, he was invited to join Shoot The Light as an instructor and workshop leader. Mike's images have been featured in numerous juried art fairs and exhibits throughout New England, including the prestigious Paradise City Arts Festival. Eleven of his images have been selected for the North American Nature Photography Association's annual showcases including a Top 10 image in 2012 and three of his images have been honored in the Audubon Magazine Photography Awards including a Top 3 placement in the Professional category. He has also garnered many \"Image of the Week\" honors on various online forums and was a finalist for Avian Image of the Year at birdphotographers.net. Publication credits include National Geographic, Audubon, National Wildlife Federation's Big Backyard, NANPA Currents, Palm Press, Woodmansterne Publications, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Tourist News, and the Boston Globe.
Mike’s passion for photography is rivaled only by his passion for teaching photography. His engineering background makes him especially adept at communicating complex subjects in a well organized, step by step manner that proves to be very effective for students at all levels.
More info and images online :
Charles Glatzer, M.Phtog.
Canon Explorer of Light
X-Rite Coloratti
Fstopgear Global Icon
Charles Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light
Close Enough Never Got You Anywhere: Charles Glatzer and the EOS 7D Mark II
Life in Focus: Charles Glatzer / fstopgear
Photographer of the Month Interview: Charles Glatzer / Aperture Academy
Chas shares his stories; Wild & Exposed Podcast
Chas is a Canon Explorer of Light, the group is comprised of the most influential photographers and cinematographers in the world, each a master of their creative specialty.
Since founding Shoot The Light in the mid-nineties, Chas has cemented his place in the world as one of the top wildlife photographers working today. His dynamic and inspirational teaching have also made him one of the most sought after educators and speakers in his field.
The depth and diversity of his background make him truly exceptional in the world of wildlife photography. Prior to founding Shoot The Light, his illustrious career had already included work in portraits, weddings, advertising, catalog and product, editorial reportage, professional sports, and underwater photography. This diverse work experience over his 40 years as a professional photographer provides workshop participants and seminar attendees with an unparalleled resource.
Chas' work has been celebrated internationally with over 40 prestigious awards for superior photographic competence demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education, and service to the profession. His images are recognized internationally for their lighting, composition, and attention to detail and have appeared in many publications worldwide including National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, National Parks, Discover Diving, Smithsonian, Professional Photographer, Birder's World, Birding, Nature Photographer, EOS, Digital PhotoPro, and many more.
As an accomplished natural history and keynote speaker, Chas has presented at many prestigious events including Explorer's Club NYC, Audubon, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy, Fuji Professional, Mid-Atlantic Photo Expo, NANPA, ASMP, CNPA, GNPA, and PPA. He also continues to serve on many judges' panels for both national and international photographic competitions.
Chas' current Canon equipment includes EOS R1, R5 Mark II, R5 C, C80, RF10-20 F/4, RF15-35 F/4, RF28-70 F/2, RF24-105 F/2.8 Z, RF24-105 f/2.8, RF50 f/1.2, RF100 macro F/2.8, RF70-200 f/2.8, RF100-500 F/4.5-7.1, RF400 f/2.8, RF100-300 f/2.8, RF, RF600 f/4, multiple 600EX-RT flashes, RF 1.4x & 2x converters, and more.
Additional gear; Mac computers, OWC cards and more, RRS tripods & fluid gimbal head, Kondor Blue, Sachtler Activ8 head & Flowtech tripod, LensCoat products protect his gear, Fstopgear camera bags, Outdoor Clothing preference; Arc'Teryx, Mtn Hardware, Fjallraven, Simms, KUHL, SITKA
When not behind the camera or computer, Chas can be found on the river fly fishing near his home in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.
Chas,
I just wanted to let you know that Michael Milicia is an excellent trip leader. Before and during the Iceland trip he was excellent at keeping us informed and provided details of what to expect upon our arrival. He is very patient and when asked a question he took the time to show us the answer and then make us actually do the task while he watched. This is a great way of teaching for those who must “do it” before they “learn it”. We had participants of varying levels of expertise, equipment, and physical capabilities, and he never left anyone out. We were all free to do as much or as little as we wished without criticism. I totally recommend him as a photo trip leader and a teacher.
Katherine Pierce
“Mike’s Bosque Del Apache workshop was my first exposure to photographing birds in flight. By the end of the workshop, I felt comfortable tracking, composing and shooting flying birds. It was one of the best photography learning experiences I’ve had. Mike’s focus was teaching and helping the workshop participants, and not on getting his own shots. The workshop was pleasant and noncompetitive, and we all had a great time while improving our skills. Not only is Mike a first class wildlife/bird photographer, he’s also a great teacher with patience and willingness to share his knowledge. It was truly a great learning experience for me while having fun doing it. I highly recommend Mike’s workshops if the primary objectives are to learn/improve skills from the best and have fun.”
Bosque del Apache : December 2019 : Jerry Kao : San Diego, CA
“I recently returned from a 4 day Bosque workshop with Mike Milicia/Shoot the Light. This is not my first workshop with STL and Mike nor will it be my last. Mike has a way of making you aware of the many possibilities in taking pictures, he's always got you thinking about backgrounds, proximity, angles. He is incredibly patient and knowledgeable and non-intrusive. He won't force you into shooting like him (although, that would be ok with me) but opens your eyes and mind to subtle changes that make a big difference. Mike is a fabulous teacher - I also highly recommend his Mastering Exposure class.”
Bosque del Apache : December 2019 : Katherine Sayn-Wittgenstein : Cambridge, MA
It was with a little bit of luck I was able to acquire a spot (made available from a cancellation) to the SLT Iceland 2019 \"Puffins and More\" led by Michael Milicia. Turns out to have been an awesome motherlode of luck! What an enjoyable packed week !! When Mike said we were rooming with an Icelandic family, I wondered how would this go. Well, it was absolutely wonderful !! Halla and her daughter Innur were terrific hosts. Halla cooks like a gourmet chef and whips up a delicious meal for 8 people in no time at all. We were treated to many Icelandic dishes ... many that Halla, herself, was raised with. We learned from our fabulous hosts what it was like to live on a 2 square mile island in the North Atlantic. How everyone does many things ... much out of necessity! Mike is a fantastic photographer with a lean towards birds. He is very conscientious, professional and always available for help and instruction. Shoot the light has always been outstanding in placing you in the best situations to get superb shots. Mike is no exception. He has a total command of the birding population on Grimsey. Being a former software engineer, it was interesting hearing how our editing programs really work !
For my eighth Shoot The Light experience, it was outstanding!! Being hosted with an Icelandic family was a life highlight!
Thank you Mika and Halla !!!
Sincerely, Bob Dunn
“It was a real honour and privilege to travel to Grímsey Island on the Arctic circle in Iceland with Michael Milicia to photograph the birds of the island, especially puffins and seabirds. Through his intimate knowledge of the island, the people, the conditions and subject matter, he is able to offer a proposition that positions you to shoot in the best locations for the wind, weather, time of day and light. He offers as much or as little help as you need or want and is available at any time. He makes practical suggestions in all aspects of one’s photography, from settings, to technique and processing. They all made a huge difference in my resulting images. The group is small, the subjects numerous making competition and jostling for a prime position a non-issue. The experience covers the Grímsey way of life as well as the birds, landscape and photography. I loved every minute of the trip and our interaction. Overall, a wonderful experience.
I recommend Michael without reservation.”
Iceland : July 2019 : Jack Hochfeld : Sydney, Australia
Interview with Michael Milicia: An Inspiring Bird Photographer
“As a workshop leader, Michael Milicia is a skilled and knowledgeable teacher, generous with both his time and his expertise, whether in the field or en route. The STL Iceland: Puffins and More Workshop 2018 was incredibly well organized, everything ran smoothly and Mike made sure our every need was met. Add to that the fact that the venue, Iceland’s beautiful Grimsey Island, must be the best place on earth to photograph Atlantic Puffins. Mike knows all the best spots and will help you get great images! All in all, the perfect bird photography trip!”
Iceland : July 2018, Marie Read, Freeville, NY
Hi Chas, I just completed the STL Bosque del Apache workshop led by Mike Milicia. The prime reason I enrolled in this workshop is that I respect your photography ability so much that I figured you would only have someone with excellent skills and whom you can trust associated with STL. I can understand why you have Mike as a leader of bird photography. He did not disappoint and exceeded my expectations. He is excellent!!! He has many wonderful qualities. In addition to his knowledge of cameras and the science behind photography -- as demonstrated in his daily 2-hour class discussions -- he is very attentive to each individual. He thoroughly answered all of my many questions and patiently explained details to me. Every day of the 4-day workshop he provided me with new information or confirmed what I was doing correctly, therefore giving me more confidence, i.e. explaining the focus/metering function on the Nikon cameras. Another example was his explaining the correlation (none) between the LCD screen and in-camera RAW file. And he emphasized to all of us different ways to obtain the correct exposures as well as many other pointers. I truly appreciated his working with me hands-on in the field with the operation of my video camera. He also was able to remove the lens hood from a lens that for the first time I wasn't able to. Overall, he was able to keep track of all of us and know when to take us to different shooting sites for variety and the best possible light. He made himself available to each of us for one-on-one time and answered further questions when we gathered together for dinner. Instead of barking out instructions, he has an easy-going demeanor that enhanced my learning experience. This workshop was fun, educational and a good value to me. I told Mike I wish I could shrink him, put him in my pocket and take him with me when I go on photo adventures to ask for advice. I will look forward to future workshops with him.
Susan Manley
“My friend and I were searching for a fun photography trip for July of 2016. After some research and thought, we decided to join Mike Milicia on his Icelandic Puffin workshop. I had met Mike before on a Shoot the Light instructional workshop where he was absolutely an excellent teacher so I had a hint that this would be a great trip. It turned out to be first class from the start and my hopes and expectations were far exceeded. Mike and Anne have been to Iceland many times and know the area well. This enabled them to predict and plan for every eventuality which translated to a comfortable, relaxed experience for the participants. Details were attended to in advance and dealt with professionally along the way. For the entire week, Mike made himself available to answer questions, to help in every way he could, and it was clear that his focus was 100% on his participants and their experience, even at the expense of his own sleep. He will shoot along side his group only after everyone is settled and happily shooting their own photographs. He has technical mastery of photography down pat, knows how to communicate it well, and creates artistic, beautiful images. I ended up feeling very inspired by his knowledge and imagery and am trying to use what I learned to ratchet my own skills up a few notches. One other comment, which is perhaps the most important. Mike's field etiquette is refreshing. He is extremely respectful of the birds, and chooses to photograph them doing what they are doing with minimal disturbance. A few times when it looked like we were possibly keeping the puffins from their burrows, we moved on. Many thanks to both Mike and Anne, perfect hosts, and a great trip.”
Iceland : July 2016 Grace Scalzo Long Island, NY
“My thanks to Mike and Anne of Michael Milicia Photography and new friends made along the way for a trip I will always treasure and remember in one of the most beautiful locations I have ever seen. Mike's goal was to teach and make sure each participant's needs were met. He achieved that goal with not only group, but also one-on-one individual instruction in the field. He put the needs of the participant first. Many times he could be found teaching without a camera in hand so he could give full attention to whoever he was helping. After shooting he would meet indoors reviewing images and teaching post-processing staying up to answer every last question until the very last straggler went off to bed usually around midnight and then he was up to greet the group again at 3-4 AM each day for an Icelandic sunrise. Mike and Anne were the most gracious of hosts attending to every detail and need from the moment we arrived till seeing all of us off at the airport at the end of the trip. If you want to learn photography in a pristine location where puffins and seabirds abound under the direction of a very skilled professional photographer who loves to teach and where all trip details are carefully planned and your needs are fully met then this workshop is for you.”
Iceland : July 2015 Kim Davidson Gainesville, FL
“I first met Mike during Chas Glatzer’s Tech Series class in Florida in May, 2015. I soon discovered that Mike is an excellent teacher! He is able to describe skills in small, logical, understandable steps. In a very kind way, he doesn’t give up on you if he can sense you are not ‘with’ him. I am not a novice photographer, but quickly discovered that I had plenty to learn. During the three days I spent with Mike in FL, I learned that he was offering a class in Iceland, geared especially to photographing Atlantic Puffins in their natural habitat, and it would be a concentrated week, staying in one place and doing lots of shooting (translate…lots of practicing). Fast forward to July 2015, Iceland. Six nature photographers joined Mike, and his wife Anne, for a wonderful 10 days together. They had all the details arranged and took great care of us. Mike was enthusiastic, helpful and very approachable and made suggestions in the field helping us get into the best position for good images. He constantly checked with each person to verify how they were doing and offered suggestions as needed. Mike was more concerned about having us get great images than doing any shooting of his own. During some inclement weather, Mike spent extensive one-on-one time with me going over several skill areas that I was unsure about, specifically all of the AF modes. This was huge in helping me get a handle on these. He also helped me ‘fine tune’ my camera settings, with his usual explanation of ‘why’ to do certain things. I highly recommend Mike Milicia for your future photography workshop needs. You won’t be disappointed. I will certainly be traveling with him again in the future.” Iceland : July 2015 Cris Hamilton Houston, PA
“I headed up to Massachusetts to join Michael Milicia’s Piping Plover and Least Tern Workshop. Under Mike's careful guidance this was a superb workshop, full of great field opportunities, a wealth of shared knowledge and down-to-earth fun in the company of someone who is a real bird photography artist. Without reservation I can recommend spending time photographing with Mike. His technical knowledge is wonderfully paired with his enthusiasm to see participants learn throughout the workshop, helping them develop their skills and get the best shot. He patiently and diligently guides everyone during their time in the field, offering advice on technical and artistic aspects of photography, always presented with a clear rationale so you can understand the benefits and then apply these meaningfully to your own shots and field craft. This could be pointing out the best angle of approach to line up the shot, being mindful of distracting elements in the background to ensure a ‘clean' shot, ensuring optimal subject-to-light angle (catch-lights, position of shadows), as well as quietly announcing when action is about to happen (very useful when your face is pressed against the viewfinder). Mike also has a keen eye for light quality, so as well as guiding participants to the best exposure, he also ensures every one is aware of changes in light quality and intensity, ensuring that exposure is always dialed-in correctly. All very welcome touches that take the shooting experience to the very highest level. Mike is there for you at all times in the field, and this extends to the classroom sessions, where shooting, post-production and artistic topics are covered with excellent clarity. Every field outing and classroom session was a delight. Thank you, Mike, for a great workshop.”
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2015 Martin Sneary Washington, DC
“I recently had the pleasure to join Mike Milicia and his wife, Anne, for a most enjoyable workshop centering on Atlantic puffins in Iceland. It was evident immediately that Mike had carefully scouted the territory in advance and was supremely prepared to lead our workshop regardless of weather conditions, varied accommodations, meals, etc. He and Anne were most conscientious in providing for our needs and willingly gave of their time to put us where we needed to be to get the best shots. Both of them were quite willing to drive any individual who might have wanted to go to a site apart from the others. Mike did his photography only after he was certain that everyone in the workshop was set first and interrupted his activity any time one of us needed his assistance. Both Mike and Anne were generous to a fault with their time, knowledge, and at times their own funds in making certain that no one was disappointed in the experience. No one was. Thank you, Mike and Anne.”
Iceland : July 2015 Joseph D. Motto Eau Claire, WI
“My wife and I took Mike Milicia's Piping Plover workshop in June 2015. It was a great experience, and we learned an enormous amount. Mike has a lot to offer. He's studied the behavior (and locations) of the plovers and terns. He's got in-depth knowledge about the technical side of digital photography and also aesthetic sense about what makes a good photo. On top of all this, he's a good teacher and problem-solver. We were the least experienced photographers in the group. This was never a problem for us during the workshop. Mike probably spent more time on us than he did with the more advanced photographers. He encouraged us to step up to shooting in RAW, and provided the tech support we needed to make the change successfully.” Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2015 Bruce Perry Brookline, MA
“I can heartily recommend Mike Milicia’s Piping Plovers and Least Terns photo workshop. Mike’s a great teacher, and attendees get his full attention in the field. Your bird photography will improve and you’ll come away with some great shots. Even before venturing into the field, Mike primed the group for what to expect, with invaluable information about when and how to approach the birds. He demonstrated using a ground pod for low angle shooting, and gave useful tips about pitfalls to avoid when using this technique. That meant we were well prepared and not scrambling to learn on the fly the next morning. In the field Mike was there 100% for the group, showing us how to position ourselves for optimal light angle, background and bird posture, calling out exposure settings as the light changed, offering equipment help, and picking up his own gear only when all attendees were taken care of. Finally in the laid-back but information-packed classroom sessions, post-lunch, Mike gave some of the clearest explanations of exposure theory and image optimization that I have ever heard.”
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2015 Marie Read Freeville, NY
\"Mike, I am an enthusiastic beginner and until your class I found a lot of the photography jargon confusing. It would have been unlikely that I ever would have ventured into Manual Mode, but after your class I can’t wait to get out this afternoon and put the new information to work. You have a very good way of explaining the material. I am looking forward to attending more of your classes. HUGE help!! Many thanks!\"
Manual Exposure : It’s Easier Than You Think : February 2015 Tom Bishop Beverly, MA
“I recently returned from Michael Milicia’s Morro Bay Workshop and want to pass on my experience to those who are looking to improve their photographic skills and enjoy four fabulous days at Morro Bay and nearby areas with a superb photographer and instructor. Whether photographing shorebirds, elephant seals, or monarch butterflies, every situation with Michael added to my knowledge of photography. Michael is dedicated only to teaching the members of the group and not to increase his personal portfolio. At times he does take his camera but only shoots when all participants are occupied shooting. While I was shooting plovers, he crawled next to me and helped me find both a better position and to discuss settings that would improve the image. His understanding of exposure is excellent but more than that he has the unique ability to explain how to use it on a practical basis. Even though we had some down time due to rain, he used this interlude to have formal presentations about exposure and composition. The next day I applied these principals and finally “got it”. Even if you aren’t a bird photographer, the experience will help you improve your general photographic skills and is well worth the time spent. I highly recommend Michael’s workshop!”
Morro Bay Shorebirds and More : February 2015 David Arkin San Diego, CA
“Mike Milicia's Morro Bay Shorebirds workshop was both instructive and great fun. Mike is an excellent teacher, both in the classroom and in the field. He is able to make his presentations useful to photographers with a range of experience. His well-developed presentation on manual exposure had something useful for everyone and I can now say that I really understand when and how to use manual exposure mode. He provided an excellent introduction to the Morro Bay area and opportunities to photograph several species of shorebirds. His tips on bird photography were especially useful and I feel that he has inspired me to bring my bird photography to a new level. Thanks, Mike, I look forward to another workshop with you.”
Morro Bay Shorebirds and More : February 2015 Justine Carson Half Moon Bay, CA
The workshop was everything I was hoping for and more. Mike is a very talented instructor both in the field and in the classroom and meets each participant at the level where he or she may be whether novice or expert. His teaching style is organized, succinct and clear whether it be on the science and technicalities of digital photography that underly principles used in the field or on image critique during afternoon breaks. He will match even the most technical inquisitive thinkers out there, and field every question thrown at him. And he will make himself available from before sunrise to late in the day including on one occasion deep into the darkness of night for a field lesson on flash photography for a few very eager participants long past the time when most people would have turned in for the night. I think the best way to review my experience is to say that I have signed up for another workshop with him in 2015 and cannot highly recommend him enough.
Bosque del Apache : December 2014 Kim Davidson Gainesville, FL
Are you looking for a unique enjoyable and productive workshop while taking your wildlife photography skills to a new level? Please consider Michael Milicia’s Piping Plovers and Least Terns Workshop. Having considerable experience as a instructional photo tour participant, I can make this recommendation without reservation. Michael skillfully guided and taught four participants of various skill levels through three days of privileged access to a piping plover and least tern nesting area. Being able to photograph these tiny shorebirds during a critical phase of reproduction was a rare opportunity. Having Michael teach us photographic technique and enhance our knowledge about the piping plover brood cycle was special. Being able to photograph an adult plover brooding three one-day old chicks under her feathers and repeating this process over a three day period was just magical. Do sign up early for this workshop. Timing and access are critical for this once a year workshop limited to 4 participants.
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2014 CJ Hockett Burlington, VT
\"Just completed Mike Milicia's Plovers and Terns workshop for Shoot the Light. It was my first experience with ground level photography but it proved quite worthwhile - the perspective in shooting the shorebirds was much more intimate than the more traditional tripod mounted height. Mike was enthusiastic, approachable and very knowledgeable, both about techniques, exposure and about the nesting location and habits of the birds. He knows the beach intimately and in the field did everything he could to maximize our imaging. I've been on too many shoots where the leader was more interested in expanding his or her own portfolio, to the detriment of the participants. Mike did bring along his camera, but rarely if ever used it. He was fairly consumed with scoping out the best locations and offering whatever technical advice we needed and wanted. He was literally available to us from before sunrise to after sunset, in the field and in informal technical briefings. Got some great images too!\"
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2014 Charlie Silver New Hope, PA
\"Thank you for your superb help at the Morro Bay workshop. You were diligent in your efforts to help me improve my photography techniques and knowledge, and your technical skills were much appreciated. I think I learned a lot, more than just coming back with some pretty bird images. So thank you for being persistent in your teaching. I'd love to do another workshop with you and will look forward to that. Thanks to Anne for finding the Great Horned Owl for us. I'll send you an image or two when I get them edited. You are a gifted photography teacher, Michael.\"
Morro Bay Shorebirds and More : January 2014 William Wingfield Charleston, SC
\"Michael, thank you for the excellent workshop at Bosque del Apache. The personal attention and detailed practical instruction in the field was outstanding. I learned so much about incident light vs reflected light exposure, manual modes, and many many details of shooting good pictures in the field. The classroom instruction blended well with the field experience and your knowledge was impressive as well as very useful. I appreciated our time reviewing the numerous features of the camera also. I recommend your seminars without any reservation and look forward to another session with you. Thanks again for your time, patience, and willingness to answer questions.\"
Bosque del Apache : December 2013 Pat O'Grady Santa Cruz, CA
“Mike thanks for the fun and productive workshop last week. You certainly put the time in studying the area and subjects habits. You were well prepared for the workshop. The biggest thing I wanted to get out of the workshop was a better understanding of manual exposure. You explained it well, and kept a good watch on me throughout the days we shot. I shot in manual mode the whole workshop and I have to say, my exposures look a lot more consistent than they ever have. I did enjoy lying in the mud shooting with you, but what impressed me was you only had your camera out when you knew we were in good position and were all set with our camera settings. If you are looking for an opportunity for some great instruction, and shoot plovers and terns on nice clean beaches Mike’s your guy!”
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2013 Neil Nourse Great Barrington, MA
“Many thanks for the terrific teaching, both in the classroom and in the field at the Shoot The Light Tech Series this past weekend in St. Augustine. Mike taught the science behind the art of photography in a way that all can understand. The best way to sum it all up: just spectacular! Thank you for sharing your incredible talent with all of us.”
Shoot The Light Technical Series : April 2013 Kim Davidson Gainesville, FL
\"I want to thank you for your class on post-production on Sunday. It was by far the most easily understood class I've ever attended and I learned so much - not only what to do but WHY to do it. You are a great teacher! I had never been able to wrap my head around the fine points of sizing and color management and now I see the light! I'm a moderator in Out of the Box on BPN so if you ever have any blurs, etc. that you'd like to share I'd love the see them in OOTB :) I'll definitely keep track of your workshop schedule and hopefully we'll meet again soon.\"
Florida's Birding & Photo Fest : April 2013 Cheryl Slechta Micanopy, FL
\"You led an amazing workshop! Thank you for being a patient teacher. Your attention to detail and building our learning from the ground up was what assured that we \"got it.\" The hands-on with our flash units was the most helpful to me. Thanks for turning that 430 EX from a brick to a tool for me. ;-) \" Fundamentals of Exposure and Flash : February 2013 Jane Rose Syracuse, NY
\"Thank you for a great seminar this weekend. I enjoyed the review of the previous seminar I attended and learned a lot of new concepts on exposure. Your instructions have been well-planned out and I have found you to be very patient with the various levels that students bring with them to your classes. I look forward to any upcoming workshops.\" Fundamentals of Exposure and Flash : February 2013 Michael Ryvicker Providence, RI
\"I wanted to thank you for leading the great course in \"Digital Fundamentals\" this weekend. As a self-taught beginner it was a perfect foundation to continue my new-found hobby of bird photography. You filled in many of the huge gaps in my knowledge base and made clear so many of the basic concepts. The section on exposure and metering was just what I was looking for. I was having a hard time with those concepts but now I feel confident shooting in manual mode and being sure that I have the correct exposure every time. I am including a shot of a Greater Shearwater taken off a bouncing whale watching boat yesterday. Exposure set at the dock and it worked perfectly all day long.\"
Fundamentals of Digital Nature Photography : September 2012 Ken Janes Kennebunk, ME
\"I learned more about photography in one weekend with Mike Milicia on the Piping Plovers and Least Terns Workshop than I've learned in the last year on my own. Not only did we get extensive time in the field photographing at an exclusive, pristine location, we also spent considerable time going over the details of flash photography, exposure, and shooting in manual mode. I emerged with a depth of understanding that I have been unable to attain from any prior reading I have done. And the classroom instruction was followed up by continued instruction and practical use in the field each day. I know that these are skills that will inform and improve every facet of my own work. Mike also made it very clear he would welcome any follow up questions and contact down the line as I continue to practice what I learned in this wonderful workshop. Highly recommended!!\"
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2012 Melissa Groo Ithaca, NY
\"I'd like to think I have a pretty good foundation in photography, but I learned a LOT! Mike is a great teacher - able to keep things informative and interesting for photogs of ALL levels, and best of all, he takes some of the more complicated concepts and is able to explain them clearly. I had a lot of \"AHA\" moments!One thing I'd really like to stress is that this seminar really is aimed at all levels and experience. Yeah, there were some things he talked about that I knew, but it was never dull or boring. People new to using their cameras get an abundance of useful info to improve their photography and understanding of what they are doing and CAN do. And those that have been shooting for a while, learn the background of what they know, and the WHY some things are the way they are. (There were quite a few things that I knew or did \"just because it is what it is\" - having the background of 'why' I think will help me to be more ready to make changes on the fly, and in the end, have a lot more \"keepers\")\"
Fundamentals of Digital Nature Photography : October 2011 Christopher Ciconne Woburn, MA
I want to thank you for the wonderful workshop on digital fundamentals this weekend. This is exactly the type of information I have been seeking. The format and notes were spot on and I was able to review the entire class on the plane home today. You have also given me the confidence and guidance to begin using manual mode.\"
Fundamentals of Digital Nature Photography : March 2012 Jerry Aguiar Orland, CA
\"I had a wonderful time with you on the 2012 Piping Plover and Least Terns workshop. I really enjoyed your calm, friendly and gentle style. I have been on 5 other workshops and no one did as much teaching as you did - both in the field and in the afternoon classroom sessions. I really learned a lot. The 3 hour flash class was a real hands on learning experience. The location was awesome (as was the weather but you can't take credit for that!!) and you obviously did your scouting and research thoroughly. It was also obvious that your number one priority was helping us to get good images. This is the only workshop that I have been on where the leader did not take as many images as the participants. In fact, on one morning you didn't even take a shot until about 2 hours after we arrived - you found the plovers and chicks, got us all settled and discussed exposure while we lay in the sand and you didn't even have your camera in hand! I was also impressed with your patience when teaching us and when a member of the group was 1 1/2 hours late joining the group in the morning. You had to go back for the individual while the rest of us photographed during that magic first light. I really hope that I get to do another workshop with you. You get a 5 star rating from me!\"
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2012 Gail Bisson Sydney, Nova Scotia
\"I joined Mike Milicia on his Plovers and Terns workshop last weekend. He has figured out a great location on the North Shore of Massachusetts that is ideal for photographing shorebirds. Mike is a great photographer as well as a great teacher who is willing to share his secrets and a really nice person to shoot with. Apart from shooting at the beach, I thoroughly enjoyed his afternoon presentations. If you are confused about proper use of flash, Mike can sort it out for you. His presentation on Flash was a real eye opener for me and I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed the time spent on the beach with the birds. \"
Piping Plovers and Least Terns : Massachusetts Coast : June 2012 Rajan Desai Westford, MA
Peggy Peregrine-Spear review of our Polar bear Safari’s Nov,2024 at Seal River and Nanuk Lodges
I just came back from Chas's Winter Yellowstone Workshop which brought so many good memories, new techniques, and new ideas that I will remember a life time. Not only is each of his photos technically perfect, be it exposure, f-stop, shutter speed, sharpness, colors, and compositions, but his photo has extremely strong visual impact and always tells a story. I wish my photos were like that. And after reading many of his online educational articles, I found that I really like his philosophy. So I took his workshop, knowing that the best way to learn is to be in the field side by side with him. I am glad I did. He is really tech savvy, so much fun to talk to, and has never ending interesting photography stories to tell thru his career. Chas is the very rare bred of pro photographer who had formal master education in photography so his theories are superb. He had many high profile clients before, so he had no room to mess up in each project. What that means is that he really mastered the use of light, understands how light illuminates and shadow defines, and bring all the best stuff from these experience in different photography fields into wildlife, creating image after image of creativity and stunning impact.
Some of the numerous things I learned from him in this trip:
Try to get the best photo in camera, before post processing. Many people nowadays rely on digital, always thinking about cropping afterwards for composition, darken or brighten an image if metered incorrectly, etc. His mantra is \"if I buy a camera which has 21 mega pixels, i want to make use of all these 21 mega pixels\". Chas strives to catch the moment with the right exposure, composition, etc in camera, which maximize the capability of the digital camera, be it noise control and pixel counts. I think its a perfect way to train myself to pay attention instead of take it and fix it later if possible.
Though Chas pushes for the best photo in-camera before post processing, he is a master of photo editing. His emphasis is to bring out something in the scene that's not possible from the image (e.g. dynamic range) while those data were \"hidden\" in the raw file, e.g. as long as the whites are not blown out, one can always extract those details afterwards. Basically Chas thinks very differently when he takes a picture. He already knew what the limit of the camera is, so try to get the best in-camera first and then knowing what data can be recorded, he brings those hidden data out from post-processing.
Chas makes the best use of any nature condition be it good or bad. For example, it was snowing really bad in Yellowstone, shooting condition was bad, yet when he saw the bison walking along the river, he immediately sees that the dark river which can add as a backdrop to show the white snowfall, which wouldn't be possible with a white snow background.
He is very good with animal behaviors. He would tell us the pronghorn is going to jump, bison is going to dash down the hill, crossing the river, and would give us suggestions how to capture that moment. I made sure to try to stay not too far from him in the field so I can learn what he's thinking in certain condition and why, which helped a lot. He is always paying attention to avoid distracting lines that cut off the subjects, the placement, and how one should leave some space for the legs even if the legs of the animals were blocked by foreground objects.
Did I say Chas is a lot of fun, he kept feeding us good info on photography whenever he can and he seems to have unlimited energy. What I am glad to know is that when I look closer to his photos, every time I learn some new things, which I didn't pay attention to before because he intentionally avoided those distractions with careful placement in order to let readers focus on the story itself. He really pays a lot of attention to the details to create each image.
The service in his workshop is first class, he takes care of all the luggage transfer, always put us in the best vehicle and best lodging and never cuts corner.
only thing bad from the workshop is that after learning all these new things from Chas, when I look back on my old photos, I want to throw most of them away and start all over. I had a great time in the workshop and really enjoys the company of all attendees. Most of the time we were laughing and enjoying so much of our time!
I highly recommend Chas's STL workshops.
Tin Man Lee
You are a “living master”. I feel very privileged to be in the Falklands with you at this moment! You understand the gravity of the moment and how to express its essence in a photo or film! You do it as all “ great masters “with aplomb!
It is something to behold in 3 intense weeks of photography!
Milton Berkman
Chas,
I want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude and send our warmest wishes for a Happy Birthday to Our Mentor, Charles Glatzer. This man Is not only skilled in his craft, but also has a unique ability to teach and inspire others. Through his exceptional lessons and guidance William and I have been able to take our photography to another level. Charles has empowered countless individuals to improve their photography skills and pursue their passion. We have been truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from such and exceptional mentor. Thanks you for being and incredible mentor and friend and sharing your skills with us. WE LOVE YOU!!!! Charles Glatzer
Judy Rogero, William Steele
Chas,
You are a wonderful person and teacher. I will never forget the things you taught me about lighting when photographing birds.. It was one of the most exceptional classes I have ever been in! You made it seem so simple the way you described everything. Thank you for your giving of your talents!! I love to retake the course again in fact......
Chas,
The photos I took on the Yellowstone trip (after just a few days of help and suggestions) were the finest photos I've ever taken. The beauty and clarity of precise focus, vibrant exposures even in dim light, sprinkled with just an ounce of your vast post-processing ease: my photos improved 10,000 fold in just one short trip. And plus, you're funnier than heck. Highly recommended teacher who gives whole-heartedly to teaching and helping.
Julia Brown
Shoot the Light exposed – It’s almost one year since I went on a Shoot the Light workshop and had the privilege to learn first-hand from Chas. Prior to signing up I’d pondered for some time the merits of joining a photography workshop, unsure what such an investment would deliver... would I learn, would I enjoy the experience, would I have fun and become a better photographer? Well… read on and discover a little about what I took away from time with Chas, and whether I’ll be back for more Shoot the Light memories!!
Let me take you back to last November – the location is Bosque del Apache, wintering grounds for some 20,000+ Snow Geese (ok, Ross’s too!) and 2,500 Sandhill Cranes, with a scattering of other birds and animals. I’m there attending a 4-day Shoot the Light technical workshop. I’d actually arrived a day early, to blow the cobwebs off the Nikon gear and become acquainted with the area – arriving a day early gave me the chance to get to see the area where we’d be shooting, and release some of the trigger happiness that tends to preside the first day or so when I go somewhere new filled with great photographic opportunities. It also allowed me to reflect upon how I approached my photography prior to standing beside Chas and how I approached it after… without spoiling the entire story, it was a deeper change than I ever expected.
Curiously, I’d signed up for just a couple of sessions, but once I got started I had no hesitation signing up for the full set. After just a short time with Chas it was clear that I was in for a treat – learning with Chas is easy and fun. His technical knowledge is exceptional (just take one glance at his portfolio), but couple that with his ability to present topics simply, then add to that his ability to show you how to apply it in the field and then combine that with his understanding of wildlife and behavior - this is Chas’s gift to all who attend one of his workshops. And that’s before you get to post-processing! Chas really excels, and throughout the workshop was always willing to answer one more question, take one more peek at some images, and also to let me have the odd hand warmer - the mornings can be COLD, but come the afternoon you may find yourself in a t-shirt!!!
During my time with Chas I learnt a tremendous amount and came away with greatly improved photographic technique – the course, without doubt, elevated my skills to a new level (I’m convinced I would not have reached such a level so quickly, if at all, without his guidance). But more fundamentally, time in the field with Chas altered the way I approach photography and introduced me to a side of photography that I hadn’t realized was missing – and that’s being in tune with the light, understanding how to “read” the light - almost “feel” it. This was a great step for me personally, and has added a new and essential dimension to the way I approach photography.
A year on, I am I still using all the tips and techniques I learnt from Chas in Bosque Del Apache... Absolutely. And this again is testament to how effectively Chas teaches and imparts his knowledge. One final observation… would I go again? Unreservedly! And due to the kind generosity (and patience) of my fiancée, no wait, as of early September, my wife I shall be with Chas next May, getting up close and personal with black bears – I can’t wait for another opportunity to further advance my photography under Chas’s careful and thoughtful guidance.
Good afternoon Chas,
Hope all is well with you and your family! I want to extend a heartfelt \"thank you” for putting together a trip of a lifetime to Africa. I have traveled the globe during my aviation carrier and have to say this trip stands out as the most memorable experience. My expectations were exceeded by a landslide. Your professionalism and wealth of knowledge with animal behavior, camera systems, Photoshop and Lightroom and the way you deliver your knowledge as an instructor are impressive.The accommodations and staff members at each camp were superb. I honestly had reservations staying off the grid in Africa; however, the warm welcomes by the staff and accommodations put my fear at ease. I was so happy to share majestic Southern Africa with my family, but also with you and the rest of our photography gang. The memories of this trip and our group will bring smiles and laughter for a very long time!
Blue skies, Sherri
Chas,
Africa has called me back many times and this was what I was looking for ... exactly!! When I was able to pre-visualize what I wanted and have it fall in to place right before my eyes, well, this Chas guy must know something!! It was definitely an \"A HA\" moment! I saw my imagination coming to fruition in real time. I have a lot more keepers to peruse after meeting this Chas Glatzer, that's for sure! Thank you Chas, you've been a superb teacher and mentor, but most of all a good friend ! I'm not alone when I say this ... and that is an understatement!!
I so thoroughly enjoyed this trip!!
Till next time. Take care my friend,
Bob
Good morning, I have just returned from the most amazing 5 days of my \"photographic life\". To digress, I started in photography in college, when we carved petrochromes on cave walls. Over the too many years since, I have spent many frustrating hours, days and dollars trying to reach photographic nirvana, first in the black and white darkroom and then on the computer, eternally frustrated by the total inability to reach a consistently acceptable result. Understood the basics--rule of thirds for composition, magic photo triangle of ISO/aperture/shutterspeed for exposure--but could never bring a grasp of success within reach. And then I discovered Charles Glatzer and his Shoot The Light organization and concept. From the first viewing of his YouTube videos, he\" clicked\" and the combination of his message and his presentation sucked me in. I first did a One on One day with Chas and then instantly signed up for his Western North Carolina, Fall Foliage Workshop. You have to experience Chas to fully appreciate his ability both as a photographer and as a teacher. The man has infinite patience and the wonderful ability to present new concepts in as many ways as it takes to get through the thickest of skulls and the most stubborn indelibly etched unsuccessful prior teachings.With his decades of experience in many and varied fields of photography, Chas has a wealth of knowledge on equipment for most levels of photographers and interests in photography which he shares willingly. If you want to take your photography, especially the art of exposure, to the highest level of predictable, solidly founded and supported concepts, then you, too, have to meet Charles Glatzer and become a disciple of the teaching of Shoot the Light!! You will forever be rewarded by your results straight out of the camera! And,as a side note, Chas's staff, especially she who must be obeyed, and his assisting photographers all function as a close group to make his workshop events a well-oiled and enjoyable experience for all. Dan R
Hi Chas,
Thanks for another great photography experience.
Other than the fact that you are a rock star in the photography world and your knowledge and skill are amazing here are some of my thoughts about why I think you stand out among photographer/teachers. First, you emphasize that the approach you are teaching is intended to allow us to develop our own creative approach. Not every teacher is as open minded. Many put forth the notion that their approach is the one and only. Your approach allows us to develop our own vision.
Second, you never once made me or anyone else in the class feel stupid or inadequate. Even after you have explained something for the umpteenth time, you maintained your willingness to teach and explain. That quality is unique among rock stars. To teach with patience and understanding recognizing that we are all learning is wonderful.
Third, your ability to analyze your approach to capturing an image and your willingness to share that knowledge is amazing. Some artists are not as skilled. I was once at a workshop where a renowned photographer saw me working on composing an image. He came up, asked me to move over and started working with my camera. I asked him to explain his process and thinking, he explained he was \"making a photograph\". Not exactly the knowledge I needed to learn from what he was doing. I am excited about the Lake Clark trip and many more.
Take Care, Don T.
\"For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Technical Workshop in St. Augustine, Florida is a must. Thanks Chas for a great 4-day workshop at the Alligator Farm May 6-9. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore.
Thanks for the experience!” RS
Chas,
The below reference is from the heart. Albeit a bit too long but why cut you short? You give us all so much time why not give you what you deserve. In fact it’s really too damn short if anything. Like any middle aged Type A person, I bought what I felt was the best gear money could buy and promised myself I was going to study every aspect of photography I could via workshops, online courses, self study, private lessons and books. I have invested an incredible amount of time and money into taking that “perfect shot” which we all strive for. Along my journey I have had the honor of working with and/or interacting with many of the countries more popular wildlife photography workshop leaders. Honestly there are quite a few wonderful leaders and some that are less than wonderful. Yes, I am a critic and it takes a lot to impress me. It did not take me long to find Chas as just about every wildlife photographer here in New York either knows him personally or has studied with him. As of now I am one of the lucky ones who has spent 3 separate times with Chas in the field and/or classroom learning anything and everything he was willing to share. Chas has such a varied background in so many different aspects of photography and has been shooting for over 36 years now that he has so much to offer. Yes, there may be others that know certain styles very well, but can they do flash underwater and understand the physics of refraction, shoot Annual Reports and executive portraits for Fortune 500 companies, sports, product, advertising campaigns, and more? I think there are few photographers alive who can perform at this level. What I do know for sure is that there is no one alive who can TEACH this breath of knowledge as well as Chas. What is the point of attending a workshop with an award winning photographer who has written books, had photos published in National Geographic, won a BBC award, etc. if they are not going to help us take better photos? Are we not concerned about OUR performance and want someone to teach US how to shoot and not pay someone’s bill so they can travel for free around the world taking pics at our expense? It has taken me quite the effort to get to where I felt comfortable enough as a photographer to actually sit in waders 2 feet deep in 48 degree river water for 5 days in remote Alaska with about $18,000 worth of camera gear surrounded by Grizzly bears. Yup, I was determined to go all the way and get that “perfect” capture and I had 5 days and 21 flights to get an 800lb bear charging directly head on to dive for the sockeye. A dream shot, and yes I was dreaming like all of us dream. This was not an Instagram “million likes” shot, for me this was far more. I admit I was a bit reserved and anxious that second to last day of the trip knowing I may not get the photo but I was determined to push and even say a prayer…or two. Shaking from the cold while fixating on my viewfinder, my buddy to my right asked why I work so hard as a physician. He in fact told me \"Greg, everyone is replaceable so why do you feel you need to push yourself?\" I angrily moaned quietly to myself. Out of fear of being eaten I looked around over my left shoulder and there, about 150 yards behind us and up on a bluff was the world’s most famous and well know wildlife photographer with his workshop participants trying to capture images of the same bears. “Really?” I said to myself “from so far away?” Wow, I suddenly appreciated just how lucky I was to be sitting here safe and sound among a half dozen Grizzlies getting the photos of a lifetime from the perfect vantage point. Those of us who push ourselves know the extreme emotion of success under adverse circumstances and I was waiting for mine. Finally, along came a beautiful charging bear at eye level head on to my 600mm lens and I was fired up. Every little lesson, camera setting and skill set that I had came to fruition for about 2 full seconds. Again, again and again it happened. When the bear stopped jumping for salmon I nervously scrolled back through my images in my LCD display and bang, there is was…my perfect shot. I wanted to scream with joy or at least slap the water but the bears would have none of that behavior. My emotions over took the best of me. My journey hit its target and I knew I owed it to my hard work and to those that helped me get here. Like a baby I walked up onto the beach, sat on a rock, put my head into my hands and cried with joy. Life is good when you push yourself and surround yourself with the best of the best. I had finally reached my goal and Chas was there for me the entire time from the beginning to my truly award winning capture. I was thrilled and he was psyched for me. My thrill came from reaching my goal; his thrill came from helping me get there. Chas is a rare bird in that he is a true professional, a mentor and a friend. The world is a better place with Chas. When I flew out of Alaska that trip I struggled with whether or not I am in fact “replaceable” as a physician but I was at peace knowing Chas is most definitely not replaceable.
Good luck on your journeys with light. G. G.
Hello All,
I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack --------
I just finished the STL workshop and it was a wonderful experience. I am in the beginning stages of my photography journey and Chas was a wonderful instructor. I could not believe that someone with his background and experience would have the patience to answer my questions...but he did and often went beyond what I expected from him. There are many talented photographers, but few that have the rare ability to pass on their knowledge to others in a kind, caring and respectable way. Chas was patient with everyone in the group and treated all of us with respect, regardless of our skill level. Chas went out of his way - he actually insisted - that I borrow one of his lenses for a session because I expressed an interest in trying the lens before purchase. During sessions, Chas would put the participants first, giving us the prime locations in relation to the light and the subjects. He would also give us advice during the sessions so that we could improve our images. He was definitely there to help teach the participants...not to get the best locations and shots for himself. During the teaching sessions he was very professional; during down times he was very warm and funny and he went out of his way to make everyone feel at ease. Chas' knowledge of all aspects of photography, Lightroom and Photoshop is amazing. To work with someone as knowledgeable as Chas is truly an incredible experience. Before going on this workshop, I read the testimonials and thought they were too good to be true. Well, they are true. Chas is an amazing teacher and photographer as well as an awesome individual. I consider myself lucky that I was able to attend a workshop with him. I fully intend to go on further workshops with Chas and am proud to now consider him my photography mentor.
Chris
Chas is one of a kind. Smart, hard working, creative, personable, and with seemingly endless energy. I've watched him teach quite a few people his way of nature photography, and it's impressive to see the results. One word of advice, though: bring an audio or video recorder, because once you wind Chas up and get him started teaching something, he'll teach you fifty things a minute and keep going until YOU collapse in exhaustion.
LOL. Thom Hogan
Chas took me to a place that existed only in my dreams and showed me a world that blew me away. I developed such love and hate relationship with him. I loved how he saw things and instantly composed to knock my socks off and I hated how easy it is for him to come away with compositions even after being in the same place often While I struggled to do so. Without a doubt he is the most gifted of all the photographers I have met.
Usha
I guess the most important thing I have to say is that I came out of no where with this hobby and in a short time I have spent a lot of time with over 10 professional photographers all of which I admire and have lots of respect for. However, you really must know deep inside that there is only one Chas. I am not sure if it��s just your experience, ability to communicate, competitive edge, social skills, financial drive or just your overall good person drive but you really are the best of the bunch. I am lucky to have spent time with you, learned form your teaching and I am beyond honored to be able to be on the roster to work with your three times next year.
Greg
Chas,
This is a note of thanks for the magnificent Ultimate Polar Bear Workshop. We had outstanding photo opportunities galore with lots of polar bears and good light often both at the Seal River Heritage Lodge and on the Tundra Buggy extension. You personally added significant value to the trip with your knowledge of polar bear behavior, your guidance on how to take advantage of the photo opportunities, and sharing your capture & post processing techniques. I have been on many photo workshops but you are at the top as a leader, nature photographer, & teacher. Your style is very friendly and welcoming. The fact that all but one of the participants were repeat STL clients is testimony of the highest order for both you and STL. Many of the participants have been on multiple previous STL workshops. This was my third STL workshop, and I am eagerly looking forward to two more STL workshops.
Carl Zanoni
Hi Chas,
I've been studying the portfolios and testimonials of other workshop leaders, and felt that the best way to remedy my annoyance at some of them was to provide positive feedback for the ones who actually know what they're doing. In an occupation where professionals are increasingly under pressure to switch from stock photography to teaching workshops, a competitive edge too often favors skills in photoshop, marketing, or self-promotion. Yet, there are still a few workshop leaders who are genuine masters of their art. Of these, Shoot the Light happens to be among the cream of the crop. Not only does Chas have, arguably, one of the most comprehensive and beautiful portfolios, but he has a rare knack for being able to share it. In the field, Chas does not give a couple intuitive tips, take the best spot available, and spend the rest of the day collecting shots for his website; instead, he actively makes recommendations to each individual and is more than willing to assist with questions. In the middle of a shoot, he may even stop and explain how to predict the behaviors of wildlife, or give a lesson on using flash. Somehow this does not prevent him from snapping off a few 5-star shots through the course of an explanation. Indeed, it can be frustrating when you realize that Chas's recycle bin resembles the \"highlights\" page of most above-average amateurs (and professionals, for that matter); but no matter how often you participate in a Shoot the Light Workshop, you are sure to improve your own techniques each time. One of Chas's most important lectures is \"Visual Design in the Field\". If you thought you had a \"good eye\" before, this course will show you how to select angles, backgrounds, and photographic paradigms you hadn't even considered. Even at locations where photography has become near-cliche, such as the grizzlies at Brook's Falls, Homer and its bald eagles, or Bosque del Apache (where geese come to see flocks of photographers), Shoot the Light produces images that are head-and-shoulders above the rest. Apart from these examples, Chas provides some of the more unusual opportunities available, from a month-long safari in the Arctic to photographing tigers in India. Formerly best-known for his marine work, Chas even has an underwater workshop, focusing on the manatees of Crystal River. Meanwhile, his wife Sherri is extremely efficient at making arrangements and returning calls and emails--another truly rare quality among photographic workshops. Regardless of whether you join Shoot the Light in Russia or Japan; Yellowstone in the dead of winter, or in a relaxed summer setting in the Michigan lakes, you'll be glad to be part of the experience. I highly recommend Shoot the Light and look forward to many workshops to come.
Best wishes, Ivan
In my hot pursuit to become a proficient amateur wildlife photographer I hired Chas on recommendation for a three day one-on-one session here in New York. I had no idea what I was in for other than some “theory” time and time in the field with cameras and birds at Nickerson Beach. Having zero personal knowledge of Chas or his style of teaching, I was curious as to how the three days were going to proceed. We all know the internet has an abundance of “wildlife photographers” who claim to teach, run workshops around the country and regularly produce nothing but award winning photos for contests such as the BBC, National Geographic, etc. but how many are worth hiring? Unfortunately while there are many “wonderful” photographers willing to teach the art and science of capturing wildlife via digital SLR cameras, there are almost NONE that are truly talented instructors worth the investment. Having taught junior high school, attended medical school, residency and now teaching in a medical school, I can be a bit critical of those who claim to “teach”. Many claim to teach but few can do so well. Then there’s Chas. Chas and I first met over dinner once he arrived from the airport and we had a wonderful time. I was a bit nervous as such a novice photographer about to spend time with one of the best photographers in the country but immediately Chas made me feel comfortable. We had many laughs over dinner and I knew right away the next three days were going to be exceptional. Chas shared some of the most fascinating stories of his trips around the world, the people he met and the animals he had encountered. I was enamored and wanted to sign up for every workshop I could afford before we even finished dinner. The three days we spend together were broken down into an orderly sequence with photography theory (perfect exposure, camera settings, flash, animal behavior, being pro-active, etc) day one, the challenging world of post processing day two, then work in the field with camera in hand the last day. I was smart enough to bring along my notebook the first two days as I wrote over 25 pages of notes. During the post processing session Chas was patient and kind enough to take my laptop and set many actions, and recipes/presets for MacPhun, Google NIk and other recommended plug-ins so I could streamline my workflow. I doubt there are many workshop leaders willing to take such an extra step for their clients. Once we finally made it into the field again Chas continued to teach by reviewing camera settings and technique. Just watching him work a camera and approach birds was a lesson in itself. Aside from the formal teaching I can say Chas is an engaging, funny and kind gentlemen who was as patient and dedicated to my photography issues as he was to my 10 year old daughter when she shyly asked him to show her his giraffe photos from Africa. Chas is a class act and we are lucky to have him as an educational resource and friend.
Dr Greg Gulbransen Long Island, NY
Shoot the Light, Charles Glatzer – Ranks number 1 in photographic workshops! After going to Yellowstone with Shoot the Light and Charles Glatzer, I felt it necessary to write a testimonial to my experience. I procrastinated. But now after two weeks with Chas on his Falklands workshop (he had been there 10 times) I feel remiss in not having written about Yellowsetone. I feel remiss because Chas’s workshops are really special and I want those who like me look for the best workshops to know what they can experience with Chas and Shoot the Light. I have been on about 10 photographic workshops with other leaders to some of the most beautiful places. Chas's workshops are without peer. Chas’s workshops are all about the participants. He shares, teaches, shows, and most importantly interacts in every step of the process. His greatest delight is that we get the images not that he does. His knowledge and ability to explain difficult processes concisely and at the same time profoundly, while being patient with us, results in an unequaled experience. In addition it becomes quickly clear the he knows where to go and when to be there. His wildlife knowledge is second only to his photographic knowledge. Also, the logistics work amazingly well. You only have to look at Chas’s images to know that he is an extraordinary photographer, but based on my experiences with him he is also an, extraordinary naturalist and teacher. He holds nothing back he shares what he calls his “process” which is being prepared with equipment, locations and most importantly an idea of what image you are looking to capture. Also he explains his philosophy and how processes his images. Those of us who want to progress to the highest levels of photography should not forego the opportunity to learn from a truly rare talent, Chas. In addition to all I have said I must add he is a great guy to hang out with…….their are no ego trips.
Dennis Holt
The goal of the STL Technical Series Workshops is to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 36 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas, Mike, Tom and Dave!
Glen Fox
Dear Chas,
I trust your second workshop in Jasper has gone well. Thanks again for a fabulous experience in Jasper. It was terrific to work with Chas in Jasper National Park. The workshop provided awesome photographic opportunities from golden aspen groves to brilliant turquoise lakes all nestled below the towering mountain peaks of the Rockies. The wildlife was stunning, abundant and cooperative. The workshop also was a significant learning experience for me; Chas is a superb wildlife photographer and teacher with an uncanny sense of animal behavior and outstanding technical skills that he shares easily and willingly. In the workshop Chas emphasized the importance of composition, lighting and selective focus and the relative advantages of manual exposure. Chas explained them all in a clear and concise manner reviewing the less intuitive features until he was sure everyone understood. It was obvious that Chas’ #1 priority was helping us create outstanding images, always coaching and making suggestions and ensuring we were in the best locations. It’s two days after the Jasper workshop and I’m already planning for my next Shoot the Light workshop.
CP, Redmond, WA Carlo
Can't thank you enough, Chas, for the incredible time I had at your NC Tech Series! I learned so much from you and your team that I have taken huge leaps forward in my abilities as a wildlife photographer. As everyone knows, your skills as a photographer are amazing; your photos are proof positive of that. But equally amazing is your vast knowledge of photography and ability to convey even the most complex concepts in an easy to understand fashion. To say I was impressed would be a giant understatement! Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for taking me to the next level, and doing it in a fun, humble, and enthusiastic manner! Say hi to the Churchill Polar Bears for me!
:-) Mac
Chas,
What a blast we had this April at the Shoot the Light Workshop in St. Augustine! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. With 4 instructors milling around about 20 students it was easy to get all of my questions answered. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.
Wayne & Margaret
Charles the classes were inspiring! This old man learned a lot. You are obviously a good photographer, but truly amazing as an instructor! The two do not always come out the same! Thanks a lot for the seminars, ALL 4 of them! Florida's Birding & Photo Fest
Robert H Carney
Photo Travel Review Magazine; In the world of nature photography, one name stands above all others Charles Glatzer. He is recognized worldwide as the absolute master of light. Publisher, writer, mentor, teacher, photo entrepreneur, he is legendary and is one of very few photographers who has earned a Masters of Photography Degree. Shoot the Light Workshops by Charles Glatzer has earned the Photo Travel Review Magazine rating of six stars the highest rating the PTR Team has given any workshop provider. We have done so in view of Glatzer's contribution to the photographic community over many years, and for his continuing willingness to serve as mentor and teacher to others who strive to improve their photography. Moreover, the testimonials of hundreds of workshop attendees speak loudly about how well his tours have been received. If one wants to attend a photographic workshop that offers adventure, opportunities to learn and improve ones photographic skills, one cannot go wrong in choosing Shoot the Light in our view the best of the best. Read the entire review, click HERE
NIK Pro Talk Interview When you see the nature and wildlife photography of Chas Glatzer you can't help but think he was born to do this.
Click HERE for the interview
Practicing photography has many pains associated with it: * The pain of trying to keep up with all the useful things Chas Glatzer says at a workshop because you can't write that fast. Heck, you can't remember that fast. Thom Hogan
I learned more on this one trip (Yellowstone) about photographic technique than on my previous 22 trips under different settings. Manual metering was so rapid and straightforward that I never had to worry about ever blowing out a histogram. This allowed me to focus on the picture composition without concerns about the imaging quality. Chaz is a remarkably gifted natural teacher and is able to explain the complex in simple comprehensible terms. He manages to do it in a natural and very amusing way so that it sticks with you. His compositional and post-production skills are equally amazing. Because he is currently in the process of converting many of his photographic principles into short movies, this will eventual become available on the net for any one with an interest in improving their photographic skills. I look forward to the experience both in film and future workshops.
Chris Attinger
Thanks for a great trip to Yellowstone. I went in thinking I was a pretty good photographer but knowing there was much I could still learn. What I didn't expect was the complete epiphany I experienced when taking your advice to shoot in manual exposure mode. I have always shot in Av mode and while my exposures were generally okay, I was constantly battling the metering system with exposure compensation, especially when compositions changed. I just assumed there was no real alternative, believing manual exposure mode was too complex and slow for wildlife photography. Your teaching method made clear it was not complex at all (in fact, it is very intuitive and logical) and afforded the opportunity to focus on composition as opposed to worrying about the proper exposure. It's really a photographic-altering experience for me. I'll never (or rarely) shoot in Av mode again and can already see that my images have taken a step up. Many thanks!
Doug
If his photographs alone do not indicate Chas's diverse level of skills and his unnatural eye for creativity, his dedication to participants is more than enough to make his workshops the best possible way to study the art. Chas is unique in that his enthusiasm enables participants to transform the most daunting concepts into second-nature within a couple sessions. An instantaneous recognition of metering, flash, visual design, and timing within the field are essentials he will help you excel in. In addition to his prestige as a photographer, Chas has a background in marine biology and an inherent understanding of animal behavior that sets him above any other wildlife photographer I know. In addition to seeking out the most favorable--often obscure--locations, Chas imparts his knowledge of the subjects in such a way that one learns to predict their behaviors and movements for the perfect shot. He also has a well-developed \"naturalist's eye\"--rare even among the best-known professionals--that incorporates the ecological settings of the subject to tell a much more powerful and accurate \"story\" of its natural history. Most importantly, however, Chas is the type of teacher who enjoys seeing his participants improve their skills. Few instructors are as willing to put down their own gear to coach you through a shoot. He frequently initiates suggestions that a novice might not think to ask about. In poor light or bad weather, Chas makes use of the time to focus on classroom work or hone in on specific skills. Even if the animals don't show up, he is happy to go the extra mile to ensure that you get the most out of the workshop. No matter what you sign up for, I have no doubt that you will discover that the hours you spend at an STL workshop surmount to years of experience.
Owen from California
Chas,
This is a note of thanks for the magnificent 2012 Ultimate Polar Bear Workshop. We had outstanding photo opportunities galore with lots of polar bears and good light often both at the Seal River Heritage Lodge and on the Tundra Buggy extension. You personally added significant value to the trip with your knowledge of polar bear behavior, your guidance on how to take advantage of the photo opportunities, and sharing your capture & post processing techniques. I have been on many photo workshops but you are at the top as a leader, nature photographer, & teacher. Your style is very friendly and welcoming. The fact that all but one of the participants were repeat STL clients is testimony of the highest order for both you and STL. Many of the participants have been on multiple previous STL workshops. I have been on many photo workshops. Yours are on my short \"A\" list which means i shall be a repeat client beyond the four I've done with you in the last 10 months.
Carl Zanoni
Liz here from your Technical workshop in Florida at the Alligator Farm I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there. Not only are you a highly skilled photographer but you are a great teacher with an amazing ability to simplify the issues, with a great attitude and down to earth personality, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your workshops. I will be forever grateful for the knowledge you have shared with me and unfortunately you will have to put up with this crazy Scottish lady a little longer as im coming back for more :) For me, you took the hard work out of photography and made it what it should be, FUN! I no longer stress about the technical issues that been simplified so I actually \"get it now,\" you have given me the greatest gift, the freedom to focus on the creative aspect. Thanks Chas for allowing that penny to finally drop for me, and I am so looking forward to the Falklands, Botswana, Russia, and Manatee trips. To sum it up Chas, you've got it right!
Liz
You are one of the very few workshop instructors that I have observed that doesn't let his own ego get in the way of providing the best instruction and oportunities for the students. After observing Chas teach two students in the field for three days a couple of weeks ago, I would have to agree - probably the best \"in the field\" instructor I've run across.
E.J. Peiker
Thanks again for a great STL Technical Workshop, and for taking the time late on the fourth day to review a few pictures - much appreciated. The workshop certainly advanced my technical abilities, but much more importantly has introduced a new (and fundamental) dimension to my photography that was missing before (and I don't think I even realised it was missing): a genuine understanding of the light around me (and that illuminating the subject), how to read the light (quality, direction etc) and apply this knowledge to creative photography. This will change many aspects of my approach - where I stand, waiting for the subject to enter the \"zone\", how and when I press the shutter and everything in-between! More on the Tech Series click Martin's Blog
Cheers, Martin
Keeping art a side, for me producing technically perfect images is essential in the process of growing as a photographer. I have been working on this for a long time and I believe understanding the basics is more important than walking out with bunch of great reproduction images. I spent my share of time reading tutorials on exposure, metering and composition. For sure, I understood the theory behind it, but putting it into practice was not at all easy. Chas STL series workshop was so wonderful putting me right where I wanted. His exceptional skills as a teacher, photographer and creator are beyond my imagination. The amount of personal attention and guidance I got in this workshop was outstanding. His willingness to walk an extra mile to make sure I understand the technical side of the settings right from basics is amazing. His knowledge and explanation on flash techniques was one of the best lessons I ever learned in photography. A highlight of the class was his technique in producing 3rd dimension in photographs with shadows. I was quite surprised to see a computer science paper discussing similar techniques to produce a 3 dimensional feel for gaming characters. His creative compositions at Bosque are out of this world. Overall, the STL Tech Series Workshop put my photo career on steroids. I guess it would have taken another 2 years to learn what I did from Chas in 2 days. You might learn what setting to use and how to shoot at any workshop. But, if you really want to understand the fundamentals and what it takes to produce perfect images, I think there is no other workshop like this. I felt it was a privilege being part of such a great program, learning from, and shooting with Chas.
Sid
If you spend any amount of time on the nature photography forums you will see many fine images but when you see the images by Chas, you will realize that he is in a class by himself. Not only is Chas a world class photographer but his skill and experience in PS brings his images to another level that few can achieve. I have been on several workshops with Chas and discovered that he is also a very good and willing teacher. Chas is an \"open book\" - whether you want help on composition, exposure, or fine tuning your camera, Chas is very knowledgeable. But that's only half the story - Chas uses the middle of the day when the light is poor to show his PS techniques that make his images so special. He is very happy to share anything that he has learned over the years - and he knows a lot of cool stuff! We spent several hours working on images to make sure I understood how to make them look their best. If you are serious about your photography and want to get better, Chas can help you in many ways. I also found him to be a nice guy - he's fun in the car as you drive around and during the meals. He sounds so serious on the forums but in person, he's always smiling and having a good time.
Steven Berkowitz, VMD
Passion for photography is not enough; I need teachers who are both willing and able to explain what they are doing and why they are doing it.With Chas, both of these points are met. Regulars on the web will have seen enough of Chas's images to know his abilities are exceptional. Chas routinely produces images that differ not only from what others are creating, but also from his own work. His images contain both technical and artistic elements that make them unique. By attending one of Chas's workshops, I hoped to gain some insight into his photography so that I could incorporate some of his ideas into my own work. And, I got what I was looking in the New Foundland workshop. Chas approaches each photographic opportunity with an open mind. Rather then preconceived ideas, each opportunity is evaluated based on the situation. Instead of imposing his vision on the situation, Chas determines how he can produce the best possible image given the current conditions. If the conditions don't fit the idea, the idea is modified to fit the conditions... Throughout the workshop, Chas worked with each participant to develop their skills
Chris Gamel
Let me start off by saying that attending your \"Loons and More\" workshop was one of the highlights of my photographic endeavors. In a very short period, you helped to elevate my photography to the next level. Your instruction and guidance has given me a solid photographic foundation upon which all of my future work will be based. It was truly an honor to shoot beside you. To me, observing you shoot \"in-the-field\" was as important as the valuable classroom instruction you provided. I got to see first hand what proper technique looks like. To top it all off, I found out that you're a great guy. I felt a little intimidated before I showed up for the workshop, but you immediately put me at ease. After meeting you, it was obvious that your goal was to help us improve our photography, and that you truly cared about our success. Your generous and humorous teaching style helped to make the learning process fun and effortless. The way you presented the information made everything make sense. For me, you took the mystery and guess work out of many key issues I had. I'll be a much more deliberate and proactive photographer in the future because of you. Thanks for everything!
Scott Flaherty
It was a pleasure to spend a bit of time with you at the VS sanctuary last month. Anyway I just wanted to say and let you know how much I appreciated meeting you. I have spent a fare amount of time in the bush with photographers and few have impressed me as much as you. Your care for those around you as well as the welfare of the bears was refreshing. I now understand why VS staff speak so highly of you. In my experience most photographers are often testing the limits set by the guide or property owner and are tolerated only because of the revenue they bring in. Folks at the sanctuary trust and respect you and look forward to you arriving. I enjoyed watching how you provided your clients with the best experience they could possibly have. I hope to see you at the sanctuary again but until then, enjoy the blessing each day brings and capture as many of them on film as you can.
Tom Klingbiel
I recently returned from a four day Technical Workshop with Shoot the Light wow!! I had no idea how little I knew until Chas started explaining metering, flash, postproduction and visualization. We worked both in the classroom and in the field from dawn to dark and I learned more in four days than I would have on my own in years. Metering; Chas went through the basics of five different metering methods and explained when to use each. He thoroughly explained the difference between incident and reflective metering and why you use your cameras reflective meter sometimes and your incident meter other times. He really helped me get my head around the whole metering concept. Flash; Good golly, who knew how versatile that little item, could be outdoors. Chas showed us six different situations where flash would enhance a photo or enable you to shoot when you otherwise wouldn’t. I was amazed at the versatility of flash as an extra tool in the bag. It allows you to shoot much earlier, much later, and much more in the middle of the day than I would have ever imagined. Post Processing; Chas introduced us to various programs that greatly expedite workflow and he showed us tons of shortcuts. It would have taken me forever to figure all that out. Chas background as a former lab owner and commercial photographer enables him to see colors and tones better than most and he understands the nuances of post processing in an amazing way. He is fearless about exploring the possibilities of PhotoShop and its obvious from his vast amount of knowledge that he has spent hours working with this program. Visualization; What can I say; you can just look at Chas photos and see someone on a plane above. Chas sees artistically and thinks technically and his photos show mastery of both. Looking at his work and listening to his thoughts on lighting and composition was extremely helpful. Chas is a great teacher with endless enthusiasm who makes every situation fun. I would highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to increase his or her technical knowledge and have a good time in the process.
D. S.
I recently attended two STL workshops to Jasper National Park and to Churchill for polar bears. On both trips, Chas was a walking encyclopedia of photographic knowledge. He stresses the importance of students becoming comfortable with fundamental technical skills so that they can then concentrate on the more artistic and creative aspects of creating truly outstanding images. He teaches in a stream of consciousness manner while in the field as well as presenting organized lectures on topics such as exposure, flash, composition and Photoshop. He is a natural teacher who enthusiastically individualizes his instruction to clients at any level of skill or experience. One of his trademark themes is the development of a greater appreciation regarding the quality and direction of light in order to create images with a three dimensional appearance. His large base of repeat customers serves as a testimonial to the fact that he inspires workshop participants and meets the needs of clients at any skill level. Each of the two trips I attended provided wonderful wildlife encounters with memories (and photos) that I will cherish forever. Chas is a world-class photographer who displays the relaxed and fun-loving personality of an old friend. I eagerly anticipate signing-on for another trip in the coming year.
Jim Conley
Oh my gosh, where do I begin? It is phenomenal the wealth of information Chas possesses and shares at his workshops. It’s true; the man is as nice as they say. Not once was he impatient with any of us for asking the same question two or three times. I have struggled the last two or so years with my photography. I love photography, knew it had to be easier than I was making it. I read the books, manuals and asked questions of friends, but still I struggled. The problem, I wasn’t getting my information from the correct sources. I now use what Chas taught me both in field and indoors. And it works! As my first photography workshop, I thought the tech stuff was the way to go (STL Technical Workshop Series in Venice, Florida). I’m so glad I did! You don’t have to be a beginner either to benefit from Chas’ tech workshops. There were others there with more skill and experience than I was. Chas somehow can explain beginning and advance techniques all without making you feel left out or overwhelmed. The workshop was written up as a 9-5 but he was available at 7 for a morning shoot even if it rained. When five o’clock rolled around, we kept shooting until the sun was well past the horizon. We had as much time in the classroom as we did in the field; I never thought he would cover as much information as he did. We were also given a written packet of information to augment our learning experience (which is good since I am not one to take a lot of notes). I now achieve consistent exposure along with a better composition and he has taken the mystery out of flash. When it comes to image processing with software, his talent continues there as well. Also, I would like to note that in a male dominated field I was concerned I would be the only female at the workshops. Not true; it was 50-50, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway since everyone was so nice. There were other photographers at the rookery that also knew Chas; one evening we all got together for dinner. I enjoyed meeting them and listening to their stories. The workshop was a great experience: the participants, the other photographers and all the learning. Chas is a unique individual and an excellent teacher, and it shows in the company he keeps.
See you again, Chas. Kate Montague
Although I had considered myself a proficient photographer I decided to join one of Chas’ workshops to a location that I knew that I’d never be able to reach on my own, Churchill, Manitoba. The participants and Chas met at the gate in the Winnipeg airport and as the saying goes, “hilarity ensued”. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so fortunate as to have had a group of talented and mutually supportive photographers with little if any ego. Chas set the tone as an ever-present mentor forever ready to give appropriate support or specific recommendations about shooting or post processing in any number of different applications. He is truly gifted with the ability to read the needs of both the group and the individual under all conditions. It was an outstanding learning experience and overall good (great) time. My only caution to potential first time participants is that having taken one workshop, you’ll likely sign up for another. I did.
See you in Homer! JB Goessman
Chas Glatzer’s STL De Soto Workshop – A Wrap Up All in all this was the best technical workshop that I have ever attended. I saw an immediate improvement in my shooting technique that translated to improved images both compositionally and technically. The flash and Photoshop instruction were my favorites, but each day’s instruction was invaluable. Besides the expert instruction, Chas’ personable manner made the workshop a pleasurable learning and social environment for all. I did not hear one word of disapproval from any of the participants. Of particular importance to me were all the little tidbits of info Chas told us about marketing your photos. Like his 4x6 business card portfolio and when you shoot a subject, shot a horizontal, a vertical, a tight shot and a wide shot. That makes it more sellable then 20 shots of the birds head moved ever so slightly in each. Chas’ passion for the bears makes me look forward to taking a bear workshop with him in the future. I give a hearty recommendation to anyone considering one of Chas’ workshops.
Robert Amoruso
I have attended numerous workshops over the years. Every one of them taught me something. Some were good for the package deal on the location and setups we were shooting. Some were good on Photoshop. Some were good on photo in the field. My latest one was with Glatzer. Here is a guy who has done nothing but photography all his life. He has been in the studio and he has been in the field. He has had formal training and education. And he truly loves his wildlife and nature. I can tell you that if you want to master exposure and flash using manual mode for complete control (believe it when I say its easier than auto anything-- by a mile) you'll learn it from Chas. You will learn the latest and greatest Photoshop techniques from someone who grew up on it and the digital age. He spends all his time on the student. He gets you asking questions. You will see a lot of his stupendous photography, which he will unselfishly share the insights and techniques that went into creating it (mono y mono if you just ask), with me at least, a picture teaches faster and more thorough, then a lot of words. I met Chas in Florida at about 5:30 in the morning at the Venice rookery. I was light painting a great horned owl in a tree when he pulled up. We introduced and talked. Right off, he applauded my experimenting and supported my efforts. I was impressed with his infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy. Just to be around him brings you more into the photographic realm. You just get into it more. We shot that day, and the next day at Cape Coral with the burrowing owls. So, before any workshops I was learning a lot from this guy. He just sheds information and creativeness---a natural teacher, and an artist.
Paul A Leverington
Chas, I just returned from a workshop. I have to tell you...because you may question yourself sometimes...you are the BEST workshop leader out there!! The workshops I have been on with you have always been at the PEEK season of the \"things\" we are trying to photograph. You guide people in the field...\"wait until you see both heads...wait until it turns its head into the light...check your meter\". Believe it or not, that is not always done by other leaders. You have a gift of gab that is funny and interesting during our down time...not in the field when you are trying to photograph. You are a good leader man...you have the GIFT. Why I go with anyone else is beyond me. I have found you and I will be with you as often as I can. I wish I could think of a way to market this skill of yours to other people so they know you are the best. Just keep doing what you are doing.
Joe Barranco
I recently attended Chas’ STL Technical Series at Ft. De Soto Park. What impressed me immediately was that he has the rare ability to take very complicated subjects, distill them down to just what you need and get you using those concepts to make great shots of your own. I went with the intent just to learn flash techniques and came away with a wealth of information and improvements in my shooting techniques, in addition to mastering my flash. In short just take one of his workshops, you will be amazed at what you learn and how much you will improve your abilities under his instruction.
Jason Hahn www.jasonhahn.com
I recently had the pleasure to participate in a STL Technical Series Workshop with Charles Glatzer in beautiful Brevard, North Carolina. To say it was worth it would be the understatement of the year. Before taking the workshop, I researched most of the top photographer web sites available. There was something about Charles's photography that stood out among the rest. His ability to capture the perfect image was evident in every shot I looked at. So I decided he was the one to go with. I think I was right on. Charles is like a Guru of photography with the demeanor of your best friend. His knowledge of the subject is unlike anything I've ever seen. The man is a walking encyclopedia, yet he is able to break the information down and present it to you in perspective that you are able to grasp and understand very easily. His wit is entertaining. The class size is small. And the area is chocked full of opportunities to capture wonderful images. I highly recommend to all who read this to treat yourself and further your education by enrolling in one of Charles's workshops. I can assure you, you won't be disappointed.
Charles Ritchie
Hello Chas,
We have just returned to the UK following our workshop in Yellowstone, and one of my first jobs is to send you this e-mail. First of all I would like to thank you for the advice and tuition that you gave me throughout the tour, I have been on four previous tours and it is no exaggeration to say that I learnt more from you in the time we spent together than I gained from the previous four trips. In particular, your tuition on light/exposure, picture composition and animal behavior was superb. You have given me some tools that I can use to significantly improve the quality of my images. I also greatly appreciated the insight you gave me into some of the facilities in Photoshop. During our first discussion when we looking at the lighting and composition of some of your images I realized the huge difference in the quality of images that you produce and the ones that I produce and I was somewhat daunted. However under your guidance I could see the improvement in my images over the 5 days and whilst I still have a way to go, I believe that I have means to continue to improve my photography. Chas it was great fun, thank you. It goes without saying that I am really looking forward to my next trip with you in June. I have also strongly recommended you to one of my photographic friends Regards, Michael
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I have a container full of expensive gloves, mittens, and combinations thereof that never keep my hands warm in the temperature and weather conditions advertised. Those big cumbersome down or synthetic fill mittens that do provide superior warmth, provide little, if any, tactile ability when trying to alter camera settings. Most mittens require a separate liner glove and the complete withdrawing or your hand from the mitten to operate the camera equipment. That is until now…enter The Heat Layer System glove.
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I have personally tested the Heat Layer System this past winter in the Arctic, sub-Antarctic, Yellowstone National Park, and Japan in temps down to -30F. The system is without doubt the best I have ever used in extreme conditions, offering both superior warmth and dexterity.
As photographers our extremities are particularly vulnerable, as we often remain motionless for long periods waiting for the decisive moment to occur. Many of you have experienced the incredible pain of thawing fingers, frostbite, or frost nip. When our hands become cold and fingers numb we loose concentration. Staying out even longer means we risk permanent physical damage. I have a permanent loss of sensitivity in two of my finger tips, and would like to avoid further damage and/or additional digits to suffer a similar fate. The Heat Company gloves have been continually developed over their lifetime. High quality materials and workmanship are the prerequisites for these high performance products. Great emphasis is placed on functional details. The system is incredibly versatile as the mitten can be used fully closed providing the ultimate in warmth, or opened with the liner glove fully or partially exposed allowing for full freedom of movement, and dexterity. Thumb and index fingers with silver fabric enable use of your LCD camera and touch screens. Being wind and water resistant the Full Goat Leather Shell/Mitten provides maximum warmth, while affording better grip. Additional 4 oz Primaloft Gold insulation on the cuff has been added for even more warmth. Hand warmer pockets placed in strategic locations on the Shell/Mitt and Liner glove backs greatly enhance the comfort in temperatures far below that of other products. Two weather resistant zippers located on the Shell Mitt provide pockets for hand warmers, CF cards, keys, etc. This product was originally a custom-made item designed specifically for special combat forces of Germany and Austria. HEAT Company gloves are perfect for cold weather photography, skiing, mountain climbing, hunting, etc.
Charles (Chas) Glatzer
I bought a pair of the Heat gloves from Shoot the Light and recommend them without any qualifications. Everything Chas and the others have said here is right on. You will not be disappointed or able to find a better cold weather glove for photography....
Bruce Cheatham
Best winter photography gloves on the market today, bar none. My wife and I just got back from two trips photographing polar bears in the Beaufort Sea. We were out on small boats 8-10 hours a day, sometimes in blowing snow and very cold wind chills. These gloves did not let us down and we were able to easily operate the camera dials and buttons while retaining warm hands. Great space for hand warmer packets to fit inside the gloves on those brutally cold days. Our best photography purchase in quite a while!....
Mark Needham
STL Technical Workshop Series, St. Aug, FL April 13-16, 2018 Host Charles Glatzer M.Photog.
April 13th: Metering
April 14th: Visual Design and In-Field Methodology
April 15th: Flash
April 16th: Post-production-LR/CC & Plug-ins
The response to the Tech Series Workshops have been overwhelming, and I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL Technical Workshop Series is without a doubt the definitive learning medium for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both comprehensive classroom, and in field session instruction.
\"For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Technical Workshop in St. Augustine, Florida is a must. Thanks Chaz for a great 4-day workshop at the Alligator Farm May 6-9. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!” RS
\"What a blast we had this April at the Shoot the Light Workshop in St. Augustine! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. With 4 instructors milling around about 20 students it was easy to get all of my questions answered. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.\" Wayne & Margaret \"I recently returned from a four day Technical Workshop with Shoot the Light wow!! I had no idea how little I knew until Chas started explaining metering, flash, postproduction and visualization. We worked both in the classroom and in the field from dawn to dark and I learned more in four days than I would have on my own in years.\" D.S. \"
The goal of the STL Technical Series Workshops is to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 30 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas, Mike, Tom and Dave! \" Glen Fox \"
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there. L. B.
METERING THEORY AND FUNDAMENTALS This session will provide you with the tools necessary to control and achieve consistent exposure regardless of the subject and background tonality. * Relationship between aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure values * Easy to implement methods for quick alteration in the field. * The difference between Metering Patterns and Priority Modes. * How to best use AEL with Av * How and when to use Spot, Evaluative, Matrix to best advantage * Sunny f/16, and how to make and use reference values This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 AM with in-field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11:30 -1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
VISUAL DESIGN and IN-FIELD METHODOLOGY This one is important! This session is designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using creative techniques, compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above. * Pro-Active * Capturing the Decisive Moment * Understanding animal behavior * How to best approach subjects * Eliminate distractions * Compositional elements and geometry * Visual Design and Impact This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction. weather permitting or classroom.
FLASH This session will provide you with the tools and understanding necessary to control and achieve consistent flash exposure. Flash is a different animal, especially when combined with ambient light. Many find this area of photography perplexing. When determining whether your strobe will be used for main, balanced or fill, it is always necessary to consider its relationship to the ambient light present. I highly recommend taking the Metering session before this one. * Flash Fundamentals; inverse square law (light falloff), and Guide Numbers (GN) * Flash meter; how to use the flash meter to determine exposure * Manual flash; why, how and when to use it for consistent results!!!! * Flash as Main, Balanced, and Fill; how to determine and use each method * Compensation; how to determine the right amount of compensation * The Better Beamer; how and when to use it for maximum results * Multiple flash; how to ratio and set-up multiple lighting * Participants will conduct in-field tests with their own equipment using both high and low tonality subjects in various lighting conditions. Results will be evaluated both in the field and in the classroom. This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
POST PRODUCTION AND PHOTOSHOP This session will provide you with the tools necessary to correct your RAW image to its fullest potential. I receive daily e-mails asking me why my images appear more lifelike and dimensional than those others post on the web. We walk you completely through the workflow process, showing you all the tips and techniques that I use from the point of capture to web posting and printing. You will learn tons of shortcuts, and advanced applications specifically tailored to help you make the most of your images for both web and print. Guaranteed to further your image making ability and creatively expand your photographic horizons. Every participant has said this class elevated there imagery more than they ever imagined. * How specific tools combined with blend mode changes can make tasks much easier. * NIK/Topaz/MacPhun Filters * HDR techniques * High Pass Sharpening * Edge Masks and Selective Sharpening * Advanced selection and masking techniques * Make templates for a mini print portfolio (my best marketing tool), posters made easy, text effects, composite, and much more. * Tool tips and shortcuts * Refine Edge * Curves This workshop will consist of classroom instruction only. Workshop classroom begins promptly at 9 am, 12:00-1:30 break for lunch, 1:30-5:00 pm classroom. Participants are urged to take their laptops with them, applying hands-on the methods and techniques discussed. CS and LR programs should be loaded on laptops. You are welcome to join us before (7am) and after scheduled classroom hrs (5pm) to shoot at the AF provided you have a photo pass.
LODGING (not included) recommendation: ask for discounted STL rate Sleep Inn 601 Anastasia Blvd. Saint Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA TEL: 1 (904) 825-4535
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the St. Aug AF, St Augustine, FL.
Terms and Fee: Workshops are $375 each. Attend all 4 sessions and we will purchase your yearly pass, or $100 discount.
Space is reserved on receipt of 50% deposit only. Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Falkland Islands (this is our 14th visit) Nov 25th-Dec 9th, 2017 Arrival suggested in Santiago Nov 23rd, no later than 24th. (2 spaces available) You must arrive in Santiago, Chile at least one day earlier. Chas suggest two days just in case of flt or baagge delays, etc. as there is only one flt per week to the Falklands from Santiago. This trip is limited to 7 participants.
Testimonial
Shoot the Light, Charles Glatzer – Ranks number 1 in photographic workshops! After going to Yellowstone with Shoot the Light and Charles Glatzer, I felt it necessary to write a testimonial to my experience. I procrastinated. But now after two weeks with Chas on his Falklands workshop (he had been there 10 times) I feel remiss in not having written about Yellowsetone. I feel remiss because Chas’s workshops are really special and I want those who like me look for the best workshops to know what they can experience with Chas and Shoot the Light. I have been on about 10 photographic workshops to some of the most beautiful places with other leaders. Chas workshops are without peer. Chas’s workshops are all about the participants. He shares, teaches, shows, and most importantly interacts in every step of the process. His greatest delight is that we get the images not that he does. His knowledge and ability to explain difficult processes concisely and at the same time profoundly, while being patient with us, results in an unequaled experience. In addition it becomes quickly clear the he knows where to go and when to be there. His wildlife knowledge is second only to his photographic knowledge. Also, the logistics work amazingly well. You only have to look at Chas’s images to know that he is an extraordinary photographer, but based on my experiences with him he is also an, extraordinary naturalist and teacher. He holds nothing back he shares what he calls his “process” which is being prepared with equipment, locations and most importantly an idea of what image you are looking to capture. Also he explains his philosophy and how processes his images. Those of us who want to progress to the highest levels of photography should not forego the opportunity to learn from a truly rare talent, Chas. In addition to all I have said I must add he is a great guy to hang out with…….their are no ego trips.
Dennis H.
Having been to the Falklands 14 times now I have the group concentrate on individual species at specific locations on each island visited. Time of day and tidal influence are a key factor in determining when and where we go on each island. Knowing what to expect and look for ahead of time can often make the difference between capturing a mediocre image and the photo of a lifetime.
Tentative Schedule;
MALVINA HOUSE
VOLUNTEER POINT DAY TRIP
SAUNDERS NECK SAUNDERS S’MENT
BLEAKER
SEA LION IS
MALVINA HOUSE
VOLUNTEER POINT DAY TRIP
This years schedule include 3 night stay at \"the neck\" on Saunders. The \"neck\" is without doubt one of the worlds most awe inspiring wildlife sites on earth. Our extended time here affords the best image making possible, in both sunrise and sunset lighting. An additional day will be spent at the Saunders Rookery. We have also scheduled 2 days at Volunteer Pt for King Penguins, as well as 3 nights respectively on Bleaker and Sea Lion Islands, making this one of the most incredible trips to date. Join me for two weeks of incredible photography off the beaten track in the Falkland Islands. We will photograph a large variety of approachable bird species including at least four species of penguins; king, magellenic, rockhopper and gentoo as well as black-browed albatross, striated caracara, king and rock cormorants and many other shorebirds, seabirds and passerines. We will also have the opportunity to photograph elephant seals and southern sea lions. Located east of the southern tip of South America, the Falkland Island archipelago consists of over 700 small islands.
Approximately 2500 people live in the Falklands and all but about 500 in the capital of Stanley on East Falkland. The rest are scattered throughout settlements on the smaller islands.
We have chosen 4 locations to visit to maximize our photographic opportunities. We will have 4x4 transportation on most of the islands to any of our remote shooting locations. However, most of our shooting will be within walking distance of our accommodations. The animals have little or no fear of humans they are quite approachable. By sitting quietly and waiting, many of the birds will approach humans out of curiosity. Because of this, a super long lens (500mm or 600mm) is not necessary and due to weight restrictions on inter island flights, difficult to arrange. Lenses in the 17-400mm range along with a teleconverter should cover most if not all situations.
Includes: From; Mount Pleasant, East Falkland Island ... photo instruction, all transport on the Falklands including inter-island flights and Driver/guide ground transport, food and lodging, applicable taxes and service charges. Accommodations on the outer islands consists of small lodges, or cottages that are modest but comfortable.
Not Included: Airfares: Air fare costs for flights from participants home city to Mt Pleasant, Falklaands are not included. Participant is responsible for making their own arrangements to arrive in Mt Pleasant for the start of the expedition, lodging in Santiago, travel/baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; gratuities.
Fee: $TBD per person, with double occupancy. Single supplement is only available for some portion of accommodations at additional expense. Please note- all funds are quoted in US dollars.
Terms: A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space, 2nd deposit $2500 due 11/30/2019, Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please Review our Booking and Refund Policy.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy.
Hosted by Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light
4 days, 5 nights, with 2 photo sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. Includes daily classroom sessions on Metering, Flash, Post-production, Visual Skills.
This is one of our most popular and fast filling workshops. If you wish to capture the ultimate loon images this is the workshop for you. Loons w/ newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 14th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable photography platform.
\"Hello All, I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack
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Join award winning photographer Charles Glatzer for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and photograph a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best photography possible. And, our boat captain and host is second to none at piloting our craft.
Our Lodge has an extensive set-up of bird feeders and numerous species are likely to be present including hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsucker, rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, black-capped chickadee, white and red-breasted nuthatches and ruby-throated hummingbird. We will also try using a bird caller in the nearby wetlands to call in American bittern, Virginia rail and sora, and Barred owl.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers photo opportunities.
Fee $4995 limited to 4 participants.
Includes... 4 days of loon phototography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field photo instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1000.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the STL workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
Lake Clark, AK brown bears
June 26 - July 1, 2018 (arrive in Anchorage June 25th, depart for home 1st).
Participation limited to 7 (Full)
Having hosted 90 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Fee; $6995
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip otter flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity for staff $250 per person.
Deposit $1000, Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Iceland : Puffins and More July 10-17, 2018 Limited to a maximum of 6 participants. (2 space now available)
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for a visit to the land of puffins and the midnight sun.
This field-intensive and bird-centric workshop will be based on Grímsey Island, a 2 square mile gem on the Arctic Circle which is home to about 90 people and 1 million seabirds including one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies. This is a \"one stop shopping\" location for the serious bird photographer with large numbers of nesting Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, Arctic terns, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, golden plovers, snow buntings, red-necked phalaropes, common snipe, ringed plovers, and more. There is also a picturesque lighthouse and church, distant snow-covered mountain backdrops, and a group of photogenic Icelandic horses.
This will be Mike’s seventh visit to this location and he continues to discov-er new photo hot spots in the nooks and crannies of the island’s coastline on every trip. Basing ourselves on the island will give participants the freedom and flexi-bility to photograph wherever, whenever, and whatever they choose during the 21 hours of daylight that will be available each day. Time that might otherwise be spent unpacking, repacking, and driving from place to place can instead be spent in the field and you will not be dependent on group transportation to get you to the optimum shooting locations at the time of your choosing. This extended field time will also allow for more instruction, including more opportunities for one-on-one sessions and individualized coaching as desired. Of all the species on the island, the puffins tend to steal the show. This is an especially good location for photographing puffins in small and large groups and for photographing puffins in flight with birds flying by at near eye level at a rate of dozens per minute at various times of day. You will be free to roam the entire island but some of the best photography will be found within a few hundred yards of our guest house. We have timed the workshop to take place after the puffin chicks have hatched so that we will also have the adults bringing mouthfuls of fish back to their burrows. In addition to the multitude of land-based avian opportunities, there will also be an excursion by boat (weather and sea conditions permitting) which will provide an entirely different perspective including great looks at the nesting cliffs.
Accommodations on the island will be at a simple but modern guest house with private rooms, shared baths, and wi-fi. Arrangements have been made to have all meals catered at the guest house which will allow us to have even a bit more time in the field each day.
Fee : $5250 Per Person Single Occupancy
Included : All lodging and all meals (excluding snacks and alcoholic drinks) starting with breakfast on July 10 and ending with dinner on July 17. All land transportation from Keflavik Airport. Round-trip ferry to the island. Photographic instruction and in-field coaching throughout.
Not included : Air fare to/from Keflavik International Airport in Iceland
Participation only reserved on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $1000.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
July 8-15, 2018 Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July 8th, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC on 15th (Full)
This Workshop is truly Amazing!! Join Charles Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. Having hosted 90 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime.
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities. This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures. Daily review of images via a laptop computer, and photo instruction along with post-production techniques will be discussed at length.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, the newly selected Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was the workshop I took with Charles Glatzer in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with Chas. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as Chas took us to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's workshops! Laurie Rubin
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our beautiful lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance along a remote lake shore. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide. For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value) Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
Brown bear workshop fee $7242
Includes; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Not included..flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage
Deposit for Lodge $2500 Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Spirit Bears September 21-28, 2018
Limited to 7 participants (Full)
Arrive Kittamat/Terrace, BC 9/20, depart for home from Kittamat/Terrace, BC 9/28
This year will include 3 days at our remote river location frequented by Spirit bears. We will photograph the bears up-close and personal, as they fish and patrol the river for salmon. Many images can be taken with a 70-200/100-400.
Join Award winning Master photographer Charles Glatzer, for an unparalleled photographic encounter with spirit, black, and brown bears. Having hosted over 60 bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. This will be our 7th trip for Spirit bears, each trip has proven amazing.
Using our exquisitely maintained 71 ft sailing vessel as a base we explore salmon creeks and rivers in Coastal BC to photograph the Spirit, Black bear and the Coastal Grizzly Bear in a remote wilderness area away from crowds. The photographic opportunities are amazing. This trip will give you access to some of the best bear viewing locations in the world! The fall is a time of plenty and marine mammals such as the humpback whale are a common sight. To maximize our chances of a Spirit Bear, we will utilize native built viewing platforms in certain situations. We will also explore estuaries and bays, and watch the remarkable feat of salmon spawning. This is a multi-faceted trip, focusing not only on the Spirit Bears but also on the entire ecosystem in which they thrive. We will use our vessel as a base, and a motorized inflatable to transfer people between the boat and the shore.
To ensure the best instruction, bear interaction, and comfort aboard our vessel this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 7 participants.
Fee: $7695 Includes; 6% GST, the additional 2 days permits on the river/platform and plane fees to/from Terrace to the boat. All meals on the boat, accomadations (double occupancy) in Terrace, BC on 9/20/18.
Not included; flights to/from Terrace, BC, meals in Terrace. Return accomadations.
Participation only reserved on receipt of deposit $1500.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
STL & Churchill Wild Present; Nov. 6th - Nov 12th, 2018
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on, 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
• Sponsored welcome kit: each participant will receive ... Heat 3 Smart Layer Gloves...the Ultimate Cold Weather Photographic gloves, Gift Certificate from LensCoat, Shoot the Light polar fleece hat
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft or helicopter to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for an early dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher. Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
* $13, 495 US per person plus applicable taxes (9%).
Includes; two nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill, and our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $250)
A $3,000 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due July 1st, 2018
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Musk Ox
March 11th-17th, 2018
(Full)
Arrival in Trondheim, Norway: 03/10 Depart for home from Trondheim: either late on 3/17 or anytime 03/18.
8 Days / 7 nights
Participation is limited to 7.
Single accommodations throughout!
Join Explorer of Light Chas Glatzer and Norwegian Guide Anders Lundberg for seven nights and eight days, on a photographic journey for Musk Ox in snow, in Norway. We will travel by dog sled from our hotel to/from Dovrefjell National Park, where we will photograph the Musk Ox in winter snow (snow shoes will be provided, if necessary!). In Dovrefjell National Park we may also see Reindeer, Polar Fox, and Golden Eagles. We will also have the opportunity to photograph Norwegian Moose. In Fokstumyra Nature Reserve we may also see Polar Fox.
Includes:
4 full days photographing Musk Ox (weather permitting) in Dovrefjell National Park.
Additional days photographing Moose.
Transportation between Trondheim and our Hotel, and Dovrefjell National Park
Single Accommodations 3/11-3/17,
All meals 3/11 (arrival) through 3/17 (Breakfast), excluding snacks.
Not Included:
Transportation to/from Trondheim, Norway
Accommodations eve of 3/17. Let us know if you are staying overnight 17th departing on the 18th (we can help make reservations (additional fee).
Tips/Gratuities (Guides, wait staff)
Items of personal nature, Alcoholic Beverages, snacks
Cost Per Person: $7,195.00
Terms: A $2,500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space.
(Final balance due 90 days from workshop)
Balance is due in full 90 days prior to the workshop date, unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office. Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
May 18-23, 2018 (6 days shooting) Arrive 17th, depart eve 23rd or morning 24th. (Full)
Workshop limited to a maximum of 8 participants, includes 4 full days with black bears, 2 amazing days with white pelicans.
This year we have included 2 additional days at the end of the session to photograph white pelicans in a unique setting. Weather permitting we may choose to take an afternoon pontoon boat ride on Pelican Lake for loons, grebes, eagles, pelicans, terns and more. (additional fee of $40 per person) Bears and lots of them, plenty of interaction along, with spring cubs and yearlings of all sizes. This will be our 14th year and 28th visit with the black bears, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Spawning sturgeon can often be photographed up close with wide angle lenses.
Come join us in Minnesota - \"The best place in North America to view and photograph black bears and cubs in their natural habitat.\" Nestled in the North Woods of Minnesota, the Sanctuary is located approximately two hours northwest of Duluth . While black bears are the primary focus, the various habitats of the Sanctuary are home to a variety of fauna and flora, including - pine martin, woodchuck, chipmunk, and red squirrels. Songbirds are particularly abundant in May. The sanctuary is closed to the public at this time, and we have it entirely to ourselves. Through an exclusive arrangement, experience and photograph the behavior and secretive life of the normally reclusive black bear. Gain first hand valuable insight about bear biology, ecology, and habitat. We are proud to offer this Photographic Workshop at this unique Sanctuary.
This is one you will not want to miss. This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus in May will be cubs born in January or February; fur-balls of energy, inquisitive and playful they are sure to delight even the most accomplished wildlife photographer. With many bears present this is a great time to capture behaviorial interaction, and portraits, along with cubs of all sizes.
Lodging recommendation - inquire with our office
Fee $3095 includes; photographic instruction, 4 days with blk bears and all sanctuary fees, and 2 days with white pelicans.
Not included: accommodations, meals, transportation.
Terms: A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Western NC, Fall Foliage Workshop, 2018 Oct 24th-28th, 2018 - (5 days in the field). (Full)
Arrive on the 23rd, we start before sunrise on the 24th, depart for home on the 29th.
I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL NC Workshop is for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both in field sessions and comprehensive classroom instruction.
Join Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL this Fall in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular foliage views above 5,000 ft is nearby. The area hosts more waterfalls than any other county in the US, with stunning rivers, farm fields, and nearby Pisgah National Forest and State forest lands. The quaint town Brevard is only minutes away from our hotel. Hendersonville is also close by, with a beautiful main street offering excellent dining and shopping opportunities for all.
This will be primarily an all day in the field workshop to include Catalooche for rutting elk, sunrise/sunset and twilight milkyway/star vistas from atop the Blue Ridge Parkway, with vists to the areas stunning waterfalls, rivers, and more. A classroom is reserved each day for mid-day technical and postproduction instruction, and/or use in case of inclement weather. This is one you will not want to miss!
Testimonials
For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Workshops are a must. Thanks Chaz for a great workshop. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!
RS
What a blast we had at the STL Workshop! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.
Wayne & Margaret
The goal of the STL Workshops are to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 34 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas.
Glen Fox
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there.
L. B.
LODGING (not included), ask for discounted STL rate.
Hampton Inn Brevard 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA TEL: +1-828-883-4800 FAX: +1-828-877-5884. HAMPTON INN, Brevard, NC is near Pisgah National Forest. Located in the Walmart shopping area ( far right), 4 miles northeast of Brevard, NC and only 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport.
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the Hampton Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC
Terms and Fee: $1875. Space is limited, reserved on receipt of deposit only $500. Balance due 30 days prior to the workshop.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
This is a FIRST CLASS trip with R/T shuttle from Bozeman, lodging at Gardiner hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge, baggage transfer, breakfast and lunch, and the best Van Terra snow coach available with easy in/out, plenty of space, and comfortable seating for both the park interior and Lamar Valley. Our guide is outstanding, having been in the park for over 25 years he knows all those \"special\" locations.
Join us as we travel through the interior of majestic Yellowstone National Park at the peak of the winter season, photographing big game wildlife and scenic wonders via our privately chartered 12 passenger (limited to 6 passangers) Van Terra Snow Coach. The wildlife we expect to see on our journey may include bison, big horn sheep, coyote, red fox, elk, otters, pronghorn, mule deer, wolves, ermine, and more, all located in and among spectacular environmental features and stunning backgrounds.
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Our small group (6) and private vehicle allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. As a photo specific tour we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods, departing lodging at 7am each morning, and returning at days end.
Testimonials...
I learned more on this one trip (Yellowstone) about photographic technique than on my previous 22 trips under different instructors. Manual metering was so rapid and straightforward that I never had to worry about ever blowing out a histogram. This allowed me to focus on the picture composition without concerns about the imaging quality. Chas is a remarkably gifted natural teacher and is able to explain the complex in simple comprehensible terms. He manages to do it in a natural and very amusing way so that it sticks with you. His compositional and post-production skills are equally amazing. Because he is currently in the process of converting many of his photographic principles into short movies, this will eventual become available on the net for any one with an interest in improving their photographic skills. I look forward to the experience both in film and future workshops.
Chris Attinger
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Thanks for a great trip to Yellowstone. I went in thinking I was a pretty good photographer but knowing there was much I could still learn. What I didn't expect was the complete epiphany I experienced when taking your advice to shoot in manual exposure mode. I have always shot in Av mode and while my exposures were generally okay, I was constantly battling the metering system with exposure compensation, especially when compositions changed. I just assumed there was no real alternative, believing manual exposure mode was too complex and slow for wildlife photography. Your teaching method made clear it was not complex at all (in fact, it is very intuitive and logical) and afforded the opportunity to focus on composition as opposed to worrying about the proper exposure. It's really a photographic-altering experience for me. I'll never (or rarely) shoot in Av mode again and can already see that my images have taken a step up. Many thanks!
Doug
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Itinerary: Day One: 10am shuttle from Bozeman, MT to Gardiner, MT. Group orientation, metering class, cold weather tips, camera settings, and more discussions.
Day Two and Three: We spend our first two days in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley. We spend our first two days in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Four, Five, and Six By privately chartered Snow coach, we begin our adventure traveling to the Firehole River Basin, Madison River and Geyser Basins, where we can expect to photograph Bison, Swan and Elk among other wildlife. Bobcat frequent this area. The thermal areas within the park attract such wildlife as Elk and Bison We will be spending the next three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins. Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone offer many wildlife photo opportunities. These thermal areas provide winter grazing and warmth for many animals.
Day Seven: Depart Old Faithful area traveling through the park to Hotel. We will stop many times along the way, as many opportunities will arise for both wildlife and scenery.
Day Eight: We spend our final day in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Nine: Departure from Gardiner, MT via shuttle at 12:15am to Bozeman Airport.
Getting there: It is recommended that you arrive the day before the workshop starts, spending a night in Bozeman, MT. If you miss the shuttle to Mammoth you will be required to find your own way at your own expense.
Hotel Recommendation:not included Holiday Inn 5 E Baxter Ln, Bozeman, MT 800-652-8972
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Workshop Fee: Double Occupancy: Final fee $7,295 Single Occupancy: $ 1195.00 additional. We must have Advanced Notice to insure single accomadations throughout your stay. Note...Final Fee is subject to lodging, snow coach transportation/gas fluctuation.
Fee Includes: Photographic instruction, 8 nights accommodations in Gardiner and Old Faithful lodges, airport transfers to/from Bozeman Airport to YNP and park use fee, all transportation and luggage transfers within the park heated Deluxe Glaval Snow Coach, hotel breakfast all days, with box lunches days 2-7.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Bozeman, MT and meals other than specified above. Lodging in Bozeman prior to and after the workshop dates.
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space. Balance is due in full 90 days prior to the workshop date, unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Chas on a joint venture with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
Sail the Antarctic Peninsula with scientists to watch whales in nutrient-rich waters amid unbelievable glacier-covered mountain scenery. Since the first explorers discovered this unknown continent, they’ve shared stories of incredible vistas and abundant mammals. This exciting expedition will combine years of experience on the Antarctic Peninsula with a scientific focus on marine mammals, in partnership with the American Cetacean Society (ACS).
We designed this itinerary to maximize our opportunities to study and watch the whales that inhabit this vibrant and nutrient filled area of the South Shetland Islands and western Antarctic Peninsula. Happily, here we find some of the best whale feeding grounds in the midst of Antarctica’s most stunning landscapes, taking full advantage of the season’s golden light. Landscape photography, time with Humpbacks, Antarctic Minke Whales, and Orcas, and visits to penguin and seal colonies will surpass your wildest expectations. Our priority on this special expedition is to give you the maximum field time during a unique period on the Peninsula and to share our passion and experience in the Antarctic with a special scientific component along with opportunities to engage in citizen science. Come and experience the Antarctic Peninsula with us!
HIGHLIGHTS
• Fly over the Drake Passage, with stunning views from above, saving two days of ship travel.
• Get up-close and personal with Humpback Whales as they “spy-hop” out of the water to get a better glimpse of you!
• Ten or more shore landings near penguin colonies during 10 to 11 action-packed days.
• Humpbacks, Minkes, Orcas, and other marine mammals frequent our carefully picked route extending beyond the Antarctic Circle.
• Be a part of the scientific research the marine scientists are conducting throughout the voyage via citizen science opportunities.
• Experience beautiful sunrises and sunsets backlighting stunning landscapes.
• With fewer than 100 participants, everyone can be on shore or Zodiac cruising together rather than taking shifts.
• Our 16 leaders are marine scientists, polar specialists, photographers, and naturalists that will provide lectures, workshops, and guided excursions.
Booking is made directly through Cheesemans'. http://www.cheesemans.com/trips/antarctic-peninsula-feb2019.
Please mention Shoot the Light and let us know when you book with deposit.
Contact us for additional details ...
info@shootthelight.com / 828-891-4082
8 Days / 7 nights
Arrival in Trondheim, Norway: 03/16
Depart for home from Trondheim: either late on 3/23 or anytime 03/24/19.
Participation is limited to 7
Single accommodations throughout!
Join Explorer of Light Chas Glatzer and Norwegian Guide Anders Lundberg for 7 nights and 8 days, on a photographic journey for Musk Ox in snow, in Norway. We will travel by dog sled from our hotel to/from Dovrefjell National Park, where we will photograph the Musk Ox in winter snow (snow shoes will be provided, if necessary!). In Dovrefjell National Park we may also see Reindeer, Polar Fox, and Golden Eagles. We will also have the opportunity to photograph Norwegian Moose. In Fokstumyra Nature Reserve we may also see Polar Fox.
Includes:
4 full days photographing Musk Ox (weather permitting) in Dovrefjell National Park.
Additional days photographing Moose.
Overnight Single Accommodations on 3/16
Transportation between Trondheim and our Hotel, and Dovrefjell National Park
Single Accommodations 3/16-3/23. All meals 3/17 (arrival) through 3/23 (Breakfast), excluding snacks.
Not Included:
Transportation to/from Trondheim, Norway
Accommodations eve of 3/23.. Let us know if you are staying overnight departing on the 24th (we can help make reservations (additional fee).
Tips/Gratuities (Guides, wait staff)
Items of personal nature, Alcoholic Beverages, snacks
Cost Per Person: (TBD) $7,495.00
Terms: A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space. Additional $1,500 due July 30, 2018
(Final balance due 90 days from workshop)
Balance is due in full 90 days prior to the workshop date, unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office. Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Host Charles Glatzer M.Photog.
April 19th: Metering
April 20th: Visual Design and In-Field Methodology
April 21st: Flash
April 22nd: Post-production-LR/CC & Plug-ins
The response to the Tech Series Workshops have been overwhelming, and I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL Technical Workshop Series is without a doubt the definitive learning medium for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both comprehensive classroom, and in field session instruction.
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\"For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Technical Workshop in St. Augustine, Florida is a must. Thanks Chaz for a great 4-day workshop at the Alligator Farm May 6-9. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!”
RS
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\"What a blast we had this April at the Shoot the Light Workshop in St. Augustine! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. With 4 instructors milling around about 20 students it was easy to get all of my questions answered. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.\"
Wayne & Margaret
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\"I recently returned from a four day Technical Workshop with Shoot the Light wow!! I had no idea how little I knew until Chas started explaining metering, flash, postproduction and visualization. We worked both in the classroom and in the field from dawn to dark and I learned more in four days than I would have on my own in years.\"
D.S.
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On the recommendation of a good photographer friend I attended a four day Technical Series Workshop conducted by \"Shoot The Light\" (known as
\"STL\") in St. Augustine FL. The format was awesome. I knew that Charles (Chas) Glatzer was the guy running the whole affair. The 7am field shoot at the Alligator Farm brought another surprise. Chas left hiscameras behind. He was 100% dedicated to helping us students. Before attending the workshop I thought I was a pretty good photographer. After all, some of my images have won awards. The workshop was a real eye opener. Many times during the classroom sessions we would interrupt and ask for a second explanation (sometimes even a third explanation). Chas was very patient and helpful; never a hint of arrogance or condescension. He really wanted us to grasp the concepts and become better photographers. Many concepts are simple (once you get it), but require breaking bad habits. The insights, techniques and skills I learned lifted my photography to a higher level. Now my images are much improved, and I got some great bird shots at the Alligator Farm. Chas and crew are very personable and fun to be around. The students were both accomplished and congenial. I made several new friends. The whole experience was very enjoyable. I highly recommend STL, and look forward to joining them again sometime in the future.
Bob W.
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The goal of the STL Technical Series Workshops is to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 30 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience.
Thank you Chas, Mike, Tom and Dave! \" Glen Fox \"
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I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there. L. B.
METERING THEORY AND FUNDAMENTALS This session will provide you with the tools necessary to control and achieve consistent exposure regardless of the subject and background tonality. * Relationship between aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure values * Easy to implement methods for quick alteration in the field. * The difference between Metering Patterns and Priority Modes. * How to best use AEL with Av * How and when to use Spot, Evaluative, Matrix to best advantage * Sunny f/16, and how to make and use reference values This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 AM with in-field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11:30 -1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
VISUAL DESIGN and IN-FIELD METHODOLOGY This one is important! This session is designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using creative techniques, compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above. * Pro-Active * Capturing the Decisive Moment * Understanding animal behavior * How to best approach subjects * Eliminate distractions * Compositional elements and geometry * Visual Design and Impact This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction. weather permitting or classroom.
FLASH This session will provide you with the tools and understanding necessary to control and achieve consistent flash exposure. Flash is a different animal, especially when combined with ambient light. Many find this area of photography perplexing. When determining whether your strobe will be used for main, balanced or fill, it is always necessary to consider its relationship to the ambient light present. I highly recommend taking the Metering session before this one. * Flash Fundamentals; inverse square law (light falloff), and Guide Numbers (GN) * Flash meter; how to use the flash meter to determine exposure * Manual flash; why, how and when to use it for consistent results!!!! * Flash as Main, Balanced, and Fill; how to determine and use each method * Compensation; how to determine the right amount of compensation * The Better Beamer; how and when to use it for maximum results * Multiple flash; how to ratio and set-up multiple lighting * Participants will conduct in-field tests with their own equipment using both high and low tonality subjects in various lighting conditions. Results will be evaluated both in the field and in the classroom. This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
POST PRODUCTION AND PHOTOSHOP This session will provide you with the tools necessary to correct your RAW image to its fullest potential. I receive daily e-mails asking me why my images appear more lifelike and dimensional than those others post on the web. We walk you completely through the workflow process, showing you all the tips and techniques that I use from the point of capture to web posting and printing. You will learn tons of shortcuts, and advanced applications specifically tailored to help you make the most of your images for both web and print. Guaranteed to further your image making ability and creatively expand your photographic horizons. Every participant has said this class elevated there imagery more than they ever imagined. * How specific tools combined with blend mode changes can make tasks much easier. * NIK/Topaz/MacPhun Filters * HDR techniques * High Pass Sharpening * Edge Masks and Selective Sharpening * Advanced selection and masking techniques * Make templates for a mini print portfolio (my best marketing tool), posters made easy, text effects, composite, and much more. * Tool tips and shortcuts * Refine Edge * Curves This workshop will consist of classroom instruction only. Workshop classroom begins promptly at 9 am, 12:00-1:30 break for lunch, 1:30-5:00 pm classroom. Participants are urged to take their laptops with them, applying hands-on the methods and techniques discussed. CS and LR programs should be loaded on laptops. You are welcome to join us before (7am) and after scheduled classroom hrs (5pm) to shoot at the AF provided you have a photo pass.
LODGING (not included) recommendation: ask for discounted STL rate Sleep Inn 601 Anastasia Blvd. Saint Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA TEL: 1 (904) 825-4535
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the St. Aug AF, St Augustine, FL.
Terms and Fee: Workshops are $375 each. Attend all 4 sessions and we will purchase your yearly pass, or $100 discount.
Space is reserved on receipt of 50% deposit only. Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for a field-intensive and bird-centric workshop based on Grímsey Island, a 2 square mile gem on the Arctic Circle which is home to about 70 people and 1 million seabirds including one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies.
This is a \"one stop shopping\" location for the serious bird photographer with large numbers of nesting birds, including Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, Arctic terns, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars. golden plovers, snow buntings, red-necked phalaropes, common snipe, ringed plovers, and more. There is also a picturesque lighthouse and church, distant snow-covered mountain backdrops, and a group of photogenic Icelandic horses. This will be Mike’s tenth visit to this location and he continues to discover new photo hot spots in the nooks and crannies of the island’s coastline on every trip.
Basing ourselves on the island for 6 days and 5 nights will give participants the freedom and flexibility to photograph wherever, whenever, and whatever they choose during the 21 hours of daylight that will be available each day. Time that might otherwise be spent unpacking, repacking, and driving from place to place can instead be spent in the field and you will not be dependent on group transportation to get you to the optimum shooting locations at the time of your choosing. This extended field time will also allow for more instruction, including more opportunities for one-on-one sessions and individualized coaching as desired.
Of all the species on the island, the puffins tend to steal the show. This is an especially good location for photographing puffins in small and large groups and for photographing puffins in flight with birds flying by at near eye level at a rate of dozens per minute at various times of day. You will be free to roam the entire island but some of the best photography will be found within a few hundred yards of our guest house. We have timed the workshop to take place after the puffin chicks have hatched so that the adults will be bringing mouthfuls of fish back to their burrows.
In addition to the multitude of land-based avian opportunities, there will also be an excursion by boat (weather and sea conditions permitting) which will provide an entirely different perspective including great looks at the nesting cliffs.
Accommodations on the island will be at a modern guest house with private rooms, shared baths, and wi-fi. Arrangements have been made to have all meals catered at the guest house which will allow us to have even a bit more time in the field each day.
Included :
All lodging and all meals (excluding snacks and alcoholic drinks) starting with breakfast on July 4 and ending with dinner on July 11.
All land transportation from Keflavik Airport.
Round-trip ferry to the island.
Photographic instruction and in-field coaching throughout.
Not included :
Air fare to/from Keflavik International Airport in Iceland
Fee :
$6250 Per Person Single Occupancy
$5950 Per Person Double Occupancy
Participation only reserved on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $1000.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at;
office 828-891-4082
e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July 7th, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC on 14th
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Join Charles Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. Having hosted 100 bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime.
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures. Daily review of images via a laptop computer, and photo instruction along with post-production techniques will be discussed at length.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was the workshop I took with Charles Glatzer in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with Chas. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as Chas took us to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Hi Folks,
Once again I was totally blown away with Chas’s unique ability to get us in the right place, at the right time, under very difficult conditions. Our guide, a fourteen year veteran on the river, said he had never seen it so high or swift. This would seriously limit our opportunities to the bears traveling up and down the river; however, Chas quickly reminded him that this was all we needed. And it was. We were on bears all day, everyday, and I got almost everything I’d hoped for-almost because you have to have a reason to go back. In addition to jam packed photo action, we fished for two hours each of the last three days and returned home with 50 lbs of beautiful sockeye salmon filets. Slamming Salmon, through the lens and with the rod, what a thrill - as well as fine table-fare.If you are serious about your photography, and are serious about improving every aspect of it, you owe yourself an adventure with Shoot the Light - you will never regret it.
Thanks, Danny Womack
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our beautiful lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance along a remote lake shore. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage
Fee $7795
Deposit for $1500, Final Balance due 90 (April, 2019) days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Now limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy, and all meals included.
Hosted by Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light
4 days, 5 nights, with 2 photo sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. Additionally, includes daily classroom sessions on Metering, Flash, Post-production, Visual Skills.
This is one of our most popular and fast filling workshops. If you wish to capture the ultimate loon images this is the workshop for you. Loons w/ newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 14th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable photography platform.
\"Hello All, I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack, 2015\"
Join award winning photographer Charles Glatzer for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and photograph a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best photography possible. And, our boat captain and host is second to none at piloting our craft.
Our Lodge has an extensive set-up of bird feeders and numerous species are likely to be present including hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsucker, rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, black-capped chickadee, white and red-breasted nuthatches and ruby-throated hummingbird. We will also try using a bird caller in the nearby wetlands to call in American bittern, Virginia rail and sora, and Barred owl.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers photo opportunities.
Fee $5295 limited to 4 participants.
Includes... 4 days of loon phototography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field photo instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1000.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the STL workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
Lake Clark, AK for bears salmon fishing
Aug 31st - Sept 5th, 2019 (Full)
(overnight in Anchorage Aug 30th, depart for home Sept 5th)
Having hosted 100 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime.
Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges.
This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge.
The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Fee; $6795
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity for staff $250 per person.
Deposit $1000, 2nd dsposit $3000 due March 1st, 2020, Final Balance due 120 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Meal times will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s mirrorless cameras are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft or helicopter to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for an early dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher. Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
* $16,695 US per person plus applicable taxes (7.5% for non-residents and 8.5% for Canadians). Subject to current exchange rate!
Includes; two nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill, and our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $600)
A $3,000 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due June 1st, 2023
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
11-days/10-nights
Contact us for Special discounted rate!
Everyone should visit the Galapagos Islands… the experience is magical! During our adventure we will seek out the endemic species of birds and other animals of the Galapagos. Some of the bird species include Darwin’s finches, Galapagos Penguin, Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Dove, Swallow-tailed Gull and Waved Albatross—doing their wonderful courtship dance! Other creatures we will see include Land Iguanas, Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards and two endemic species of butterflies.
Photographic opportunities abound as each day will include land excursions on different islands. Most days will also include snorkeling opportunities to enjoy swimming with sea lions, sea turtles and hundreds of species of fish! We will also fit within our schedule mini photo workshops to help you get the best images of each location we visit.
Your Hosts------
Kevin Loughlin, founder of Wildside, has lead over 25 trips to the Galapagos since 2001 and is intimately familiar with the landscape and wildlife.
CHARLES “CHAS” GLATZER is a Canon Explorer of Light, a group comprised of the most influential photographers in the world. His dynamic and inspirational teaching style has made him one of the most sought after educators and speakers. His images have been in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, National Parks, Discover Diving, Smithsonian, Professional Photographer, Birder’s World, Birding, Nature Photographer, EOS, Digital PhotoPro, and many more.
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BASIC ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive in Quito
Day 2 Hummingbirds (and other species) of the Andes eastern slope
Day 3 Fly to Galapagos - Baltra / Mosquera
Day 4 Genovesa
Day 5 South Plaza / Santa Fé
Day 6 San Cristóbal
Day 7 Española
Day 8 Floreana
Day 9 Isla Santiago / Bartolomé
Day 10 Black Turtle Cove / Baltra / Quito
Day 11 Return to USA
2019 Cost...contact us for Special discounted rate!
$8950 per person, double occupancy from Quito Ecuador
\"Special pricing Your Choice sign up now for $500 off, or $500 discount coupon for any camera gear at Allen's camera.\"
Single Room Preferred (HOTEL ONLY)
Prices are per person double occupancy. If a single room is preferred in our Quito hotel, a single supplement fee of $300 will be charged.
Single Cabin on the YACHT and HOTEL
Due to the limited number of rooms (8 cabins) on board the yacht for our small-group adventure, a single room request would require us to take one less person on the tour. Due to this, the single supplement fee will be an additional 75% of the tour cost and will only be offered less than 60 days from departure, if available.
Included in the Tour Cost
All ground transportation, including transfers from arrival airport. R/T flights Quito/Galapagos/Quito. All accommodations (hotel and yacht). All meals from breakfast on first full day through breakfast on departure day. Tips for meal service on.
Not Included in the Tour Cost
International air travel, passport fees, luggage fees, trip insurance (required), tips for boat crew (optional), $100 National Park Entrance Fee, alcoholic beverages, bottled beverages on board the boat, departure taxes, phone calls, laundry, or other items of a personal nature.
Booking is made directly through Wildside Photo Tours http://wildsidenaturetours.com/workshops/galapagos-islands-adventure-with-chas-glatzer/ .
Please let us know when you book with deposit.
Contact us for additional details ...
info@shootthelight.com / 828-891-4082
Host EOL Charles (Chas) Glatzer
Aug 07
Chobe Riverfront. Pangolin Voyager Private for Our Group.
Arrive to Kasane, Botswana. You will be greeted at the airport and the transfered to the dock for a short boat ride to pass
through Namibia immigration (Namibian registered house boats are able to stay on the river 24 hours a day). You then travel by boat to the Pangolin Voyager.
The Pangolin Voyager is a luxury houseboat with 5 air-conditioned rooms. The boat travels with tender boats for game viewing
including two that are specially designed for photography with swivel seats and special camera mounts for stability.
NOTE: Depending on your International flights you may need an overnight in Johannesburg on August 6th. We can arrange the City Lodge at the airport for $100 per person.
Aug 08
Chobe Riverfront. Pangolin Voyager.
Aug 09
Chboe Riverfront. Pangolin Voyager.
Aug 10
Okavango Delta. Kwara Camp.
Returned by tender boat through Namibia immigration and on to Kasane. Met and assisted to our bush flight to Kwara Camp, located in the private Kwara Concession. Activities include game drives, night drives, walks, fishing, boat cruises and mokoro.
Aug 11
Okavango Delta. Kwara Camp.
Aug 12
Okavango Delta. Kwara Camp.
Aug 13
Okavango Delta. Kwara Camp.
Aug 14
Kwando Concession. Lebala Camp.
Bush flight to the half million acre Kwando Concession and Lebala Camp. Activities include game drives and night drives.
Aug 15
Kwando Concession. Lebala Camp.
Aug 16
Kwando Concession. Lebala Camp.
Aug 17
Departure.
Bush flight to Maun, arriving in time for flight to Johannesburg (not included in price) where you can connect with your onward
flight home.
Fee; $14,495
Deposit; $3495
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
B&H Optic, NYC. June 4th, 2018 11-12pm
Bears, Bears, Bears -making the most of your bear trip. Tips provided from ninety plus (Black/Brown/Spirit/Polar bear) trips.
April 18th at 6:00 p.m
Held at Colony Cottage, 510 Colony Blvd, The Villages, FL 32162
Expected audience between 200 and 300 Village club members
May 16-21st, 2019 (6 days shooting) Arrive 15th, workshop ends late afternoon 21st. (FULL)
Want more time with the amazing white pelicans, inquire about joining us for the Pelican workshop directly after the bears. Unique Pelicans, 2018 (2 spaces available).
Workshop limited to a maximum of 8 participants, includes 4 full days with black bears, 2 amazing days with white pelicans. (4 spaces)
This year we have included 2 additional days at the end of the session to photograph white pelicans in a unique setting. Weather permitting we may choose to take an afternoon pontoon boat ride on Pelican Lake for loons, grebes, eagles, pelicans, terns and more. (additional fee of $50 per person) Bears and lots of them, plenty of interaction along, with spring cubs and yearlings of all sizes. This will be our 14th year and 28th visit with the black bears, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Spawning sturgeon can often be photographed up close with wide angle lenses.
Come join us in Minnesota - \"The best place in North America to view and photograph black bears and cubs in their natural habitat.\" Nestled in the North Woods of Minnesota, the Sanctuary is located approximately two hours northwest of Duluth . While black bears are the primary focus, the various habitats of the Sanctuary are home to a variety of fauna and flora, including - pine martin, woodchuck, chipmunk, and red squirrels. Songbirds are particularly abundant in May. The sanctuary is closed to the public at this time, and we have it entirely to ourselves. Through an exclusive arrangement, experience and photograph the behavior and secretive life of the normally reclusive black bear. Gain first hand valuable insight about bear biology, ecology, and habitat. We are proud to offer this Photographic Workshop at this unique Sanctuary.
This is one you will not want to miss. This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus in May will be cubs born in January or February; fur-balls of energy, inquisitive and playful they are sure to delight even the most accomplished wildlife photographer. With many bears present this is a great time to capture behaviorial interaction, and portraits, along with cubs of all sizes.
Lodging recommendation - inquire with our office
Fee $3095 includes; photographic instruction, 4 days with blk bears, all sanctuary fees, 2 days with white pelicans.
Not included: accommodations, meals, transportation.
Terms: A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Unique Pelicans...US
May 22nd-24th, 2019 (arrive 21st, ends late afternoon 24th) (2 spaces available)
Workshop limited to a maximum of 8 participants
Do to requests we have added a 3 day workshop to photograph white pelicans in a unique river setting. The environment is amazing, and one-hundred percent natural (no baiting). This workshop affords opportunites to photograph pelicans in-flight, as well as diverse interactive and fishing behavior in river rapids. We will also have the opportunity to photograph and video spawning sturgeon. This is unlike any other pelican venue.
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Chas will illustrate in-field how to best use drop-in ND filters with long lenses to include motion blur and limit DOF to make the subject \"POP\" within your image. How to best expose for white highlights. How to best use Live View, Mirror Lock up, and remote shutter firing. The benefits and detriments of both Back button & Shutter button AF will be covered in depth. How to set your camera to best acheive a sharp subject along with motion blurred water. Postproduction techniques to extract and maximize incredible highlight detail in your images.
Lodging Reccomendation: inquire with our office
Fee $1495 includes: photographic instruction in metering, flash, postproduction, in-field techniques, and more.
Not included: accommodations, meals, transportation.
Terms: A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Western NC, Fall Foliage Workshop, 2019 Oct 23rd-27th (5 days in the field).
Arrive on the 22nd, we start before sunrise on the 23rd, depart for home on the 28th.
I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL NC Workshop is for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both in field sessions and comprehensive classroom instruction.
Join Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL this Fall in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular foliage views above 5,000 ft is nearby. The area hosts more waterfalls than any other county in the US, with stunning rivers, farm fields, and nearby Pisgah National Forest and State forest lands. The quaint town Brevard is only minutes away from our hotel. Hendersonville is also close by, with a beautiful main street offering excellent dining and shopping opportunities for all.
This will be primarily an all day in the field workshop to include Catalooche for rutting elk, sunrise/sunset and twilight milkyway/star vistas from atop the Blue Ridge Parkway, with vists to the areas stunning waterfalls, rivers, and more. A classroom is reserved each day for mid-day technical and postproduction instruction, and/or use in case of inclement weather. This is one you will not want to miss!
Testimonials
For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Workshops are a must. Thanks Chas for a great workshop. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!
RS
What a blast we had at the STL Workshop! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.
Wayne & Margaret
The goal of the STL Workshops are to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 34 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas.
Glen Fox
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there.
L. B.
LODGING (not included), ask for discounted STL rate.
Hampton Inn Brevard 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA TEL: +1-828-883-4800 FAX: +1-828-877-5884. HAMPTON INN, Brevard, NC is near Pisgah National Forest. Located in the Walmart shopping area ( far right), 4 miles northeast of Brevard, NC and only 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport.
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the Hampton Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC
Terms and Fee: $1875. Space is limited, reserved on receipt of deposit only $500. Balance due 30 days prior to the workshop.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Session #1 Jan 15-23 (Full)
Session #2 Jan 25-Feb 2 (Full)
Host Charles Glatzer, M.Photog/Canon EOL
Participation is limited to 6 per session.
This is a FIRST CLASS trip with R/T shuttle from Bozeman, lodging at the newly renovated Mammoth hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge to include baggage transfer, breakfast and lunch, and the best Van Terra snow coach available with easy in/out, plenty of space, and comfortable seating for both the park interior and Lamar Valley.
Join us as we travel through the interior of majestic Yellowstone National Park at the peak of the winter season, photographing big game wildlife and scenic wonders via our privately chartered 12 passenger Van Terra Snow Coach. The wildlife we expect to see among spectacular environmental features and stunning backgrounds may include bison, big horn sheep, coyote, red fox, elk, otters, pronghorn, mule deer, wolves, ermine, eagles, and more.
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Our small group (6) and private vehicle allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. As a photo specific tour we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods, departing lodging at 7am each morning, and returning at days end.
Testimonials...
I learned more on this one trip (Yellowstone) about photographic technique than on my previous 22 trips under different instructors. Manual metering was so rapid and straightforward that I never had to worry about ever blowing out a histogram. This allowed me to focus on the picture composition without concerns about the imaging quality. Chas is a remarkably gifted natural teacher and is able to explain the complex in simple comprehensible terms. He manages to do it in a natural and very amusing way so that it sticks with you. His compositional and post-production skills are equally amazing. I look forward to the experience both in film and future workshops.
Chris A.
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Thanks for a great trip to Yellowstone. I went in thinking I was a pretty good photographer but knowing there was much I could still learn. What I didn't expect was the complete epiphany I experienced when taking your advice to shoot in manual exposure mode. I have always shot in Av mode and while my exposures were generally okay, I was constantly battling the metering system with exposure compensation, especially when compositions changed. I just assumed there was no real alternative, believing manual exposure mode was too complex and slow for wildlife photography. Your teaching method made clear it was not complex at all (in fact, it is very intuitive and logical) and afforded the opportunity to focus on composition as opposed to worrying about the proper exposure. It's really a photographic-altering experience for me. I'll never (or rarely) shoot in Av mode again and can already see that my images have taken a step up. Many thanks!
Doug
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Itinerary: Day One: shuttle from Bozeman, MT to Mammoth hotel. Group orientation, metering class, cold weather tips, camera settings, and more discussions.
Day Two and Three: We spend our first two days in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Four, Five, and Six: By privately chartered Snow coach, we begin our adventure traveling to the Firehole River Basin, Madison River and Geyser Basins, where we can expect to photograph Bison, Swan and Elk among other wildlife. Bobcat frequent this area. The thermal areas within the park attract such wildlife as Elk and Bison We will be spending the next three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins. Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone offer many wildlife photo opportunities. These thermal areas provide winter grazing and warmth for many animals.
Day Seven: Depart Old Faithful area traveling and photographing through the park to Mammoth Hotel.
Day Eight: We spend our final day in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Nine: Departure from Mammoth Hotel, MT via shuttle to Bozeman Airport.
Getting there: It is recommended that you arrive the day before the workshop starts, spending a night in Bozeman, MT. If you miss the shuttle to Mammoth you will be required to find your own way at your own expense.
Hotel Recommendation: not included
Best Western Plus Gran Tree
1325 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
BestWesternGranTree.guestreservations.com
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Workshop Fee: $8995
Includes: Double Occupancy, Photographic instruction, 8 nights accommodations in Mammoth and Old Faithful lodges, airport transfers to/from Bozeman Airport to YNP and park use fee, all transportation and luggage transfers within the park heated Deluxe Glaval Snow Coach, hotel breakfast all days, with box lunches days 2-7.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Bozeman, MT and meals other than specified above. Lodging in Bozeman prior to and after the workshop dates.
Single Occupancy: available upon request (additional fee). We must have Advanced Notice to insure single lodging throughout your stay.
Terms: Space reserved upon receipt of deposit $1500
Final balance due 90 days from workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July 5th, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC on 12th.
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Join Charles Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. Having hosted 90 bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime.
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures. Daily review of images via a laptop computer, and photo instruction along with post-production techniques will be discussed at length.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was the workshop I took with Charles Glatzer in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with Chas. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as Chas took us to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Hi Folks,
Once again I was totally blown away with Chas’s unique ability to get us in the right place, at the right time, under very difficult conditions. Our guide, a fourteen year veteran on the river, said he had never seen it so high or swift. This would seriously limit our opportunities to the bears traveling up and down the river; however, Chas quickly reminded him that this was all we needed. And it was. We were on bears all day, everyday, and I got almost everything I’d hoped for-almost because you have to have a reason to go back. In addition to jam packed photo action, we fished for two hours each of the last three days and returned home with 50 lbs of beautiful sockeye salmon filets. Slamming Salmon, through the lens and with the rod, what a thrill - as well as fine table-fare.If you are serious about your photography, and are serious about improving every aspect of it, you owe yourself an adventure with Shoot the Light - you will never regret it.
Thanks, Danny Womack
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our beautiful lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance along a remote lake shore. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage
Fee $7795 approx
Initial non-refundable deposit for $500, 2nd Deposit $2000 due July 31st, 2019. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
STL Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon EOL
Arrive in Anchorage, AK 8/26 overnighting the day before the workshop. Depart for home 9/1.
Having hosted 160 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge. Single supplement if available $600
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity for guide/staff $350 per person.
Fee; $7995
Deposit non-refundable $2000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
• Sponsored welcome kit: each participant will receive ... Heat 3 Smart Layer Gloves...the Ultimate Cold Weather Photographic gloves, Gift Certificate from LensCoat, Shoot the Light polar fleece hat
Testimonials
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft or helicopter to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for an early dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher. Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
* $14, 495 (final fee TBD) per person plus applicable taxes (7.5% for non-residents and 8.5% for Canadians).
Includes; two nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill, and our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $250)
A $3,000 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due July 1st, 2020
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
August 11th-18th, 2020
(Full)
Having hosted 100 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Katmai National Park.
We have specifically timed this workshop to coincide with a unique event. In Aug of 2020 both the sockeye and pink salmon runs are scheduled to peak on the river system near our lodge making for extraordinary bear activity and photographic opportunities. Additionally, the area offers extremely diverse marine mammal and birdlife. We have Exclusive use of this beautiful lodge. Meals are first rate, and all cabins are ensuite!
This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers multiple unspoiled wilderness environments in which to take unique wild brown bear images. Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our beautiful lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river, meander through braids, frequent marshland, and tidal zones.
The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. Our guides and myself will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
While Brown Bears are our primary subject our lodge is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking wildlife. Frequent encounters include sea otters, river otters, seals, puffins, kittiwakes and the majestic Bald Eagle. On special occasions, you may see whales, orca, wolves, fox, moose, and even a wolverine.
Arrive in Kodiak one day prior to your lodge departure (lodging included), avoiding any possible airline delays, and we kindly request you book your Kodiak to Anchorage flight at 4:45 pm or later, after your visit to the lodge.
Package includes; lodging in Kodiak and lodge, all meals at lodge, guided bear and wildlife viewing, photography instruction, and scheduled scenic round trip floatplane travel to/from Kodiak & Lodge.
Not included; airfare to/from Kodiak, AK, guide and staff gratuities, alcoholic beverages, extracurricular scenic and wildlife fly-outs. Weather permitting we can cruise the waters around Kodiak for marine and birdlife.
Weather delays are a realistic consideration when traveling throughout Alaska, therefore, we strongly recommend securing Travel Insurance for your Alaska vacation. The safest bet is to spend an additional night in Kodiak, flying out the following morning to ANC for afternoon departures home.
Fee; $8695
Initial deposit required to reserve space $2500. 2nd deposit $2500 due 8/31/2019, Final Balance due Feb 1st, 2020. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(Full) wait list
Arrival suggested in Santiago Nov 19th, no later than 20th. You must arrive in Santiago, Chile at least one day early. Chas suggest two days just in case of flt or baagge delays, etc. as there is only one flt per week to the Falklands from Santiago.
This trip is limited to 7 participants.
Having been to the Falklands 14 times now I have the group concentrate on individual species at specific locations on each island visited. Time of day and tidal influence are a key factor in determining when and where we go on each island. Knowing what to expect and look for ahead of time can often make the difference between capturing a mediocre image and the photo of a lifetime.
Testimonial
Shoot the Light, Charles Glatzer – Ranks number 1 in photographic workshops! After going to Yellowstone with Shoot the Light and Charles Glatzer, I felt it necessary to write a testimonial to my experience. I procrastinated. But now after two weeks with Chas on his Falklands workshop (he had been there 10 times) I feel remiss in not having written about Yellowsetone. I feel remiss because Chas’s workshops are really special and I want those who like me look for the best workshops to know what they can experience with Chas and Shoot the Light. I have been on about 10 photographic workshops to some of the most beautiful places with other leaders. Chas workshops are without peer. Chas’s workshops are all about the participants. He shares, teaches, shows, and most importantly interacts in every step of the process. His greatest delight is that we get the images not that he does. His knowledge and ability to explain difficult processes concisely and at the same time profoundly, while being patient with us, results in an unequaled experience. In addition it becomes quickly clear the he knows where to go and when to be there. His wildlife knowledge is second only to his photographic knowledge. Also, the logistics work amazingly well. You only have to look at Chas’s images to know that he is an extraordinary photographer, but based on my experiences with him he is also an, extraordinary naturalist and teacher. He holds nothing back he shares what he calls his “process” which is being prepared with equipment, locations and most importantly an idea of what image you are looking to capture. Also he explains his philosophy and how processes his images. Those of us who want to progress to the highest levels of photography should not forego the opportunity to learn from a truly rare talent, Chas. In addition to all I have said I must add he is a great guy to hang out with…….their are no ego trips.
Dennis H.
Tentative Schedule;
MALVINA HOUSE
VOLUNTEER POINT DAY TRIP
SAUNDERS NECK & SAUNDERS Settlement (rookery)
BLEAKER IS
SEA LION IS
MALVINA HOUSE
VOLUNTEER POINT DAY TRIP
This years schedule include 3 night stay at \"the neck\" on Saunders. The \"neck\" is without doubt one of the worlds most awe inspiring wildlife sites on earth. Our extended time here affords the best image making possible, in both sunrise and sunset lighting. An additional day will be spent at the Saunders Rookery. We have also scheduled 2 days at Volunteer Pt for King Penguins, as well as 3 nights respectively on Bleaker and Sea Lion Islands, making this one of the most incredible trips to date. Join me for two weeks of incredible photography off the beaten track in the Falkland Islands. We will photograph a large variety of approachable bird species including at least four species of penguins; king, magellenic, rockhopper and gentoo as well as black-browed albatross, striated caracara, king and rock cormorants and many other shorebirds, seabirds and passerines. We will also have the opportunity to photograph elephant seals and southern sea lions. Located east of the southern tip of South America, the Falkland Island archipelago consists of over 700 small islands. Sea Lion Is in Nov offers the world's most accessible and predictable opportunity to see orca predation.
Approximately 2500 people live in the Falklands and all but about 500 in the capital of Stanley on East Falkland. The rest are scattered throughout settlements on the smaller islands.
We have chosen 4 locations to visit to maximize our photographic opportunities. We will have 4x4 transportation on most of the islands to any of our remote shooting locations. However, most of our shooting will be within walking distance of our accommodations. The animals have little or no fear of humans they are quite approachable. By sitting quietly and waiting, many of the birds will approach humans out of curiosity. Because of this, a super long lens (500mm or 600mm) is not necessary and due to weight restrictions on inter island flights, difficult to arrange. Lenses in the 17-400mm range along with a teleconverter should cover most if not all situations.
Includes: From; Mount Pleasant, East Falkland Island ... photo instruction, all transport on the Falklands including inter-island flights and driver/guide ground transport, food and lodging, applicable taxes and service charges. Accommodations on the outer islands consists of small lodges, or cottages that are modest but comfortable.
Not Included: Airfares: Air fare costs for flights from participants home city to Mt Pleasant, Falklaands are not included. Participant is responsible for making their own arrangements to arrive in Mt Pleasant for the start of the expedition, lodging in Santiago, travel/baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; gratuities.
Fee: $8995 per person, with double occupancy. Single supplement is only available for some portion of accommodations at additional expense. Please note- all funds are quoted in US dollars.
Terms: A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space, 2nd deposit $2500 due 11/30/2019, Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please Review our Booking and Refund Policy.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Bosque del Apache
December 9 - 12, 2019
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for 4 days of photography and small group instruction at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
The official bird checklist for Bosque lists 48 species as being common or abundant in the winter, including 5 raptors and 12 species of waterfowl. But the stars of the show are the tens of thousands of snow geese and sandhill cranes that make Bosque their winter home. Add in the spectacular New Mexico sunrises and sunsets along with the high desert landscape and mountain backdrops and you have the recipe for some gorgeous and dramatic imagery.
Bosque is legendary for the \"blast offs\" of snow geese at sunrise with thousands of birds taking off en masse creating a spectacle of sight and sound that you will never forget. The brilliant New Mexico sunsets provide the perfect backdrop for beautiful silhouettes of cranes coming into roost in the evenings. Between sunrise and sunset, opportunities abound for capturing geese and cranes in flight including dynamic takeoff and landing poses. The abundance of birds makes Bosque an ideal location for honing your flight photography skills.
Field instruction will be offered during each day's morning and afternoon photo sessions and Mike will also be available for a couple of hours during each afternoon's downtime to answer questions, provide assistance with post-processing, or for image reviews and critiques. To ensure the best instruction possible and allow for individual attention, this workshop will have a maximum of 6 participants..
Fee : $995
Fee does not include lodging, transportation, meals, or vehicle entrance fee.
Terms: A $400.00 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space, with balance due 90 days before the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, PayPal to info@shootthelight.com, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up, contact us at 828-891-4082 or info@shootthelight.com
Feb 28th-March 7th 2020 (Full)
INTRODUCTION
This photographic safari will be conducted in the east African country of Tanzania, home to the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro. It will combine an exciting photography workshop in one of the world's most outstanding wildlife, landscape and cultural locations together with a luxury vacation in fascinating Tanzania.
ABOUT TANZANIA
Tanzania, south of Kenya on the African continent's Indian Ocean coastline, lays claim to the title Home of the Safari, since the word itself is taken from the Swahili word that means \"journey.\" While Tanzania's Kenyan neighbors may dispute that claim, there is no doubt that Tanzania offers one of the best environments in the world for an enriching wildlife experience. The country's game viewing opportunities are considered by many to be the best in Africa. Its game parks are populated with many of the world's most exotic creatures, including all of the \"Big Five.\" Its lakes are huge and bountiful with fish. Its cities are relaxed and friendly. Yet, to a greater degree than is true of many of its neighbors, this sprawling county, the largest in East Africa, remains untouched by the vacationing hordes.
Arusha; Resting at the foot of Mount Meru, the sprawling city of Arusha is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania. It serves as an excellent base from which to explore the remarkably scenic surrounding area which includes majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds. Visitors can look forward to exploring the wildlife-abundant Serengeti National Park; the magnificent Arusha National Park; and taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain.
Southern Serengeti; The Serengeti together with Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park form Africa’s most famous wildlife park. The image of acacia trees on an endless grass plain epitomises Africa for many, and then add a Masai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation need go no further. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. But that is not where the game viewing ends; large prides of lions, elephants and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles and eland to mention but a few.
Eastern Serengeti; The rich acacia-dotted plains of the Eastern Serengeti are home to abundant wildlife. Visitors flock here to view the world-renowned wildebeest migration. Some of the best game-viewing can be enjoyed from Lobo on the eastern edge of the Serengeti National Park along the Grumeti River. Popular activities include: taking a guided walk through the spectacularly scenic terrain of the wild Serengeti, jumping on a hot air balloon safari, picnics in the bush, and learning about Maasai culture and history. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the world famous Gol Kopjes for the best cheetah viewing in Africa.
Ngorongoro Crater; Located in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is best known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife; which makes it one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. Surrounded by Tanzania’s highlands, this UNESCO-listed crater is said to be the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Visitors can look forward to spotting the world-renowned Big Five and a host of other wildlife species including large herds of zebra and wildebeest. It is famed as one of Tanzania’s best tourist attractions offering visitors an array of wonderful activities including excellent bird watching, trekking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking and visiting a local Maasai village. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on an excursion to the magnificent Olduvai Gorge.
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LODGING
Rivertree Country Inn; Once an old coffee estate, Rivertrees is now a charming country inn nestled in abundant foliage with the Usa River flowing by. Set in the foothills of Mt Meru, conveniently close to Kilimanjaro International Airport and a short drive to Arusha, its location proffers a wealth of natural wonders to explore. Comprising the original Farm House, an elegant River House, luxurious River Cottages and several beautifully appointed Garden Rooms, it also serves delicious garden-fresh cuisine in its stunningly set restaurant. The swimming pool and spa are tailored for relaxation, and friendly personalised service ensures a memorable stay, whether for a one-night stopover or much longer.
Njozi Camp- Ndutu; Njozi Camp is the realisation of any serious wildlife enthusiast’s dream–a small, seasonal tented camp that focuses on flexibility and service for travellers who wish to optimise their game viewing opportunities. Njozi Camp is the first and only camp in Tanzania to employ local wildlife biologist, who share their big cat research with guests! In December 2018 Njozi Camp has been completely re-designed with all new canvas, furnishings and solar system. The camp moves seasonally, as it follows the Great Migration from the legendary Ndutu region of the Southern Serengeti (December through April) to witness the birth of 400,000 calves to the Northern Serengeti (June through October) for the dramatic Mara River crossings.
Njozi is a small and intimate camp with just six guest tents, plus a two bedroom family tent, making it one of the smallest in the Serengeti region. The central area of camp includes a mess tent with lounge and veranda area for relaxed hanging out, as well as the essential campfire area. A unique mobile bar cart travels between these chill areas to keep guests well served. Fantastic meals are included to round out your safari experience.
Lemala Nanyukie; Lemala Nanyukie is located just outside of the Seronera circuit allowing for some private game viewing but in reach of the world famous Seronera area famous for its large concentration of cats and resident wildlife due to its abundance of water in the many rivers. Lemala Nanyukie, has an immense Lounge and bar area that has a variety of inside and outside seating. The inside lounge areas offer lots of discreet hideaways to retreat too. Be it a private space by the fireplace, or big comfortable sofas sharing experiences with fellow travellers – there’s space for all. A fully stocked bar lies just feet away with experienced bar staff to make your favourite tipple and served just as you like it. Vodka Martini - Shaken not stirred!
Lemala Ngorongoro; Lemala Ngorongoro is intimately set in a delightful ancient acacia forest close to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. As it is located next to the quiet Lemala crater access road on the eastern side, a key advantage of staying at Lemala Ngorongoro is the quick and easy drive down on to the crater floor in the morning; Lemala guests usually have an hour's head start over others descending via the far busier Seneto crater access road on the western rim. Game drives from camp may start as early as 6.15am and guests can be down among Ngorongoro’s abundant wildlife on the floor within 10-15 minutes - crucial for photographers who demand the best light conditions. Escorted walks are also available into the forest and along the crater rim with an armed ranger and Maasai guide. Lemala Ngorongoro As it can get cool on the Ngorongoro Crater rim at night, little luxuries like warm winter-weight duvets, hot water bottles and gas heaters ensure a cosy night's sleep.
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DAILY INFORMATION
Day 1; Rivertree Country Inn Arusha
When your airplane lands you will be met by our staff and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. Overnight at Rivertrees Country Inn.
Day 2; Njozi Camp- Ndutu Southern Serengeti
Today we will fly on our private charter plane to the Serengeti, leaving behind the beautiful and lush Arusha area in favor of the wide open plains of the southern Serengeti. This area of the park embodies the meaning of the word “Serengeti,” which derives from the Maasai “Siringet” and has been artistically translated as “the land that flows on forever”. Serengeti National Park covers 6,000 square miles of pristine land and offers not only expansive vistas but the largest migration of mammals on earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest.
Day 3
The Serengeti, Tanzania's second largest national park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and riverine forests. The Grumeti, Mbalageti, and Mara River systems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing. Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators, including cheetah and leopard, as well as large prides of lions and clans of hyenas. Other commonly seen animals include gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, topi, hartebeest, ostrich, and jackal, but it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that you will truly find amazing. The greater Serengeti ecosystem actually covers the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, and numerous surrounding wildlife-protected lands that combine for a total of almost 17,000 square miles, which is larger than the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all together.From our location in the Serengeti, we will be perfectly located to make the best of our wildlife viewing and photography. Optional Hot Air Balloon activity can be planned for the early morning.
Day 4
Another full day in the Serengeti. The most social of the big cats, lions live in groups called prides, comprised mostly of females and cubs and only 1-2 adult males. Typically prides have 6-12 lions, but can sometimes have more than 30 members. Superior hunters, lionesses inherit the same territories as their mothers while young males roam until they drive out old males from other prides to take over leadership. As lionesses hunt in groups and often at night, you are more likely to see prides as they languidly stretch out in the brush, underneath an acacia tree, or in the shade of a large rock formation. Particularly in the Serengeti, males who reside around savannahs and plains develop large dark manes as they grow older. The lion’s roar, a familiar sound in the Serengeti at night, can be heard from over five miles away.
Day 5
Most of us know about the “Great Migration” from nature programs that capture some of the most thrilling moments on film. Often misunderstood, the migration is a perpetual, year-round process involving over one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra who roam the plains quietly, in search of food and water. While some antelope and hyena may follow the herds, other animals remain in their territories or have separate migratory patterns. The migration’s most dramatic moments often occur when large numbers of wildebeest and zebra make river crossings, during which they must elude predators in a desperate fight for survival. There is no telling exactly when these highly dramatic movements will occur, but all safari-goers are sure to see plenty of wildebeest and zebra while in Tanzania. Spend more time seeking out wildlife and exploring the Serengeti's rich landscapes. The so- called Big Five and the Great Migration are the most well-known of the Serengeti's offerings, but there is much more to see. Thousands of equally fascinating dramas of a smaller scale play themselves out on these endless plains.
Day 6
Another full day in the Serengeti. You can choose to spend the morning either on a game drive or consider flying above the Serengeti plains in a hot air balloon. If you choose to take the hot air balloon you won't miss a beat, as the flight over the open savannah gives you a different view of the area, followed by a bush breakfast and then continuing afterwards on a game drive. We will all meet back at camp for lunch and a little time off for relaxation. During our down times, we are always up for reviewing images on laptop screens or having casual conversations about anything and everything related to wildlife photography, Africa or post processing techniques. We will head out for our afternoon game drive after our relaxation time and make our way back to camp as the day turns to night.
Day 7; Lemala Nanyukie Eastern Serengeti
What is the story behind the Big Five? It actually has nothing to do with the size of the animals. In the 1800s, colonial trophy hunters named buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion, and leopard as the most difficult animals to hunt on foot. Thus, they were named the Big Five. Years later, tourism companies adopted the term and the list became the so-called five must-see animals while on safari. While it is possible to spot all the listed animals on your trip, leopard and rhino sometimes prove difficult to track down as they are both solitary, reclusive species. Ultimately, however, wildlife viewing in the Serengeti will be nothing short of amazing. Enjoy the journey to your next camp in the eastern Serengeti, as there will be plenty to see along the way. Perhaps you will come across a chase between predator and prey; maybe you will spot a wake of vultures; or maybe you will be lucky enough to find a leopard relaxing high in the limbs of an acacia tree.
Day 8
Big herds and big cats. That is what has made the Serengeti famous worldwide. Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and an array of antelope live and travel in large groups, or what are called herds. The herds can swell to hundreds of thousands at select times throughout the year as some of the animals migrate to new lands to get water and food. Lions also live in groups, which are called prides, and generally range from 6-12 animals. But some prides can have as many as 40 lions. Both cheetahs and leopards live completely solitary lives once grown. Both have orange-yellowish coats and black spots, but cheetahs are smaller than leopards and have distinguishing dark lines running from their eyes to their jaws. Cheetahs usually reside around open plains while leopards stick to wooded areas, where they can bring their prey into the branches for safe keeping. Go on a wildlife viewing drive in the Serengeti for a full day. Your expert guide will point out wildlife that few others could hope to spot, whether a leopard well-concealed in the trees or a lion deep in the savannah grasses.
Day 9; Lemala Ngorongoro Ngorongoro Crater
We will have a full morning to game drive in the Serengeti. Following lunch we will depart on a 5 hour drive (3 hours of it inside Serengeti National Park) to arrive at Lemala Ngorongoro Camp near the entrance gate to the Crater.
Day 10
From our ideal camp position we can be among the first to enter the Crater for the magical morning time in this one-of-a-kind wildlife paradise. We have the full day to explore the Crater before returning to Lemala Ngorongoro Camp at the end of the day.
Day 11; End of Itineary (flts home)
This morning we have a leisurely breakfast before departing on a 5 hour drive to our day room at Airport Planet Lodge, where you can relax and prepare for the flight home. Shuttle to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to check-in for your evening flight home.
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TANZANIA INFORMATION
The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another and provide some of the most wonderfully exotic local cuisine you could imagine. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go!
BANKING AND CURRENCY
Currency
In Tanzania, the unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, which is divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 Shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100 and 200 Shillings.
Banking
Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Many banks are equipped with 24 hour ATM machines.
Credit cards and travellers checks are not widely accepted in Tanzania. Where they are accepted can high service fees and poor exchange rates be expected. Major foreign currencies - particularly US $ - are accepted in Tanzania and are convertible at banks and bureau de changes in the main towns and tourist areas. If bringing cash in US $, please make sure bank notes are in good condition, with no cuts or damage and are not older than 2004. Most banks offer higher exchange rates for US $ 100 / US $ 50 bank notes compared to US $ 20 / US $ 10 or US $ 5 bank notes.
TRAVEL, TRANSPORT AND GETTING AROUND
If you are visiting a number of parks and reserves in Tanzania, you can either drive or fly between them. Roads in most of the wilderness areas are in poor condition and unmarked, and self-driving is not recommended. Operators will supply you with a driver who doubles as an informal guide; alternatively, you can arrange to fly to your destination and utilize a car and driver supplied by the lodgings. Elsewhere in Tanzania, towns and cities are linked by a steady stream of buses and dala-dalas (minibuses), and in the cities, there is public transport in the way of buses, dala-dalas, taxis, and, in some places, bicycles or tuk-tuks.
Precision Air run regular services, mostly via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, to all main towns and other destinations in East Africa and beyond. All national parks and some of the top-end luxury lodges have airstrips and Coastal Air operates between these and the main airports on the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. ZanAir has frequent connections between Zanzibar, Pemba and the mainland.
Driving is on the left hand side of the road
FOOD, DRINK AND CUISINE ADVICE
Most camps, lodges or hotels cater specifically to tourists and serve Western-style food, ranging in standard, but generally are excellent. Game lodges tend to offer a daily set menu with a limited selection, so it is advisable to have your tour operator specify in advance if you are a vegetarian or have other specific dietary requirements. First-time visitors to Africa might take note that most game lodges in and around the national parks have isolated locations, and driving within the parks is neither permitted nor advisable after dark, so that there is no realistic alternative to eating at your lodge.
Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, and most travellers try to stick to mineral water. Filtered and bottled water can be difficult to find you are travelling outside of main town and so it is advisable to stock up. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Just south of the equator, Tanzania is huge and its sheer size means that the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the 'long rains', lasts during about March, April and May. Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm – which are heavier and more predictable beside the coast and on the islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the low-mid 30°s.
The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October is when rainfall is unusual, even on the islands. Temperatures vary hugely with altitude and location, but it's usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather – it's a great time to visit Tanzania. During November and December there's another rainy season: the 'short rains'. These are much lighter than the main rains and less reliable.
If it has rained during the short rains, then it normally dries up for a few months, January and February, which is Tanzania's 'short dry season', before starting to rain again in earnest in March.
CLOTHING AND DRESS RECOMMENDATIONS
It never gets really cold in Tanzania so lightweight clothing, preferably cotton or linen, is recommended. While on a game viewing safari, avoid brightly coloured clothing, stick to whites, beiges, khakis and browns. There may be long days sitting in safari vehicles, so it is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing such as short sleeved shirts and cotton/linen trousers or shorts. Denim will become too hot and extremely uncomfortable. Walking shoes and socks will be required.
The evenings will be chilly, so long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn. A sweater may be needed. These will also prevent you being bitten by insects. A hat should be worn at all times outside. The sun may sometimes not feel hot, but it can still easily burn, especially if it is cloudy and overcast.
If visiting Zanzibar or any coastal town don't forget to take a swimsuit, as it is invariably warm. Ladies are recommended to take cotton skirts, blouses and dresses. Sandals are a must for this environment! On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity is not.
As over a third of the population in Tanzania is Muslim, it is therefore not etiquette for ladies to walk around in public displaying their legs and shoulders. Remember to dress modestly as short shorts, miniskirts, vests and tank tops will be frowned upon.
ELECTRICITY AND PLUG STANDARDS
The electricity supply in Tanzania is 220/240 volts at 50Hz. Plugs are 3 point square (UK Type). Adapters are available at major airports.
WORKSHOP FEES, ETC
Workshop Fee: Double Occupancy: Fee $12,495
Single Occupancy: $1895 additional. We must have Advanced Notice to insure single accommodations throughout your stay. Single space is limited!
Fee Includes: All internal flts and transportation from Kilimanjaro International Airport, meals (except day 1). Starting Day 2 all drinks are included...with water, beer, wine, soda, juices, and a large selection of spirits (excluding top shelf alcohol). 11 participants max with 4 vehicles and 3 persons per vehicle.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport, gratuities.
Gratuities: We suggest $10-$15 per day per guest for the guide and around $15 per night per guest for the lodge crew which the guest can add to the tip box.
Terms: Initial $3000 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space, Balance is due in full 120 days prior to the workshop date, unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Iceland : Grímsey Island : Puffins and More
July 1-10, 2020
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for a field-intensive and bird-centric workshop based on Grímsey Island, a 2 square mile gem on the Arctic Circle which is home to about 70 people and a million seabirds including one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies.
This is a \"one stop shopping\" location for the serious bird photographer with large numbers of nesting birds, including Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, Arctic terns, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, golden plovers, snow buntings, red-necked phalaropes, common snipe, common redshank, Eurasian oystercatcher, ringed plovers, purple sandpipers, and more. There is also a picturesque lighthouse and church, distant snow-covered mountain backdrops, and a group of photogenic Icelandic horses.
Grímsey was a little known location among bird photographers before Mike offered the first bird photography workshop ever on the island in 2015. It has since become widely regarded as one of the best places in Iceland to photograph puffins, and the very best place in the world to photograph puffins in flight. This will be Mike’s 12th visit to Grimsey and he continues to discover new photo hot spots in the nooks and crannies of the island’s coastline on every trip.
Basing the workshop on the island for 6 days and 5 nights will give participants the freedom and flexibility to photograph wherever, whenever, and whatever they choose during the 21 hours of daylight that will be available each day. Time that might otherwise be spent traveling from place to place can instead be spent in the field and you will not be dependent on group transportation to get you to the optimum shooting locations at the time of your choosing. This extended field time will also allow for more instruction, including more opportunities for one-on-one sessions and individualized coaching as desired.
Of all the species on the island, the puffins tend to steal the show. This is an especially good location for photographing puffins in small and large groups and for photographing puffins in flight. At various times of day, you can have dozens of birds flying by every minute at near eye level. We have timed the workshop to take place after the puffin chicks have hatched so that the adults will be bringing mouthfuls of fish back to their burrows.
Accommodations on the island will be at a modern guest house that is only available to a few select groups. It features large private rooms, two shared baths, wi-fi, and puffins right outside your door! Most meals will be served family style at the guest house which will allow us to have even a bit more time in the field each day.
Fee :
$6495Per Person Single Occupancy
$5995 Per Person Double Occupancy
INCLUDED :
ALL LODGING: Nine nights : July 1 - July 9.
ALL MEALS (excluding snacks and alcoholic drinks) starting with dinner on July 1 and ending with breakfast on July 10.
ALL LAND TRANSPORTATIONfrom Keflavik Airport.
ROUND TRIP FERRY to Grímsey Island.
PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTION AND IN-FIELD COACHINGthroughout.
Note : When comparing prices, be sure to check if meals are included which can be quite expensive in Iceland.
NOT INCLUDED :
Air fare to/from Keflavik International Airport in Iceland
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT :
Participation only reserved on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $1000.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at;
office 828-891-4082
e-mail info@shootthelight.com
I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL NC Workshop is for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both in field sessions and comprehensive classroom instruction.
Join Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL this Fall in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular foliage views above 5,000 ft are nearby. The area hosts more waterfalls than any other county in the US, with stunning rivers, farm fields, and nearby Pisgah National Forest and State forest lands. The quaint town Brevard is only minutes away from our hotel. Hendersonville is also close by, with a beautiful main street offering excellent dining and shopping opportunities for all.
This will be primarily an all day in the field workshop to include Catalooche for rutting elk, sunrise/sunset and twilight milkyway/star vistas from atop the Blue Ridge Parkway, with vists to the areas stunning waterfalls, rivers, and more. A classroom is reserved each day for mid-day technical and postproduction instruction, and/or use in case of inclement weather. This is one you will not want to miss!
Testimonials
For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Workshops are a must. Thanks Chas for a great workshop. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!
RS
What a blast we had at the STL Workshop! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.
Wayne & Margaret
The goal of the STL Workshops are to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 34 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas.
Glen Fox
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there.
L. B.
LODGING (not included), ask for discounted STL rate.
Hampton Inn Brevard 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA TEL: +1-828-883-4800 FAX: +1-828-877-5884. HAMPTON INN, Brevard, NC is near Pisgah National Forest. Located in the Walmart shopping area ( far right), 4 miles northeast of Brevard, NC and only 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport.
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the Hampton Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC
Terms and Fee: $1995. Space is limited, reserved on receipt of deposit only $500. Balance due 60 days prior to the workshop.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(FULL)
Workshop limited to a maximum of 8 participants, includes 4 full days with black bears, 2 amazing days with white pelicans.
Includes 2 days with white pelicans in a unique setting. Bears and lots of them, plenty of interaction along, with spring cubs and yearlings of all sizes. This will be our 17th year and 33th visit with the black bears, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Spawning sturgeon can often be photographed up close with wide angle lenses.
While black bears are the primary focus, the various habitats of the Sanctuary are home to a variety of fauna and flora, including - pine martin, woodchuck, chipmunk, and red squirrels. Songbirds are particularly abundant in May. The sanctuary is totally closed to the public at this time, and we have it entirely to ourselves. Through an exclusive arrangement experience and photograph the behavior and secretive life of the normally reclusive black bear. Gain first hand valuable insight about bear biology, ecology, and habitat. We are proud to offer this Photographic Workshop at this unique Sanctuary.
This is one you will not want to miss. This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus in May will be cubs born in January or February; fur-balls of energy, inquisitive and playful they are sure to delight even the most accomplished wildlife photographer. With many bears present this is a great time to capture behaviorial interaction, and portraits, along with cubs of all sizes.
Lodging recommendation - inquire with our office
Fee $4295 includes; photographic instruction, 4 days with blk bears, all sanctuary fees, 2 days with white pelicans.
Not included: accommodations, meals, transportation.
Terms: A $1500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
20th: Metering
21st: Visual Design and In-Field Methodology
22nd: Flash
23rd: Postproduction LR/CC & Plug-ins
Hosts:
Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL
STL Instructor Joe Subolefsky
The response to the Tech Series Workshops have been overwhelming, and I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL Technical Workshop Series is without a doubt the definitive learning medium for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both comprehensive classroom, and in field session instruction. Guaranteed to further your image making ability and creatively expand your photographic horizons. Every participant has said this series elevated their imagery more than they ever imagined.
METERING THEORY AND FUNDAMENTALS; This session will provide you with the tools necessary to control and achieve consistent exposure regardless of the subject and background tonality. * Relationship between aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure values * Easy to implement methods for quick alteration in the field. * The difference between Metering Patterns and Priority Modes. * How to best use AEL with Av * How and when to use Spot, Evaluative, Matrix to best advantage * Sunny f/16, and how to make and use reference values. How to best evaluate the Histogram to retain highlight detail with your mirrorless camera. This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 AM with in-field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11:30 -1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
VISUAL DESIGN and IN-FIELD METHODOLOGY; This one is important! This session is designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using creative techniques, compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above. * Pro-Active * Capturing the Decisive Moment * Understanding animal behavior * How to best approach subjects * Eliminate distractions * Compositional elements and geometry * Visual Design and Impact This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction. weather permitting or classroom.
FLASH; This session will provide you with the tools and understanding necessary to control and achieve consistent flash exposure. Flash is a different animal, especially when combined with ambient light. Many find this area of photography perplexing. When determining whether your strobe will be used for main, balanced or fill, it is always necessary to consider its relationship to the ambient light present. I highly recommend taking the Metering session before this one. * Flash Fundamentals; inverse square law (light falloff), and Guide Numbers (GN) * Flash meter; how to use the flash meter to determine exposure * Manual flash; why, how and when to use it for consistent results!!!! * Flash as Main, Balanced, and Fill; how to determine and use each method * Compensation; how to determine the right amount of compensation * The Better Beamer; how and when to use it for maximum results * Multiple flash; how to ratio and set-up multiple lighting * Participants will conduct in-field tests with their own equipment using both high and low tonality subjects in various lighting conditions. Results will be evaluated both in the field and in the classroom. This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
POST PRODUCTION AND PHOTOSHOP; This session will provide you with the tools necessary to correct your RAW image to its fullest potential. I receive daily e-mails asking me why my images appear more lifelike and dimensional than those others post on the web. We walk you completely through the workflow process, showing you all the tips and techniques that I use from the point of capture to web posting and printing. You will learn shortcuts and advanced applications specifically tailored to help you make the most of your images for both web and print. Workshop classroom begins promptly at 9 am, 12:00-1:30 break for lunch, 1:30-5:00 pm classroom. Participants are urged to take their laptops with them, applying hands-on the methods and techniques discussed. Photoshop and Lightroom programs should be loaded on laptops. You are welcome to join us before (7am) and after scheduled classroom hrs (5pm) to shoot at the AF provided you have a photo pass.
\"For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Technical Workshop in St. Augustine, Florida is a must. Thanks Chaz for a great 4-day workshop at the Alligator Farm May 6-9. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!”
RS
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\"What a blast we had this April at the Shoot the Light Workshop in St. Augustine! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. With 4 instructors milling around about 20 students it was easy to get all of my questions answered. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.\"
Wayne & Margaret
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\"I recently returned from a four day Technical Workshop with Shoot the Light wow!! I had no idea how little I knew until Chas started explaining metering, flash, postproduction and visualization. We worked both in the classroom and in the field from dawn to dark and I learned more in four days than I would have on my own in years.\"
D.S.
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On the recommendation of a good photographer friend I attended a four day Technical Series Workshop conducted by \"Shoot The Light\" (\"STL\") in St. Augustine FL. The format was awesome. I knew that Charles (Chas) Glatzer was the guy running the whole affair. The 7am field shoot at the Alligator Farm brought another surprise. Chas left his cameras behind. He was 100% dedicated to helping us students. Before attending the workshop I thought I was a pretty good photographer. After all, some of my images have won awards. The workshop was a real eye opener. Many times during the classroom sessions we would interrupt and ask for a second explanation (sometimes even a third explanation). Chas was very patient and helpful; never a hint of arrogance or condescension. He really wanted us to grasp the concepts and become better photographers. Many concepts are simple (once you get it), but require breaking bad habits. The insights, techniques and skills I learned lifted my photography to a higher level. Now my images are much improved, and I got some great bird shots at the Alligator Farm. Chas and crew are very personable and fun to be around. The students were both accomplished and congenial. I made several new friends. The whole experience was very enjoyable. I highly recommend STL, and look forward to joining them again sometime in the future.
Bob W.
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The goal of the STL Technical Series Workshops is to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 30 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience.
Thank you Chas, Mike, Tom and Dave! \" Glen Fox \"
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I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there. L. B.
LODGING (not included) recommendation: ask for discounted rate.
Hampton Inn St. Augustine Beach
430 A-1-A Beach Blvd.
Saint Augustine FL 32080 US
T: 19044714000
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the St. Aug AF, St Augustine, FL.
Terms and Fee: Workshops are $395 each. Attend all 4 sessions and we will purchase your yearly pass, or $100 discount.
Space is reserved on receipt of 50% deposit only. Balance due Feb, 20th, 2023. Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light
Limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy, and all meals included.
4 days, 5 nights, with 2 photo sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. Additionally, includes daily classroom sessions on Metering, Flash, Post-production, Visual Skills.
This is one of our most popular and fast filling workshops. If you wish to capture the ultimate loon images this is the workshop for you. Loons w/ newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 14th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable photography platform.
\"Hello All, I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack, 2015\"
Join award winning photographer Charles Glatzer for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and photograph a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best photography possible. And, our boat captain and host is second to none at piloting our craft.
Our Lodge has an extensive set-up of bird feeders and numerous species are likely to be present including hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsucker, rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, black-capped chickadee, white and red-breasted nuthatches and ruby-throated hummingbird. We will also try using a bird caller in the nearby wetlands to call in American bittern, Virginia rail and sora, and Barred owl.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers photo opportunities.
Fee $5495 limited to 4 participants.
Includes... 4 days of loon phototography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field photo instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the STL workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
(arrive 26th, ends late afternoon 30th)
Workshop limited to a maximum of 8 participants
Do to requests we have added a 3 day workshop to photograph white pelicans in a unique river setting. The environment is amazing, and one-hundred percent natural (no baiting). This workshop affords opportunites to photograph pelicans in-flight, as well as diverse interactive and fishing behavior in river rapids. We will also have the opportunity to photograph and video spawning sturgeon. This is unlike any other pelican venue.
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Chas will illustrate in-field how to best use drop-in ND filters with long lenses to include motion blur and limit DOF to make the subject \"POP\" within your image. How to best expose for white highlights. How to best use Live View, Mirror Lock up, and remote shutter firing. The benefits and detriments of both Back button & Shutter button AF will be covered in depth. How to set your camera to best acheive a sharp subject along with motion blurred water. Postproduction techniques to extract and maximize incredible highlight detail in your images.
Lodging Reccomendation: (not included) inquire with our office
Fee $1495 includes: photographic instruction in metering, flash, postproduction, in-field techniques, and more.
Not included: accommodations, meals, transportation.
Terms: A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
DOUG GARDNER (Captain)
Natural History Cinematographer/DP
MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Doug Gardner is a freelance natural history cinematographer, director of photography, producer and stills photographer based out of South Carolina, USA. Over the past decade his wildlife cinematography and documentary work has taken center stage with many film clients such as the BBC, National Geographic, PBS Nature and Animal Planet to name a few. With over 28 years experience, the international award winning photographer has had over 20,000 of his images published internationally in magazines, books, calendars, newspapers and numerous other stock projects. Gardner now specializes in wildlife cinematography with long-lenses, drone, high speed, and time-lapse cameras. Additionally he’s an accomplished FAA Certified and insured drone/camera pilot as well as a USCG Certified boat Captain. Doug is a RED Cinema Camera owner/operator with experience on many other cameras and video/sound equipment. He has a degree in Commercial Graphics and is a proud US military veteran having served his country in “Operation Desert Storm”.
RECENT FILM WORK/CREDITS
\"Cities: Nature's New Wild - Outcasts\"- (2019) BBC-Cinematographer & Drone Operator
“Great Rivers-Mississippi” - (2019) BBC - Series Cinematographer and Drone Operator
\"Into Alaska\" - (2018) Animal Planet, Executive Producer & Cinematographer
“Jimmy Houston Outdoors - Brosnan Turkey” - Pursuit Ch (2017) Shooter/Producer
“Super Nature Wild Flyers” - (2017) PBS - Sequence Cinematographer, fixer, Drone Operator
\"Life In The Air\" - (2017) BBC NHU - Cinematographer, Drone Operator, Fixer
\"Atlantic\" - (2016) BBC two - Cinematographer & Drone Operator
\"Shadow Creatures\" - (2016) PBS - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Uncharted Waters\" - (2016) Pursuit Channel - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Wild Moments\" - (2015) Nat Geo - Cinematogerpher
\"Wild Photo Adventures\" - (2012-17) PBS - Series DP, Ex-Producer and Host, 60 episodes
\"Wild Water America\" - (2015) PBS (pilot) - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
CURRENT PROJECTS:
“Planet Earth III” - Cinematographer, BBC Natural History Unit:
“Yellowstone Live II” - Cinematographer, Nat Geo: An ongoing live event featuring Yellowstone National Park’s wildlife.
“Into Alaska” - Executive Producer, Cinematographer - Animal Planet: an ongoing docu-series about the men and women of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, their job sacrifices and the amazing wildlife they fight to protect.
“Sea Horses” - Co-Executive Producer, DP, and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary on the history, life and survival of the wild horses living along the North Carolina coast.
“Hat Feathers” - Executive Producer, DP and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary about the history and ecology of Wood Ducks and how they came back from near extinction.
DOUG GARDNER (Captain)
Natural History Cinematographer/DP
MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
PHONE (803) 460-7705 • EMAIL DOUG@TOTALLYOUTDOORSIMAGING.COM
WEBSITE : http://totallyoutdoorsimaging.com/
Demo Reels: http://totallyoutdoorsimaging.com/cinemetography/
Doug Gardner is a freelance natural history cinematographer, director of photography, producer and stills photographer based out of South Carolina, USA. Over the past decade his wildlife cinematography and documentary work has taken center stage with many film clients such as the BBC, National Geographic, PBS Nature and Animal Planet to name a few. With over 28 years experience, the international award winning photographer has had over 20,000 of his images published internationally in magazines, books, calendars, newspapers and numerous other stock projects. Gardner now specializes in wildlife cinematography with long-lenses, drone, high speed, and time-lapse cameras. Additionally he’s an accomplished FAA Certified and insured drone/camera pilot as well as a USCG Certified boat Captain. Doug is a RED Cinema Camera owner/operator with experience on many other cameras and video/sound equipment. He has a degree in Commercial Graphics and is a proud US military veteran having served his country in “Operation Desert Storm”.
RECENT FILM WORK/CREDITS
\"Cities: Nature's New Wild - Outcasts\"- (2019) BBC-Cinematographer & Drone Operator
“Great Rivers-Mississippi” - (2019) BBC - Series Cinematographer and Drone Operator
\"Into Alaska\" - (2018) Animal Planet, Executive Producer & Cinematographer
“Jimmy Houston Outdoors - Brosnan Turkey” - Pursuit Ch (2017) Shooter/Producer
“Super Nature Wild Flyers” - (2017) PBS - Sequence Cinematographer, fixer, Drone Operator
\"Life In The Air\" - (2017) BBC NHU - Cinematographer, Drone Operator, Fixer
\"Atlantic\" - (2016) BBC two - Cinematographer & Drone Operator
\"Shadow Creatures\" - (2016) PBS - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Uncharted Waters\" - (2016) Pursuit Channel - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Wild Moments\" - (2015) Nat Geo - Cinematogerpher
\"Wild Photo Adventures\" - (2012-17) PBS - Series DP, Ex-Producer and Host, 60 episodes
\"Wild Water America\" - (2015) PBS (pilot) - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
CURRENT PROJECTS:
“Planet Earth III” - Cinematographer, BBC Natural History Unit:
“Yellowstone Live II” - Cinematographer, Nat Geo: An ongoing live event featuring Yellowstone National Park’s wildlife.
“Into Alaska” - Executive Producer, Cinematographer - Animal Planet: an ongoing docu-series about the men and women of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, their job sacrifices and the amazing wildlife they fight to protect.
“Sea Horses” - Co-Executive Producer, DP, and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary on the history, life and survival of the wild horses living along the North Carolina coast.
“Hat Feathers” - Executive Producer, DP and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary about the history and ecology of Wood Ducks and how they came back from near extinction.
DOUG GARDNER (Captain)
Natural History Cinematographer/DP
MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
PHONE (803) 460-7705 • EMAIL DOUG@TOTALLYOUTDOORSIMAGING.COM
WEBSITE : http://totallyoutdoorsimaging.com/
Demo Reels: http://totallyoutdoorsimaging.com/cinemetography/
Doug Gardner is a freelance natural history cinematographer, director of photography, producer and stills photographer based out of South Carolina, USA. Over the past decade his wildlife cinematography and documentary work has taken center stage with many film clients such as the BBC, National Geographic, PBS Nature and Animal Planet to name a few. With over 28 years experience, the international award winning photographer has had over 20,000 of his images published internationally in magazines, books, calendars, newspapers and numerous other stock projects. Gardner now specializes in wildlife cinematography with long-lenses, drone, high speed, and time-lapse cameras. Additionally he’s an accomplished FAA Certified and insured drone/camera pilot as well as a USCG Certified boat Captain. Doug is a RED Cinema Camera owner/operator with experience on many other cameras and video/sound equipment. He has a degree in Commercial Graphics and is a proud US military veteran having served his country in “Operation Desert Storm”.
RECENT FILM WORK/CREDITS
\"Cities: Nature's New Wild - Outcasts\"- (2019) BBC-Cinematographer & Drone Operator
“Great Rivers-Mississippi” - (2019) BBC - Series Cinematographer and Drone Operator
\"Into Alaska\" - (2018) Animal Planet, Executive Producer & Cinematographer
“Jimmy Houston Outdoors - Brosnan Turkey” - Pursuit Ch (2017) Shooter/Producer
“Super Nature Wild Flyers” - (2017) PBS - Sequence Cinematographer, fixer, Drone Operator
\"Life In The Air\" - (2017) BBC NHU - Cinematographer, Drone Operator, Fixer
\"Atlantic\" - (2016) BBC two - Cinematographer & Drone Operator
\"Shadow Creatures\" - (2016) PBS - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Uncharted Waters\" - (2016) Pursuit Channel - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Wild Moments\" - (2015) Nat Geo - Cinematogerpher
\"Wild Photo Adventures\" - (2012-17) PBS - Series DP, Ex-Producer and Host, 60 episodes
\"Wild Water America\" - (2015) PBS (pilot) - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
CURRENT PROJECTS:
“Planet Earth III” - Cinematographer, BBC Natural History Unit:
“Yellowstone Live II” - Cinematographer, Nat Geo: An ongoing live event featuring Yellowstone National Park’s wildlife.
“Into Alaska” - Executive Producer, Cinematographer - Animal Planet: an ongoing docu-series about the men and women of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, their job sacrifices and the amazing wildlife they fight to protect.
“Sea Horses” - Co-Executive Producer, DP, and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary on the history, life and survival of the wild horses living along the North Carolina coast.
“Hat Feathers” - Executive Producer, DP and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary about the history and ecology of Wood Ducks and how they came back from near extinction.
DOUG GARDNER (Captain)
Natural History Cinematographer/DP
MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Doug Gardner is a freelance natural history cinematographer, director of photography, producer and stills photographer based out of South Carolina, USA. Over the past decade his wildlife cinematography and documentary work has taken center stage with many film clients such as the BBC, National Geographic, PBS Nature and Animal Planet to name a few. With over 28 years experience, the international award winning photographer has had over 20,000 of his images published internationally in magazines, books, calendars, newspapers and numerous other stock projects. Gardner now specializes in wildlife cinematography with long-lenses, drone, high speed, and time-lapse cameras. Additionally he’s an accomplished FAA Certified and insured drone/camera pilot as well as a USCG Certified boat Captain. Doug is a RED Cinema Camera owner/operator with experience on many other cameras and video/sound equipment. He has a degree in Commercial Graphics and is a proud US military veteran having served his country in “Operation Desert Storm”.
RECENT FILM WORK/CREDITS
\"Cities: Nature's New Wild - Outcasts\"- (2019) BBC-Cinematographer & Drone Operator
“Great Rivers-Mississippi” - (2019) BBC - Series Cinematographer and Drone Operator
\"Into Alaska\" - (2018) Animal Planet, Executive Producer & Cinematographer
“Jimmy Houston Outdoors - Brosnan Turkey” - Pursuit Ch (2017) Shooter/Producer
“Super Nature Wild Flyers” - (2017) PBS - Sequence Cinematographer, fixer, Drone Operator
\"Life In The Air\" - (2017) BBC NHU - Cinematographer, Drone Operator, Fixer
\"Atlantic\" - (2016) BBC two - Cinematographer & Drone Operator
\"Shadow Creatures\" - (2016) PBS - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Uncharted Waters\" - (2016) Pursuit Channel - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Wild Moments\" - (2015) Nat Geo - Cinematogerpher
\"Wild Photo Adventures\" - (2012-17) PBS - Series DP, Ex-Producer and Host, 60 episodes
\"Wild Water America\" - (2015) PBS (pilot) - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
CURRENT PROJECTS:
“Planet Earth III” - Cinematographer, BBC Natural History Unit:
“Yellowstone Live II” - Cinematographer, Nat Geo: An ongoing live event featuring Yellowstone National Park’s wildlife.
“Into Alaska” - Executive Producer, Cinematographer - Animal Planet: an ongoing docu-series about the men and women of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, their job sacrifices and the amazing wildlife they fight to protect.
“Sea Horses” - Co-Executive Producer, DP, and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary on the history, life and survival of the wild horses living along the North Carolina coast.
“Hat Feathers” - Executive Producer, DP and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary about the history and ecology of Wood Ducks and how they came back from near extinction.
DOUG GARDNER (Captain)
Natural History Cinematographer/DP
MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA
Doug Gardner is a freelance natural history cinematographer, director of photography, producer and stills photographer based out of South Carolina, USA. Over the past decade his wildlife cinematography and documentary work has taken center stage with many film clients such as the BBC, National Geographic, PBS Nature and Animal Planet to name a few. With over 28 years experience, the international award winning photographer has had over 20,000 of his images published internationally in magazines, books, calendars, newspapers and numerous other stock projects. Gardner now specializes in wildlife cinematography with long-lenses, drone, high speed, and time-lapse cameras. Additionally he’s an accomplished FAA Certified and insured drone/camera pilot as well as a USCG Certified boat Captain. Doug is a RED Cinema Camera owner/operator with experience on many other cameras and video/sound equipment. He has a degree in Commercial Graphics and is a proud US military veteran having served his country in “Operation Desert Storm”.
RECENT FILM WORK/CREDITS
\"Cities: Nature's New Wild - Outcasts\"- (2019) BBC-Cinematographer & Drone Operator
“Great Rivers-Mississippi” - (2019) BBC - Series Cinematographer and Drone Operator
\"Into Alaska\" - (2018) Animal Planet, Executive Producer & Cinematographer
“Jimmy Houston Outdoors - Brosnan Turkey” - Pursuit Ch (2017) Shooter/Producer
“Super Nature Wild Flyers” - (2017) PBS - Sequence Cinematographer, fixer, Drone Operator
\"Life In The Air\" - (2017) BBC NHU - Cinematographer, Drone Operator, Fixer
\"Atlantic\" - (2016) BBC two - Cinematographer & Drone Operator
\"Shadow Creatures\" - (2016) PBS - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Uncharted Waters\" - (2016) Pursuit Channel - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
\"Wild Moments\" - (2015) Nat Geo - Cinematogerpher
\"Wild Photo Adventures\" - (2012-17) PBS - Series DP, Ex-Producer and Host, 60 episodes
\"Wild Water America\" - (2015) PBS (pilot) - Director of Photography, Cinematographer
CURRENT PROJECTS:
“Planet Earth III” - Cinematographer, BBC Natural History Unit:
“Yellowstone Live II” - Cinematographer, Nat Geo: An ongoing live event featuring Yellowstone National Park’s wildlife.
“Into Alaska” - Executive Producer, Cinematographer - Animal Planet: an ongoing docu-series about the men and women of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, their job sacrifices and the amazing wildlife they fight to protect.
“Sea Horses” - Co-Executive Producer, DP, and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary on the history, life and survival of the wild horses living along the North Carolina coast.
“Hat Feathers” - Executive Producer, DP and Cinematographer: Natural history documentary about the history and ecology of Wood Ducks and how they came back from near extinction.
Hosted by Doug Gardner (Captain)
Limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy, and all meals included. (2 spaces available)
4 days on the water with 2 video sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. Includes daily classroom sessions.
Loons with newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 14th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable video platform.
Join award winning Cinematographer/DP Doug Gardner for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and video a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best videography possible.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers opportunities.
With camera technology advancing at a staggering rate, most still photographers don’t realize that their DSLR and mirrorless cameras are also very powerful video cameras as well. Today’s DSLRs are capable of capturing beautiful, cinematic and broadcast quality footage of wildlife. This workshop will not only teach you how to film wildlife but we will discuss and practice proper field craft as well.
This session is all about getting each participant’s camera setup to shoot video, understanding where critical menu settings are and getting you comfortable with its operation. We will also be discussing video theory and how that translates to making the right decisions when adjusting your camera settings and exposure. Often times something as simple as choosing the right aperture can make the difference in your video looking like it was shot on a phone or something very cinematic and professional.
During this first session our goal is to lay down some basic groundwork, which you will hone and master throughout the workshop. At the top of the list will be how to properly determine an exposure for video, why ND (Neutral Density) filters are mandatory, how to use them, and types of shots you need to be looking for to build a cinematic sequence.
Your first morning shoot will be a real eye-opener for many of you which will stem many new questions. This second session is geared towards answering those questions and deep diving into mastering your exposure. Many participants tend to have previous experience in still photography which will make understanding the process of video an easy concept to grasp, while others it will be a first. Regardless your experience, this session will bring everyone up to speed on exposing for video. We will demystify lots of fears you may have about setting exposure manually and you’ll learn why the histogram is the end-all, be-all of any exposure: what is a histogram, how to read, and how to cheat it. You will learn how shutter speed and frame rates affect the look, feel and mood of video, and why they are directly related to each other.
Also covered in this session is the use of ISO and aperture to control exposure, why depth-of-field is so important in making video look cinematic and how to control it.
Historically none of the professional video cameras on the market offered auto-focus, so it was up to the camera operator to be able to continuously manually focus the lens. Obviously the thought of this scares most of us to death. Luckily most of today’s DSLR cameras have autofocus and with the right techniques you should be able nail your focus every time. During the sessions you will learn how to how pick auto focus zones, how to keep the subject in focus, and how to keep the camera from “searching”. After this course many of you will likely want to continue your journey into the world of professional filmmaking so we will also be learning how to manually focus on moving subjects as well as some creative focus techniques like “shift focusing”.
Though most of this session will have already been touched on the field, this is our opportunity to formally discuss the importance of composition, camera movement and lack of movement in the camera. (Yes there is a difference!) Aside from being able to tell a more immersive story about your subject, video allows us to take advantage of certain shooting situations that would usually shut down a still photographer. You will come away with a confident understanding of how to use the compositional “rule of thirds” with moving subjects, how it creates flow throughout your sequence, why background is critically important and how to control it, and how lens selection affects background as well as why it’s the 2nd most important factor to creating that cinematic look.
I’m constantly amazed at the number of photographers (and videographers) who shoot everything at their default position, which is standing with the camera on a fully extended tripod, shoot for hours and never move! In this session we will be experimenting with shooting from various perspectives, learn what your “default position” should be and how moving just a few inches can make or break your video.
While unintentional camera shake and movement will destroy your videos, there are often times when moving the camera creates effects that will have your viewers literally glued to their seats. You’ll learn when, why and how to move the camera, how it can create smooth transitions to the next clip, and how recent technology is making creative camera moves a mind-blowing effect.
So you’ve learned how to capture all this beautiful footage, now what do you do with it all. During your last session we will be introducing you to video editing and giving you the basics to get started editing your videos. We will be discussing 2 editing platforms, Final Cut Pro and Premier Pro and which one is right for you.
Additionally we will be touching on audio: how to record it, should you be recording it with your video, types of microphones, and how to handle it in the editing process.
- Participants arrive and settle in to their rooms.
- Dinner
- Class: Setting up your camera and tripod for video and basic exposure, Neutral Density filters, and building a proper sequence
- 4 hour morning shoot and instruction
- Brunch
- Mid-day Class: Mastering exposure: histograms, aperture, depth of field, ISO, frame rates & shutter speed
- 4 hour evening shoot and instruction
- Dinner
- Brunch
- Mid-day Class: Mastering focus: using auto focus, manual focus and shift focusing
- 4 hour evening shoot and instruction
- Dinner
- 4 hour morning shoot and instruction
- Brunch
- Mid-day Class: Mastering composition: composing moving subjects, background, perspective and lens selection, transitional camera moves, camera movement.
- 4 hour evening shoot and instruction
- Dinner
- 4 hour morning shoot and instruction
- Brunch
- Mid-day Class: Introduction to video editing.
- 4 hour evening shoot and instruction
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Mid-morning: Depart for airport
- DSLR camera body that will shoot video
- A lens/camera combination equivalent to a minimum of 500-600mm. If you are considering renting lenses for this trip, look at a good telephoto zoom lens. With video it’s very important that you can quickly change your focal length to capture a proper sequence….having a zoom lens will save you lots of frustration in having to change lenses constantly.
- Regardless of your lens selection it is mandatory for shooting video that you have Neutral Density Filters for your lenses. (Some camera bodies have built in ND filters.) For those of you just starting out in video I highly recommend using a Variable ND filter which will prevent you from having to constantly change filters. Variable NDs are available up to 95mm (front filter size of lens). A great option might be renting something like the Nikon 200-500 https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/nikon-200-500mm-f5.6e-ed-af-s-vr or the Sigma 150-600mm https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/sigma-150-600mm-f5-6.3-dg-os-hsm-contemporary-for-canon (available for both Canon and Nikon) This not only gives you greater range but it has a 95mm filter thread which means you can rent or buy a 95mm Variable Neutral Density filter to cover 1-5 stops and you won’t have to constantly change filters (which will cause you to loose opportunities.)https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/b-w-95mm-nd-vario-1-5-mrc-nano-variable-nd
- Video Fluid Head, Tripod that has legs capable of allowing you to get the camera at ground level
- Extra memory cards
- Extra batteries
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Includes... 4 days of loon videography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field video instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the STL workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
(1 space available)
The Japan workshops are among the most productive workshops we have ever had the pleasure of hosting. Our guide is second to none, our accomadations and meals the best available. This is a glitch free trip from start to finish. All participants stated the workshop exceeded every expectation and I am greatly looking forward to returning for the 6th time.
STL is proud to offer a truly amazing journey through the countryside of Japan! Enjoy the beautiful Japanese countryside and photographic opportunities! Photograph the Snow Monkey's, Stellar Eagles, Blakiston's Fish Owls, Japanese Cranes, Whopper swans, and more!
Tentative (TBD) itinerary below;
2/22 Arrive at Narita Airport,
2/23 Travel from Narita to Monkey Park by a bus. Visit Monkey Park in the afternoon 2/24 Full day monkey park 2/25 Full day monkey park 2/26 From Monkey Park to Haneda by a bus. From Haneda to Kushio by a airplane.
2/27 Full day at Lake Kussharo.
2/28 Lake Kussharo in the morning. From Lake Kussharo to Rausu by bus Photography of Fish-Owl.
3/1 Full day Eagle cruise by a charter boat.
3/2 Full day Eagle cruise by a charter boat.
3/3 Full day Eagle cruise by a charter boat. 3/2 From Rausu to Tsurui Japanese Crane at the evening.
3/4 Full day Crane photography.
3/5 Full day Crane photography.
3/6 Crane photography by 3PM From Kushiro to Haneda by a airplane.
3/7 Move from Haneda to Narita.
3/8 International flts home.
Fee: $9,995 double occupancy. Single accommodation may be available at most locations upon request at additional expense. Fee is subject to fluctuation in Yen exchange rate.
Workshop includes: Photographic Instruction, double accommodations, meals (excluding snacks) after breakfast on Day 1, through return to Tokyo Airport on Day 14, transportation and charter cruises.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Tokyo/Narita Airport. Early accomodation arrival prior to 22nd.
Note- Chas likes to get in a day earlier (21st) than the scheduled day to better acclimate to the time difference. If you wish to do this please let us know upon booking.
Terms: $1000 non-refundable non-transferable deposit is required to secure space. 2nd deposit due 6/31/21, Balance due 11/01/21.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shoo tthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Bosque del Apache : New Mexico
December 7 - 10, 2020
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for 4 full days of photography and small group instruction at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
The official bird checklist for Bosque lists 48 species as being common or abundant in the winter, including 5 raptors and 12 species of waterfowl. But the stars of the show are the tens of thousands of snow geese and sandhill cranes that make Bosque their winter home. Add in the spectacular New Mexico sunrises and sunsets along with the high desert landscape and mountain backdrops and you have the recipe for some gorgeous and dramatic imagery.
Bosque is legendary for the \"blast offs\" of snow geese at sunrise with thousands of birds taking off en masse creating a spectacle of sight and sound that you will never forget. The brilliant New Mexico sunsets provide the perfect backdrop for beautiful silhouettes of cranes coming into roost in the evenings. Between sunrise and sunset, opportunities abound for capturing geese and cranes in flight including dynamic takeoff and landing poses. The abundance of birds makes Bosque an ideal location for honing your flight photography skills.
Field instruction will be offered during each day's morning and afternoon photo sessions and there will be a 2 hour classroom session each day tailored to the needs and interests of the group. To ensure the best possible instruction and allow for more individual attention, this workshop will have a maximum of 6 participants.
NEW THIS YEAR : The workshop fee INCLUDES five nights lodging at the Holiday Inn Express in Socorro. This hotel is the “best in town” and underwent a complete renovation in 2019.
Fee :
$1975 Per Person Single Occupancy
$1625 Per Person Double Occupancy
Fee includes :
Five nights lodging (check-in December 6, check-out December 11). All field and classroom instruction.
Fee does NOT include :
Transportation, meals, or vehicle entrance fee.
Terms :
A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a space. The balance is due on 09/07/20 and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, PayPal to info@shootthelight.com or credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy.
To sign up, contact us at 828-891-4082 or info@shootthelight.com
Host; Charles Glatzer M.Photog
Guide; Moose Henderson
Limited to 6 participants
Join Canon Explorer of Light Charles (Chas) Glatzer and Moose biologist/author/guide John (Moose) Henderson to photograph moose and other wildlife in Grand Teton National Park. Moose authored 50 Wildlife Hotspots: Grand Teton National Park and Surrounding Communities, considered to be the definitive wildlife guide to the park. We will depart the hotel early each morning traveling together via 12 passenger van. Our goal is to spend as much time as possible photographing moose and other wildlife in prime habitat. After lunch, depending on the weather, we may have a bit of classroom time before heading back out. Rest assured we make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time!
Includes; guide, permits, van/fuel, lodging, double occupancy (single occ available additional cost), photo instruction, 50 Wildlife Hotspots: Grand Teton National Park and Surrounding Communities
Not Included; food, R/T flights to Jackson Hole Int (JAC), suggested guide tip $150
Fee; $4995
A $1500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure space. Final balances due Aug 1st, 2020
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Arrive in Whitehorse: 8/13
Depart 8/22 Evening flight or overnight (at own expense) in Whitehorse.
Host: Charles (Chas) Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon Explorer of Light
Total Participants: 8 (2 spaces available)
We are getting you as close to grizzly bears in the wild as possible in the safety of a highly trained, professional wilderness guide with longstanding experience and expert knowledge in grizzly bear behavior. Your safety and the safety of the grizzly bears is of the utmost importance for us. We ensure you an enjoyable and unforgettable experience viewing them in their natural habitat.
Due to the isolated location of the camp in the highest quality grizzly bear habitat in Canada, and our long- standing experience with grizzly bears, we have developed an intimate relationship with many of these animals over the past decades.
Grizzly bear viewing is done either “face to face” on the ground with your guide, or you have the option of being put out at one of the platforms where you can view bears in a non-guided situation.
Seeing grizzly bears at close range, even while enjoying one of your meals on deck or reading a book in front of your cabin is a common occurrence.
Well maintained walking trails lead to and from the bear viewing sites and a nature walk back into the riparian area along the river is also a popular excursion.
Due to the closeness of our viewing sites and the excellent viewing opportunities from the deck of our lodge, the physical fitness level required for your wildlife adventure is basic.
Our camp is located in the pristine, uninhabited Taku River drainage, a half hour by helicopter from the town of Atlin, British Columbia. At over 4.5 million acres in size, the Taku is the highest quality grizzly bear habitat in Canada and the most important salmon producing system for South East Alaska.
Grizzly bears as well as bald eagles keep you busy throughout the days. Occasionally moose and wolves are added to the list of sightings.
When you arrive by helicopter at the camp you will know right away that you are in true untouched wilderness. Isolated from roads and development, the area is a valuable, zen-like ecological oasis.
Built along the river and perfectly integrated into the natural surroundings, the camp offers comfortable heated cabins of double occupancy. The main lodge consists of a kitchen and dining room where our chefs provide excellent cuisine three times a day. Dinner wine, beer and appetizers are complementary.
Each cabin, equipped with lighting, contains single or queen beds with duvet bedding as well as a wood heater to ensure your comfort. There is also a hot shower facility and a laundry at your disposition.
Minimum recommended travel itinerary:
Aug 13th - Arrive Whitehorse Airport, take shuttle to hotel and overnight Whitehorse at the Edgewater Hotel
Aug 14th - 7:00 AM pickup by van and drive to Atlin, BC (1.5 hours). Board Discovery helicopter for Camp (.5 hours). Bear viewing
Aug 15th- 21st: Bear Viewing, Meals, Photo and Post-production Instruction
Aug 22nd: AM helicopter flight Camp to Atlin, BC, board van and drive to Whitehorse where you board late afternoon flight home or overnight in Whitehorse.
Included:
Services of one of our professional wilderness guides
Photographic Instruction
Return shuttle bus from Whitehorse, Yukon to Atlin, British Columbia
Helicopter transportation to remote wilderness camp
Accommodations in White Horse Edgewater Hotel eve 8/13
Accommodation at the camp
Meals while at the camp, including all non-alcoholic beverages and wine/beer at dinner
Not included:
Flights to/from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Overnight in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada or Atlin, British Columbia, Canada
Tips, gratuities, personal expenses.
Travel, medical or any other kind of insurance.
Weight restrictions:
Personal clothing and camera gear not to exceed 70 pounds or 35 kilograms per guest.
Communication:
We also have e-mail and a satellite phone at the Camp. The satellite phone is for emergency only however we are in e-mail communication with Discovery Helicopters on a daily basis. Note- Chas will have his personal Sat ph for use if needed.
Temperature range: +3 to - +30 Celsius
Workshop fee: $11,495
Deposit Amount: $3,500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure space. Final balances due April 14th, 2023
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Arrive in Anchorage, AK overnighting the day before the workshop. Depart for home on final day 22nd.
Having hosted 150 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge. Single supplement if available $600
Fee: $7995
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity for guide/staff $350 per person.
Deposit non-refundable $2000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July 11th, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC on 18th.
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Join Charles Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. Having hosted 100 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime.
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures. Daily review of images via a laptop computer, and photo instruction along with post-production techniques will be discussed at length.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was the workshop I took with Charles Glatzer in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with Chas. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as Chas took us to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Hi Folks,
Once again I was totally blown away with Chas’s unique ability to get us in the right place, at the right time, under very difficult conditions. Our guide, a fourteen year veteran on the river, said he had never seen it so high or swift. This would seriously limit our opportunities to the bears traveling up and down the river; however, Chas quickly reminded him that this was all we needed. And it was. We were on bears all day, everyday, and I got almost everything I’d hoped for-almost because you have to have a reason to go back. In addition to jam packed photo action, we fished for two hours each of the last three days and returned home with 50 lbs of beautiful sockeye salmon filets. Slamming Salmon, through the lens and with the rod, what a thrill - as well as fine table-fare.If you are serious about your photography, and are serious about improving every aspect of it, you owe yourself an adventure with Shoot the Light - you will never regret it.
Thanks, Danny Womack
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our beautiful lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance along a remote lake shore. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage
Fee $7995 approx
Initial non-refundable deposit for $500, 2nd Deposit $2000 due July 31st, 2020. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs (2x20) per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft or helicopter to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for an early dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher. Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
* $14, 495 (final fee TBD) per person plus applicable taxes (7.5% for non-residents and 8.5% for Canadians).
Includes; two nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill, and our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $250)
A $3,000 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due July 1st, 20201
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Botswana Photographic Safari, Africa; Nov, 18th-30th, 2021 (2 spaces now available).
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com, or Contact Us
http://www.njfcc.org
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for a field-intensive and bird-centric workshop based on Grímsey Island, a 2 square mile gem on the Arctic Circle which is home to about 70 people and a million seabirds including one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies.
This is a \"one stop shopping\" location for the serious bird photographer with large numbers of nesting birds, including Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, Arctic terns, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, golden plovers, snow buntings, red-necked phalaropes, common snipe, common redshank, Eurasian oystercatcher, ringed plovers, purple sandpipers, and more. There is also a picturesque lighthouse and church, distant snow-covered mountain backdrops, and a group of photogenic Icelandic horses.
Grímsey was a little known location among bird photographers before Mike offered the first bird photography workshop ever on the island in 2015. It has since become widely regarded as one of the best places in Iceland to photograph puffins, and the very best place in the world to photograph puffins in flight. This will be Mike’s 12th visit to Grimsey and he continues to discover new photo hot spots in the nooks and crannies of the island’s coastline on every trip.
Basing the workshop on the island for 6 days and 5 nights will give participants the freedom and flexibility to photograph wherever, whenever, and whatever they choose during the 22 hours of daylight that will be available each day. Time that might otherwise be spent traveling from place to place can instead be spent in the field and you will not be dependent on group transportation to get you to the optimum shooting locations at the time of your choosing. This extended field time will also allow for more instruction, including more opportunities for one-on-one sessions and individualized coaching as desired.
Of all the species on the island, the puffins tend to steal the show. This is an especially good location for photographing puffins in small and large groups and for photographing puffins in flight. At various times of day, you can have dozens of birds flying by every minute at near eye level. We have timed the workshop to take place after the puffin chicks have hatched so that the adults will be bringing mouthfuls of fish back to their burrows.
Accommodations on the island will be at a modern guest house that is only available to a few select groups. It features large private rooms, two shared baths, wi-fi, and puffins right outside your door! Most meals will be served family style at the guest house and can be timed to accommodate our shooting schedule on any given day.
Fee :
$6495 Per Person Single Occupancy
$5995 Per Person Double Occupancy
INCLUDED :
ALL LODGING : Nine nights : June 30 - July 8
ALL MEALS (excluding snacks and alcoholic drinks) starting with dinner on June 30 and ending with breakfast on July 9.
ALL LAND TRANSPORTATION from Keflavik Airport.
ROUND TRIP FERRY to Grímsey Island.
PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTION AND IN-FIELD COACHING throughout.
Note : When comparing prices, be sure to check if meals are included which can be quite expensive in Iceland.
NOT INCLUDED :
Air fare to/from Keflavik International Airport in Iceland
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT :
Participation only reserved on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $1000.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at;
office 828-891-4082
e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy.
Includes; 4 days shooting, 5 nights, with 2 photo sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. That's 32 hrs of shooting in prime light! Additionally, includes daily classroom sessions on Metering, Flash, Post-production, Visual Skills.
This is one of our most popular workshops. If you wish to capture the most diverse, creative, low angle loon images possible this is the workshop for you. Loons with newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 20th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat and low angle technique provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable photography platform.
\"Hello All, I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack, 2015\"
Join award winning photographer Charles Glatzer for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and photograph a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best photography possible. And, our boat captain and host is second to none at piloting our craft.
Our Lodge has an extensive set-up of bird feeders and numerous species are likely to be present including hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsucker, rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, black-capped chickadee, white and red-breasted nuthatches and ruby-throated hummingbird. We will also try using a bird caller in the nearby wetlands to call in American bittern, Virginia rail and sora, and Barred owl.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers photo opportunities.
Fee $5495 limited to 4 participants.
Includes; 4 days of loon photography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights single accommodation lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals including dinner on arrival, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field photo instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due (March 31st) and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
ENROLLMENT & ASSUMPTION OF RISK WAIVER
NOTE: THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS INDEMNITY
AND RELEASE PROVISIONS
This Enrollment & Assumption of Risk Waiver Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective the ___ day of _________, 2024, between Charles Glatzer, and Shoot The Light® (collectively, “Provider”), and ______________________________, an individual whose address is __________________________________________________________________ (“Participant”).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other mutual premises and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Participant and Provider, acting for themselves and their respective heirs, representatives, successors and assigns, hereby agree as follows:
1.\tParticipant has been made fully aware that their presence and attendance at Provider’s workshops (each a “Workshop” and collectively, the “Workshops”) during the calendar year 2020 (the “Period”) entails a degree of risk, danger and physical exertion, including, without limitation, situations in which the Participant will be (i) in close proximity to wild animals or (ii) required to utilize accommodations and transportation means not operated or maintained to standards common in the United States or (iii) exposed to weather conditions bordering on or including the extremes. Participant knowingly and voluntarily accepts such risks and dangers as a condition precedent to its attendance at any Workshops during the Period. Each registration for a Workshop during the Period constitutes a reaffirmation of this acceptance.
2.\tPARTICIPANT WILL DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, WAIVE AND FOREVER RELEASE PROVIDER GROUP FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, DEMANDS, CAUSES OF ACTION, SUITS, JUDGMENTS AND LIABILITIES OF EVERY KIND, (INCLUDING ALL EXPENSES OF LITIGATION, COURT COSTS AND REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES) BROUGHT OR ASSERTED AGAINST PROVIDER GROUP BY ANY PARTY WHOMSOEVER, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR PARTICPANT’S ATTENDANCE AT ANY WORKSHOPS DURING THE PERIOD, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM ANY CLAIM OF LOSS, DAMAGE, INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE ARISING FROM, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED TO (I) DISEASE, PANDEMIC (including, without limitation CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COMMONLY CALLED COVIDd-19) OR ANY VARIANT OR MUTATION THEREOF), personal injury to, bodily injury to, emotional or psychological injury to, property or wage loss, benefits loss, or illness or death of Participant (including, without limitation, all costs and expenses associated with medical evacuation of and/or emergency medical services provided to Participant) OR (ii) damage to or loss of any property or equipment of Participant), IN EACH CASE, REGARDLESS OF WHO MAY BE AT FAULT OR OTHERWISE RESPONSIBLE OR ANY STATUTE, RULE OR THEORY OF LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THEORIES OF STRICT LIABILITY, AND EVEN THOUGH THE SUBJECT LOSS, DAMAGE, INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY: (I) THE SOLE, CONCURRENT, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE OF PROVIDER GROUP OR A THIRD PARTY; (II) ANY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY MEMBER OF THE {PROVIDER GROUP OR THE UNSEAWORTHINESS OF A VESSEL CHARTERED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY MEMBER OF PROVIDER GROUP; OR (III) A DEFECT IN THE PROPERTY OR EQUIPMENT OF PROVIDER GROUP OR ANY VESSEL PROVIDED BY OR ON BEHALF OF PROVIDER GROUP, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE DEFECTS PRE-EXISTING THIS AGREEMENT. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS PROVISION IS conspicuous.
As used in this Section 2, the term “Provider Group” shall mean: (a) Provider; (b) its successors and assigns; (c) general and limited partners of (a) and (b); (d) parents, subsidiaries and affiliates of (a), (b) and (c); (e) the partners, and joint venturers of (a), (b), (c) and (d) and any entities for whom it is performing services or with whom it has entered into other agreements; (f) other contractors and subcontractors of (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e); and (g) the agents, directors, officers, and employees of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f).
3.\tParticipant represents and warrants to Provider, such representation and warranty being a material inducement to Provider agreeing to accept Participant’s registration for, and attendance at, any Workshop during the Period: that it (i) fully understands and assumes the risks and dangers present with its attendance at any Workshop during the Period; (ii) fully understands that emergency and elective medical facilities and services may be unavailable or ineffective; (iii) has received and fully reviewed the itinerary and workshop description provided to (or made available to Participant on Provider’s website) Participant for the Workshops for which it has registered and is physically capable of attending and participating in such Workshops; (iv) secured any and all insurance it deems necessary or prudent in connection with its attendance at such Workshops. Each registration for a Workshop during the Period shall constitute a reaffirmation of the foregoing representation and warranty.
4.\tIt is agreed that this Agreement and the Workshop descriptions and itineraries referenced in Section 3 above covers all the agreements between the Provider and Participant and that no representations or statements, verbal or written, have been made modifying, adding to, or changing the terms of this Agreement.
5.\tThis Agreement shall apply to, inure to the benefit of and be binding upon and enforceable by and against the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.
6.\tProvider and Participant agree that all disputes in any way relating to, arising under, connected with, or incident to this Agreement, shall be litigated, if at all, exclusively in the state and federal courts located in Henderson County, North Carolina, and, if necessary, the corresponding appellate courts. Each party hereto waives any right to any transfer of venue or plea to the jurisdiction that might exist in the absence of this provision. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina. Participant and Provider waive the right to jury trial in the event of any litigation relating to this Agreement.
7.\tNotwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in no event shall Provider ever be liable to Participant for punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from, connected to or arising out of this Agreement or Participant’s attendance at, or participation in, the Workshop; provided, further, that Provider’s maximum liability to Participant is limited to the actual amount paid by Participant to Provider for the unique Workshop the subject of the dispute; provided further, that in the event of unavailability of any accommodation, aircraft, vessel or other mode of transportation connected with the Workshop, for whatsoever reason, whether prior to the commencement of the Workshop or otherwise during the Workshop, Provider Group’s maximum liability to Participant shall be further capped at the respective proportion of Participant’s Workshop attendance fee actually refunded to Provider by its provider. In addition to the foregoing, in the event Provider cancels any Workshop on account of an event of Force Majeure declared by any member of Provider Group or any supplier (or provider of any such supplier) with whom and member of Provider Group has contracted for accommodations, transportation or any goods or services of any type or character, Provider’s maximum liability is limited to the actual amount of any portion of the attendance fee actually refunded to Provider by any of the foregoing persons. As used in this Agreement, the term “Force Majeure” means any cause, whether or not of the type listed herein and without regard as to whether it is foreseeable or unforeseeable, not reasonably within the control of a person claiming suspension and which prevents or impedes a person performance of its obligations and includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i) physical events such as acts of God, including but not limited to lightning, earthquakes, fires, explosions, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, storm warnings, landslides or other weather events that cause disruption, breakage or damage to, or necessitate a precautionary shut-down or operation reduction of any kind or character; (ii) weather related events affecting an entire geographic region or causing evacuation thereof, such as low temperatures or high temperatures; (iii) acts of others such as strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances, riots, sabotage, hostilities (whether war is declared or not) insurrection or wars, invasions, acts or threats of terror or of the public enemy; action or inaction of a governmental authority (including government order or law), embargo or blockade; or (iv) epidemic, pandemics, travel bans, shelter in place orders, national or regional emergencies, diseases or public health emergencies, sanctions, quarantine or orders of quarantine or (v) any other cause, whether of the kind specifically enumerated above or otherwise, which is not within the control of a person.
8.\tIf any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in any adverse manner. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
9. During the term of this Agreement, Participant shall exercise reasonable care and diligence to prevent, and agrees not to take or cause, any actions or conditions which would result in a conflict with Provider’s best interests. Participant agrees to conduct itself with respect to Provider so as to maintain the reputation and business interests of Provider. Participant agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for a period of 4 years thereafter, it will not directly or indirectly (or participate with or cause others to directly or indirectly) (i) become engaged in any business activities or enter into any business transactions, in each case, within a fifty (50) mile radius of the location of this Workshop which are, directly or indirectly, related to Provider’s interests without first providing notice to Provider and obtaining its written consent and (ii) either directly or indirectly, for itself or on behalf of any other person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity hire, solicit, contract for, attempt to solicit, or cause to be solicited, (a) the services of any current or previous provider or supplier of services, venues, facilities and (b) any present or past participant in any Workshop attended by Participant, in each case, without the prior written consent of Provider. Participant acknowledges and agrees that Provider, has, in reliance of this agreement, provided Participant access to locations and location information, suppliers and guides that, in each case, took a substantial amount of time and investment to acquire, develop and refine and that such are proprietary and confidential and the trade secret of Provider. Participant agrees that Provider’s agreement to allow Participant to attend any Workshop is sufficient and adequate consideration for Participant entering into this Section 9. Participant agrees in the event of any breach of this Agreement, Provider would be irreparably and immediately harmed and could not be made whole by monetary damages. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, Provider shall each be entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief (without the posting of any bond or other security) to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and/or to compel specific performance of this Agreement, and that Participant, will not oppose the granting of such relief. Participant also agrees to reimburse Participant for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Provider in attempting to enforce the obligations of Participant hereunder. This Section 9 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
10. Delivery of a signed copy of this Agreement by facsimile or email transmission shall be deemed to be delivery of this Agreement for all purposes.
11. While Provider encourages each Participant to use masks and hand sanitizer and to check their temperatures and while we will attempt to (but may not always be able to) supply masks, sanitizer, and check individual body temperature, it is up to each individual Participant attending a Workshop to adhere to applicable Federal (including CDC), State and rules, regulations, orders, local laws and standards when and as applicable. It is acknowledged, understood and agreed by Participant that (i) there are inherent risks involved with any pandemic or disease, including without limitation Coronavirus 2019 (or any variant or mutation thereof, collectively, “COVID-19”) and that no member of Provider Group will be liable to Participant or Participants heirs, successors or assigns in the event that Participant suffers symptoms of or contracts COVID-19 and Participant expressly agrees that COVID constitutes an “ILLNESS” under Paragraph 2 of the Agreement and (ii) if any person in attendance at the Workshop requests we use masks, all in attendance will do the same.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Participant has caused this Enrollment & Assumption of Risk Waiver Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
By:\t______________________________________
Name:
Emergency Contact Name:\t_________________________________
Emergency Contact Phone Number:\t___________________________
Phone Number to Contact you While On Workshop: _____________________
RETURN THIS WAIVER TO:
Shoot the Light®
PO Box 987
Horse Shoe, NC 28742
Phone/fax 828-891-4082
Email: info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Session 1: Arrive Friday March 10 by 2pm. Depart Sunday, March 12 after the morning shoot. (FULL)
Session 2: Arrive Friday March 17 by 2pm. Depart Sunday, March 19 after the morning shoot. (FULL)
Session 3: Arrive Friday March 24 by 2pm. Depart Sunday, March 26 after the morning shoot. (FULL)
Session 4: Arrive Friday April 14 by 2pm. Depart Sunday, April 16 after the morning shoot. (FULL)
Workshop limited to a maximum of two participants, includes two morning sessions photographing wood ducks and usually ample opportunities to photograph Belted Kingfishers fishing and interacting with their mate; an afternoon shooting Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, fishing Osprey or various duck species depending on timing, migration and weather.
We’ve been photographing Wood Ducks at this location for many, many years. Understanding the sun, wind, personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery.
While Wood Ducks are the primary focus, the various residents of the wetland habitat may make appearances throughout the time in the field. Belted Kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and more are particularly abundant in this marsh. Wood Ducks being the most skittish of the ducks, it is difficult to happen upon one that sticks around long enough to photograph. Using a remote location, the cover of darkness and a custom designed blind, we can provide a once in a lifetime experience in the marsh.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be breeding Wood Ducks; small, stunning birds, with bright iridescent colors and tear drop shaped eye-rings that pop. With a handful of birds usually present this is a great time to capture behavioral interaction, and portraits, along with both males and females in relation to their nesting boxes.
Lodging Recommendation: Homewood Suites By Hilton Bel Air 4170 Philadelphia Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21015 410.297.8585
Fee: $1350
Includes: Photographic instruction, two morning shoots at the Wood Duck blind, two afternoon shoots at a destination to be determined by the weather, migration reports, transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, hotel, meals, personal items
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 7 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Joe Subolefsky
mailto:subolefskyj@gmail.com
(443) 640-5649
https://www.facebook.com/joe.subolefsky
https://www.instagram.com/joe_subolefsky/
Join Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Enjoy coastal North Carolina for an excellent photographic opportunity at the most concentrated black bear population on the planet. The mild climate allows the bears to feed year-round and grow to their full potential of 700 or 800 pounds. There is even a 900 pound bear on record! During these workshops, the massive males are on the move seeking out and breeding with females. Additional females are bringing out their cubs to feed in the crop fields, giving us multiple opportunities per session to capture the essence of the black bear. Numerous sightings and the small group setting give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills. Bonus animals on this adventure include the very elusive, critically threatened Red Wolf, coyotes, birds and various reptiles.
Food and hotel accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Workshops are limited to three people.
Includes: Photographic Instruction, six or eight sessions afield depending on which session you book, transportation from the hotel/meeting point to the various shooting locations.
Not Included: Travel to the location, person items, hotel and meals
Fee: \tSession 1: $1600
Session 2: $2100
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 7 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
July 7th-14th, 2024 (FULL) Private
Join host Charles (Chas) Glatzer for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. We have secured the best dates available to coincide with the sockeye run!
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July 7th, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC on 14th.
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was this workshop in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with STL. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as we were taken to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's / STL workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Hi Folks,
Once again I was totally blown away with STL's ability to get us in the right place, at the right time, under very difficult conditions. Our guide, a fourteen year veteran on the river, said he had never seen it so high or swift. This would seriously limit our opportunities to the bears traveling up and down the river; however, I was quickly that this was all we needed. And it was. We were on bears all day, everyday, and I got almost everything I’d hoped for-almost because you have to have a reason to go back. In addition to jam packed photo action, we fished for two hours each of the last three days and returned home with 50 lbs of beautiful sockeye salmon filets. Slamming Salmon, through the lens and with the rod, what a thrill - as well as fine table-fare.If you are serious about your photography, and are serious about improving every aspect of it, you owe yourself an adventure with Shoot the Light - you will never regret it.
Thanks, Danny Womack
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Fly-Out opportunities to Brook's Falls, and other locations available at additional cost.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage. Lodging in King Salmon.
Gratuity recommendation $75 per day.
Weather Policy; Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from, ANC and King Salmon are at participants expense.
Fee $8995
Initial non-refundable deposit for $3000
Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Host Charles Glatzer, co-host Joe Subolefsky
Arrive in Anchorage, AK 7/23 overnighting the day before the workshop. Depart for home on final day 29th.
Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge. Single supplement if available $600
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity for guide/staff $350 per person.
Fee; $7995
Deposit non-refundable $2000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Canon EOL Charles Glatzer M.Photog
Having hosted 100 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Katmai National Park.
We have specifically timed this workshop to coincide with a unique event. In Aug of 2022 both the sockeye and pink salmon runs are scheduled to peak on the river system near our lodge making for extraordinary bear activity and photographic opportunities. Additionally, the area offers extremely diverse marine mammal and birdlife. We have Exclusive use of this beautiful lodge. Meals are first rate, and all cabins are ensuite!
This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers multiple unspoiled wilderness environments in which to take unique wild brown bear images. Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our beautiful lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river, meander through braids, frequent marshland, and tidal zones.
The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. Our guides and myself will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
While Brown Bears are our primary subject our lodge is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking wildlife. Frequent encounters include sea otters, river otters, seals, puffins, kittiwakes and the majestic Bald Eagle. On special occasions, you may see whales, orca, wolves, fox, moose, and even a wolverine.
Arrive in Kodiak one day prior to your lodge departure (lodging included), avoiding any possible airline delays, and we kindly request you book your Kodiak to Anchorage flight at 4:45 pm or later, after your visit to the lodge.
Package includes; lodging in Kodiak and lodge, all meals at lodge, guided bear and wildlife viewing, photography instruction, and scheduled scenic round trip floatplane travel to/from Kodiak & Lodge.
Not included; airfare to/from Kodiak, AK, guide and staff gratuities, alcoholic beverages, extracurricular scenic and wildlife fly-outs. Weather permitting we can cruise the waters around Kodiak for marine and birdlife.
Weather delays are a realistic consideration when traveling throughout Alaska, therefore, we strongly recommend securing Travel Insurance for your Alaska vacation. The safest bet is to spend an additional night in Kodiak, flying out the following morning to ANC for afternoon departures home.
Fee; $8695
Initial deposit required to reserve space $2500. 2nd deposit $2500 due 8/31/2021, Final Balance due Feb 1st, 2020. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(only 2 spaces currently available)
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs (2x20) per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft or helicopter to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for an early dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher. Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
* $14, 495 (final fee TBD) per person plus applicable taxes (7.5% for non-residents and 8.5% for Canadians).
Includes; two nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill, and our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $600)
A $3,000 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due July 1st, 2022
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
This trip is limited to 7 participants.
Arrival suggested in Santiago Nov 17th, no later than 18th. You must arrive in Santiago, Chile at least one day early. Chas suggest two days just in case of flt or baagge delays, etc. as there is only one flt per week to the Falklands from Santiago.
Having been to the Falklands 14 times now I have the group concentrate on individual species at specific locations on each island visited. Time of day and tidal influence are a key factor in determining when and where we go on each island. Knowing what to expect and look for ahead of time can often make the difference between capturing a mediocre image and the photo of a lifetime.
Testimonial
Shoot the Light, Charles Glatzer – Ranks number 1 in photographic workshops! After going to Yellowstone with Shoot the Light and Charles Glatzer, I felt it necessary to write a testimonial to my experience. I procrastinated. But now after two weeks with Chas on his Falklands workshop (he had been there 10 times) I feel remiss in not having written about Yellowsetone. I feel remiss because Chas’s workshops are really special and I want those who like me look for the best workshops to know what they can experience with Chas and Shoot the Light. I have been on about 10 photographic workshops to some of the most beautiful places with other leaders. Chas workshops are without peer. Chas’s workshops are all about the participants. He shares, teaches, shows, and most importantly interacts in every step of the process. His greatest delight is that we get the images not that he does. His knowledge and ability to explain difficult processes concisely and at the same time profoundly, while being patient with us, results in an unequaled experience. In addition it becomes quickly clear the he knows where to go and when to be there. His wildlife knowledge is second only to his photographic knowledge. Also, the logistics work amazingly well. You only have to look at Chas’s images to know that he is an extraordinary photographer, but based on my experiences with him he is also an, extraordinary naturalist and teacher. He holds nothing back he shares what he calls his “process” which is being prepared with equipment, locations and most importantly an idea of what image you are looking to capture. Also he explains his philosophy and how processes his images. Those of us who want to progress to the highest levels of photography should not forego the opportunity to learn from a truly rare talent, Chas. In addition to all I have said I must add he is a great guy to hang out with…….their are no ego trips.
Dennis H.
Tentative Schedule;
MALVINA HOUSE
VOLUNTEER POINT DAY TRIP
SAUNDERS NECK & SAUNDERS Settlement (rookery)
BLEAKER IS
SEA LION IS
MALVINA HOUSE
VOLUNTEER POINT DAY TRIP
This years schedule include 3 night stay at \"the neck\" on Saunders. The \"neck\" is without doubt one of the worlds most awe inspiring wildlife sites on earth. Our extended time here affords the best image making possible, in both sunrise and sunset lighting. An additional day will be spent at the Saunders Rookery. We have also scheduled 2 days at Volunteer Pt for King Penguins, as well as 3 nights respectively on Bleaker and Sea Lion Islands, making this one of the most incredible trips to date. Join me for two weeks of incredible photography off the beaten track in the Falkland Islands. We will photograph a large variety of approachable bird species including at least four species of penguins; king, magellenic, rockhopper and gentoo as well as black-browed albatross, striated caracara, king and rock cormorants and many other shorebirds, seabirds and passerines. We will also have the opportunity to photograph elephant seals and southern sea lions. Located east of the southern tip of South America, the Falkland Island archipelago consists of over 700 small islands. Sea Lion Is in Nov offers the world's most accessible and predictable opportunity to see orca predation.
Approximately 2500 people live in the Falklands and all but about 500 in the capital of Stanley on East Falkland. The rest are scattered throughout settlements on the smaller islands.
We have chosen 4 locations to visit to maximize our photographic opportunities. We will have 4x4 transportation on most of the islands to any of our remote shooting locations. However, most of our shooting will be within walking distance of our accommodations. The animals have little or no fear of humans they are quite approachable. By sitting quietly and waiting, many of the birds will approach humans out of curiosity. Because of this, a super long lens (500mm or 600mm) is not necessary and due to weight restrictions on inter island flights, difficult to arrange. Lenses in the 17-400mm range along with a teleconverter should cover most if not all situations.
Includes: From; Mount Pleasant, East Falkland Island ... photo instruction, all transport on the Falklands including inter-island flights and driver/guide ground transport, food and lodging, applicable taxes and service charges. Accommodations on the outer islands consists of small lodges, or cottages that are modest but comfortable.
Not Included: Airfares: Air fare costs for flights from participants home city to Mt Pleasant, Falklaands are not included. Participant is responsible for making their own arrangements to arrive in Mt Pleasant for the start of the expedition, lodging in Santiago, travel/baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; gratuities.
Fee: $8995 per person, with double occupancy. Single supplement is only available for some portion of accommodations at additional expense. Please note- all funds are quoted in US dollars.
Terms: A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space, 2nd deposit $2500 due 10/30/2021, Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please Review our Booking and Refund Policy.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
April 15-23, 2022
Truly the trip of a lifetime!
Inquire for additional info!
Space is reserved on receipt of deposit only. Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Adam Jones, Canon EOL, has been a life long resident of Louisville, Kentucky and is an internationally recognized photographer specializing in nature, wildlife, and travel images. Jones travels extensively throughout the U.S. and around the world creating his distinctive images. His award-winning photography has been widely published in magazines, posters, calendars, books, and in national advertising campaigns for clients such as Canon, Bogen, Ford, Eddie Bauer, Miller Beer, and Coldwater Creek.
Adam Jones is recognized worldwide as a prolific stock photographer with his photographs represented by Getty Images, Visuals Unlimited, Photo Researchers, and Danita Delimont Stock Photography. His work has sold for editorial and commercial uses in over 30 countries. Adam is in great demand for his beautiful graphic nature images and his clean distinctive travel imagery.
Adam is a very popular and respected workshop instructor and lecturer. Adam teaches photography workshops around the world helping students reach their full potential in the exciting world of photography. He has taught for Canon, Popular Photography & Imaging, Maine Photographic Workshops, and Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Adam is noted for his enthusiastic down to earth approach and his ability to communicate effectively with all skill levels
Participation is limited to 5
Host: Charles Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon EOL
If you want bears chasing and catching red sockeye in remote AK this is your trip! Brook’s Falls is an option (weather dependent).
We will get you where you want to be for the best wildlife experience. Our planes always stay with you during the day, which gives you the ability to change locations. We also have the ability to move to a different location. This a huge safety measure that no other Safari Lodge offers. This trip will provide you the world's best opportunity to photograph bears during the day and then spoil you at night with a gourmet four-course dinner with comfortable lodging.
This trip is fully guided by myself and lodge staff with our aircraft always standing by to fly you to over 127 different locations. We will have exclusive use of aircraft which includes float planes (sea planes), and bush planes on tundra tires as well as jet boats. The planes and boats are not out doing other things during the day. They are used exclusively for our guests. You never wait for an air taxi stationed somewhere else to show up! Our planes are always with you or at the lodge waiting for you. In all, we can cover a 30,000 square-mile area, including Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, & the Bristol Bay Watershed. Having the plane stay with you all day is a huge advantage allowing us to always be where the best bear activity is, and more importantly, if bad weather is blowing in we simply take off for the lodge or a different location.
Day 1; Please plan to arrive and overnight in Anchorage on August 3rd (session 1) or 9th (session 2).
Day 2; Late afternoon fly out to the lodge. Our scheduled departure time is 4:00PM. Settle in rooms. Once everyone has gathered at the lodge, orientation will begin. This meeting makes sure any and all questions get answered in regard to what the week will consist during our time together. After you’ve eaten your fill at dinner, together as a group, we discuss your options and make a plan for what tomorrow will bring.
Day 3-7; After enjoying a hearty breakfast, you will board one of the lodge’s aircraft, and the adventure begins! We fly out to our location(s) based on weather, intel, and highest bear activity. Note-we may camp on location overnight to get the best morning and afternoon light.
Day 7: 1/2 day on location, fly-out to Anchorage mid afternoon. Back at the lodge, there will be enough time to change from your field clothes into something more comfortable and get a quick shower in before our staff will transport the group back to Iliamna Airport for the 6:00 PM evening flight back to Anchorage, arrive in Anchorage at 7:30 PM.
Good physical fitness (Moderate Difficult) is required as hiking a few miles on uneven remote terrain is required. We may choose to camp in remote areas overnight for the best light and bear activity. Please note…camping is an option, not a have to do. If you prefer we can fly you to the lodge that evening and back to the location the next morning. We aim to please, wink.
Weather (rain, fog, wind) is always a consideration with regard to plane travel. Locations will be determined the evening before and the next day schedule/options will be discussed with the group after dinner.
Included;
Flight to/from Anchorage to the lodge.
Photo Instruction classroom/infield.
All the daily bush flights, boat trips, meals, lodging, guides, maid service, waders if desired.
Not Included;
Lodging in Anchorage, Flight to/from Anchorage, AK
Staff Gratuities $500/600, Alcohol (BYOB)
Cell Phones will not work. There is a lodge satellite phone that you are free to use for non-international call. Chas will have his SAT phone in field.
Fee: $10,995
Deposit; $1000 is required to reserve your space.
2nd deposit $2000 due August 15th, 2025
Balance due April 15th, 2026
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
The workshop is limited to eight participants.
Join Shoot the Light host, Joe Subolefsky for this workshop.
Enjoy five days shooting morning and evening. If conditions are optimal, we will continue shooting though mid-day.
The endless photographic opportunities provided by the rolling farmlands dotted with old homesteads and rustic barns makes this area of eastern Washington state and western Idaho unique and provides endless, ever-changing possibilities for the photographer.
I have been coming to The Palouse for years and have family with a ranch bordering this unique area. This has given me ample opportunity to explore this target rich region.
The rolling green hills, the variety of crop fields and the vintage barns make The Palouse region of eastern Washington ideal for honing your landscape photography skills. I’ll be right there with you in the field at each location. This is the perfect spot to gather captivating images of vintage vehicles, barns with immense character and rolling hills with interesting cloud structure. We will cruise the backroads of the massive area and pick the perfect vantage points to capture the uniqueness of this part of our country.
Do you enjoy infrared photography? I have years of experience shooting infrared around the world, this is a great opportunity to try your hand at infrared photography! If you are interested in renting an infrared body for this workshop, they are available through various rental companies. I will gladly assist you in setting up the body and get you started.
Closest Airport: Spokane International Airport (GEG) The hotel is 80 miles, approximately 90 minutes, south of the airport.
Recommended Lodging:starting/ending point each day
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pullman
1190 SE Bishop Blvd.
Pullman, Washington 99163
Includes: Five days of photography (ten sessions) with in the field instruction; Four hours in the morning and four hours in the evening during prime light.
Not Included: Meals, transportation, and hotel accommodations are not included in fee.
Fee: $1800 per person
Terms: Payment in full $1800 is required to reserve space
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Limited to 6 participants. (1 space available)
Join Shoot The Light host Michael Milicia for a small group field-intensive and bird-centric workshop based on Grímsey Island, a 2 square mile gem on the Arctic Circle which is home to about 70 people and a million seabirds including one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies.
This is a \"one stop shopping\" location for the serious bird photographer with large numbers of nesting birds, including Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common murres, black guillemots, Arctic terns, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, golden plovers, snow buntings, white wagtails, red-necked phalaropes, common snipe, common redshank, Eurasian oystercatcher, ringed plovers, purple sandpipers, dunlin, black-tailed godwits and more. There is also a picturesque lighthouse and church, distant snow-covered mountain backdrops, a group of photogenic Icelandic horses, and landscape opportunities with basalt columns, sea stacks, and dramatic views of the rocky cliffs and coastline.
Grímsey was a little known location among bird photographers before Mike offered the first bird photography workshop ever on the island in 2015. It has since become widely regarded as one of the best places in Iceland to photograph puffins, and the very best place in the world to photograph puffins in flight. This will be Mike’s 15th visit to Grimsey and he continues to discover new photo hot spots in the nooks and crannies of the island’s coastline on every trip.
Basing the workshop on the island for 6 days and 5 nights will give participants the freedom and flexibility to photograph wherever, whenever, and whatever they choose during the more than 22 hours of daylight that will be available each day. Time that might otherwise be spent traveling from place to place can instead be spent in the field and you will always be able to get to your desired shooting locations at the time of your choosing. This extended field time will also allow for more instruction, including more opportunities for one-on-one sessions and individualized coaching as desired.
Of all the species on the island, the puffins tend to steal the show. This is an especially good location for photographing puffins in small and large groups and for photographing puffins in flight. At various times of day, you can have dozens of birds flying by every minute at near eye level. We have timed the workshop to take place after the puffin chicks have hatched so that the adults will be bringing mouthfuls of fish back to their burrows.
Accommodations on the island will be at a modern guest house that is only available to a few select groups. It features large private rooms, two shared baths, wi-fi, and puffins right outside your door! Most meals will be served family style at the guest house and can be timed to accommodate our shooting schedule on any given day.
Fee :
$6995 Per Person Single Occupancy
$6495 Per Person Double Occupancy
INCLUDED :
ALL LODGING : Nine nights : July 4 - July 12
ALL MEALS (excluding snacks and alcoholic drinks) starting with dinner on July 4 and ending with breakfast on July 13.
ALL LAND TRANSPORTATION from Keflavik Airport.
ROUND TRIP FERRY to Grímsey Island.
PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTION AND IN-FIELD COACHING throughout.
NOT INCLUDED :
Air fare to/from Keflavik International Airport in Iceland
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
Workshops limited to a maximum of five participants. Includes seven sessions photographing winter duck species such as American Wigeon, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Greater and Lesser Scaup and more. Bonus species includes additional waterfowl such as swans, Snow Geese, harriers and various owl species.
I grew up in this region and have been shooting at this at this location for many many years. This spot offers a unique opportunity to be eye to eye with many diving waterfowl species that are usually found far from shore. Having spent the better part of 50 years outdoors in this area, I know its nooks and crannies and will put that experience to use finding all opportunities possible.
Understanding the sun, wind, tide, species personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery. This workshop provides an excellent opportunity to fine tune your bird in flight skills by shooting side by side with a highly awarded (including some photographs from this exact location), internationally recognized, bird in flight photographer. I’ll work with you to optimize your camera and lens settings for this type of shooting. I’ll also make sure you have a firm understanding of how to capture the perfect bird in flight shot (hands on shooting skills). Taking a small group of participants allows more one on one time to work though in the field questions.
Diving ducks are the primary focus. With a large group of birds usually present, this is a great time to capture birds in flight, behavioral interaction, and portraits.
Fee: $1650
Includes: Photographic instruction; three morning and four afternoon shoots (location to be determined by the weather and migration reports); four breakfasts provided by the hotel; transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, hotel, meals, personal items
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Oct 16th-19th, 2021 (3 full days in the field)
(FULL)
Arrive hotel late afternoon on the 16th, we start before sunrise on the 17th, end after sunset 19th.
Join Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL this Fall in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular foliage views above 5,000 ft is nearby. The area hosts more waterfalls than any other county in the US, with stunning rivers, farm fields, and nearby Pisgah National Forest and State forest lands. The quaint town Brevard is only minutes away from our hotel. Hendersonville is also close by, with a beautiful main street offering excellent dining and shopping opportunities for all.
This will be primarily an all day in the field workshop to include Catalooche for rutting elk, sunrise/sunset and twilight milkyway/star vistas from atop the Blue Ridge Parkway, with vists to the areas stunning waterfalls, rivers, and more. A classroom is reserved 18th & 19th for mid-day technical and postproduction instruction, or use in case of inclement weather.
LODGING (not included), ask for discounted STL rate.
Hampton Inn Brevard 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA TEL: +1-828-883-4800 FAX: +1-828-877-5884. HAMPTON INN, Brevard, NC is near Pisgah National Forest. Located in the Walmart shopping area ( far right), 4 miles northeast of Brevard, NC and only 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport.
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the Hampton Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC
Terms and Fee: $1295. Space is limited to 8 participants, reserved on receipt of full payment.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Shoot The Light host Joe Subolefsky for 4 full days of photography and small group instruction at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
The official bird checklist for Bosque lists 48 species as being common or abundant in the winter, including 5 raptors and 12 species of waterfowl. But the stars of the show are the tens of thousands of snow geese and sandhill cranes that make Bosque their winter home. Add in the spectacular New Mexico sunrises and sunsets along with the high desert landscape and mountain backdrops and you have the recipe for some gorgeous and dramatic imagery.
Bosque is legendary for the \"blast offs\" of snow geese at sunrise with thousands of birds taking off en masse creating a spectacle of sight and sound that you will never forget. The brilliant New Mexico sunsets provide the perfect backdrop for beautiful silhouettes of cranes coming into roost in the evenings. Between sunrise and sunset, opportunities abound for capturing geese and cranes in flight including dynamic takeoff and landing poses. The abundance of birds makes Bosque an ideal location for honing your flight photography skills.
Field instruction will be offered during each day's morning and afternoon photo sessions and there will be a 2-hour classroom session each day tailored to the needs and interests of the group. To ensure the best possible instruction and allow for more individual attention, this workshop will have a maximum of 6 participants.
NEW THIS YEAR … LODGING INCLUDED:
The workshop fee includes five nights lodging at the Holiday Inn Express in Socorro. This hotel is the “best in town” and underwent a complete renovation in 2019.
Fee:
$2595 Per Person Single Occupancy
$2195 Per Person Double Occupancy
Fee includes:
Five nights lodging. All field and classroom instruction.
Fee does NOT include:
Air fare, ground transportation, meals, or refuge entrance fees.
Registration and Payment:
Participation only reserved on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $750. Bal due 60 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at:
office 828-891-4082
e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Arrive in Cuiaba, Brazil on August 21st. We return to Cuiaba in the afternoon of August 31st.
Join Joe Subolefsky as he returns to the largest wetland on the planet for this intimate workshop.
Limited to five participants. Small participant numbers allows us to stay on a comfortable flotel directly on the river with the Jaguars and allows each person to have their own row in the boat to comfortably shoot to each side of the photo boat.
Embark on an adventurous 10-day expedition to capture Brazil’s most famous creatures, big and small. Enjoy diverse bird life, mammals and scenery in Brazil’s Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet. The main star of this workshop will be the Pantanal Jaguar, the third largest cat in the world! Pantanal Jaguars are double the size of Amazonian Jaguars. Five days on the river and its interconnected waterways will give us ample opportunities to capture this beast. We are certain to encounter and photograph the area’s famous Giant River Otters, Capybaras, Caimans, Tapirs, various bird species and more!
This amazing experience will include time at a separate lodge on our way to and another lodge while leaving Jaguar land. Both of these comfortable lodges provide fantastic photography opportunities. We also will have two evening sessions photographing the elusive Ocelots. While we travel along the 90 mile 100 bridge Transpantaneira road that welcomes you into the wilds we will stop to photograph varies species we are sure to encounter.
Stay at lodges with the amenities of home and travel with English-speaking local guides as you embark on an adventure like no other.
Includes:
Photography workshop leader, Joe Subolefsky English Speaking Local Guide Accommodations based on double occupancy Meals and Excursions
Included Meals begin with Lunch on August 22
Included Meals end with Breakfast on August 31 Private Transportation
One client per row on the boats during all Jaguar Safaris. This is to accommodate your gear and give you access to shoot from both sides of the boat comfortably.
Not Included:
Tips
Soft drinks, small bottles of water, beer, wine and mixed drinks Laundry
Travel Insurance
Fee: $9995
Terms: A $2,500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Limited to only 3 participants.
Join Shoot The Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate adventure with wild elk in Pennsylvania.
Workshop limited to a maximum of three participants, includes three morning sessions and four afternoon sessions photographing elk and usually opportunities to photograph foxes, coyotes, and owls.
Joe has been photographing elk in this area for over fifteen years. This wild herd was reintroduced to the area in 1913 when 50 elk were brought from Yellowstone by train car and now numbers over 1,400 animals. With next to zero hunting and milder eastern winters this special elk zone produces several world class bulls year after year.
While elk are the primary focus, the various residents of the mountainous habitat may make appearances throughout the time in the field. Foxes, coyotes, owls, turkeys and more are particularly abundant in this area. During this time of year, the elk are actively in rut and epic territorial battles ensue to protect harems from visiting males. Capturing confrontations, bugling, chasing, mating and other behaviors will be the focus of our adventure. Having a small group will provide you with the opportunity to learn how to position yourself in regard to the animals by understanding the sun, wind, personality traits and terrain. By being proactive these skills allow us to make the most of the opportunities-a skill you’ll be able to transfer to future situations.
This workshop provides you with amazing in-field photographic experiences, photographic technique discussions along the way as we capture the beauty of these animals and environment.
Travel Information:
Fee: $1,900
Includes: Photographic instruction, seven sessions afield and transportation from the hotel to the shooting locations.
Not Included: Travel to Pennsylvania, hotel, meals, personal items
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Charles Glatzer M.Photog, EOL for an individualized or private group of instruction in the field and/or in the classroom for a day(s) of outstanding nature photography and instruction in the beautiful mountains of Western NC.
One-on-one or small private group ensures the best instruction possible. This hands-on personalized workshop is designed for nature photographers who wish to dramatically increase their technical ability while learning to see and shoot the light. Numerous participants feel a private lesson is more advantageous than working in a larger group.
\"A Day in the Field\" is structured around your specific needs and photographic goals. Charles will talk with you prior to your arrival to design a lesson plan tailored to making the most of your time together.
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* Blue Ridge Pkwy for sunrise/sunset and night sky images
* Smoky Mountains - Catalooche for rutting elk, turkey, elk bear
* Abundant locations for waterfalls, rivers, landscapes
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* Setting up your Canon R5/6, R3, R5c for your specific needs.
* Setting your camera for video/cine
* How to easily shoot and process HDR images
* Night sky photography
* Understanding lighting quality, quantity, direction and how they relate to overall image impact.
* How lighting ratios effect both the subject and background.
* Understanding Metering Patterns and Priority Modes.
* How to expose and meter for the most important highlight, compress and expand image contrast and brightness range.
* When and how to use flash for fill, balanced to ambient, and as the main source.
* Proper AF and Manual focusing technique; to best achieve sharp In-flight images
* How to produce exacting image sharpness, the tools and techniques required, and how to apply them in the field.
* What to look for in the all-important background.
* Post-production CS, LR, color management, RAW workflow.
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Fee -$3000 per day, plus expenses. Group rates available upon request. Bookings by appointment only, with deposit 50% required to reserve dates.
Inquire about private Zoom sessions.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
I recently returned from a photography trip with Joe Subolefsky of Shoot the Light. Our goal was to photograph wood ducks and diving ducks.
We had a great time! Joe is friendly and personable and well as full of knowledge about the subjects and their habitats. He gave us great advice about the behaviors of our animals. Joe offered us multiple location options and gave us his advice about them. We also managed to squeeze in some wild horses, lots of additional birds and a fox. We had an awesome experience with Joe.
I came home with some beautiful images and many fun memories.
My friend and I had such a special experience that we have already booked our next trip with Joe and Shoot the Light :-)
SR
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Joe,
I wanted to thank you again for the fabulous week at Lake Clark. I so appreciate your support and understanding of my recent devastating loss. I felt the first couple of days that you and Chas were really taking note of how I was doing, it did not go unnoticed.
Not only are you a gifted photographer but you are a good human. I feel as if the trip starting me down the path to sew up the very large hole in my heart where Greg has been for 25 years. He will always be with me of course, but the process must move forward I suppose.
I surely hope our photographic paths cross again.
Take care,
Lora
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From my first STL workshop where I met Joe, I was so impressed with how he always seemed to know who might need help, often before the question was even asked! I knew after watching this happen many times, that I would never hesitate to attend a workshop led by Joe. So, my next STL workshop was with Joe. It is amazing how well understands the behavior of each bird and animal being photographed, and knows how to “read the signs”, which put us in positions to get some unbelievable shots. It truly exceeded my expectations. No wonder he got nick-named “Tracker Joe” on that workshop! Not only is he a fantastic photographer and teacher, he’s also just a great guy. I am looking forward to my next STL workshop with Joe.
Nancy Lee
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Joins Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Workshops are limited to three people.
Enjoy coastal North Carolina for an excellent photographic opportunity at the most concentrated black bear population on the planet. The mild climate allows the bears to feed year-round and grow to their full potential of 700 or 800 pounds. There is even a 900 pound bear on record! During these workshops, the massive males are on the move seeking out and breeding with females. Additional females are bringing out their cubs to feed in the crop fields, giving us multiple opportunities per session to capture the essence of the black bear. Numerous sightings and the small group setting give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills. Bonus animals on this adventure include the very elusive, critically threatened Red Wolf, coyotes, Owls and various reptiles.
Food and hotel accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Includes: Photographic Instruction, six sessions afield, transportation from the hotel/meeting point to the various shooting locations.
Not Included: Travel to the location, person items, hotel and meals
Fee: 1,950
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Joins Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Enjoy the coastal island of Chincoteague, VA for a fun opportunity photographing wild ponies by boat. We time this excursion to coincide with foaling season and last year photographed newborns and several week old foals all from the water at a safe, ethical distance. Numerous sightings and our small group give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills.
It is believed these ponies are direct descendants of ponies on board a Spanish sailing ship wrecked on the island in the 17th century. In 2021 a DNA test was conducted on a tooth of a confirmed Spanish horse from a colony in Haiti. The DNA on the recovered tooth matched DNA from the local Chincoteague ponies, confirming the connection to the Spanish herd that was shipwrecked on the island.
Workshops are limited to 5 participants.
Includes: Photographic instruction, boat and local guide.
Not Included: Travel to the location, personal items, meals and hotel accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Fee: $1,995
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 7 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Joins Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Enjoy the coastal island of Chincoteague, VA for a fun opportunity photographing wild ponies by boat. We time this excursion to coincide with foaling season and last year photographed newborns and several week old foals all from the water at a safe, ethical distance. Numerous sightings and our small group give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills.
It is believed these ponies are direct descendants of ponies on board a Spanish sailing ship wrecked on the island in the 17th century. In 2021 a DNA test was conducted on a tooth of a confirmed Spanish horse from a colony in Haiti. The DNA on the recovered tooth matched DNA from the local Chincoteague ponies, confirming the connection to the Spanish herd that was shipwrecked on the island.
Workshops are limited to 5 participants.
Includes: Photographic instruction, boat and local guide.
Not Included: Travel to the location, personal items, meals and hotel accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Fee: $1,995
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(Recommend to overnight in Bozeman 5/6)
Hosts... Charles Glatzer: M.Photog/Canon EOL
Joe Subolefsky: STL Instructor, Wildlife photographer extraordinaire, and all around nice guy
Participation is limited to 3 people.
Three participants will join us as we travel the area around Gardiner, Lamar Valley, and the interior of Yellowstone National Park photographing big game wildlife and scenic wonders. The wildlife we expect to see among spectacular environmental features and stunning backgrounds may include bison, big horn sheep, coyote, red fox, elk, otters, pronghorn, badger, mule deer, wolves, ermine, bald and golden eagles, and more. May is the best time of year to see and photograph both grizzly and black bears (cubs) as they come out of hibernation in search of food, along with newborn bison calves ((reds).
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Our small group (3) allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. As a photo specific tour we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods, departing lodging before sunrise each morning, and returning at days end.
Testimonials...
I learned more on this one trip (Yellowstone) about photographic technique than on my previous 22 trips under different instructors. Manual metering was so rapid and straightforward that I never had to worry about ever blowing out a histogram. This allowed me to focus on the picture composition without concerns about the imaging quality. Chas is a remarkably gifted natural teacher and is able to explain the complex in simple comprehensible terms. He manages to do it in a natural and very amusing way so that it sticks with you. His compositional and post-
production skills are equally amazing. I look forward to the experience both in film and future workshops.
Chris A.
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Thanks for a great trip to Yellowstone. I went in thinking I was a pretty good photographer but knowing there was much I could still learn. What I didn't expect was the complete epiphany I experienced when taking your advice to shoot in manual exposure mode. I have always shot in Av mode and while my exposures were generally okay, I was constantly battling the metering system with exposure compensation, especially when compositions changed. I just assumed there was no real alternative, believing manual exposure mode was too complex and slow for wildlife photography. Your teaching method made clear it was not complex at all (in fact, it is very intuitive and logical) and afforded the opportunity to focus on composition as opposed to worrying about the proper exposure. It's really a photographic-altering experience for me. I'll never (or rarely) shoot in Av mode again and can already see that my images have taken a step up. Many thanks!
Doug
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Itinerary:
May 7th: transfer from Bozeman, MT to Absaroka hotel. Group orientation, metering class,, camera settings, etc. Photograph area around Gardiner, MT
May 8th- May 12th: We spend most of our time searching for and photographing wildlife around Gardiner, Lamar Valley, and the park interior. A day trip to the Teton area is also possible.
May 13th: Depart early (8am) from Absaroka Hotel, MT to Bozeman Airport.
Getting there: It is recommended that you arrive the day before the workshop starts, spending a night in Bozeman, MT.
Workshop Fee: $6,495
Includes: Photographic classroom & in-field instruction, 6 nights single accommodations Absaroka Hotel, airport transfers to/from Bozeman Airport to Gardiner, MT, breakfast day 2-7 with lunches days 2-6.
Hotel: included
Absaroka Hotel 310 Scott St W
Gardiner, MT 59030
(406) 848-7414
Not Included: Airfare to/from Bozeman, MT and meals other than specified above. Lodging in Bozeman prior to and after the workshop dates.
Hotel: recommendation 5/6
Beat Western,
Grantree Bozeman 1325 N 7th Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-556-6213
Terms: Payment in full is required to reserve space.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(Full)
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of six participants. This trip includes nine full days photographing in the Costa Rician rainforest. Costa Rica is home to 903 bird species. We will have numerous opportunities to photograph various hummingbirds such as Volcano Hummingbird and Firey-throated Hummingbird, Toucan species, King Vulture, ample time with the Resplendent Quetzal and a night session photographing bats.
Embark on this journey with Shoot the Light host, Joe Subolefsky as he guides you in the various methods of shooting in the splendid habitats.
The trip will include sessions with the numerous hummingbird species in natural and flash set ups. Clients will also enjoy sessions of exclusive use of two different King Vulture hides. Opportunities for macro photography using frogs, reptiles and amphibians as focus subjects will be plentiful. A boat excursion photographing along the San Carlos River will bring you to the animals.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be birds and amphibians and hopefully a sloth or two.
Fee: $4995
Includes: Photographic instruction, overnight accommodations at three different lodges, private transportation from the airport to all destinations and back to the airport, breakfast and dinners at lodges and all planned activities
Not Included: Travel to Costa Rica, lunches, gratuities to local guides, gratuities to the driver and boat driver, laundry service, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 7 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(Full)
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of six participants. This trip includes nine full days photographing in the Costa Rician rainforest. Costa Rica is home to 903 bird species. We will have numerous opportunities to photograph various hummingbirds such as Volcano Hummingbird and Firey-throated Hummingbird, Toucan species, King Vulture, ample time with the Resplendent Quetzal and a night session photographing bats.
Embark on this journey with Shoot the Light host, Joe Subolefsky as he guides you in the various methods of shooting in the splendid habitats.
The trip will include sessions with the numerous hummingbird species in natural and flash set ups. Clients will also enjoy sessions of exclusive use of two different King Vulture hides. Opportunities for macro photography using frogs, reptiles and amphibians as focus subjects will be plentiful. A boat excursion photographing along the San Carlos River will bring you to the animals.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be birds and amphibians and hopefully a sloth or two.
Fee: $4995
Includes: Photographic instruction, overnight accommodations at three different lodges, private transportation from the airport to all destinations and back to the airport, breakfast and dinners at lodges and all planned activities
Not Included: Travel to Costa Rica, lunches, gratuities to local guides, gratuities to the driver and boat driver, laundry service, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 7 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Workshops are limited to 5 participants.
Enjoy the coastal island of Chincoteague, VA for a fun opportunity photographing wild ponies by boat. We time this excursion to coincide with foaling season and last year photographed newborns and several week old foals all from the water at a safe, ethical distance. Numerous sightings and our small group give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills.
It is believed these ponies are direct descendants of ponies on board a Spanish sailing ship wrecked on the island in the 17th century. In 2021 a DNA test was conducted on a tooth of a confirmed Spanish horse from a colony in Haiti. The DNA on the recovered tooth matched DNA from the local Chincoteague ponies, confirming the connection to the Spanish herd that was shipwrecked on the island.
Meals and hotel accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Includes: Photographic instruction, boat and local guide.
Not Included: Travel to the location, personal items, accommodations, gratuity for boat captain, and meals.
Fee: $1,995
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by STL Instructor Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of two participants, includes six sessions photographing various duck species and many bonus species.
The workshop combines two great, vastly different, locations in one spectacular event. Participants will begin at one location with three photography sessions capturing species such as American Wigeon, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Greater and Lesser Scaup and more. Bonus species includes additional waterfowl such as swans, Snow Geese and various owl species.
I have been shooting at this at this location for many years. This location offers a unique opportunity to be eye to eye with many diving waterfowl species that are usually found far from shore.
During the second half of the workshop, participants will travel 90 minutes to a new location and will focus on Wood Ducks. Participants will enjoy two morning sessions photographing Wood Ducks and usually opportunities to photograph Belted Kingfishers fishing and interacting with their mate; an afternoon shooting Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, fishing Osprey or various species depending on timing, migration and weather.
I’ve been photographing Wood Ducks at this location for many, many years. Belted Kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and more are found in this marsh. Wood Ducks being the most skittish of the ducks, it is difficult to happen upon one that sticks around long enough to photograph. Using a remote location, the cover of darkness and a custom designed blind, we can provide a once in a lifetime experience in the marsh.
This ‘Best of Both Worlds’ workshop provides you with numerous, amazing in-field photographic experiences. Our primary focus will be breeding ducks of all species capping the workshop with Wood Ducks.
Understanding the sun, wind, tide, species personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery. This workshop provides an excellent opportunity to fine tune your bird in flight skills by shooting side by side with a highly awarded (including some photographs from this exact location), internationally recognized, bird in flight photographer. I’ll work with you to optimize your camera and lens settings for this type of shooting. I’ll also make sure you have a firm understanding of how to capture the perfect bird in flight shot (hands on shooting skills). Taking a small group of participants allows more one on one time to work though your in the field questions.
Diving ducks are the primary focus for the first half of the adventure. With a large group of birds usually present, this is a great time to capture birds in flight, behavioral interaction, and portraits.
Includes: Photographic instruction, six sessions in the field shooting, three at each location.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, accommodations, meals, personal items, travel to second location (90 minutes from the first location). Transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Fee: 2,800
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Joins Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Workshops are limited to three people.
Enjoy coastal North Carolina for an excellent photographic opportunity at the most concentrated black bear population on the planet. The mild climate allows the bears to feed year-round and grow to their full potential of 700 or 800 pounds. There is even a 900 pound bear on record! During these workshops, the massive males are on the move seeking out and breeding with females. Additional females are bringing out their cubs to feed in the crop fields, giving us multiple opportunities per session to capture the essence of the black bear. Numerous sightings and the small group setting give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills. Bonus animals on this adventure include the very elusive, critically threatened Red Wolf, coyotes, Owls and various reptiles.
Food and accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Includes: Photographic Instruction, six sessions afield.
Not Included: Travel to the location, person items, hotel and meals. Transportation from the hotel/meeting point to the various shooting locations.
Fee: 1,950
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by STL Instructor Joe Subolefsky
Workshops limited to a maximum of five participants. Includes seven sessions photographing winter duck species such as American Wigeon, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Greater and Lesser Scaup and more. Bonus species includes additional waterfowl such as swans, Snow Geese, harriers and various owl species.
I grew up in this region and have been shooting at this at this location for many many years. This spot offers a unique opportunity to be eye to eye with many diving waterfowl species that are usually found far from shore. Having spent the better part of 50 years outdoors in this area, I know its nooks and crannies and will put that experience to use finding all opportunities possible.
Understanding the sun, wind, tide, species personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery. This workshop provides an excellent opportunity to fine tune your bird in flight skills by shooting side by side with a highly awarded (including some photographs from this exact location), internationally recognized, bird in flight photographer. I’ll work with you to optimize your camera and lens settings for this type of shooting. I’ll also make sure you have a firm understanding of how to capture the perfect bird in flight shot (hands on shooting skills). Taking a small group of participants allows more one on one time to work though in the field questions.
Diving ducks are the primary focus. With a large group of birds usually present, this is a great time to capture birds in flight, behavioral interaction, and portraits.
Fee: $1650
Includes: Photographic instruction; three morning and four afternoon shoots (location to be determined by the weather and migration reports); four breakfasts provided by the hotel.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, hotel, meals, personal items, transportation from the accommodations to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of two participants, includes two morning sessions photographing wood ducks and usually ample opportunities to photograph Belted Kingfishers fishing and interacting with their mate; an afternoon shooting Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, fishing Osprey or various duck species depending on timing, migration and weather.
We’ve been photographing Wood Ducks at this location for many, many years. Understanding the sun, wind, personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery.
While Wood Ducks are the primary focus, the various residents of the wetland habitat may make appearances throughout the time in the field. Belted Kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and more are particularly abundant in this marsh. Wood Ducks being the most skittish of the ducks, it is difficult to happen upon one that sticks around long enough to photograph. Using a remote location, the cover of darkness and a custom designed blind, we can provide a once in a lifetime experience in the marsh.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be breeding Wood Ducks; small, stunning birds, with bright iridescent colors and tear drop shaped eye-rings that pop. With a handful of birds usually present this is a great time to capture behavioral interaction, and portraits, along with both males and females in relation to their nesting boxes.
Lodging Recommendation: Homewood Suites By Hilton Bel Air 4170 Philadelphia Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21015 410.297.8585
Fee: $1350
Includes: Photographic instruction, two morning shoots at the Wood Duck blind, two afternoon shoots at a destination to be determined by the weather, migration reports.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, accommodations, meals, personal items. Transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of two participants, includes two morning sessions photographing wood ducks and usually ample opportunities to photograph Belted Kingfishers fishing and interacting with their mate; an afternoon shooting Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, fishing Osprey or various duck species depending on timing, migration and weather.
We’ve been photographing Wood Ducks at this location for many, many years. Understanding the sun, wind, personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery.
While Wood Ducks are the primary focus, the various residents of the wetland habitat may make appearances throughout the time in the field. Belted Kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and more are particularly abundant in this marsh. Wood Ducks being the most skittish of the ducks, it is difficult to happen upon one that sticks around long enough to photograph. Using a remote location, the cover of darkness and a custom designed blind, we can provide a once in a lifetime experience in the marsh.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be breeding Wood Ducks; small, stunning birds, with bright iridescent colors and tear drop shaped eye-rings that pop. With a handful of birds usually present this is a great time to capture behavioral interaction, and portraits, along with both males and females in relation to their nesting boxes.
Lodging Recommendation: Homewood Suites By Hilton Bel Air 4170 Philadelphia Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21015 410.297.8585
Fee: $1350
Includes: Photographic instruction, two morning shoots at the Wood Duck blind, two afternoon shoots at a destination to be determined by the weather, migration reports.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, accommodations, meals, personal items. Transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 30 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(open enrollment)
18th: Metering
19th: Visual Design and In-Field Methodology
20th: Flash
21st: Postproduction Lightroom/Photoshop & Plug-ins
Hosts:
Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL
co-host STL Instructor Joe Subolefsky
The response to the Tech Series Workshops have been overwhelming, and I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL Technical Workshop Series is without a doubt the definitive learning medium for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both comprehensive classroom, and in field session instruction. Guaranteed to further your image making ability and creatively expand your photographic horizons. Every participant has said this series elevated their imagery more than they ever imagined.
METERING THEORY AND FUNDAMENTALS; This session will provide you with the tools necessary to control and achieve consistent exposure regardless of the subject and background tonality. * Relationship between aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure values * Easy to implement methods for quick alteration in the field. * The difference between Metering Patterns and Priority Modes. * How to best use AEL with Av * How and when to use Spot, Evaluative, Matrix to best advantage * Sunny f/16, and how to make and use reference values. How to best evaluate the Histogram to retain highlight detail with your mirrorless camera. This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 AM with in-field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11:30 -1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
VISUAL DESIGN and IN-FIELD METHODOLOGY; This one is important! This session is designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using creative techniques, compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above. * Pro-Active * Capturing the Decisive Moment * Understanding animal behavior * How to best approach subjects * Eliminate distractions * Compositional elements and geometry * Visual Design and Impact This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction. weather permitting or classroom.
FLASH; This session will provide you with the tools and understanding necessary to control and achieve consistent flash exposure. Flash is a different animal, especially when combined with ambient light. Many find this area of photography perplexing. When determining whether your strobe will be used for main, balanced or fill, it is always necessary to consider its relationship to the ambient light present. I highly recommend taking the Metering session before this one. * Flash Fundamentals; inverse square law (light falloff), and Guide Numbers (GN) * Flash meter; how to use the flash meter to determine exposure * Manual flash; why, how and when to use it for consistent results!!!! * Flash as Main, Balanced, and Fill; how to determine and use each method * Compensation; how to determine the right amount of compensation * The Better Beamer; how and when to use it for maximum results * Multiple flash; how to ratio and set-up multiple lighting * Participants will conduct in-field tests with their own equipment using both high and low tonality subjects in various lighting conditions. Results will be evaluated both in the field and in the classroom. This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 am with in field instruction, 9:30 - 11:30 classroom, 11;30 am -1 pm break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.
POST PRODUCTION; Lightroom & Photoshop; This session will provide you with the tools necessary to correct your RAW image to its fullest potential. I receive daily e-mails asking me why my images appear more lifelike and dimensional than those others post on the web. We walk you completely through the workflow process, showing you all the tips and techniques that I use from the point of capture to web posting and printing. You will learn shortcuts and advanced applications specifically tailored to help you make the most of your images for both web and print. Workshop classroom begins promptly at 9 am, 12:00-1:30 break for lunch, 1:30-5:00 pm classroom. Participants are urged to take their laptops with them, applying hands-on the methods and techniques discussed. Photoshop and Lightroom programs should be loaded on laptops. You are welcome to join us before (7am) and after scheduled classroom hrs (5pm) to shoot at the AF provided you have a photo pass.
\"For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Technical Workshop in St. Augustine, Florida is a must. Thanks Chaz for a great 4-day workshop at the Alligator Farm May 6-9. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 41 years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!”
RS
--------------
\"What a blast we had this April at the Shoot the Light Workshop in St. Augustine! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. With 4 instructors milling around about 20 students it was easy to get all of my questions answered. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.\"
Wayne & Margaret
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\"I recently returned from a four day Technical Workshop with Shoot the Light wow!! I had no idea how little I knew until Chas started explaining metering, flash, postproduction and visualization. We worked both in the classroom and in the field from dawn to dark and I learned more in four days than I would have on my own in years.\"
D.S.
------------------
On the recommendation of a good photographer friend I attended a four day Technical Series Workshop conducted by \"Shoot The Light\" (\"STL\") in St. Augustine FL. The format was awesome. I knew that Charles (Chas) Glatzer was the guy running the whole affair. The 7am field shoot at the Alligator Farm brought another surprise. Chas left his cameras behind. He was 100% dedicated to helping us students. Before attending the workshop I thought I was a pretty good photographer. After all, some of my images have won awards. The workshop was a real eye opener. Many times during the classroom sessions we would interrupt and ask for a second explanation (sometimes even a third explanation). Chas was very patient and helpful; never a hint of arrogance or condescension. He really wanted us to grasp the concepts and become better photographers. Many concepts are simple (once you get it), but require breaking bad habits. The insights, techniques and skills I learned lifted my photography to a higher level. Now my images are much improved, and I got some great bird shots at the Alligator Farm. Chas and crew are very personable and fun to be around. The students were both accomplished and congenial. I made several new friends. The whole experience was very enjoyable. I highly recommend STL, and look forward to joining them again sometime in the future.
Bob W.
--------------------------
The goal of the STL Technical Series Workshops is to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 30 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience.
Thank you Chas, Mike, Tom and Dave! \" Glen Fox \"
------------------------
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there. L. B.
LODGING: not included
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the St. Aug AF, St Augustine, FL.
Terms and Fee: Workshops are $395 each. Attend all 4 sessions and we will purchase your yearly pass, or $100 discount.
Space is reserved on receipt of 50% deposit only. Balance due 30 days before workshop. Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(arrive hotel afternoon on the 7th, workshop begins before sunrise 8th and ends at sunset on the 12th, depart 13th).
Join Canon EOL Master photographer Charles Glatzer for a 5-day, in-the-field Workshop. Our primary focus will be on photographing the elk, bighorn sheep, coyote, moose, pika, and the spectacular landscapes. Additional species have included wolf, pine martin, marmot, muskrat, beaver, mule deer, and bear among others.
This will be our 12th year in Jasper and we know all the best locations for wildlife. Jasper offers scenic wilderness surroundings of unparalleled beauty. Jasper National Park is Canada’s largest Rocky Mountain Park and one of North America’s largest natural areas – spanning 10,878 sq. km (4,200 sq. mi.) of awe-inspiring scenic splendor. Shimmering glaciers, abundant wildlife as well as crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons and evergreen forest surrounded by towering, rugged mountain peaks are what your eyes have been waiting to see.
Jasper will satisfy the needs of the most discriminating large mammal and landscape photographer, but if your interested there’s great food, shopping, etc. nearby. Edmonton is the closest city to Jasper NP and the best place to fly in and out. There are small commuter aircraft services available that fly near Jasper NP, but I don’t think it’s worth the effort. The drive from the airport to Jasper is about 3.5 hours or 210 miles. Jasper National Park is located 370 km west of Edmonton along Highway 16 and 404 km northwest of Calgary via the Trans-Canada Highway 1 and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). The town of Jasper is located in the middle of the park. Vancouver and Edmonton have regular bus and train service to Jasper.
Recommended Lodging; Rooms held under Shoot the Light. MOUNT ROBSON INN, Box 88, 902 Connaught Drive West, (780) 852-3327Toll Free: 1-800-587-3327, Fax: (780) 852-5004, Website: www.mountrobsoninn.com, E-mail: info@mountrobsoninn.com
To ensure the best instruction possible, this workshop will have a maximum of eight participants.
Fee $3295
Not included: does not include lodging, transportation, meals, and vehicle entrance fee. Applicable taxes.
Participation only reserved on receipt of deposit $1000. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(FULL)
STL Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon EOL
Arrive in Anchorage, AK 8/19 overnighting the day before the workshop. Depart for home 8/25.
Having hosted 168 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge. Single supplement if available $600
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity $75 per day x 5.
Weather Policy; there is additional $150 per person for each night weathered in at the lodge. Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from ANC, etc while in ANC are at participants expense.
Fee; $7995
Deposit non-refundable $2000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL NC Workshop is for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both in field sessions and comprehensive classroom instruction.
Join Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL this Fall in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular foliage views above 5,000 ft are nearby. The area hosts more waterfalls than any other county in the US, with stunning rivers, farm fields, and nearby Pisgah National Forest and State forest lands. The quaint town Brevard is only minutes away from our hotel. Hendersonville is also close by, with a beautiful main street offering excellent dining and shopping opportunities for all.
This will be primarily an all day in the field workshop to include Catalooche for rutting elk, sunrise/sunset and twilight milkyway/star vistas from atop the Blue Ridge Parkway, with vists to the areas stunning waterfalls, rivers, and more. A classroom is reserved each day for mid-day technical and postproduction instruction, and/or use in case of inclement weather. This is one you will not want to miss!
Testimonials
For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Workshops are a must. Thanks Chas for a great workshop. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!
RS
What a blast we had at the STL Workshop! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.
Wayne & Margaret
The goal of the STL Workshops are to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 34 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas.
Glen Fox
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there.
L. B.
LODGING (not included), ask for discounted STL rate.
Hampton Inn Brevard 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA TEL: +1-828-883-4800 FAX: +1-828-877-5884. HAMPTON INN, Brevard, NC is near Pisgah National Forest. Located in the Walmart shopping area ( far right), 4 miles northeast of Brevard, NC and only 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport.
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the Hampton Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC
Terms and Fee: $1995. Space is limited, reserved on receipt of deposit only $500. Balance due 60 days prior to the workshop.
Video Seminar (optional): Fee $425
Includes; classroom instruction on video basics, gear selection, how to best set up your camera for the task at hand, slow motion, time-lapse, ND filters, basic editing, as well as in-field shooting opportunities.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
I am proud to offer this series designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. The STL NC Workshop is for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both in field sessions and comprehensive classroom instruction.
Join Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL this Fall in the beautiful mountains of western NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway with spectacular foliage views above 5,000 ft are nearby. The area hosts more waterfalls than any other county in the US, with stunning rivers, farm fields, and nearby Pisgah National Forest and State forest lands. The quaint town Brevard is only minutes away from our hotel. Hendersonville is also close by, with a beautiful main street offering excellent dining and shopping opportunities for all.
This will be primarily an all day in the field workshop to include Catalooche for rutting elk, sunrise/sunset and twilight milkyway/star vistas from atop the Blue Ridge Parkway, with vists to the areas stunning waterfalls, rivers, and more. A classroom is reserved each day for mid-day technical and postproduction instruction, and/or use in case of inclement weather. This is one you will not want to miss!
Testimonials
For anyone wanting to hone their photographic skills, Shoot the Light’s Workshops are a must. Thanks Chas for a great workshop. Though at the end of each day I was exhausted, the combination of classroom and field time was perfect. I have attended many photography workshops and classroom technical sessions, and I can say without a doubt this workshop was the best I have attended to date. What made it so special was your 30+ years of photographic knowledge and your down to earth ability to express that knowledge in a way that made it easy to understand and fun. Your story telling was outstanding and a highlight of each day’s classroom session. Couple that with your teaching style and I had blast. Your teaching style was practical and down to earth allowing participants to be very comfortable with you and ask questions they may have been hesitant to ask. Your approach to metering and to the use of flash took complicated subjects broke the techniques down to their lowest common denominators, allowing me to walk away at the end of the session with a new set of tools for my photo toolkit. The final day session on post processing gave me new insights on how to use Photo Shop effectively and Dave Kelly’s presentation on the use of Lightroom opened many new ideas for me to explore. Thanks for the experience!
RS
What a blast we had at the STL Workshop! It was not only fun but the lectures and field sessions were fantastic. Thanks for the best photo learning experience of my life! I was pushed to think and photograph like never before, and my head is still spinning. I have been telling everyone how much I learned, now all I have to do is put this knowledge to work. Margaret and I cannot wait to go on a photo workshop with you in the future.
Wayne & Margaret
The goal of the STL Workshops are to provide you, the photographer, with tools that will enable you to capture a more satisfying image, whatever your vision! Yes, they are all about you and improving your fundamental knowledge and skills. Its not about Chas Glatzer. Chas brings his knowledge and skills as a photographer and naturalist gained over 34 years of diverse experience and offers it to you in a friendly, amusing, and memorable fashion. Chas and his team mentor you constantly, and clearly delight in your achievements. They are there to teach, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a participant, or just another photographer on the boardwalk struggling with your gear, you will get the same kind of patient attention. This old fart learned so much in those four days he was exhausted. But, it was a wonderful experience. Thank you Chas.
Glen Fox
I want to let you know the impact you have had on my life, photography is a passion for me, I spend a huge amount of my spare time with my camera and after your workshop my skill level has been elevated to a point I am ecstatic with. Your workshop was the 4th I had taken all with different professional photographers and although I learned something from each professional, I also learned that not all workshops are the same and not all professionals have the ability to teach. Now in fairness to those other workshops, I have taken something different from each one; however, your workshop was head and shoulders above all others I have attended. I made huge progress in such a short period of time and above all it was apparent you care about why people are there.
L. B.
LODGING (not included), ask for discounted STL rate.
Hampton Inn Brevard 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA TEL: +1-828-883-4800 FAX: +1-828-877-5884. HAMPTON INN, Brevard, NC is near Pisgah National Forest. Located in the Walmart shopping area ( far right), 4 miles northeast of Brevard, NC and only 15 miles from Asheville Regional Airport.
All classroom sessions to be held in conference room at the Hampton Inn, Pisgah Forest, NC
Terms and Fee: $2095. Space is limited, reserved on receipt of deposit only $500. Balance due 90 days prior to the workshop.
Methods of payment accepted: Check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Mike Glatzer.
Assisted by Charles Glatzer.
Many of you know my background, and as such I have been asked many times to host a Portrait seminar. To that end STL presents a 2 day Hands-On Flash Workshop with my extremely talented nephew Mike Glatzer, a leading Atlanta based creative portrait photographer.
Who Is This Flash Workshop For?
Natural light is fantastic, but it’s not always convenient. Sometimes, you have to create unique images even when the natural light sucks. Or if you’re like me, you want to take ordinary scenes and make them into something different, mind-blowing, and creative.
This flash photography workshop is for photographers who own a flash already and want to make colorful, dramatic, and creative images with that WOW factor.
Lodging is not included: All classroom sessions will be held in the conference room of Hampton Inn Brevard hotel, located at 275 Forest Gate Dr., Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768, USA
Deposit non-refundable $695. Payment methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Contact us for additional details on Nanuk.
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft or helicopter to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. You will have a choice of Churchill restaurants for an early dinner and will be provided with a $30.00 dinner voucher. Participating restaurants will be listed on the voucher. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
We are waiting on final pricing (approx $16,695 US per person) plus applicable taxes (7.5% for non-residents and 8.5% for Canadians). Subject to current exchange rate!
Includes; two nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill, and our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $600)
A $3,500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due June 1st, 2024
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(3 spaces available)
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of six participants.
This trip includes ten full days photographing in the Costa Rician rainforest. Costa Rica is home to 903 bird species. We will have numerous opportunities to photograph various hummingbirds such as Volcano Hummingbird, Firey-throated Hummingbird and White-necked Jacobin. Several Toucan species such as the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari and Blue-throated Toucanet present themselves at various points in the trip. Juvenile and adult King Vultures at close range are not to be missed! This workshop offers ample time with the Resplendent Quetzal during prime nesting season. We timed this trip for when the chicks have hatched, and the adults are transporting food to the nest! A night session photographing bats is a unique experience. We will set ourselves up for success in shooting the Central American Pygmy Owl, Spectacled Owl and Black and White Owl.
Embark on this journey with Shoot the Light host, Joe Subolefsky as he guides you in the various methods of shooting in the splendid habitats.
The trip will include sessions with the various hummingbird species in natural and flash set ups, a night shoot focusing on bats, exclusive use of two different King Vulture hides, more than five different feeder stations, and macro photography using frogs, reptiles and amphibians. A boat excursion photographing along the San Carlos River will bring you to the animals.
Two full mornings will be spent photographing the Resplendent Quetzal. This spectacular bird boasts emerald green colors with red highlights. The male’s tail can be up to three feet long flowing behind his body like a streamer.
Three separate eco-lodges in three completely different habitats and biomes will wow you with their large rooms, delicious food and beautiful settings.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be birds and amphibians.
Fee: $5,100
Single Supplement: $880
Includes: Photographic instruction, overnight accommodations at three different lodges, private transportation from the hotel near the airport to all destinations and back to the airport or hotel, breakfast, dinners and most lodge lunches and all planned activities
Not Included: Travel to Costa Rica, on the road lunches, gratuities to local guides, gratuities to the driver and boat driver, laundry service, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Terms: A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(Full)
Host; Charles Glatzer M.Photog, Canon EOL
Arrive; 9/14
Depart; 9/20
Custer State Park is located in the magnificent Black Hills of South Dakota, it is the second largest state park in the America. The park’s 73,000 breathtaking acres are home to a variety of wildlife including bison, pronghorn antelope, whitetail and mule deer, bighorn sheep, prairie dog, coyote, elk, turkey, burrowing owl, mountain lion, a host of raptors and many song birds. Don’t tell anyone … it’s like Yellowstone without the crowds!
Additionally, we will drive Needles Highway stopping along the way to photograph amazing rock formations, proceeding to Mount Rushmore to look for mountain goats and view the presidential sculptures.
Airport Code; RAP (Rapid City Regional, SD)
Includes; Accommodations at the State Game Lodge-Creekside Lodge, host/guide, photo/post processing instruction
Not Include; Airfare, meals, park pass, vehicle transportation
Fee; $4995 per person DBL OCC
2 Single OCC available $932.40 (taken) we can try to accommodate additional requests if available.
Deposit non-refundable $1000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of two participants, includes two morning sessions photographing wood ducks and usually ample opportunities to photograph Belted Kingfishers fishing and interacting with their mate; an afternoon shooting Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, fishing Osprey or various duck species depending on timing, migration and weather.
We’ve been photographing Wood Ducks at this location for many, many years. Understanding the sun, wind, personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery.
While Wood Ducks are the primary focus, the various residents of the wetland habitat may make appearances throughout the time in the field. Belted Kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and more are particularly abundant in this marsh. Wood Ducks being the most skittish of the ducks, it is difficult to happen upon one that sticks around long enough to photograph. Using a remote location, the cover of darkness and a custom designed blind, we can provide a once in a lifetime experience in the marsh.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be breeding Wood Ducks; small, stunning birds, with bright iridescent colors and tear drop shaped eye-rings that pop. With a handful of birds usually present this is a great time to capture behavioral interaction, and portraits, along with both males and females in relation to their nesting boxes.
Lodging Recommendation: Homewood Suites By Hilton Bel Air 4170 Philadelphia Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21015 410.297.8585
Fee: $1350
Includes: Photographic instruction, two morning shoots at the Wood Duck blind, two afternoon shoots at a destination to be determined by the weather, migration reports.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, accommodations, meals, personal items. Transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Terms: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by STL Instructor Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of two participants, includes six sessions photographing various duck species and many bonus species.
The workshop combines two great, vastly different, locations in one spectacular event. Participants will begin at one location with three photography sessions capturing species such as American Wigeon, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Greater and Lesser Scaup and more. Bonus species includes additional waterfowl such as swans, Snow Geese and various owl species.
I have been shooting at this at this location for many years. This location offers a unique opportunity to be eye to eye with many diving waterfowl species that are usually found far from shore.
During the second half of the workshop, participants will travel 90 minutes to a new location and will focus on Wood Ducks. Participants will enjoy two morning sessions photographing Wood Ducks and usually opportunities to photograph Belted Kingfishers fishing and interacting with their mate; an afternoon shooting Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, fishing Osprey or various species depending on timing, migration and weather.
I’ve been photographing Wood Ducks at this location for many, many years. Belted Kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and more are found in this marsh. Wood Ducks being the most skittish of the ducks, it is difficult to happen upon one that sticks around long enough to photograph. Using a remote location, the cover of darkness and a custom designed blind, we can provide a once in a lifetime experience in the marsh.
This ‘Best of Both Worlds’ workshop provides you with numerous, amazing in-field photographic experiences. Our primary focus will be breeding ducks of all species capping the workshop with Wood Ducks.
Understanding the sun, wind, tide, species personality traits and terrain translates into better imagery. This workshop provides an excellent opportunity to fine tune your bird in flight skills by shooting side by side with a highly awarded (including some photographs from this exact location), internationally recognized, bird in flight photographer. I’ll work with you to optimize your camera and lens settings for this type of shooting. I’ll also make sure you have a firm understanding of how to capture the perfect bird in flight shot (hands on shooting skills). Taking a small group of participants allows more one on one time to work though your in the field questions.
Diving ducks are the primary focus for the first half of the adventure. With a large group of birds usually present, this is a great time to capture birds in flight, behavioral interaction, and portraits.
Includes: Photographic instruction, six sessions in the field shooting, three at each location.
Not Included: Travel to Maryland, accommodations, meals, personal items, travel to second location (90 minutes from the first location). Transportation from the hotel to the marsh and various other shooting locations.
Fee: 2,800
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Hosted by Joe Subolefsky
Workshop limited to a maximum of six participants.
This trip includes ten full days photographing in the Costa Rician rainforest. Costa Rica is home to 903 bird species. We will have numerous opportunities to photograph various hummingbirds such as Volcano Hummingbird, Firey-throated Hummingbird and White-necked Jacobin. Several Toucan species such as the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari and Blue-throated Toucanet present themselves at various points in the trip. Juvenile and adult King Vultures at close range are not to be missed! This workshop offers ample time with the Resplendent Quetzal during prime nesting season. We timed this trip for when the chicks have hatched, and the adults are transporting food to the nest! A night session photographing bats is a unique experience. We will set ourselves up for success in shooting the Central American Pygmy Owl, Spectacled Owl and Black and White Owl.
Embark on this journey with Shoot the Light host, Joe Subolefsky as he guides you in the various methods of shooting in the splendid habitats.
The trip will include sessions with the various hummingbird species in natural and flash set ups, a night shoot focusing on bats, exclusive use of two different King Vulture hides, more than five different feeder stations, and macro photography using frogs, reptiles and amphibians. A boat excursion photographing along the San Carlos River will bring you to the animals.
Two full mornings will be spent photographing the Resplendent Quetzal. This spectacular bird boasts emerald green colors with red highlights. The male’s tail can be up to three feet long flowing behind his body like a streamer.
Three separate eco-lodges in three completely different habitats and biomes will wow you with their large rooms, delicious food and beautiful settings.
This workshop provides you with an amazing in-field photographic experience. Our primary focus will be birds and amphibians.
Fee: $5,100
Single Supplement: $880
Includes: Photographic instruction, overnight accommodations at three different lodges, private transportation from the hotel near the airport to all destinations and back to the airport or hotel, breakfast, dinners and most lodge lunches and all planned activities
Not Included: Travel to Costa Rica, on the road lunches, gratuities to local guides, gratuities to the driver and boat driver, laundry service, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Terms: A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Workshops are limited to 5 participants.
Enjoy the coastal island of Chincoteague, VA for a fun opportunity photographing wild ponies by boat. We time this excursion to coincide with foaling season and last year photographed newborns and several week old foals all from the water at a safe, ethical distance. Numerous sightings and our small group give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills.
It is believed these ponies are direct descendants of ponies on board a Spanish sailing ship wrecked on the island in the 17th century. In 2021 a DNA test was conducted on a tooth of a confirmed Spanish horse from a colony in Haiti. The DNA on the recovered tooth matched DNA from the local Chincoteague ponies, confirming the connection to the Spanish herd that was shipwrecked on the island.
Meals and hotel accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Includes: Photographic instruction, boat and local guide.
Not Included: Travel to the location, personal items, accommodations, gratuity for boat captain, and meals.
Fee: $1,995
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Joins Shoot the Light Host, Joe Subolefsky for this intimate workshop.
Workshops are limited to three people.
Enjoy coastal North Carolina for an excellent photographic opportunity at the most concentrated black bear population on the planet. The mild climate allows the bears to feed year-round and grow to their full potential of 700 or 800 pounds. There is even a 900 pound bear on record! During these workshops, the massive males are on the move seeking out and breeding with females. Additional females are bringing out their cubs to feed in the crop fields, giving us multiple opportunities per session to capture the essence of the black bear. Numerous sightings and the small group setting give you the perfect chance to find tune your photography skills. Bonus animals on this adventure include the very elusive, critically threatened Red Wolf, coyotes, Owls and various reptiles.
Food and accommodations are not included. Hotel and additional information is provided upon receipt of payment.
Includes: Photographic Instruction, six sessions afield.
Not Included: Travel to the location, person items, hotel and meals. Transportation from the hotel/meeting point to the various shooting locations.
Fee: 1,950
Terms: A $750 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is in non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If you spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join Shoot The Light host Joe Subolefsky for 4 full days of photography and small group instruction at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
The official bird checklist for Bosque lists 48 species as being common or abundant in the winter, including 5 raptors and 12 species of waterfowl. But the stars of the show are the tens of thousands of snow geese and sandhill cranes that make Bosque their winter home. Add in the spectacular New Mexico sunrises and sunsets along with the high desert landscape and mountain backdrops and you have the recipe for some gorgeous and dramatic imagery.
Bosque is legendary for the \"blast offs\" of snow geese at sunrise with thousands of birds taking off en masse creating a spectacle of sight and sound that you will never forget. The brilliant New Mexico sunsets provide the perfect backdrop for beautiful silhouettes of cranes coming into roost in the evenings. Between sunrise and sunset, opportunities abound for capturing geese and cranes in flight including dynamic takeoff and landing poses. The abundance of birds makes Bosque an ideal location for honing your flight photography skills.
Field instruction will be offered during each day's morning and afternoon photo sessions and there will be a 2-hour classroom session each day tailored to the needs and interests of the group. To ensure the best possible instruction and allow for more individual attention, this workshop will have a maximum of 6 participants.
NEW THIS YEAR … LODGING INCLUDED:
The workshop fee includes five nights lodging at the Holiday Inn Express in Socorro. This hotel is the “best in town” and underwent a complete renovation in 2019.
Fee:
$2595 Per Person Single Occupancy
$2195 Per Person Double Occupancy
Fee includes:
Five nights lodging. All field and classroom instruction.
Fee does NOT include:
Air fare, ground transportation, meals, or refuge entrance fees.
Registration and Payment:
Participation only reserved on receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $750. Bal due 60 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted : check made payable to Shoot the Light, or credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at:
office 828-891-4082
e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Join host Charles (Chas) Glatzer for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. We have secured the best dates available to coincide with the sockeye run!
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC.
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was this workshop in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with STL. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as we were taken to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's / STL workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Fly-Out opportunities to Brook's Falls, and other locations available at additional cost.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage. Lodging in King Salmon.
Gratuity guide/staff recommendation $600.
Weather Policy; Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from, ANC and King Salmon are at participants expense.
Fee $9395
Initial non-refundable deposit for $1500.
2nd deposit $1500 due July 15th, 2026
Final Balance due 120 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
July 7th-14th, 2024 (FULL) Private
Join host Charles (Chas) Glatzer for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. We have secured the best dates available to coincide with the sockeye run!
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July 7th, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC on 14th.
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was this workshop in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with STL. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as we were taken to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's / STL workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Hi Folks,
Once again I was totally blown away with STL's ability to get us in the right place, at the right time, under very difficult conditions. Our guide, a fourteen year veteran on the river, said he had never seen it so high or swift. This would seriously limit our opportunities to the bears traveling up and down the river; however, I was quickly that this was all we needed. And it was. We were on bears all day, everyday, and I got almost everything I’d hoped for-almost because you have to have a reason to go back. In addition to jam packed photo action, we fished for two hours each of the last three days and returned home with 50 lbs of beautiful sockeye salmon filets. Slamming Salmon, through the lens and with the rod, what a thrill - as well as fine table-fare.If you are serious about your photography, and are serious about improving every aspect of it, you owe yourself an adventure with Shoot the Light - you will never regret it.
Thanks, Danny Womack
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Fly-Out opportunities to Brook's Falls, and other locations available at additional cost.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage. Lodging in King Salmon.
Gratuity recommendation $75 per day.
Weather Policy; Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from, ANC and King Salmon are at participants expense.
Fee $8995
Initial non-refundable deposit for $3000
Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Depart Winnipeg for home 13th.
Contact us for additional details on Nanuk. (FULL)
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 5 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. Note-We would not be able to transport individuals to any extra excursions that the client’s book on their own and with limited time, may not be feasible. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
FEE; $19, 895 plus applicable tax 8.5%. Subject to current exchange rate! (double occupancy)
Includes; 1st and last nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill and R/T flts from Churchill to our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended $600)
A $3,500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due June 1st, 2024
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(1 female space now available)
Offering $800 discount
STL Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon EOL
Arrive in Anchorage, AK 8/18 overnighting the day before the workshop. Depart for home 8/24.
Having hosted 170 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge. Single supplement if available $600
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity $400.
Weather Policy; there is additional $150 per person for each night weathered in at the lodge. Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from ANC, etc while in ANC are at participants expense.
Fee; $7995
Deposit non-refundable $2000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(FULL)
SAMBURU: Crossing the equator opens a magical new world! Filled with large, iconic umbrella acacia trees in a stunning, arid environment, among the rich, red African soil, Samburu Reserve evokes the traditional vision of “I Dream of Africa.” As the wind blows through the stunning doom palms, one knows they are in a magical place. Roaming through this primal land and unique to this reserve are the maneless lions, rare and exotic Grevy’s Zebras, red soil–stained red elephants, reticulated giraffes, Oryx, and Somali ostrich. In the stillness of what seems like an empty land, one might hear the rustle of the brush as a cheetah or leopard makes himself or herself known. In stark contrast to this dry, neutral landscape, wander the vivid, semi-nomadic colorful Samburu tribe.
SOLIO GAME RESERVE: Tucked in the valley between the lofty slopes of Mount Kenya and the peaks of the Aberdare Mountains lies the private Solio Game Reserve, which is internationally recognized as the most successful private Rhino Breeding reserve in Kenya. Besides the world’s largest population of white rhinos and nearly one hundred black rhinos, sightings of up to 40 Rhinos at a time are not uncommon. The wildlife experience is exclusive, with 19,000 acres of conservancy surrounded by 45,000 acres of ranch. Although our focus will be on the Rhinos, the reserve is inhabited by buffalo, zebra giraffe, Oryx, antelope, lion, cheetah, and leopard.
LAKE ELEMENTITA is set within the eastern portion of the great Rift Valley in the private Soysambu Conservancy. The varied terrain offers volcanic hills, acacia woodlands, grassy plains, and a forest of yellow fever trees which is a stunning backdrop for any image. The conservancy serves as a sanctuary for the nationally threatened colobus monkeys and endangered Rothschild giraffe. The alkaline lake draws tens of thousands of pink flamingos.
MAASAI MARA: Known as the wildlife mecca of the world, the renowned Maasai Mara is one of the greatest wildlife reserves on the planet! The vast, open plains are home to large prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and black rhinos, hippos, Maasai giraffes, common zebras, gnu, impala, Thompson’s and grant’s gazelles, topi, hartebeest, black-backed jackals, spotted hyenas and more. It is the best reserve for the big cats, where BBC filmed Big Cat Diaries and where they continue to film regularly. Our safari takes place during the very end of the great migration season when the crowds have vanished, and the grass has been eaten, which makes spotting and photographing the big cats much easier.
AMBOSELI NATIONAL RESERVE - This enchanting African jewel, nestled at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, offers a sensory feast that awakens the soul. Imagine driving beside large herds of elephants, zebras, and giraffes as they roam through the dusty plains of the dry lake with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. These exotic creatures traverse long stretches of bare soil between feeding grounds, forming long lines as they February, a breathtaking sight in this spectacular environment. Amboseli is the most incredible place to see some of the last most giant iconic tuskers remaining in Africa with over 1,000 residing in the unique ecosystem.
Kenya Big Five Safari
USD 15,995.00 Per Person Sharing
Single Supplement: USD 945.00 Per Person
Kenya Big Five Safari Deposit $3500. 2nd deposit $6000 due Jan 2025. Final Balance due Oct 31,2025
Included – Main Safari
What's Not Included?
Black Leopard Extension - details available upon request
USD 5,999.00 per person sharing
Single supplement: USD. 995.00 Per Person
Black Leopard Extension Deposit $1000. 2nd deposit $1500 due Jan 2025. Final Balance due Oct 31,2025
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
This trip is limited to 7 participants. (Full)
Arrival suggested in Santiago Nov 27th, no later than 28th. You must arrive in Santiago, Chile at least one day early. Chas suggest two days just in case of flt or baagge delays, etc. as there is only one flt per week to the Falklands from Santiago.
Having been to the Falklands 15 times now I have the group concentrate on individual species at specific locations on each island visited. Time of day and tidal influence are a key factor in determining when and where we go on each island. Knowing what to expect and look for ahead of time can often make the difference between capturing a mediocre image and the photo of a lifetime.
Testimonial
Shoot the Light, Charles Glatzer – Ranks number 1 in photographic workshops! After going to Yellowstone with Shoot the Light and Charles Glatzer, I felt it necessary to write a testimonial to my experience. I procrastinated. But now after two weeks with Chas on his Falklands workshop (he had been there 10 times) I feel remiss in not having written about Yellowsetone. I feel remiss because Chas’s workshops are really special and I want those who like me look for the best workshops to know what they can experience with Chas and Shoot the Light. I have been on about 10 photographic workshops to some of the most beautiful places with other leaders. Chas workshops are without peer. Chas’s workshops are all about the participants. He shares, teaches, shows, and most importantly interacts in every step of the process. His greatest delight is that we get the images not that he does. His knowledge and ability to explain difficult processes concisely and at the same time profoundly, while being patient with us, results in an unequaled experience. In addition it becomes quickly clear the he knows where to go and when to be there. His wildlife knowledge is second only to his photographic knowledge. Also, the logistics work amazingly well. You only have to look at Chas’s images to know that he is an extraordinary photographer, but based on my experiences with him he is also an, extraordinary naturalist and teacher. He holds nothing back he shares what he calls his “process” which is being prepared with equipment, locations and most importantly an idea of what image you are looking to capture. Also he explains his philosophy and how processes his images. Those of us who want to progress to the highest levels of photography should not forego the opportunity to learn from a truly rare talent, Chas. In addition to all I have said I must add he is a great guy to hang out with…….their are no ego trips.
Dennis H.
Approximately 2500 people live in the Falklands and all but about 500 in the capital of Stanley on East Falkland. The rest are scattered throughout settlements on the smaller islands.
We have chosen 8 locations to visit. To maximize our photographic opportunities we will have 4x4 transportation on most of the islands to any of our remote shooting locations. However, most of our shooting will be within walking distance of our accommodations. The animals have little or no fear of humans they are quite approachable. By sitting quietly and waiting, many of the birds will approach humans out of curiosity. Because of this, a super long lens (500mm or 600mm) is not necessary and due to weight restrictions on inter island flights, difficult to arrange. Lenses in the 24-105, 100-500mm range should cover most situations.
Includes: From; Mount Pleasant, East Falkland Island ... photo instruction, all transport on the Falklands including inter-island flights and driver/guide ground transport, food and lodging, applicable taxes and service charges. Accommodations on the outer islands consists of small lodges, or cottages that are modest but comfortable.
Not Included: Airfares: Air fare costs for flights from participants home city to Mt Pleasant, Falklaands are not included. Participant is responsible for making their own arrangements to arrive in Mt Pleasant for the start of the expedition, lodging in Santiago, travel/baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; gratuities.
Fee: Contact us for fee per person, with double occupancy. Single supplement is only available for some portion of accommodations at additional expense. Please note- all funds are quoted in US dollars.
Terms: A $2500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve space, 2nd deposit $2500 due 11/30/2024, Final Balance due 120 days prior to workshop and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please Review our Booking and Refund Policy.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Shoot The Light Host: Joe Subolefsky
After leading workshops here in 2022 and 2023 Joe will return, again, in 2025 to the Pantanal for this intimate workshop.
Participation is limited to five photographers per session. This allows one client per row on the boat during all Jaguar safaris. This is to accommodate your gear and give you access to shoot from both sides of the boat comfortably. This also allows us to stay on a comfortable floatel right in the heart of Jaguar country.
Embark on an adventure to capture Brazil’s most famous creatures, big and small. Enjoy diverse bird life, mammals and scenery in Brazil’s Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet. The main star of this workshop will be the Pantanal Jaguar, the third largest cat in the world! Pantanal Jaguars are double the size of Amazonian Jaguars. Six days on the river and its interconnected waterways will give us ample opportunities to capture this beast. As we cruise these waterways each participant will have his/her own row in the boat to enable everyone to shoot comfortably from each side of the boat and have plenty of room for gear. We are certain to encounter and photograph the area’s famous Giant River Otters, Capybaras, Caimans, Monkeys, Hyacinth Macaws, Jabiru Stork and many more!
Two evening sessions photographing Ocelots are included in this wild adventure. A species that’s worthy of a trip alone.
Stay at lodges with the amenities of home and travel with English-speaking local guide as you embark on an adventure like no other.
Includes:
Not Included:
Fee: $9,995
Single supplement is available (extra fee). We must have notice at booking to insure lodging throughout the trip.
Terms: A $1500 non-refundable deposit is required. Final balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (PO Box 987 Horse Shoe, NC 28742), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Limited to Five Participants
Join Shoot the Light host, Joe Subolefsky for an epic six-day Newfoundland road trip! Joining Joe on this expedition will be his wife, Amanda. Amanda will be helping out with meals and logistics in addition to sharing her endless (sometimes useless) bird knowledge.
Starting in St. John’s Newfoundland, we will navigate to a gorgeous peninsula lined with dramatic cliffs and endless seascapes. We’ll shoot the awkwardly, clumsy Atlantic Puffin as they live and work around their burrows. The ample opportunities to photograph these spectacular sea birds will not disappoint. You can’t leave out the Black Guillemot, Razorbills, Savannah and White-throated Sparrows along with endless gull species. Beyond birds we will take our chances with the local Cross-Fox and spend two sessions on zodiacs photographing the migrating whale species. We could see Minke, Sperm, Humpback, Orca and Finback Whales.
Shifting locations, we will hike out to the largest Northern Gannet Colony in Newfoundland boasting 30,000 Northern Gannets, 20,00 Black-legged Kittewakes and 20,000 Common Murres. Several sessions on the rock will not leave you disappointed.
If we get the opportunity, we can take advantage of the clear nights and dark skies the area offers to photograph the Milky Way. This destination is a recognized ‘dark sky’ location, prime for Milky Way photography. The trip is timed to coincide with the dark phases of the moon that fall during the Atlantic Puffin and other seabird nesting season.
Included: transportation during the workshop, housing, some meals (details upon booking), free washer and dryer to do your own laundry, full shared kitchen, two sessions on the zodiac boat capturing whales, five sessions shooting Atlantic Puffins, Cross-Fox, Sparrows, Gulls, Black Guillemot and more. Four sessions grabbing shots of the seabird colony including Northern Gannets, Common Murre, Black Kittewake and more.
Not included: travel to St. John’s, hotel on July 15, some meals, snacks, drinks, personal items, tips for local guides or any optional additional sessions
$4,800
Terms: A $1250 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 90 days before the date of the workshop and is non-refundable. If we do not receive your check the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (PO Box 987 Horse Shoe, NC 28742), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
(arrive hotel afternoon on the 7th, workshop begins before sunrise 8th and ends at sunset on the 12th, depart 13th).
Join Canon EOL Master photographer Charles Glatzer for a 5-day, in-the-field Workshop. Our primary focus will be on photographing the elk, bighorn sheep, coyote, moose, pika, and the spectacular landscapes. Additional species have included wolf, pine martin, marmot, muskrat, beaver, mule deer, and bear among others.
This will be our 12th year in Jasper and we know all the best locations for wildlife. Jasper offers scenic wilderness surroundings of unparalleled beauty. Jasper National Park is Canada’s largest Rocky Mountain Park and one of North America’s largest natural areas – spanning 10,878 sq. km (4,200 sq. mi.) of awe-inspiring scenic splendor. Shimmering glaciers, abundant wildlife as well as crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons and evergreen forest surrounded by towering, rugged mountain peaks are what your eyes have been waiting to see.
Jasper will satisfy the needs of the most discriminating large mammal and landscape photographer, but if your interested there’s great food, shopping, etc. nearby. Edmonton is the closest city to Jasper NP and the best place to fly in and out. There are small commuter aircraft services available that fly near Jasper NP, but I don’t think it’s worth the effort. The drive from the airport to Jasper is about 3.5 hours or 210 miles. Jasper National Park is located 370 km west of Edmonton along Highway 16 and 404 km northwest of Calgary via the Trans-Canada Highway 1 and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). The town of Jasper is located in the middle of the park. Vancouver and Edmonton have regular bus and train service to Jasper.
Recommended Lodging; Rooms held under Shoot the Light. MOUNT ROBSON INN, Box 88, 902 Connaught Drive West, (780) 852-3327Toll Free: 1-800-587-3327, Fax: (780) 852-5004, Website: www.mountrobsoninn.com, E-mail: info@mountrobsoninn.com
To ensure the best instruction possible, this workshop will have a maximum of eight participants.
Fee $3295
Not included: does not include lodging, transportation, meals, and vehicle entrance fee. Applicable taxes.
Participation only reserved on receipt of deposit $1000. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), Pay Pal to info@shootthelight.com, and credit card via a phone call to our office.
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Session #1 Jan 14th - 22nd (Full -wait list)
Session #2 Jan 24th-Feb 1st (Full-wait list)
Host Charles Glatzer, M.Photog/Canon EOL
Participation is limited to 6 per session.
This is a FIRST CLASS trip with R/T shuttle from Bozeman, lodging at the newly renovated Mammoth hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge to include baggage transfer, breakfast and lunch, and the best Van Terra snow coach available with easy in/out, plenty of space, and comfortable seating for both the park interior and Lamar Valley. Staying within the park means we can get out early for sunrise!
Join us as we travel through the interior of majestic Yellowstone National Park at the peak of the winter season, photographing big game wildlife and scenic wonders via our privately chartered 12 passenger Van Terra Snow Coach. The wildlife we expect to see among spectacular environmental features and stunning backgrounds may include bison, big horn sheep, coyote, red fox, elk, otters, pronghorn, mule deer, wolves, ermine, eagles, and more.
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Our small group (6) and private vehicle allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. As a photo specific tour we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods, departing lodging at 7am each morning, and returning at days end.
Testimonials...
I learned more on this one trip (Yellowstone) about photographic technique than on my previous 22 trips under different instructors. Manual metering was so rapid and straightforward that I never had to worry about ever blowing out a histogram. This allowed me to focus on the picture composition without concerns about the imaging quality. Chas is a remarkably gifted natural teacher and is able to explain the complex in simple comprehensible terms. He manages to do it in a natural and very amusing way so that it sticks with you. His compositional and post-production skills are equally amazing. I look forward to the experience both in film and future workshops.
Chris A.
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Thanks for a great trip to Yellowstone. I went in thinking I was a pretty good photographer but knowing there was much I could still learn. What I didn't expect was the complete epiphany I experienced when taking your advice to shoot in manual exposure mode. I have always shot in Av mode and while my exposures were generally okay, I was constantly battling the metering system with exposure compensation, especially when compositions changed. I just assumed there was no real alternative, believing manual exposure mode was too complex and slow for wildlife photography. Your teaching method made clear it was not complex at all (in fact, it is very intuitive and logical) and afforded the opportunity to focus on composition as opposed to worrying about the proper exposure. It's really a photographic-altering experience for me. I'll never (or rarely) shoot in Av mode again and can already see that my images have taken a step up. Many thanks!
Doug
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Itinerary: Day One: shuttle from Bozeman, MT to Mammoth hotel. Group orientation, metering class, cold weather tips, camera settings, and more discussions.
Day Two and Three: We spend our first two days in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Four, Five, and Six: By privately chartered Snow coach, we begin our adventure traveling to the Firehole River Basin, Madison River and Geyser Basins, where we can expect to photograph Bison, Swan and Elk among other wildlife. Bobcat frequent this area. The thermal areas within the park attract such wildlife as Elk and Bison We will be spending the next three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins. Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone offer many wildlife photo opportunities. These thermal areas provide winter grazing and warmth for many animals.
Day Seven: Depart Old Faithful area traveling and photographing through the park to Mammoth Hotel.
Day Eight: We spend our final day in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Nine: Departure from Mammoth Hotel, MT via shuttle to Bozeman Airport.
Getting there: It is recommended that you arrive the day before the workshop starts, spending a night in Bozeman, MT. If you miss the shuttle to Mammoth you will be required to find your own way at your own expense.
Hotel Recommendation: not included
Best Western Plus Gran Tree
1325 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
BestWesternGranTree.guestreservations.com
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Workshop Fee: $9395
Includes: Double Occupancy, Photographic instruction, 8 nights accommodations in Mammoth and Old Faithful lodges, airport transfers to/from Bozeman Airport to YNP and park use fee, all transportation and luggage transfers within the park heated Deluxe Glaval Snow Coach, hotel breakfast all days, with box lunches days 2-7.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Bozeman, MT and meals other than specified above. Lodging in Bozeman prior to and after the workshop dates.
Single Occupancy: available upon request (additional fee). We must have Advanced Notice to insure single lodging throughout your stay.
Terms: Space reserved upon receipt of deposit $1500
Final balance due 120 days from workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy.
Includes; 4 days shooting, 5 nights, with 2 photo sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. That's 32 hrs of shooting in prime light! Additionally, includes daily classroom sessions on Metering, Flash, Post-production, Visual Skills.
This is one of our most popular workshops. If you wish to capture the most diverse, creative, low angle loon images possible this is the workshop for you. Loons with newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 20th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat and low angle technique provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable photography platform.
\"Hello All, I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack, 2015\"
Join award winning photographer Charles Glatzer for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and photograph a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best photography possible. And, our boat captain and host is second to none at piloting our craft.
Our Lodge has an extensive set-up of bird feeders and numerous species are likely to be present including hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsucker, rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, black-capped chickadee, white and red-breasted nuthatches and ruby-throated hummingbird. We will also try using a bird caller in the nearby wetlands to call in American bittern, Virginia rail and sora, and Barred owl.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers photo opportunities.
Fee $5495 limited to 4 participants.
Includes; 4 days of loon photography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights single accommodation lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals including dinner on arrival, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field photo instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due (March 31st) and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
July, 12th-19th, 2026
Join host Charles (Chas) Glatzer for an unparalleled photographic encounter with Alaska's brown bears. We have secured the best dates available to coincide with the sockeye run!
Arrive early morning King Salmon, AK on July, return from the lodge for King Salmon/ANC.
This Workshop is truly Amazing!!
Participants previous trip efforts produced the cover of Popular Photography, and the Grand Prize Nature's Best. This is a high energy adrenaline rush workshop with outstanding photographic opportunities.
This STL workshop is for photographers who want to photograph brown bears, and other wildlife in a truly remote wilderness area away from crowds. Our primary goal is to photograph brown bears feeding on salmon within a variety of backgrounds. Natural behavior can frequently be photographed at close range. Our small group and remote access allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. Unlike other facilities and camps, we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods without the pressure of crowds, away from any man made structures.
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Testimonials...
Imagine wading in waist deep Glacier water in Alaska next to a Canon Explorer of Light, with each step in the frigid water, your legs feeling hundreds of salmons swimming pass you through the stream. Suddenly, you found yourself surrounded by more than thirty bears, thirty of the biggest bears you've ever seen. But they were comfortable with your presence. With your heart pounding, you knelt down, with your lens barely above the water, eye to eye with one of these giants. The bear looked into your viewfinder, paused for a moment, and suddenly started to accelerate towards you. At each strike, his size doubled in your viewfinder, with huge splash that filled up your viewfinder. You struggled to keep the focus locked on his eyes, and at the last moment, he leaped into mid air, with his four feet all off the ground, his eyes taking a last glance at you, his gigantic claws pouncing into a salmon. You held onto your tripod making sure the waves created by the bear pounce wouldn't knock it over, and checked your camera LCD. You couldn't stopped grinning, even though your legs were still shaking. And later the shot would become the 2013 Grand Prize of Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International. Such was my experience in a Shoot the Light tour with Mr. Chas Glatzer, Canon Explorer of Light. Not only will you have the trip of your life, but his world class knowledge on photography will also instantly make you a much better photographer, both in vision, pre-visualization, photography techniques and mastery of Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Tin Man Lee
One of best photographic experiences I have ever had was this workshop in Alaska a few years ago, to photograph Brown Bears. I have admired his work for years, so when it came to decide who I wanted to shoot alongside with for my first trip to Alaska, there was no question that it would be with STL. It was an adventure I will never forget! Fantastic opportunities to see these magnificent creatures fishing along the river as we were taken to prime and remote locations in the best light. I came home with memory cards filled with wonderful images and memories. If you are looking to get great images of bears with one of the best photographers and instructors on the planet, be sure to sign-up with one of Charles Glatzer's / STL workshops!
Laurie Rubin
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Our plan is to head out each morning via boat from our lodge/cabin base to photograph brown bears as they fish for salmon along a wild river and pound fish in abundance. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Unlike other locations bear activity is not dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide.
For those wishing to fly-fish this world class river hosts sockeye, chum, silver, grayling, char, rainbow trout and even pike. It is in a word AMAZING!!!! Many of us fished during lulls in activity. Fish and bring home a 50lb box of fresh salmon fillets for all to enjoy at no additional expense ($700 value)
Note- our itinerary is flexible, and so we will discuss the options each evening before heading out the next morning. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please. We have timed this workshop with the salmon run, and we look forward to capturing many wonderful images of brown bears chasing and feeding on fish. On a previous trip we have photographed wolves as they fed on the remains of salmon. Eagles on nests are also available.
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Included; 8-days, photo instruction, R/T flights to lodge from King Salmon, all meals while at the lodge, (double occ) accommodations at the Lodge, Katmai bed/user tax, fuel surcharge.
Fly-Out opportunities to Brook's Falls, and other locations available at additional cost.
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage,and to/from King Salmon/Anchorage. Lodging in King Salmon.
Gratuity guide/staff recommendation $600.
Weather Policy; Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from, ANC and King Salmon are at participants expense.
Fee $9495
Initial non-refundable deposit for $3000
Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
STL Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon EOL
Arrive in Anchorage, AK 8/17 overnighting the day before the workshop. Depart for home 8/23.
Having hosted 170 plus bear workshops to date Chas extensive knowledge of bear (black, brown, polar) behavior translates into better imagery for the participant. Knowing what to look for ahead of time can often mean the difference in capturing a mediocre image, or the image of a lifetime. Our smaller group (we have the whole lodge) provides greater opportunity to photograph natural behavior that can frequently be photographed at close range. Remote access, and extended time afield allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter.
Our lodge is located in the most beautiful and pristine wilderness setting in Lake Clark National Park. Your adventure begins by taking an included air charter from Anchorage, and landing on the beach in Silver Salmon Creek. On a clear day you can see Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Augustine all active volcanoes along with the majestic mountain range and Cook Inlet. Meal times can be altered to accommodate our photography, this is not possible at other lodges. This is a highly productive workshop offering photographers unspoiled wilderness environments in which to shoot unique wild brown bear images. Our primary goal is to photograph coastal brown bears and cubs fishing at the nearby creek, clam digging, and interacting with each other in their natural environment in the most beautiful, pristine area imaginable. Bear viewing is exceptional! We are constantly amazed by the amount of bears in this area. The bears are comfortable with humans and are not threatened by our presence. Many times you can view the bears right around the lodge. The days are long and photo opportunities are abundant. We will make every effort to put you in the right place at the right time. This is your workshop, and we aim to please.
Includes; guide, photo instruction, round trip flight to/from Anchorage, AK to Silver Salmon Creek, AK, all meals while at the camp, double occupancy accommodations at lodge. Single supplement if available $600
Not included; flights to/from Anchorage, AK, lodging while in Anchorage, alcoholic beverages at the lodge. Recommended Gratuity $400.
Weather Policy; there is additional $150 per person for each night weathered in at the lodge. Additional expenses incurred for hotels, meals, flt changes to/from ANC, etc while in ANC are at participants expense.
Fee; $7995
Deposit non-refundable $2000. Final Balance due 90 days prior to workshop. Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Perched on the rugged coast of Hudson Bay, Seal River Heritage Lodge boasts an ideal location for observing polar bears as they traverse the coast in anticipation of the Bay’s freezing. The fenced-in compound, viewing platforms, and tower provide exceptional photography opportunities for capturing the northern lights and the wildlife that approaches to explore the lodge’s sights, sounds, and aromas. Regular wildlife encounters include polar bears, red and arctic foxes, arctic hares, ptarmigans, as well as pine martens, caribou, ermines, snowy owls, gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, and occasional wolf.
Nestled adjacent to pristine Arctic waters on Hudson Bay, with Canada’s Boreal Forest as its backdrop, lies Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, a remote wilderness ecolodge. The diverse winter ecosystem surrounding Nanuk is teeming with wildlife, offering frequent sightings of polar bears, wolf packs, ptarmigans, snowy owls, moose, occasional red and arctic foxes, and the possibility of a wolverine.
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 6 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. Note-We would not be able to transport individuals to any extra excursions that the client’s book on their own and with limited time, may not be feasible. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
FEE; $21, 895 approx. CAD plus applicable tax 8.5%. Subject to current exchange rate! (double occupancy)
FEE; Nanuk Lodge $20, 895 plus applicable 8.5% tax. Subject to current exchange rate! (double occupancy).
Includes; 1st and last nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill and R/T flts from Churchill to our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended 5%)
A $3,500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due June 1st, 2026
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Joe Subolefsky
mailto:subolefskyj@gmail.com
(443) 640-5649
https://www.facebook.com/joe.subolefsky
https://www.instagram.com/joe_subolefsky/
We are delighted to announce an exciting new tour for summer 2026 that brings together wildlife photographer Kevin Morgans depth of knowledge and love for the charismatic Atlantic puffin with the proven technical and creative expertise of Shoot the Light photography guides. Shetland, with its long summer days and magical ‘simmer dim’ twilight, provides the perfect destination for honing your photography skills. Dramatic seascapes, the hustle and bustle of busy seabird colonies, aerial battles between skuas and gannets and intimate encounters with the full range of Shetland’s wildlife all provide the spark for creating stunning images from these wild Atlantic islands.
This program is carefully designed with our local partner, Shetland Nature, to get the best opportunities for capturing the iconic species of a Shetland summer, both on land and at sea. A trip to the stunning cliffs of Noss with photography specialists, Shetland Seabird Tours, will immerse us in the experience of thousands of swirling gannets, plunge diving into the sea around the boat and evading the harrying tactics of the piratical great skuas. Small group sessions focusing on European otters will also be included in the itinerary.
Day one: Arrival and transfer to hotel from Sumburgh airport. After settling in, we will meet guide Kevin Morgans in the hotel reception at 18.00, ahead of dinner at 18.30. If the weather is favourable and the group is feeling energetic, we will head out for an evening shoot at Sumburgh Head, close to the hotel. Overnight at Sumburgh Hotel.
Day two: This morning will be spent at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Sumburgh Head reserve. Here the focus will be on puffins, which nest in burrows in the sandy soils of the cliff tops, close to the boundary walls of the lighthouse compound. At this time of year, with hungry chicks to feed, there is a constant to and fro, with birds arriving back with their beaks full of small fish. Razorbill, fulmar and shag are also plentiful on the cliffs here. So different in their characters, the manic whirring flight of razorbills contrasts with the effortless glide of the swirling fulmars and sleeker, reptilian shags, giving many different options for capturing the essence of this busy colony. After a packed lunch we travel north to Lerwick for one of the highlights of the tour, an exclusive trip around the towering cliffs of Noss with Shetland Seabird Tours. Here it's all about the gannets and great skuas, though puffins, guillemots, razorbills and shags all have their place on the breeding ledges in this high-rise seabird city. Overnight at Sumburgh Hotel.
Day three: Heading north again this morning, we return to Lerwick, but this time we take the ferry across to Bressay and on to Noss, to explore this National Nature Reserve from the land. Gannets and puffins are the main target, but great skua and other seabirds are also possible. In the afternoon we travel up through Shetland to the northern island of Fetlar, our base for the next 3 nights. Overnight at Gord Guest House
Days four – five: During our time in the northern islands, we will spend time on Fetlar, Unst and Yell. Different habitats provide changing backdrops for familiar species, and the chance to capture a new range of behavioural interactions. Hermaness nature reserve on Unst, at the very northern end of Britain, with its dramatic, plunging cliffs and swirling seas highlights the tenacity of the thousands of gannets, fulmars and puffins that breed here. Great skuas are ever present, but here we will also be able to capture shots of breeding birds against moorland backgrounds and interactions at the bathing pools. If time allows, nearby beaches also provide opportunities to photograph eider, Arctic terns and grey seals. (Fetlar, known as ‘the garden of Shetland’ for its fertile soils and green landscape, hosts the highest densities of breeding waders in Shetland and forms a stronghold for many species that are scarce or declining as breeding species elsewhere in Britain, including Arctic skuas, red-throated diver, dunlin and golden plover. Over these two days we also run two small group otter sessions. Overnight: Gord Guest House.)
Day six: This morning we leave Fetlar and turn south, stopping en-route on the island of Yell. Here we walk along the coastline photographing any shorebirds such as dunlin, ringed plover and oystercatchers on the way, before arriving at a black guillemot and Arctic tern colony. We will spend most of the morning at this site focused on these striking seabirds. After lunch we finish our journey south, returning to Sumburgh ahead of the last full day of the tour. Overnight Sumburgh Head.
Day seven: Today is a chance to revisit the southern seabird colonies of Noss and Sumburgh Head. With a full week’s experience of photographing Shetland’s seabirds, now is the chance to get those shots we might have missed earlier in the week, to experiment with new techniques, or refine existing skills. It also allows for flexibility if weather affects our boat trip at the start of the week. Overnight at Sumburgh Hotel.
Day eight: Departure after breakfast, with a transfer from the hotel to the airport.
Accommodation and meals included
Breakfast and dinner will be provided at the hotels, with packed lunches booked in the evening for the following day. The hotels are used to catering for a wide range of dietary requirements, but guests are asked to provide, when booking, information on any intolerances or allergies, including the level of severity. In some instances these may need to be checked with the accommodation providers, particularly where allergic reactions are severe, with airborne triggers and/or cross-contamination poses a serious risk.
Transport
Transport during the tour is by 9-seater minibus
Fitness level required
This tour is rated moderate to strenuous. A good level of fitness and agility is required as some parts of the tour involve a reasonable amount of walking, sometimes over rocky or uneven terrain. On average we expect to walk around five miles a day, but on several days, when visiting Hermaness, this may be as much as ten miles. At Hermaness and on Noss there are several steep uphill sections on the route.
Limited to only 4 participants with single occupancy.
Includes; 4 days shooting, 5 nights, with 2 photo sessions (8hrs) daily consisting of 4 hrs each morning and evening in prime light on the lake. That's 32 hrs of shooting in prime light! Additionally, includes daily classroom sessions on Metering, Flash, Post-production, Visual Skills.
This is one of our most popular workshops. If you wish to capture the most diverse, creative, low angle loon images possible this is the workshop for you. Loons with newly hatched chicks riding on moms back are the highlight. This is our 20th year with the loons, knowing their behavior translates into better imagery. Moreover, our custom configured boat and low angle technique provides for an extremely stable, low, and maneuverable photography platform.
\"Hello All, I just wanted to say thanks to each of you for your part in making our Loon adventure one to remember. It couldn’t have been better! The lodge, food, and our hosts were awesome, as were the cooperative subjects. To label our instructor as a Master Photographer far understates his expertise. His skills with the camera are well documented, but his talent as a patient competent instructor, LR and photoshop guru, and his passion for his profession can only be understood by spending a few days with him. In addition, he regularly shared little gems from the great book of life. I now realize that life’s story is best told when viewed in context, rather than compressed by a long lens. For this I will be ever grateful.
Thank you all. Danny & Denise Womack, 2015\"
Join award winning photographer Charles Glatzer for 4 days on the lake. Loons have been nesting on a small island, and at the river mouth for the last 12 years and the workshop is scheduled at a time when young chicks have most often been present in the past. These loons, while not tolerant of craft that are paddled, are very tolerant of the pontoon boat that we will be using. They frequently swim very close and even dive under the boat. This is a unique opportunity to get close to a very beautiful bird and observe and photograph a variety of behaviors. Time slots will alternate daily so everyone gets to shoot with the earliest and latest light. The pontoon boat is set-up for shooting with tripod or laying flat on the deck of the boat with bean bag, skimmer, etc. This low angle deck position is outstanding, offering a lower more intimate perspective. Our watercraft has been custom configured with most rails and all panels removed and trolling motors fore and aft to facilitate the best photography possible. And, our boat captain and host is second to none at piloting our craft.
Our Lodge has an extensive set-up of bird feeders and numerous species are likely to be present including hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsucker, rose-breasted grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, black-capped chickadee, white and red-breasted nuthatches and ruby-throated hummingbird. We will also try using a bird caller in the nearby wetlands to call in American bittern, Virginia rail and sora, and Barred owl.
For those wanting to extend their stay in the Northern MI area, we can give you suggestions and directions to other areas for other scenic or wildflowers photo opportunities.
Fee $5495 limited to 4 participants.
Includes; 4 days of loon photography with morning 6-10am and afternoon 5-9pm shoots on the lake in prime light, 5 nights single accommodation lodging in cabin, boat w/captain extraordinaire, all incredible meals including dinner on arrival, daily comprehensive classroom and in-field photo instruction.
Not included... transportation to and from lodge.
Note- lodging is single occupancy per cabin.
Terms: A $1500.00 non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due (March 31st) and is then non-refundable unless the tour sells out. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact our office at 828-891-4082 or email us info@shootthelight.com
Session #1 Jan 14th - Jan 22nd, 2027 (Full)
Session #2 Jan 24th -February 1st, 2027 (Full)
Host Charles Glatzer, M.Photog/Canon EOL
Participation is limited to 6 per session.
Canon Unveils 'Seismic': A Cinematic Tribute to Yellowstone National Park. Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, proudly unveils its latest short film, \"Seismic,\" featuring Canon Explorer of Light, Charles “Chas” Glatzer. Chas has photographed Yellowstone in Winter for over two decades.
This is a FIRST CLASS trip with R/T shuttle from Bozeman, lodging at the newly renovated Mammoth hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge to include baggage transfer, breakfast and lunch, and the best Van Terra snow coach available with easy in/out, plenty of space, and comfortable seating for both the park interior and Lamar Valley. Staying within the park means we can get out early for sunrise!
Join us as we travel through the interior of majestic Yellowstone National Park at the peak of the winter season, photographing big game wildlife and scenic wonders via our privately chartered 12 passenger Van Terra Snow Coach. The wildlife we expect to see among spectacular environmental features and stunning backgrounds may include bison, big horn sheep, coyote, red fox, elk, otters, pronghorn, mule deer, wolves, ermine, eagles, and more.
As with all STL's, this is a workshop, not just a photo tour. \"Shoot the Light\" Photographic Instructional Workshops are designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.
Our small group (6) and private vehicle allows us to make the most of each wildlife encounter. As a photo specific tour we have the luxury of staying on location for extended periods, departing lodging at 7am each morning, and returning at days end.
Testimonials...
I learned more on this one trip (Yellowstone) about photographic technique than on my previous 22 trips under different instructors. Manual metering was so rapid and straightforward that I never had to worry about ever blowing out a histogram. This allowed me to focus on the picture composition without concerns about the imaging quality. Chas is a remarkably gifted natural teacher and is able to explain the complex in simple comprehensible terms. He manages to do it in a natural and very amusing way so that it sticks with you. His compositional and post-production skills are equally amazing. I look forward to the experience both in film and future workshops.
Chris A.
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Thanks for a great trip to Yellowstone. I went in thinking I was a pretty good photographer but knowing there was much I could still learn. What I didn't expect was the complete epiphany I experienced when taking your advice to shoot in manual exposure mode. I have always shot in Av mode and while my exposures were generally okay, I was constantly battling the metering system with exposure compensation, especially when compositions changed. I just assumed there was no real alternative, believing manual exposure mode was too complex and slow for wildlife photography. Your teaching method made clear it was not complex at all (in fact, it is very intuitive and logical) and afforded the opportunity to focus on composition as opposed to worrying about the proper exposure. It's really a photographic-altering experience for me. I'll never (or rarely) shoot in Av mode again and can already see that my images have taken a step up. Many thanks!
Doug
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Itinerary: Day One: shuttle from Bozeman, MT to Mammoth hotel. Group orientation, metering class, cold weather tips, camera settings, and more discussions.
Day Two and Three: We spend our first two days in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Four, Five, and Six: By privately chartered Snow coach, we begin our adventure traveling to the Firehole River Basin, Madison River and Geyser Basins, where we can expect to photograph Bison, Swan and Elk among other wildlife. Bobcat frequent this area. The thermal areas within the park attract such wildlife as Elk and Bison We will be spending the next three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins. Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone offer many wildlife photo opportunities. These thermal areas provide winter grazing and warmth for many animals.
Day Seven: Depart Old Faithful area traveling and photographing through the park to Mammoth Hotel.
Day Eight: We spend our final day in the park via a privately chartered van photographing in the wildlife rich Lamar Valley.
Day Nine: Departure from Mammoth Hotel, MT via shuttle to Bozeman Airport.
Getting there: It is recommended that you arrive the day before the workshop starts, spending a night in Bozeman, MT. If you miss the shuttle to Mammoth you will be required to find your own way at your own expense.
Hotel Recommendation: not included
Best Western Plus Gran Tree
1325 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
BestWesternGranTree.guestreservations.com
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Workshop Fee: $9995
Includes: Double Occupancy, Photographic instruction, 8 nights accommodations in Mammoth and Old Faithful lodges, airport transfers to/from Bozeman Airport to YNP and park use fee, all transportation and luggage transfers within the park heated Deluxe Glaval Snow Coach, hotel breakfast all days, with box lunches days 2-7.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Bozeman, MT and meals other than specified above. Lodging in Bozeman prior to and after the workshop dates.
Single Occupancy: available upon request (additional fee). We must have Advanced Notice to insure single lodging throughout your stay.
Terms: Space reserved upon receipt of deposit $1500
Final balance due 120 days from workshop.
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
To sign up contact us at; office 828-891-4082 e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Participation is limited to 5
Host: Charles Glatzer, M.Photog, Canon EOL
If you want bears chasing and catching red sockeye in remote AK this is your trip! Brook’s Falls is an option (weather dependent).
We will get you where you want to be for the best wildlife experience. Our planes always stay with you during the day, which gives you the ability to change locations. We also have the ability to move to a different location. This a huge safety measure that no other Safari Lodge offers. This trip will provide you the world's best opportunity to photograph bears during the day and then spoil you at night with a gourmet four-course dinner with comfortable lodging.
This trip is fully guided by myself and lodge staff with our aircraft always standing by to fly you to over 127 different locations. We will have exclusive use of aircraft which includes float planes (sea planes), and bush planes on tundra tires as well as jet boats. The planes and boats are not out doing other things during the day. They are used exclusively for our guests. You never wait for an air taxi stationed somewhere else to show up! Our planes are always with you or at the lodge waiting for you. In all, we can cover a 30,000 square-mile area, including Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, & the Bristol Bay Watershed. Having the plane stay with you all day is a huge advantage allowing us to always be where the best bear activity is, and more importantly, if bad weather is blowing in we simply take off for the lodge or a different location.
Day 1; Please plan to arrive and overnight in Anchorage on August 1st (session 1) or 8th (session 2).
Day 2; Late afternoon fly out to the lodge. Our scheduled departure time is 4:00PM. Settle in rooms. Once everyone has gathered at the lodge, orientation will begin. This meeting makes sure any and all questions get answered in regard to what the week will consist during our time together. After you’ve eaten your fill at dinner, together as a group, we discuss your options and make a plan for what tomorrow will bring.
Day 3-7; After enjoying a hearty breakfast, you will board one of the lodge’s aircraft, and the adventure begins! We fly out to our location(s) based on weather, intel, and highest bear activity. Note-we may camp on location overnight to get the best morning and afternoon light.
Day 7: 1/2 day on location, fly-out to Anchorage mid afternoon. Back at the lodge, there will be enough time to change from your field clothes into something more comfortable and get a quick shower in before our staff will transport the group back to Iliamna Airport for the 6:00 PM evening flight back to Anchorage, arrive in Anchorage at 7:30 PM.
Good physical fitness (Moderate Difficult) is required as hiking a few miles on uneven remote terrain is required. We may choose to camp in remote areas overnight for the best light and bear activity. Please note…camping is an option, not a have to do. If you prefer we can fly you to the lodge that evening and back to the location the next morning. We aim to please, wink.
Weather (rain, fog, wind) is always a consideration with regard to plane travel. Locations will be determined the evening before and the next day schedule/options will be discussed with the group after dinner.
Included;
Flight to/from Anchorage to the lodge.
Photo Instruction classroom/infield.
All the daily bush flights, boat trips, meals, lodging, guides, maid service, waders if desired.
Not Included;
Lodging in Anchorage, Flight to/from Anchorage, AK
Staff Gratuities $500/600, Alcohol (BYOB)
Cell Phones will not work. There is a lodge satellite phone that you are free to use for non-international call. Chas will have his SAT phone in field.
Fee: $10,995
Deposit; $1000 is required to reserve your space.
2nd deposit $2000 due August 15th, 2026
Balance due April 15th, 2027
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
Perched on the rugged coast of Hudson Bay, Seal River Heritage Lodge boasts an ideal location for observing polar bears as they traverse the coast in anticipation of the Bay’s freezing. The fenced-in compound, viewing platforms, and tower provide exceptional photography opportunities for capturing the northern lights and the wildlife that approaches to explore the lodge’s sights, sounds, and aromas. Regular wildlife encounters include polar bears, red and arctic foxes, arctic hares, ptarmigans, as well as pine martens, caribou, ermines, snowy owls, gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, and occasional wolf.
Nestled adjacent to pristine Arctic waters on Hudson Bay, with Canada’s Boreal Forest as its backdrop, lies Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, a remote wilderness ecolodge. The diverse winter ecosystem surrounding Nanuk is teeming with wildlife, offering frequent sightings of polar bears, wolf packs, ptarmigans, snowy owls, moose, occasional red and arctic foxes, and the possibility of a wolverine.
Exclusive Polar bear/Arctic Instructional Photo Safari... for those wanting to advanced their wildlife photography.
Host Charles (Chas) Glatzer M.Photog, /Canon Explorer of Light
BONUS FEATURES:
• Daily evening seminars
• In-field instruction
• Additional in-flight carry-on allowance for equipment, 40 lbs per guest carry-on/valet, with 50 lbs checked luggage.
• Exceptional wildlife photographed ... polar bear, wolves, arctic and red fox, wolverine, ermine, arctic hare, ptarmigan, snowy owl, gyrfalcon, caribou
• Surreal sunrise & sunset landscapes
Feature #1: Wildly rugged and remote - this tundra coastal lodge provides photographers the ability to dedicate long days in the field getting up close and personal with Arctic Wildlife. Your journey of exploration and adventure will take place at our fly-in only Seal River Heritage Lodge located in the heart of polar bear country.
Feature #2: This adventure offers ground level photo opportunities for Arctic wildlife, including polar bears, in a pristine untrammeled wilderness setting. Polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox can be photographed in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes. Our Lodge's shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on ice and snow.
Feature #3: Located on the shoreline of the Hudson Bay we have experienced an exceptional number of clear nights for northern light photography and we have the highest number of sunshine days on the coast. We also have the best morning and evening light opportunities. You can also look forward to the finest food and wine in the Arctic! Mealtimes will be adjusted or delayed as required to ensure maximum photo opportunities.
This exclusive seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world: knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.
Chas will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approach photography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal. Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer. Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.
Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools is a critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.
Itinerary Day 1 - ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY Arrive in Winnipeg where you will enjoy a relaxing stay at our choice hotel. You will need your rest for your early morning departure to Churchill. Dinner will be held at our classy hotel at 7:00pm where you will meet your group and your adventure specialist.
Day 2 - AN ARCTIC ARRIVAL AND AERIAL TOUR Arrive in Churchill by air where one of our expert staff will meet you at the airport and will provide you with an orientation to the tour including a clothing check (in order to crosscheck your \"What to Bring\" list as provided to you in email and in your Adventure Album). You will then be transferred by fixed wing aircraft to our Seal River Heritage Lodge. This exciting flight takes you out over the historic Churchill River, and then northwest up the rugged Hudson Bay coast to Canada‘s most exclusive Polar Bear viewing properties. Keep a sharp eye out en route for caribou, moose, seals, wolf and of course the Great Ice Bears. Upon your arrival, your hosts will provide a tour of the Lodge and get you settled into your room. A thorough orientation on traveling in polar bear country will be provided prior to any outings. Then it's time to assemble all those priceless cameras, hard drives, and tripods and start burning some serious gigabytes!
Day 3 - 6 - TUNDRA TREKKING, POLAR BEARS, AND PRICELESS PHOTOGRAPHY! Our Seal River Heritage Lodge is a wildly rugged and remote location catering to the dedicated wildlife photographer willing to spend long hours in the field getting up close and personal with the arctic wildlife. Ground level photo opportunities are offered for arctic wildlife including polar bears in a pristine wilderness setting. We ARE in the heart of polar bear country! Your photos will have stunning backdrops with the sea and or landscapes surrounding the Lodge. Its shoreline location is ideal for photographing bears on snow and ice. Furthermore we have an exceptional number of clear nights for northern lights photography. As we mentioned in the features our gourmet meal service times will be adjusted to accommodate photo opportunities which are the priority so expect many a meal to be interrupted. Generally breakfast is served at 8:00 am, lunch as required; with appetizers at 6:00 pm followed by a veritable feast for the palate at 7:00 pm. Evenings are spent near the fireplace downloading images, sharing the day's adventures, or taking in an informative lecture or slide show. Bedtime is at your leisure. The entire Lodge area is monitored for polar bears all night by one of our night watchmen so be prepared to have your sleep cut short by a nocturnal visit by one of the Great Ice Bears (or by one of our dazzling displays of northern lights!).
Day 6 - SAY GOODBYE TO THE LODGE! After another hearty breakfast it is time to pack for the flight back to Churchill, say good-byes and snap a few more pictures! After another exciting aerial tour, you will arrive in Churchill where your bags will be stored for you until your flight back to Winnipeg later in the day. You are then free to explore and wine & dine in this frontier community at your leisure. We recommend local places such as Cape Merry, the Port of Churchill, the Eskimo Museum, the Polar Bear Holding Compound (otherwise known as the Polar Bear Jail), as well as the Parks Canada exhibit which are all of great interest. Dog sledding and helicopter charters fit nicely into this afternoon if you are so inclined. If you are interested in a dog sledding tour please book through us so we can ensure you arrive in Churchill in time for your tour departure. We work with Blue Sky Mushing and you can visit their website at www.blueskymush.com. For aerial tours you can contact Hudson Bay Helicopters at info@hudsonbayheli.com or by phone at 204-675-2576. Note-We would not be able to transport individuals to any extra excursions that the client’s book on their own and with limited time, may not be feasible. After dinner you will meet up with our expeditor and you will be transferred to the airport in preparation for your flight back to Winnipeg. Upon your arrival into Winnipeg you will check back into the Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel for the night.
Day 7 - TIME FOR REALITY... After a restful sleep you will pack your bags in preparation for your flight home. You will also enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before your trip back to reality.
FEE TBA; Seal River $21, 895 approx. CAD plus applicable tax 8.5%. Subject to current exchange rate! (double occupancy)
FEE;TBA Nanuk Lodge $20, 895 approx CAD plus applicable 8.5% tax. Subject to current exchange rate! (double occupancy).
Includes; 1st and last nights in Winnipeg, four nights at the Lodge, as well as R/T airfare between Winnipeg, Churchill and R/T flts from Churchill to our Lodge.
Not Included; flights to/from Winnipeg, Guide/Staff tips (recommended 5%)
A $3,500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required to secure lodge space. Final balances due June 1st, 2027
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at; office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com
THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
During the months of July to October, over two million animals migrate across these plains as part of the Great Wildebeest Migration. This continuous journey is driven by their relentless pursuit of water and nutrient-rich grasses. Recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the Great Wildebeest Migration is often referred to as the “World Cup of Wildlife.” The vibrancy of the bush is palpable, as it hums with activity. The sheer numbers of animals are awe-inspiring, making this an unforgettable experience during one of the most exhilarating periods of the year.
Our primary objective is to photograph river crossings, where a large congregation of wildebeest and zebra traverse the nearby Mara River, subjecting themselves to the potential predation of the resident crocodiles that lurk in the water’s depths.
Our Migration Camp(s) offer the closest possible view of the action.
This photographer’s paradise is one of the most renowned destinations in Africa for witnessing the majestic presence of big cats and an astonishing diversity of plains game. The northern Serengeti is characterized by the iconic expansive plains of the African savannah, providing breathtaking vistas and consistently delivering exceptional wildlife encounters. It stands out as an exceptional destination in East Africa for leopard sightings, and the kopje-studded hillsides that serve as their natural habitat are in themselves remarkably picturesque.
FEE: TBA
INCLUDES:
THIS COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Deposit methods accepted; check made payable to Shoot the Light (address below), and credit card via a phone call to our office.
Please review our Booking and Refund Policy
For additional info please contact us at;
office 828-891-4082, e-mail info@shootthelight.com