Bird Photography

The Bird Photography Workshop with Andrew Goodall is a fantastic way to practice your skills – and learn some new ones – while working with some amazing and colourful characters.

The workshop is held in two parts over one day. In the morning we meet at Parrots in Paradise at Glasshouse Mountains, where you will practice photographing birds at close quarters. Some of the best subjects are brought outside the aviary to provide more natural settings – you are going to love George the Gang-Gang Cockatoo! This morning session is a great way for Andrew to see how you are going with the basics and offer some special tips on focus, exposure and more to produce sharper, better quality photos. Then in the afternoon we head to Caloundra where Andrew explains the settings and techniques to prepare you for a whole new challenge…photographing birds in flight. Photographing moving subjects requires very different camera settings so the practical skills you learn here will take your wildlife photography to a new level.

The Bird Photography Workshop is fun. It is hands-on with a little theory and plenty of time to practice and you are sure to take home a great collection of new photos. It’s also great value, and note that your workshop fee includes your entry to Parrots in Paradise, where every dollar received goes into caring for the birds.

This is an intermediate workshop, suitable for people with some experience who want to take their skills further. It was originally designed for people who have done Andrew’s Photography Essentials workshop but now it is open for everyone. But please note: it is not designed to teach first principles of DSLR photography, so if things like shutter speed, aperture and ISO are a mystery, you should consider doing a Photography Essentials workshop first.

DSLR and Mirrorless DSLR cameras are welcome, and you will need a suitable telephoto lens…standard 250mm and 300mm lenses are fine, and if you have anything stronger – great, bring it along!

Itinerary

Parrots in Paradise

10.00 am to Midday

Birds At Close Quarters

Arrive at 9.45 for a 10.00am start. Andrew begins by outlining the day ahead and checking if you have any camera questions that need answering. Then on to the birds! Andrew will explain the techniques and settings needed to create great photos and hand out notes for you to keep. Then we start shooting! The friendly folk at Parrots In Paradise go out of their way to give you some great photo ops.

Some of the birds are a 'flight-risk' and must stay in the aviary, but others are brought outside so you can photograph them away from the enclosure. All the while Andrew will watch your progress and offer advice to help you get some great shots.

Golden Beach, Caloundra

1.40 pm to Sunset

Birds In Flight

After a generous break giving you ample time to enjoy lunch and get to Caloundra, meet up with Andrew again to learn about settings and techniques for photographing birds in flight. There are some specific focusing and shooting modes that will take your skills beyond basic for some serious action shots. You will then spend the rest of the day photographing pelicans as they land and take off nearby, providing some great - sometimes comical - photo opportunities. The workshop ends when the light is gone, or you can choose to go home earlier if you have had enough.

WHERE WE MEET, WHAT TO BRING

FURTHER INFORMATION

When your booking is complete you will receive a tax invoice with a link to download a PDF file. It contains all the information you need including where we meet, how to get there what to bring...everything you need to get you to the workshop on time and ready to go!

Terms & Conditions:

Price for the Bird Photography Workshop is $170.00 per person and includes entry to Parrots in Paradise. There are no discounts for multiple bookings as we already offer exceptional value for money compared to other workshops. Your place at the workshop is reserved the moment you place your booking, but payment in advance is required to finalise the booking. Most people pay when they make their booking; you can choose to pay later if you wish. However your booking is not considered final until payment is made, and if a workshop is sold out and we have a waiting list, you will be asked to confirm the booking through payment, or the place may be offered to the next person on the list. There are no refunds for non-attendance, but if you genuinely cannot make it to the workshop on the date you have booked, you can transfer to another workshop at a later date. When your booking is complete (paid) you will receive information on where we meet, what to bring etc. You are responsible for your own transport on the day, both to Parrots in Paradise and then to Golden Beach at Caloundra. Our chosen location at Caloundra for the afternoon session is a place where numerous pelicans and other birds can usually be found but please note that whenever dealing with wild subjects no guarantees can be made that the animals will appear.

Testimonials

You taught me how the soft light of dawn or the golden light of late afternoon can add a touch of magic to an image. You taught me the importance of taking control of what my camera is doing. You brought my fuzzy ideas about composition into clear focus. And you inspired me to take up my camera and shoot, to get up and have a go.
Andrew is a perfect presenter. Explains things clearly and at a level perfect for my comprehension.
Thanks for a great PRACTICAL workshop ! I have always been afraid of the big “M” on the camera – but not anymore!
I have been on many courses in my 75 yrs. I rank yours as one of the best . You have a great way of keeping up the interest in the class.
The weekend has given me more knowledge and confidence and renewed my enthusiasm… thanks again for your generosity in sharing your knowledge and experience.
Your method and mode of teaching is hands on, practical and free of technical gobbldygook — EXACTLY what most of us would be photographers need.
Description & explanation of things was very good… very helpful. You are a great teacher.
Good fun and a good mix of classroom and outdoors.
This course gave me a better understanding of the technical side which has always been daunting to me.
Gave me a lot of good ideas. I have a greater understanding of my camera.
I must say I enjoyed your ‘easygoing’ style of teaching and openness.
I have more practice to do but am now excited about using my camera. Thank you for the inspirational workshop.
If there is one thing I can recommend to anyone interested in photography it is to DO THIS COURSE! I can never thank Andrew enough for sharing his knowledge and making it so easy.