Osprey Heaven Workshops 2016
Lake Blue Cypress (Vero Beach), Florida
Flight School Photography returns to Lake
Blue Cypress for the seventh year and will be featuring two, five day workshops
in spring, 2016. The workshops will be
conducted by expert bird photographer Jim Neiger, who knows the lake and
surrounding area like no-one else. Jim has spent the past
several years perfecting his unique techniques for photographing birds in flight
using large telephoto lenses, hand held. The focus of these workshops will be
learning Jim’s hand held, long lens techniques for photographing birds in flight
and in other action. The workshops will be held in some of the most beautiful,
wild, and unspoiled wilderness areas of central Florida.
Osprey Landing with Fish - Lake Blue Cypress
Image copyright
©
2014: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography
Sample Image Gallery
Each workshop will include a four hour
classroom session, welcome dinner, four morning photography sessions, and three
afternoon photography sessions. Each photography session will be of three to
four hours in duration. Five of the photography sessions will be conducted
via a specially configured pontoon boat that has been customized for photography
from the water (weather permitting). The remaining photography sessions will be
land based sessions in the field. The workshops will be limited to five
participants so that everyone may photograph in comfort and receive personalized
instruction.
The photography sessions by boat will be held
on the unspoiled and unparalleled Lake Blue Cypress. This spectacularly
beautiful lake is virtually free of civilization and man made elements. The
lake is surrounded by ancient cypress swamp and marshy wetlands. Here, the
gorgeous cypress trees grow from the lake bottom, surrounded on all sides by
water. Osprey nest by the hundreds in these trees, and participants will be
able to photograph them as the fly to and fro, dive for fish, gather nesting
materials, and feed their young chicks. Some of the nests are actually at or
below eye level when standing in the boat. The only distraction in this
pristine, wilderness environment is the constant cries of the Osprey as they
frolic in the air and defend their nests from other birds. Lake Blue Cypress is
also a landscape photographers dream. The horizons contain nothing of man’s
influence and only the beauty of the real Florida wilderness. Perches and
backgrounds are spectacular beyond belief. March and April are the best months to
be at Lake Blue Cypress. Many of the birds are actively nesting and rearing
their young during this time. Wildflowers cover the stumps and trees like
blankets of radiant color. The skies glow with spectacular, multi-hued sunrises
and sunsets. Hundreds of different species of birds are possible including the
typical Florida waders and water fowl. Large Alligators are commonly seen
sunning themselves on top of the fallen trees and stumps amidst the colorful
wildflowers. The biggest problem for a photographer here is deciding which
subject to photograph. Even the weather cooperates this time of year. It is
the dry season and clear, sunny days are the most common weather condition.
Osprey Landing with Fish for Baby
Image copyright
© 2014:
Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography
Sample Image
Gallery
The photography sessions on land will be held
in remote areas of southern Osceola County. Here, participants are likely to
have opportunities to photograph birds that are endangered and rarely seen.
Possible species include: Whooping Cranes, Swallow-tailed Kites, Great Horned Owls,
Barred Owls, and Red Shoulder Hawks, among others. Sandhill Cranes, a common
bird in Central Florida, are tame enough to approach as closely as you like.
Participants will also learn how to safely use bird song recordings to attract
birds. Jim has developed his own, innovative techniques for using recordings to
attract birds, in such a way, that amazing photographic opportunities are common
when they would be almost impossible otherwise. This includes special
techniques that encourage birds to fly and land in desired ways, which provide
spectacular opportunities for flight images and images on perches chosen for
their beauty.
Barred Owl Evening Flight
Image copyright
©
2014: Jim Neiger/Flight School Photography
Sample Image Gallery
Jim is known for his consistent production of
amazing flight images and images of the most desirable subjects. His
imagination and dedication have resulted in new techniques, which can only be
learned from Jim. Jim’s Flight School Photography Workshops are a must for any
serious nature photographer.
Workshop Dates:
Workshop LBC-1: April 17-21, 2016
Workshop LBC-2: April 24-28, 2016
Workshop Itinerary:
Day 1 (afternoon/evening ):
Morning arrival in Vero Beach, which is the base location for the workshops.
There will be a four hour classroom session from 2:00pm to 6:00pm in the hotel
meeting room. This will be followed by a welcome dinner with the group.
The classroom instruction will focus on using hand held techniques for
photographing birds in flight to prepare participants for the subsequent
photography sessions.
Days 2:
Morning photography session via boat on Lake Blue Cypress. Mid-day siesta and
lunch break on your own. Afternoon/evening photography session on Lake Blue
Cypress. Late dinner on your own.
Day 3:
Morning photography session via boat on Lake Blue Cypress. Mid-day siesta and
lunch break. Afternoon/evening photography session on Lake Blue Cypress.
Late dinner on your own.
Day 4:
Mini caravan to land locations for morning photography session. Mid-day siesta
and lunch break. Afternoon/evening photography session. Dinner on your
own.
Day 5 (morning):
Morning photography session
via boat on Lake Blue Cypress.
Please note:
The itinerary may be re-arranged to take advantage of the best weather
conditions for photography sessions by boat.
Workshop Cost and payment:
The cost of each workshop is $1750 per person. Each
workshop includes a four hour formal classroom instruction session, a welcome
dinner, 4 morning photography sessions, and 3 afternoon photography sessions.
The photography sessions include personalized instruction in the field.
Each participant will receive a copy of Jim's e-book "Flight Plan - How to
Photograph Birds in Flight" when they sign up for the workshop. Discounted lodging is available, but is not included in the workshop fee.
A $875
non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a spot in a workshop. The remaining $875 is
due 30 days before the start date of the workshop. If you are unable to
attend the workshop, after paying the balance, the balance payment will be
refunded ONLY if your spot can be filled, on short notice, from the
waiting list. All workshop payments must be made by check or money order.
Credit cards are not accepted.
Participant Requirements:
Participants should have working knowledge of how to create
a properly exposed image, a telephoto lens of 400mm or more (300mm with a
teleconverter is acceptable), and be physically capable of holding their camera
and lens up to their eye in shooting position for at least 20 seconds.
Participants must also have a vehicle to travel to and from the photography
locations.
Lodging and Logistics:
Workshop participants who
require lodging during the workshop should stay at the hotel in Vero Beach where
the classroom sessions will be conducted.
Participants arriving via air arrive at the Orlando International Airport, which
is the closest major airport to Vero Beach. Rental vehicles are available at
the airport. Flight School Photography will assist participants with
arranging the sharing of vehicles and/or lodging if desired. Detailed
information will be provided when you sign up for the workshop or upon request.
Lodging, transportation, and meals (except for welcome dinner) are not included.
Contact
Information:
Flight School Photography, Inc.
Jim Neiger
550 Basin Drive
Kissimmee, FL 34744-4804
Cell phone: (407)
247-5200
Website:
www.flightschoolphotography.com
Email:
jimn@cfl.rr.com
Jim will be
happy to provide you with any additional information you may need.
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