Workshop Details

They will be 4 hour sessions, beginning at 4pm with an hour presentation and tutorial, followed by 3 one hour sessions at each of 3 different setups. Setup 1 is a hummingbird setup using standard, cheap, manual flashes, Setup 2 is a hummingbird setup using Fotronix StopLight SL-80 High Speed Flashes, and the Setup 3, by very popular request, is a natural light setup, where you will be shooting from a hide. This setup has a hummingbird feeder, and multiple seed feeders all in close proximity, so you may shoot everything from hummers to jays to finches in natural light.

Each session will be for 3 students, who will rotate through the stations each hour. The tutorial will cover natural history, high speed flash background and shooting tips for the 3 hours ahead. I will be around the whole time to answer any questions, help with technique, etc.

Students will leave with a number of well exposed images, a hummingbird feeder of my recommendation, a CD with the tutorial presentation, resource list and reference notes, and most important of all, the knowledge and experience to be able to produce great hummer shots themselves.

As all the birds are wild, I cannot control their behavior. There may be some instances where a particular setup goes ‘quiet’ for an hour, while others may be inundated. I reserve the right, as the tutor, to change people around during the afternoon if a student has insufficient images. If a student does not leave with at least 4 well exposed images of a complete hummingbird, they are welcome to another session, gratis. You may notice that I don’t guarantee focused images – that is something I cannot control, but I will give you all the help you need (via several techniques) to achieve at least a few sharp images.

If a particular group would like to substitute the manual flash setup for one that uses Canon 580EX Speedlites, that can be arranged, but I must have 24 hours notice. The Canon flashes operate in much the same way as Nikon Speedlites in this scenario, so if Nikon is your weapon of choice for flashes, don’t be put off – you will learn what you need to know. I will go over the background of all flash types in the tutorial anyway.

I will supply bottled water and sodas. You are welcome to wander around the lawns of my property, but for insurance reasons, students are only permitted in my office/lab, which is above the garage. It has a full bathroom for bio breaks. I suggest a hat, bug repellent for the occasional mosquito, sunscreen and perhaps something to wear if the temperature plummets, which it can do when the sun goes down.

What Gear to Bring:

You will need a DSLR, memory card(s) and the longest lens(es) you have. If you have teleconverters, bring them too, as well as extension tubes.  A 200mm (35mm equivalent) lens is really the minimum focal length I would recommend, as hummingbirds are very, very tiny! The more mega-pixels you have, the more you can crop the final image, but 200mm also offers about the minimum usable working distance for the birds not to get spooked. Make sure you have fresh batteries, as you might be rattling off many frames! You may wish to bring a tripod for using in the hide (or even shooting hummers), though I personally handhold for the hummers. I will provide a Gitzo 410 with an Arca Swiss Monoball for the hide. I also have a Wimberly Sidekick which converts the Monoball into a gimbal head, which is useful for long lenses with tripod collars. If you are to use my tripod, you will have to have an Arca-Swiss type Quick Release plate on your lens or camera. Elsewise, bring your own tripod. (If you don’t have a QR plate, or your own tripod, let me know and I can supply a standard tripod). If students want to try fill flash (using their own flash) for the natural light setup, they are welcome to. I can offer guidance if needed.

What Gear I Supply:

I supply all flash gear for the high speed flash setups. I supply all the setups themselves, chairs etc. I supply PocketWizard radio slaves for the high speed setups ( I will guide you through how to use these – they are very simple, and provide reliable wireless flash trigger performance). I will provide instruction via presentation on a large computer screen in my lab/office, then will roam each setup continually to ensure students are prepared to capture great images.

Session Days/Dates:

Ideally, I would like to have the sessions during the week, however I realize this is not possible for most people. As such, there will be sessions on Thursday and Sunday evenings to begin with. If a group of 3 students gets together and determines a mutually beneficial alternative date amongst themselves, I can almost certainly accommodate it.

Bird Update:

I have seen males and females of four species so far this season – Anna’s, Black-chinned, Costa’s and what I call Rufous/Allens. The latter are actually two species, but pretty much indistinguishable in the field. (Coloring has little to do with hummingbird taxonomy, so ‘green on the back’ does not necessarily make it an Allens!). Of course I cannot promise you will see all four, however the Anna’s and Rufous/Allens are prevalent.

Signing Up:

Until I get a decent booking system organized, it will be first come, first served. Send me an email with your preferred dates, and as they arrive, I will respond to you with confirmation or otherwise. If there are 3 of you wanting to attend as a group, feel free to let me know, and we can work out a special date if you need it.

Weather Issues:

I live in a house which is very high up a hillside and when the wind is really blowing, the hummers tend to stay away. While the really strong winds of the season have (at last) abated, there may be times when it will prevent reasonable shooting. I will let everyone know as soon as is practicable, and we will organize an alternative date. I want everyone to have the best chance at capturing some great images!

Prices:

TOPCC Members:

In groups of 3, $225 each for a 4 hour session

One to one tutorial – $125 per hour (minimum 2 hours)

Non TOPCC Members:

In groups of 3, $250 each for a 4 hour session

One to one tutorial $150 per hour (minimum 2 hours)

Rental:

If you would prefer to use my personal gear for the session, I will rent out my 100-400mm (Canon) lens for $30 or my Canon 7D for $30 or $50 for both, per session. You will need to supply your own CF Flash memory card(s).

Payment:

Payment can be made by personal check, cash, or Paypal, a week before the day of the session. I only take credit cards through Paypal, to this email address: hsfpix@gmail.com. Make checks payable to Yoric Inc..

Cancellation Policy:

If you sign up for a session but need to cancel, I will refund 100% (minus Paypal fee, if applicable) with up to 4 days notice. 50% between 3 and 1 day’s notice, but there will be no refund if you cancel on the day of the session. I won’t be able to fill your place at such late notice.