2024 PHOTOGRAPHY & OPTICS WORKSHOPS
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The following information is based on the 2024 festival.
Please sign up for our emails to be the first to learn about 2025 details!
The following information is based on the 2024 festival.
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Kicking It Up a Notch: - SOLD OUT
Taking your bird photography to the next level
Instructor: Brian Zwiebel
Sponsored by Sabrewing Nature Tours
TWO DAY SESSION
Date: Saturday, May 4 (afternoon classroom session) and Sunday, May 5 (morning field session)
Time: Saturday, May 4, 1-2:30 PM and Sunday, May 5, 7-10 AM
*Please make sure you don't register for anything that conflicts with the second day of this workshop!*
Afternoon Classroom Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Morning Field Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Fee: $85 (covers both sessions!)
Registration Required
Limited to 10 participants
Sponsored by Sabrewing Nature Tours
TWO DAY SESSION
Date: Saturday, May 4 (afternoon classroom session) and Sunday, May 5 (morning field session)
Time: Saturday, May 4, 1-2:30 PM and Sunday, May 5, 7-10 AM
*Please make sure you don't register for anything that conflicts with the second day of this workshop!*
Afternoon Classroom Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Morning Field Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Fee: $85 (covers both sessions!)
Registration Required
Limited to 10 participants
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This program will include a brief review of some basics before diving head first into some more advanced concepts including discussion on which exposure modes to use when. We'll discuss getting the most from your autofocus system and include a brief overview of fill flash vs. flash as the main light source. Finally, Brian will tie it all together discussing how he uses the various settings in some of his favorite forms of bird photography including waterfowl, warblers and shorebirds.
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About Brian Zwiebel
Brian is owner and guide at Sabrewing Nature Tours. He began his journey with birds by enrolling in an Ornithology class at Hocking College in 1993. More than 30 of his images have been featured at the National Center for Nature Photography in Toledo, OH. Brian's award-winning photography has been internationally published and used in articles he authored for Audubon and B&H Photo-Video’s Explora blog. |
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Light... Shadow... Background! - SOLD OUT
Instructor: Kevin Loughlin
Sponsored by Wildlife Nature Tours
TWO DAY SESSION
Date: Monday, May 6 (afternoon classroom session) and Tuesday, May 7 (morning field session)
Time: Monday, May 6, 1-2:30 PM and Tuesday, May 7, 7-10 AM
*Please make sure you don't register for anything that conflicts with the second day of this workshop!*
Afternoon Classroom Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Morning Field Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Fee: $85 (covers both sessions!)
Registration Required
Limited to 10 participants
Sponsored by Wildlife Nature Tours
TWO DAY SESSION
Date: Monday, May 6 (afternoon classroom session) and Tuesday, May 7 (morning field session)
Time: Monday, May 6, 1-2:30 PM and Tuesday, May 7, 7-10 AM
*Please make sure you don't register for anything that conflicts with the second day of this workshop!*
Afternoon Classroom Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Morning Field Session Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Fee: $85 (covers both sessions!)
Registration Required
Limited to 10 participants
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Classroom session: The art of photography is based upon light and shadow. Having a proper understanding of exposure will help you create better images of any subject and take your photography to the next level! What lies behind your subject can make or break your final image. Learning to pay attention to all elements in your image, especially the background, will help you get better photos. we will discuss using different lenses and depth of focus to isolate your subject or show it in its environment.
Field session: Expanding on the classroom seminar, we will discuss how to “see” light and shadow and how it will affect the subject as well as the background of your images. We’ll visit proper exposure to help highlight your subject and paying attention to your camera’s histograms for best exposure. We will also explore paying attention to your backgrounds, not only to eliminate distractions but to add interest. |
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About Kevin Loughlin
Kevin Loughlin was raised to appreciate nature while exploring the woodlands of Pennsylvania as a child. At age six, during a family trip through the American West, Kevin became fascinated with photography as well seeing the new and different birds throughout North America. Instilled with a love for travel and seeking new, exciting destinations he felt a desire to share his experiences with others and in 1993 he created Wildside Nature Tours. Kevin’s photographs and articles have appeared in publications such as WildBird, Nature Photographer, Audubon, Birding and Philadelphia Magazines, as well as the many natural history books, including more than a dozen in the recent “Peterson’s Reference Guide to Owls of North American and the Caribbean” by Scott Weidensaul. Kevin’s newest project is, along with co-author John Kricher, “Galapagos: A Natural History” due out from Princeton University Press in Autumn 2022. |
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Easy Warblers with a Point and Shoot - SOLD OUT
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Instructor: Stephen Ingraham
Date: Tuesday, May 7 Time: 9 AM - 10:30 AM Location: Meet at the east entrance of the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Boardwalk Fee: $30 Capacity: 10 Registration Required: Yes Wildlife and nature photography used to be the domain of expensive DSLRs and specialized (and expensive) lenses. No more! Today a relatively inexpensive advanced Point and Shoot camera with a long zoom (sometimes called a "bridge" camera or "superzoom") will open up satisfying nature photography to almost anyone. Yes, even Warbler photography. Warblers are not easy subjects, with any camera, but with some basic knowledge, patience, and practice, you can bring home Warbler shots you will be willing to show your friends...even the ones with $10,000 worth of camera equipment. Join Stephen Ingraham, the Point and Shoot Nature Photographer, and learn how. Please get a head start on this workshop by viewing the Point and Shoot Nature Photography video at https://psnp.info/psnp_/?page_id=1886. You may also find a specific video on setting up your camera. |
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Easy Warblers with a Mirrorless Camera - SOLD OUT
Instructor: Stephen Ingraham
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 9 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Meet at the east entrance of the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Boardwalk
Fee: $30
Capacity: 10
Registration Required: Yes
Wildlife and nature photography used to be the domain of expensive DSLRs and specialized (and expensive) lenses. No more! Today a relatively inexpensive advanced Point and Shoot camera with a long zoom (sometimes called a "bridge" camera or "superzoom") will open up satisfying nature photography to almost anyone. Yes, even Warbler photography. Warblers are not easy subjects, with any camera, but with some basic knowledge, patience, and practice, you can bring home Warbler shots you will be willing to show your friends...even the ones with $10,000 worth of camera equipment. Join Stephen Ingraham, the Point and Shoot Nature Photographer, and learn how.
Please get a head start on this workshop by viewing the Point and Shoot Nature Photography video at https://psnp.info/psnp_/?page_id=1886. You may also find a specific video on setting up your camera.
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 9 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Meet at the east entrance of the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Boardwalk
Fee: $30
Capacity: 10
Registration Required: Yes
Wildlife and nature photography used to be the domain of expensive DSLRs and specialized (and expensive) lenses. No more! Today a relatively inexpensive advanced Point and Shoot camera with a long zoom (sometimes called a "bridge" camera or "superzoom") will open up satisfying nature photography to almost anyone. Yes, even Warbler photography. Warblers are not easy subjects, with any camera, but with some basic knowledge, patience, and practice, you can bring home Warbler shots you will be willing to show your friends...even the ones with $10,000 worth of camera equipment. Join Stephen Ingraham, the Point and Shoot Nature Photographer, and learn how.
Please get a head start on this workshop by viewing the Point and Shoot Nature Photography video at https://psnp.info/psnp_/?page_id=1886. You may also find a specific video on setting up your camera.
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About Steve Ingraham
Steve Ingraham has been an avid birder and wildlife photographer for most of his adult life. He served as the Birding Market Specialist for ZEISS Sports Optics for the last decade of his working career and is a familiar face in the birding community . He has written several books on an easy method for bird and wildlife photography, as well as “Steve Ingraham’s 7 Fold Path to Better Birding.” He publishes The Point and Shoot Nature Photographer on the web with several photo blogs and learning resources at psnp.info. |
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The Basics of Bird Photo Editing
Instructor: Tyler Ficker
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 1-2 p.m.
Location: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Fee: $10
Registration Required: Yes
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 1-2 p.m.
Location: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Fee: $10
Registration Required: Yes
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One thing that can set your bird photos apart from other people’s is knowing how to properly edit them. This can give an added professional look to your photos that may not be achieved on camera. While there is never one true way to editing, this presentation focuses on helping you learn how to utilize the different tools you have access to when trying to achieve the look you had in mind for a given photo. This presentation covers the difference between RAW and JPEG, all the common tools and terminology in editing software, composition, and examples of the different uses! This talk will also cover the benefits of using a monitor designed for photo editing. The presentation will be demonstrated using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom but the information is applicable to nearly all editing software! This is a great follow-up to the bird photography presentation.
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About Tyler Ficker
Tyler found his passion for birding when his 4th grade teacher incorporated bird identification into the science curriculum. Tyler completed his undergraduate degree in the School of Environmental and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University. He was president of The Ornithology Club at Ohio State for two years. Tyler is a founding member of Lights Out Buckeyes—part of Ohio Lights Out, a network of programs aimed at making urban landscapes (in this case, the Ohio State campus) safer for migratory birds. He is an award-winning presenter at environmental, wildlife and birding conferences. He also worked as a field technician for the Ohio Division of Wildlife surveying grassland species. Tyler is the Communications Specialist for Black Swamp Bird Observatory. He is also a birding and photography guide with Sabrewing Nature Tours. When he’s not traveling, he is a professional portrait, wedding, and published nature photographer. He loves birding his home state of Ohio, especially during migration season, but is experienced in birding areas from Alaska to the tropics. |
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Creative Photography: How to stand out from the crowd
Instructor: Jamie Cunningham
Sponsored by Sabrewing Nature Tours
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 1-2:30 PM
Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Fee: $30
Registration Required
Limited to 20 participants
Sponsored by Sabrewing Nature Tours
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 1-2:30 PM
Location: Maumee Bay Nature Center
Fee: $30
Registration Required
Limited to 20 participants
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Join Sabrewing Nature Tours Photo guide Jamie Cunningham on this immersive photo workshop that will help you create unique images! This will be a classroom workshop that will help you learn tips and tricks to create various styles of images by using light, composition and editing techniques. Jamie will help you think outside the box and learn what it takes to make a shot that really stands out!
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Intro to Nature Photography
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Instructor: Jamie Cunningham
Date: Saturday, May 11 Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Location: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Fee: $10 Registration Required: Yes Do you love nature? Do you own a camera? Then this class is for you! Join professional wildlife photography Jamie Cunningham of Sabrewing Nature Tours for tips and tricks to capturing great images, no matter what type of camera you are using! This class covers the basics from do's and don'ts, when is the best time to shoot, composition, recommended gear, beginning editing and more! Please bring your camera of choice with you to the class. |
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About Jamie Cunningham
Jamie has had a lifelong interest in all nature and wildlife, but especially birds. A visit to Magee Marsh in NW Ohio during the Biggest Week in American Birding festival turned her interest into a passion. Since then, Jamie dove headfirst into birding and especially bird photography. Jamie works as a birding and photography guide for Sabrewing Nature Tours and enjoys traveling all over the world to photograph and lead tours. Her award-winning images have been featured in a number of publications and were even featured in her own gallery. Jamie was instrumental in forming a Nature Photography club in her hometown, where she shares her wealth of knowledge with members. She is heavily involved in local conservation efforts in her hometown. Jamie is proud of her involvement as an advisor for the Ohio Young Birder’s Club. She is passionate about sharing her love of birds with youth and spends time traveling to local schools and teaching students about birds and conservation. Jamie hopes to inspire others to enjoy birds and join in conservation efforts to help birds in any way they can. |
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