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Workshop with Claudia Rocchini: How to photograph birds in flight
The workshop is in Italian Language
Nature photography workshop dedicated to techniques for capturing images of birds in flight. Participants are guaranteed to see wild birds during two feeding times, both in favourable lighting conditions and backlit. There will be a practice session photographing birds of prey from the falconry centre, in high- and low-altitude flight, but all within reach of medium tele-lenses. Between sessions there will be time to download and review shots.
Teaching style
Each session has both a theory and practice component, which will outline and illustrate the main techniques for photographing birds in flight – with regards to environmental conditions, controlling the background, framing and posture. Since we “learn from our mistakes”, we let participants take their first shots following their customary methods, then we make any suggestions or corrections as appropriate. Review of shots is focused on why particular shots aren't correct.
Date: 23rd June 2012
Tutor: Claudia Rocchini (photoreporter with Fotografia Reflex magazine)
Location: Oasi di Sant’Alessio, Via Cadorna 2, Sant’Alessio con Vialone (PV) – Italy
The Sant'Alessio Oasis is a magnificent location in the province of Pavia, Italy. With a mediaeval castle as its headquarters, surrounded by a protected area dedicated to conservation and wildlife repopulation, it's always been a destination for nature photographers. Numerous species of birds (many wild, some in semi-captivity and a few in captivity) can be seen and photographed close-up but without disturbing them. Around the conservation area, the countryside of Pavia itself offers a chance to see even more species: storks, herons, spoonbills, great egrets, ibis, little egrets, black-crowned night herons, cormorants, glossy ibis and mallard ducks which come to the Oasis' lake twice a day.
Media Sponsor: Fotografia Reflex magazine
Technical Sponsors: Nikon, Manfrotto, Manfrotto School Of Xcellence
Programme
9.45 – participants meet in the church square in front of the main entrance of the Oasi. Introductions and illustration of the workshop
10.00 – enter the Oasi, participant registration
10.30-45 – book lunch in order to avoid queues during our break
10.45-11.15 – photo session in the spoonbill aviary, with various other species
11.30-12.30: first feeding time – shooting on
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the open Pellican lake, various species attracted by the fish which is set out on the banks of the lake. Light is in our favour.
12.30-13.30 – lunch break. Participants may bring a packed lunch if they don't wish to eat in the Oasi's restaurant/café
13.30-15.00 – analysis of morning session's images and corrections/suggestions
15.00-15.30 – move to the falconry. Before the shoot, we'll study their flight patterns. Set up location depending on species flying and light conditions.
15.30-16.15 – falconry session with Roberto Mazzetti, showing eagles, owls, peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, harris hawks and ravens.
16.30-17.30 – 2nd feeding time on Pellican lake. Shooting backlit or in silhouette, with illustration of techniques for getting good images in these light conditions.
17.30-18.30 – second analysis of photos and end of the workshop.
20.30… – those who wish can join us for dinner in a characteristic place a few km from the Oasi… grilled chicken, chips, artisan beers and… dancing on the tables!
Price: €110, doesn't include entrance to the Oasi (€13 o €8 for those who already have an annual membership card), lunch or dinner. When subscribing for the course, please state if you wish to join us at the dinner too.
Signing up: when you sign up for the workshop, you'll be absked to pay a deposit of €60. The oustanding amount will be paid on the day of the workshop. Please sign up by writing to oasi@claudiarocchini.it, and please include a link to your website or an online gallery of your photos in order that the tutor can adjust the workshop to fit the level of participants.
Participants: min 10, max 20
Difficulty: the workshop is open to all, but participants should have a good grasp of the basics of photography, and be familiar with their own equipment. Although there will be some technical information about using focus points and exposure modes, the course cannot give specific information to participants about their individual cameras/lenses.
Recommended equipment: a medium or long tele lens (70-200 or 70-300 or greater). Shooting on the lake is about 10-12 metres from the feeding spot. Participants should bring their own laptop o tablet so that they can download, view and make a first selection of shots during the course.
Weather conditions: the workshop will be held even if there's light rain, but if weather conditions force the workshop to be postponed, we'll give at least 24 hours notice.
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This is going to be a great workshop. I so wish I could attend. I keep trying to get my “in flight” photos, more sharp.
Have a great time!
–Deborah Flowers