WEEKEND WORKSHOP - Hummingbirds of Southeastern Arizona

with Bruce Taubert
May 8-10, 2010
Cost: $695

This workshop is sold out. Contact our office to be placed on a waiting list.

Join photographer Bruce Taubert in Southeast Arizona to photograph hummingbirds, the jewel of the bird world!

Hummingbirds are among the most diverse and interesting species of birds AND one of the most sought after photographic bird subjects in the Western Hemisphere. At this workshop, you'll learn how to take high-speed flash and other photos of several species of Arizona’s hummingbirds. Each participant will have daily exposure to hours of hummingbird photography time. When not photographing hummers, there will be plenty of opportunity to photograph some of Arizona’s other unique and beautiful bird species.

The workshop location is Ash Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains near scenic Sierra Vista, Arizona. Beginning in April and extending into late May, several species of hummingbirds migrate from their winter locations in Mexico and Central America through Ash Canyon to their summer homes in Arizona and other states.

In addition to hummingbirds there are over 150 other species of birds that visit Ash Canyon. The workshop location is nestled between mountains, riparian areas, in the transitional zone between mesquite and oak habitats. There will be lots of wild flowers in bloom with the accompanied birds and insects.

We will photograph hummingbirds at one of several high-speed flash set-ups. Native flowers will be provided for photographic props and many photographs will be perfect stop action images of hummingbirds feeding at beautiful native flowers. The hummingbird migration will be near its peak and the flowers at the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast will be in bloom.

There will be times when it will be easier—and more educational—to photograph hummers as they visit the hummingbird feeder when there is not a flower present. We'll also have the opportunity to photograph hummingbirds as they flit among the beautiful native flowers at Ash Canyon.

Because each hummingbird photograph requires some level of Photoshop work to perfect the image there will be an evening set aside for learning these basic and some advanced techniques.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY
Please be aware that shooting locations stated in this itinerary may change. In the hope of giving you the best opportunities possible, each day we will determine which locations are best, according to lighting conditions and the current hummingbird migration.

DAY 1

• Meet at the Courtyard by Marriott/Phoenix Airport at 7 a.m. for the drive to our Sierra Vista hotel, where Bruce will give a one hour presentation on hummingbird photography and introduce his work.
• After lunch, we'll travel to Ash Canyon, where participants will be introduced to high-speed flashes in action, learn the techniques for focusing on hummingbirds, and begin to take hummingbird photographs.
• We will return to the hotel in Sierra Vista for a quick dinner. Bruce will then present a training session on the necessary Photoshop steps for the different types of hummingbird photography. He'll also critique the photos that students brought with them.

DAY 2

• We'll head off to Ash Canyon by 6 a.m. to get in 4 hours of hummingbird photography before lunch. We'll take photographs at three types of hummingbird photography stations and use high-speed flashes and high ISO techniques. There will also be an opportunity to photograph the many other birds at Ash Canyon.
• After lunch in Sierra Vista, we'll return to Ash Canyon. Participants will rotate to stations not visited yet and learn how to set-up their own hummingbird stations to continue this type of photography after the workshop concludes.
• Return to Sierra Vista for dinner at the hotel and then to the meeting room for a showing and critique of the hummingbird photographs that participants have taken during the workshop.

• Breakfast at the hotel and then off to Ash Canyon for the final morning of photography. This is your last chance—at least at the workshop—to take those special photographs of hummingbirds and other wildlife at Ash Canyon. Bruce will concentrate on ensuring that each student is comfortable with the new skills that they have learned at the workshop.
• Return to the hotel in Sierra Vista by 11 a.m. for check out and our trip back to Phoenix. We should arrive at the Courtyard by Marriot/Phoenix Airport at approximately 5 p.m.

Strenuous Rating:
Easy-Moderate: Walking, weather conditions

Policy & Guidelines

Includes:

• Photographic instruction
• Photoshop instruction
• Two night's lodging
• Lunches
• Park & Entrance Fees

Suggested Equipment
In order to take photographs of hummingbirds, it is necessary to bring the appropriate—although minimal—equipment.

Each student must have an SLR camera and a tripod with tripod head. Ball and Gimbal heads are preferred, but any will do.

The ideal lens for hummingbird photography is the
80-400 Nikon and the 100-400 Canon lens. They both focus close enough to give large images of hummingbirds. Longer and shorter lenses can work very nicely, but lenses shorter than 200 mm may be problematic. The Nikon and Canon 70-200 mm lenses will work well, especially if they have a teleconverter attached.

The AHPW photographer will have all of the appropriate flashes, stands, backdrops, and everything else for taking hummingbird photographs.