So…you want to be a professional nature photographer? Well, here’s your chance to get a major head start on fulfilling that wish. The 20th annual edition of Florida’s Birding & Photo Fest provides opportunities to see some of the world’s best outdoor photographers at work – live, in nature where they share their secrets for taking amazing photos. Plus, their workshops provide in-depth instructions on mastering techniques that transform point-and-shoot photographers into pros. And if you’re more of a birdwatcher or nature lover than a photographer, the festival offers dozens of bird walks along nature trails, kayak trips and boat tours throughout the spectacular outdoors of Florida’s Historic Coast.
Perfect Location
This year’s edition of the Birding & Photo Fest is headquartered at the new St. Jude Celebration Hall on Anastasia Island. This 22,000-square-foot meeting facility comfortably seats up to 300 and features a state-of-the art sound system for use in workshop presentations. (Plus, there’s free parking!) It’s located just six miles south of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park – the seasonal location of one of the most impressive coastal bird rookeries in the U.S. and a destination for serious bird photographers from around the world. It’s the ideal place for festival participants to take their own National Geographic-style bird photos.
Seven miles south is Marineland with its distinctive wave-splashed rock outcropping – always a popular photo location. Photographing horses on the beach and galloping at the surf’s edge has always been one the festival’s most popular sessions. This year, the horses will be on the beach just across the road from Celebration Hall.
Outstanding Workshops and Seminars
The professional photographers at this year’s festival have put together an impressive and invaluable line-up of seminars and workshops for participants. These take place both indoors and outdoors and include:
- Photographing Birds in Flight & Birds of Prey
- Florida’s Best Bird Locations
- Wildlife Photography
- Horses on the Beach Photography
- Landscape Photography
- Macro Photography
- Portrait Photography
- Night Photography
- Astro Photography
- Architectural Photography
- Creative Time and Motion Techniques
- Lightroom, Photoshop and Plug-ins
- Getting Prints That Match Your Monitor
Many of the workshops are held out in the field so lessons can be demonstrated and attempted on the spot. For more information about workshops, seminars, events and tickets, visit www.floridasbirdingandphotofest.com.
