Announcing!

South Texas - Avian Photography Workshops

at

Dos Venadas Ranch

During this workshop our participants will have exclusive use of the Dos Venadas ranch, a privately owned 336 acre property. Steve Bentson, a photographer himself, has painstakingly designed and built a haven for photographers making his ranch a mecca for photographers.

Native plant species, birds and mammals abound on this property providing unprecedented opportunities. Dos Venadas offers six permanent, sunken blinds over water features. Portable blinds are also available to use around the ranch as various opportunities arise. A specially designed pond for odonate/amphibian photography is available, and the whole ranch is a giant butterfly garden, with blooming plants of every variety.

© Greg Downing - April 2005

Great Kiskadees were easy shooting in 2005 at Dos Venadas!

Photography is not limited to blinds. Photographers are free to walk the trails and drive the roads to discover their own subjects. They may also rearrange props at blinds to create distinct settings. A mid-day picnic area with electricity, running water and restroom facilities allows us a place to rest, eat meals and converse with the group. The group will be limited to six participants with one instructor and an experienced assistant.

Participants can expect to learn how to choose and set-up perches, adjust perspectives and backgrounds as well as tricks and tips on how to get the birds to do what you want them to do.

**Since indoor meeting facilities do not exist on this ranch, we will concentrate intently on in-the-field instruction. Other than a few tips and tricks around the lunch table, will not focus on digital editing, workflow and the like, but will discuss the ins and outs of bird photography from a field standpoint.

If you are interested in extensive digital editing tips and techniques as well, then consider signing up for a Roma, Texas workshop - one can also combine the two for the ultimate South Texas experience!

In addition to the large variety of resident birds these workshops are scheduled during the spring migration, which could bring some welcomed surprises. Also prevent on this ranch are many species of mammals (see list below) as well as macro and close-up subjects.

All photography during this workshop will done in the comfort of chairs! A number of spacious blinds have been set up at various positions over the ranch with different exposures and overlook water drips and feeding stations which are visited by the birds frequently. Feeders are maintained daily throughout the year and water flows to small pools at the blinds. Birds flock to the area and the variety of species is astounding.

The evening before the workshop starts the group will get together so members can meet. A brief slide show will be presented of the birds that may be seen and photographed in the following days with a discussion of the ranch layout and what different weather conditions will mean for our shooting strategies.

Our photo workshop participants will rotate to different shooting areas at our discretion. Arriving predawn to set up our equipment we will be prepared at first light. Sheltered from the sun in the blinds, it is actually quite comfortable and sometimes possible to photograph all day long.

Possible bird species include:

Great Kiskadee
Green Jays
Northern Mockingbirds
Curve-billed and Brown Thrashers
Cardinals
Pyrrhuloxias
Olive, Lark and White-crowned Sparrows
Golden-fronted Woodpeckers
Ground, Inca, Mourning and White-tipped Doves
Brown-headed and Bronzed Cowbirds
Painted and Indigo Buntings
Black-crested (Mexican) Titmouse
Northern Bobwhite and Scaled Quail
Hooded and Audubon Orioles
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers
Harris's Hawks
Crested Caracara

Mammals:

Bobcats
Coyote
Javalina
White-tailed Deer
Desert Cottontail
Badger
Armadillo

Many more!

This is a rare opportunity to get images of birds difficult to get elsewhere!

Dates and Cost:

Includes all instruction, exclusive leasing of the ranch, meals and mid-day breaks, as well as access to all the blinds and shooting locations.

(Transportation, lodging and cost of meals not included)

May 23-25 (3-day) $1,375 - weeked workshop!

Combined w/ Roma Texas May 19-21 workshop $2400 (6 shooting days plus 1 break day)

Note: You may register for a SOLD OUT workshop and be placed on the waiting list. A refundable anytime deposit is required. Openings may or may not become available and are offered on a first-come first-served basis. If no spot becomes available, or should you decide to cancel, your deposit will be refunded in full.

For flexible "per day" custom workshops, register here.

***Please inquire about special discounts for multiple workshops!

If you would like to register for this workshop, please fill out the registration form below. To register for flexible workshops select "daily rate" in the date field and indicate the days in the name field next to your name. ( * = Required Field ) A deposit of $350 is required to reserve your spot.