Evening Photo Walk
2024 Photo Walk: Holiday Lights at the FL Botanical Gardens
Enjoy an evening photo walk at FL Botanical Gardens and capture the magic of the season with your camera. *This is tentative date, as we await the Re-Opening of the Gardens following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Click the NOTIFY ME button and we'll email you with event updates.
Join us on *Sunday, December 15th* as we lead a photo walk through the holiday lights at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo FL.
Capturing these beautiful lights can be challenging! During this photo walk, we can help you :
- get sharp focus with your camera in the dark
- adjust your camera settings for night scenes
- make choices about composing your photos for the most impact
- capture holiday lights bokeh
- use different techniques for creative effects
- instruction for Live Composite for Olympus/OM Systems camera users.
This photo walk goes from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Following the workshop, you are welcome to stay and enjoy the Gardens which are open until 9:30 pm.
Recommended Gear: A camera, a memory card, and battery, a headlamp or small flashlight, a tripod if you have one, and comfortable clothing and shoes.
The Photo Walk fee is $125, and includes guided instruction for any skill-level photographer. Limited to 8 participants/ 2 instructors. We are happy to help beginners get started, or challenge more experienced photographers to explore creative techniques.
Admission to the Gardens is included.
The exact meeting location details will be emailed to the registered participants a few days before the event.
Sunday, December 15th, 2024. (TENTATIVE date)
From 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Enjoy an evening photo walk at FL Botanical Gardens and capture the magic of the season with your camera.
Photo Walk Fee: $125
One Day Workshop
Flight School: at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, FL
As fall transitions into winter, Circle B Bar Reserve becomes a haven for birds and bird photographers! Known for its diverse habitats—marshes, oak hammocks, and lakes—the Reserve attracts a variety of species, providing an incredible opportunity to capture amazing birds.
What to expect:
November is prime time to photograph wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors. Circle B’s wetlands offer the chance to capture ducks, herons, egrets, and raptors like bald eagles and northern harriers, all set against the backdrop of Florida’s beautiful and mild late-autumn weather. With fewer crowds, this workshop allows for a more peaceful, focused experience.
Who should attend?
If you’re looking to develop your bird photography skills or enhance your technical ability to photograph birds in dynamic environments, this workshop is for you. Photographers at all levels will benefit from personalized, hands-on instruction. Bring your telephoto lens (200mm or longer recommended) and be ready to take advantage of the diverse settings that Circle B Bar has to offer.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Techniques for capturing birds in motion and in their natural habitats.
- Key camera settings for photographing raptors and wading birds.
- Composition tips and use of natural light to create striking images.
- Best practices for birding ethics and etiquette, ensuring minimal disturbance.
Workshop Details:
Pre-workshop meeting:
Join us for a Zoom session on Friday, (To Be Announced), 7:00-8:30 pm, where we’ll discuss:
- Our meeting location and itinerary
- Recommended gear, including settings for focus and metering modes
- The bird species we’re likely to encounter and tips for photographing them
- How to make the most of your time in this unique environment
Field session:
On Saturday, (TBA), we’ll meet at 7:15 am at the main entrance to Circle B Bar Reserve. We’ll begin our session at 7:30 am and explore the park’s key birding spots, ending around 10:30 am. Your photo instructors will guide you through the morning, offering insights and suggestions as you capture the incredible birdlife that calls this reserve home.
Workshop Fee:
$175 per attendee.
A participating parent or guardian must accompany participants under 18.
Note: Parking is free.
Saturday, 2024
Friday 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
online pre-meeting
Saturday, TBA, 7:15 am - 10:30 am
Workshop "in the field"
Fee: $175
One Day Workshop
Better Bird Photos at Fort DeSoto
Over 340 bird species have been spotted at Fort DeSoto Park in St Petersburg, FL and we want to help you capture incredible photos of them.
During this workshop, you can capture images of perched birds, wading birds, and birds in flight. Just along the beach, we have photographed roseate spoonbills, Reddish Egrets, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, kestrels, ospreys, and a variety of terns, gulls, and sandpipers.
This workshop welcomes photographers from beginner to advanced, with any brand of camera. You'll want a telephoto lens with you that is at least 200mm long to get sharp pictures without disturbing the birds.
Here are the details:
On Friday, we’ll host a pre-meet on Zoom. We'll share:
- meeting location and itinerary
- a map and info about the location
- expected weather
- what birds we might see
- recommended gear to bring
- Birding ethics and etiquette
- we will suggest camera settings focus, drive, metering modes
- Tripod/ monopod/ image stabilization
- Perched vs BIF settings
- Creating a composition
- Direction of light
- Choosing your background
- any questions
On Saturday, the park opens at 7:00 am.
We’ll meet up at 7:15 am at the North Beach Parking lot.
There are restrooms on-site, and we will not be far from our cars.
At 7:30 am, we’ll gather the group and walk a short distance to our first location. Your photo instructors will guide you, helping you with questions and camera settings. We’ll move to follow the bird activity, continuing until about 10:30 am. Around this time, the morning action usually quiets down. As we say goodbye, we'll be celebrating your number of "keepers".
Workshop Fee: $175/per attendee
Admission to the park is not included.
Saturday,TBA, 2024
Friday 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
online pre-meeting
Saturday, TBA, 7:15 am - 10:30 am
Workshop on the beach
Fee: $175
One-Day Photo Walks
Amazing Azaelas Photo Walk at Bok Tower Gardens
Join us for a Photo Walk at Bok Tower Gardens!
Bok Tower Gardens is beautiful in February when the azaleas bloom. Join us for a photo walk to enjoy the Tower, beautiful gardens, and scenery. We'll discuss composition and lighting, and help with camera settings. This is an excellent opportunity for beginners and pros alike to learn and enjoy nature photography.
Never been to Bok Tower Gardens? This National Historic Landmark was established in 1929 by Edward Bok as gardens and grounds to be enjoyed by the public. Bok Tower is 205-foot tall marble and coquina structure, which contains carillon bells that ring out in song several times a day. We love this place, and we've been bringing photo groups here for more than 10 years!
We are Steve and Faith Hutchinson - professional photography instructors. We love sightseeing, enjoying delicious food, and teaching photography at scenic locations around the US.
Who is this for? : if you enjoy nature and photography, this workshop is for you! We love helping people capture incredible pictures of their adventures, with any camera or phone.
When: Saturday, February TBA , 2024 - 9 am - 12 noon
Where: Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL
What's included: Two expert photographers to guide you, as you explore the gorgeous grounds of Bok Tower Gardens. Our group will spend about 3 hours together. Post-workshop, we'd love to meet again online and everyone can share images from our visit. Online meeting date TBA.
What's not included: Admission to Bok Tower Gardens is not included.
Adult admission is $17 per person and can be purchased in advance online or at the entrance gate upon arrival. (Our tour will not go inside El Retiro)
Bok Tower Gardens offers reciprocal admission for members of participating gardens and cultural institutions and free admission to active military members. Check their website for details.
More Details: Bok Tower Gardens has a cafe, water refill stations, and restrooms on-site.
One-Day Photo Walks
Photo Walk at Central Florida's Sunken Gardens
Join us for a Photo Walk around the lush, beautiful Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg.
Sunken Gardens is home to many native and exotic plants, koi ponds, birds, butterflies, small waterfalls, and lush foliage - a ton of scenery to inspire any new or experienced photographer.
Instructors Steve and Faith Hutchinson will be your photo guides during this 3-hour event. They will help you with your camera settings as you capture all of the lovely scenery that this sub-tropical location has to offer.
Recommended gear: a camera, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. An umbrella, hat, or rain gear. If you have a tripod, polarizing filter, neutral density filter, or other camera lenses, these items could also be useful.
Transportation and admission are not included. Sunken Gardens admission is $15 for adults. Reciprocal Gardens benefits, discounts, and membership programs may apply: please check the Sunken Gardens website for other offers.
FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
What can I bring into the event?
Cameras and tripods are permitted, but tripods must not block walkways or disturb the gardens or other visitors.
Join us for an evening photo workshop at the Riverwalk!
Join us on Saturday, TBA from 7 pm until 9 pm
This workshop offers photography enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity to capture stunning photos of the University of Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art, and other scenic spots.
Learn how to master your camera settings, and improve your composition techniques to take your photography skills to the next level.
Our workshop includes hands-on instruction, personalized feedback, and opportunities to practice your new skills.
This workshop is for anyone looking to improve their photography while exploring some of Tampa's most beautiful locations. You'll leave with stunning photos and new skills that will last a lifetime.
Book your spot now and join us for an unforgettable evening of photography!
Saturday, TBA, 2025
From 7 pm - 9 pm
Enjoy an evening photo walk at Tampa's Riverwalk.
Photo Walk Fee: $TBA