Getting Prepared

As we get ready to offer you an amazing workshop experience, it's important for you to also prepare in order to fully enjoy our time together.

This includes being physically prepared for the workshop, feeling confident with your camera skills, and having all the essential gear and clothing.

Remember, we're here to assist if you need any help!   

Endurance Level:

Our workshops are designed to accommodate individuals with varying levels of fitness, ensuring that everyone can participate and benefit from the activities. It is crucial to accurately assess your own capabilities before joining a workshop to ensure that you are able to fully engage in the activities without risking injury.

Please contact us if you have any questions about a specific workshop or tour.
It's important that participants are in good health and can comfortably walk or stand for long stretches.

You'll need to be mobile and able to handle your photography equipment without any issues. Also, get ready for some really long days ahead, as we want to make the most out of this workshop experience.

Understanding Your Camera:

Knowing your camera is the key to maximizing your workshop experience. Spending time struggling with settings in the field takes away from improving your photography and increases the chances of missing shots.

Whether you're familiar with the basics or need a refresher, it's important to ensure you can confidently handle all aspects of your camera. 

Practice using your camera before the workshop to make the most of the skills we'll be working on together.

For all of your camera systems, you should be able to:

• Use Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes
• Adjust exposure compensation
• Change focus points from multipoint to single point
• Move focus point around
• Change focus method from single shot to continuous
• Change from auto focus to manual focus
• Display live view histogram
• Display electronic level/virtual horizon in live view
• Display RGB histogram
• Turn on focus peaking with mirrorless cameras
• Adjust Auto ISO settings and preferences
• Choose a 2, 5, or 10-second self-timer
• Enable live view and zoom in easily for precise focus
• Practice until you can adjust settings in the dark

 

Required Gear For Every Workshop:

Tripod: You'll need a strong and reliable tripod that comes with either a ball head or a 3-way head, along with camera and lens plates. It's important to have a sturdy tripod that can support your camera and lens securely, especially when shooting in challenging conditions or capturing long exposure shots.

The ball head allows for quick and easy adjustments in any direction, while the 3-way head provides more precise control over the positioning of your camera.

Camera and lens plates are essential for attaching your gear securely to the tripod, ensuring stability and preventing any accidental slips or falls. 

A gimbal head is an essential tool for wildlife workshops, allowing photographers to smoothly and easily track and capture fast-moving subjects such as birds in flight or animals on the move.

This specialized piece of equipment helps to stabilize heavy telephoto lenses, reducing camera shake and ensuring sharp, clear images even in challenging shooting conditions.

Wildlife photographers rely on gimbal heads to achieve professional-quality results and elevate their craft to the next level.

Investing in a high-quality tripod with the right head and plates will make a significant difference in the sharpness and overall quality of your photographs.

Camera Body: A DSLR or mirrorless camera should have a "native" ISO of 12,800 or greater, along with shutter speeds of no less than 30 seconds.

 

Lenses: If you're planning to capture the beauty of the Milky Way, your best bet would be to use a 14-24mm lens. This will allow you to capture the vastness and details of the night sky in all its glory.

For landscape photography, it's recommended to have a 24-70mm lens to capture the wide expanse of nature, as well as a 70-200mm lens for those distant shots that still need to be crisp and clear.

When it comes to photographing wildlife, a 500-600mm lens would be ideal for capturing animals from a distance. Alternatively, a 150-600mm lens would also be a great option for versatility.

For seashore bird photography, a 70-300mm lens would be ample to capture these creatures in their natural habitat. 

And if you have a macro lens, it's always a good idea to bring that along for capturing intricate details up close.

If you find yourself in need of a specific lens for a workshop but do not own it, renting can be a convenient and cost-effective solution. Lensrentals.com offers a wide range of gear to choose from, making it easy to find the perfect lens for your needs without having to make a significant investment in purchasing equipment.

Camera Batteries: Additional camera batteries are essential for ensuring that you never miss a perfect shot. Having extra batteries on hand can be a lifesaver, especially during long shoots and in colder weather.

It's always a good idea to have a few extra camera batteries in your bag, so you can keep shooting without any interruptions.

Memory Cards: Make sure to stock up on memory cards before the workshop so you won't have to worry about running out of space or formatting them during the workshop.

Lens Cleaning Cloth: When it comes to keeping your lenses and screens spotless, opting for a top-notch microfiber cloth is definitely a smart move, and you can't go wrong with Zeiss Cleaning Cloths either.

These cloths are designed to effectively lift dust and smudges without scratching the surface, making them perfect for everything from glasses to camera lenses. 

Headlamp: A headlamp designed for night photography should include red and white lights, ideally with individual switches, and be adjustable in brightness.

Wired Remote: For astrophotography, a basic wired remote is the best choice when it comes to reliability. This type of remote allows you to trigger your camera without having to physically touch it, which is crucial for capturing clear and steady images of the night sky.

Plus, you won't have to worry about battery life or wireless connectivity issues, making it a hassle-free and dependable tool for your astrophotography needs.

Filters: Always make sure to have a circular polarizer to help reduce reflections in our shots. Along with that, carry a couple of ND filters to achieve those dreamy long exposure shots.

When it comes to ND filters, bring along a 3-stop or 6-stop filter, as well as a 10-stop filter for those extra long exposures. These filters are essential tools that will help you capture stunning images in various lighting conditions.

We are fans of NiSi filters. Whether you're a professional photographer or just starting out, NiSi filters can enhance your photography by providing high-quality results. Learn more and purchase filters at NiSi Optics USA.

Other great filter options are from Life Pixel. Learn more at Life Pixel Infrared Conversions and Filters.

Laptop: We focus on utilizing and instructing Adobe Lightroom Classic for editing photos, but feel free to explore other editing software options as well.

After you've downloaded and installed the program, make sure to establish an internet connection to sync with Lightroom Classic. By doing so, you'll be able to access and work on your photos even when you're offline during your travel.

Clothing and Footwear:

Layers: Bring warmer clothes that can be layered.  It does get colder as the night gets later.

Shoes: Depending on the workshop, a pair of athletic shoes may also be suitable. 

Boots: Some workshops in the winter months will require boots. Ensure your boots are broken in, with waterproof boots being the ideal choice.

Hat: You can never go wrong with your favorite beanie or brimmed hat. 

Gloves: Lightweight liner gloves work well alone but can also be used under a good pair of photographers gloves.

Other Recommended Items:

• External Hard Drive
• Extra Memory Cards
• Card Reader
• Camera Strap
• Flashlight
• Portable Folding Chair 
• Personal Snacks and Beverages
• Travel Coffee / Tea Mug
• We Like Coffee Packets From Black Rifle : Buy Here
• Water Bottle
• Bug Repellent
• Sunscreen