Birds of Florida Winter Workshop 2021
Wed, Dec 08
|Orlando
Join Amy in sunny Florida for three full days (with two optional BONUS days!) of bird photography in December! Chase away those winter blues with up-close photo opportunities with a large variety of birds, including Herons, Egrets, and Ospreys. We might even see some non-feathered friends!


Time & Location
Dec 08, 2021, 9:00 AM – Dec 12, 2021, 11:00 AM
Orlando, Orlando, FL, USA
Guests
About the Event
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for participation in this workshop.
Basic Itinerary
- Wednesday, December 8 - Pre-workshop BONUS day - crash course in how to photograph birds
- Wednesday, December 8 - workshop orientation meeting at 8 PM at Amy's condo
- Thursday, December 9 - Saturday, December 11 - fieldtrips to some of Florida's best birding locations
- Sunday, December 12 - Post-workshop BONUS field trip
Itinerary subject to change based on weather.
Daily Schedule
- Meet at 6 AM to drive to the day's location. Carpooling is recommended.
- Shoot for ~4 hours.
- Lunch on the way back to Orlando
- Break after lunch (download cards, edit images, charge batteries, etc.)
- Meet for questions and photo sharing (~90 minutes)
- Dinner and the evening on your own
Bonus Day #1
- Pre-workshop instruction (Wednesday, December 8, 9 AM - 3 PM) - limit of 3
- Come a day early and get a crash course intensive in how to photograph birds. While there will be instruction given during the regular workshop, this will be an opportunity to have more one-on-one attention from Amy. Agenda will be tailored to the participants needs.
- Registration due November 1, 2021
Bonus Day #2
- Post-workshop field trip (sunrise - noon) - limit of 6
- Participants who want one more day of shooting at Newton Park in Orlando.
- Registration due November 1, 2021
Workshop Fees
EARLY BIRD Registration: $1800 (extended until November 1, 2021)
- EARLY BIRD Deposit: $700
Standard Registration: $2200
- Standard Deposit: $1100
Balance: $1100 (due November 1, 2021)
Bonus Days: $500 each (due November 1, 2021)
ALL THE THINGS Package
- Includes both bonus days and the regular workshop $2600 (expired July 31, 2021)
What is included in the workshop fee?
- Supportive instruction with a professional photographer
- Small group size
- Lunch (3 days)
- Water and snacks
- Wildlife drive fees
What is not included in the workshop fee?
- Transportation between the airport and condo
- Lodging (see recommendations below)
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Photography equipment
Photography Experience Level
Participants should have working knowledge of their camera and lenses.
Travel Insurance
I recommend purchasing travel insurance with a cancel-for-any-reason policy to help secure your investment. You can purchase trip cancellation insurance for as little as $40. Use a site like insuremytrip.com to compare plans against one another.
Activity Level
This is my least strenuous workshop. Three of our photo locations are wildlife drives (shoot from the car) and two are short, easy walking paths. The birds are accustomed to the traffic and are very accommodating subjects. VERY accommodating.
Lodging
I am staying at the Vista Cay Condos (https://www.vistacayholidays.com/) and we will meet nearby each morning. You can rent one of the condos or check out the other hotels in the area.
If you would like help with your travel reservations, Paula Prickett from Black Dog Luxury Travel is a full-service travel agent, as well as a good friend of mine. She can work with your budget and be your single point of contact for all of your air travel, lodging, and car rental. If something goes wrong, you call her and she will fix it.
You can reach Paula at:
- Text/call: 320-241-7913
- Email: paula@blackdogluxurytravel.com
Getting to the Workshop
Orlando International Airport is located 12 miles (15-20 minutes) from the Vista Cay Resort. You can rent a car at the airport, or take a shuttle, Lyft, or Uber to the condo.
Again, Paula from Black Dog Luxury Travel can make all of the arrangements if you don't want to manage the details for yourself.
Maximum number of participants
6 (6 remaining)
Weather
In the event of bad weather during a workshop we will spend the time indoors editing our images, working on digital workflow in Lightroom, and doing slide show presentations.
There are no refunds for inclement weather during a workshop.
Additional Information
Other details about this workshop will be given out through the workshop Facebook group. You will be added to that group when your deposit is received.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for participation in this workshop.
See separate posts for an Equipment List and information about Registration and Cancellation Policies.