Workshop “Cypresses, Warm Springs & Birds”

However, these swamps and lakes are home to Florida’s infamous gators. With that in mind the safest place to take pictures of the cypresses is a kayak, boat, or a lake shore. If you feel comfortable and safe in that environment you may carefully set up your tripod in shallow water. In that case some waders would be very helpful.

Don’t forget your telephoto lens at home — aside from alligators these swamps are home to many bird species, deer, rabbits, raccoons and other beautiful animals.

You will get a chance to photograph the area like you have never seen it before. I will lead you to photograph my favorite places all around the cypress swamps and lakes.

This workshop is designed to master your photography skills and to also boost your creative process. This entire workshop is hands on and I will be with you every step of the way covering composition, camera settings, chasing the light, and much more.

Physical Difficulty: Moderate. This Workshop Involves some kayaking at the cypress lakes and rivers and easy walks on the shore lines.

Fitness Level: Like any outdoor nature photography workshop, a reasonable degree of fitness is ideal. We will not be engaging in any strenuous physical activity.

Airport: the closest major airport is Jacksonville, FL (about 1,5 hours drive). Participants can consider fly to Tampa, FL or to Orlando, FL (2,5 hours drive).

Lodging: simple cabins lodging is included in the workshop’s tuition (2 people per bedroom). Each cabin furnished with 1 queen bed and 2 twin bunk beds. Linens, towels, blankets and pillows are not provided, so each participant suppose to have his own set or just a simple camping sleeping bag. Also each cabin has a shower, coffee machine and tabletop stove.  You can upgrade your stay to a single occupancy for $350. 

Meals: are not included in the workshop tuition. Fortunately within the walking distance from our cabins we can have a lunch and a dinner in a restaurant. But due to restaurant’s business hours we have to cook breakfast for ourselves.

In order to get perfect shots we need to be on the water and float between cypresses. You workshop tuition includes 2 person canoe so you will ride it with another participant. As on December of 2020 You can’t upgrade it to single ride (canoe or kayak) other way than buy 2 workshop’s spots due to lack of tourist infrastructure in that region. And I can bring with me only 4 canoe for our workshop.

No level of experience is necessary for participants of this workshop. Whether you are just beginning or are a seasoned pro, I am happy to help you move forward with your photography.

Day 1. November 21, Sunday

Our group will meet at our cabins at 3 PM where you can meet everyone and get to know each other. After short introducing meeting we will go to our canoe and will spend for about 20-30 minutes to get familiar with boarding techniques and how to paddle the canoe. After that rest of the day we will be on the lake taking pictures of the cypresses in the water. 

We will get back to our cabins after sunset and will have a very first dinner together.

Day 2. November 22, Monday

That morning we will get in our canoe at about 8 AM to start the adventure on one of the most amazing Florida’s river with countless springs along of the river banks.

Believe it or not but for about 4 miles the water would be blue and crystal clear so you will be able to see the river’s bottom almost all the time throughout our journey on the water.

  But don’t be afraid that this would be a hard workout — a regular not trained person can make it for about 2 hours in a very relaxing pace because the river’s currant will work for us too!  

I don’t think that we will have a lot of stops during the first part of the day to take a landscape pictures from the shoreline. Most of the time we are going to use our telephoto lenses right from our canoes to get some wildlife shots. Expect to see a lot of egrets, herons, ibises, hawks, ospreys, deer, turtles and maybe even some small gators. If time permits we can try to get that ride one more time

After that we will go back to our cabins and before the dinner we one more time will launch our canoe to get to the one of the most unusual Cypress Ponds in Florida. Don’t worry it wouldn’t be a hard workout — we will paddle our canoe one way just for about a half a mile or so.  

Day 3. November 23, Tuesday

  All day we are going to explore unique cypress sceneries along the river, discover hidden ponds and bays full of calm water and cypress reflection.  

Day 4. November 24, Wednesday

After our morning session at one of the countless cypress ponds and the breakfast we will check out from our cabins and  our workshop will be officially over.

Recommended Photo Equipment:

• Camera (DSLR or Mirrorless) W/Extra Batteries And Memory Cards
  
• Tripod with a ball head (leveling base is optional but very helpful to take a panoramic shots)
  
• Shutter release
  
• Wide to standard zoom lens, with their lens hoods (I carry 12-24mm and 24-70mm lenses)
  
• Telephoto zoom lens for extraction and abstract scenes (I use a 70-200mm)
  
• Telephoto zoom lens for wildlife shots (I use 150-600mm lenses)
  
• Circular polarizer filter to remove glare from the water (it’s OK if you do not have one)
  
• Graduated neutral density filters (if you use them)
  
• Rocket blower and microfiber cloths for keeping glass surfaces dry and clean
  
• Most importantly — a great attitude!

Recommended Camping Equipment:

• Rubber boots or waders
• Water shoes
• Dry bag to care your photo gear in the canoe
• Flashlight or headlamp
  
• Rain jacket and pants
  
• Fleece jacket
  
• Waterproof hiking boots
  
• Extra warm clothing for possible cold weather condition including long underwear, hats and gloves
  
• Backpack (bag) to carry photo gear
• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Towel