This small group photography workshop in Hampshire offers fantastic opportunities and tuition in comfortable hides with a range of birds, including kingfisher, kestrel, nuthatch and goldfinch.
With bespoke tuition from experienced wildlife photographer Emma Healey or Ben Sutcliffe, you will have two full days to explore your camera settings and refine both your photography and editing techniques to enhance your portfolio of images. Whether you are a beginner or a more proficient photographer, the small group tutorship will enable you to improve your photography.
The group will be split in half and each pair will spend one day in each hide, hopefully giving ample opportunities to capture a wide variety of images from portraits to action shots, using perches and a reflection pool. A multitude of woodland bird species and kingfishers should visit multiple times during the day.
An array of the UK’s most charismatic woodland birds will offer different photographic opportunities. The woodland bird hide is visited by a huge variety of species, for instance, gregarious birds such as robins, finches, blue tits and pheasants, which allow for character and composition study, whilst the enigmatic kestrel resting on a perch will allow for excellent portrait photographs. The purpose-built hide offers an ideal setting for bird photography. Bird feeders attract a range of species and visitors to the reflection pool include nuthatch, goldfinch, wren and greater spotted woodpecker among others.
The kingfisher hides are located in front of a large pond, with a number of perches around the edge for the birds to rest on. The aim will be to capture portrait shots of the kingfishers on these perches, and the branches around the pond, and there is also the potential of some images of the birds emerging with fish. It’s a great opportunity to get your focus and settings right and come away with some lovely action shots.
Should you wish to visit the hides on a different date or independently, this can also be arranged. Please contact us for further details.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Full day photography in woodland bird or kingfisher hide
The group will be split between the two hides: woodland birds and kingfishers.
We will start early, aiming to arrive on site at 07:00 to ensure we are all set up and ready to make the best of the light. The group will split into two, with one pair spending the morning with the kingfishers, while the other goes to the woodland hide for an array of passerines.
The aim is to spend as long as possible in the hides, so we advise you bring a packed lunch and snacks so that you need to leave as little as possible. This will give you the best opportunities for images and provide as little distraction to the wildlife as possible.
There are a number of photographic opportunities, from portrait shots, reflections, action shots and birds in flight and Emma, Bret or Ben will be on hand if you’d like any advice about these. The success of some of these, for example birds in flight, depends on the light available on the day, but you are welcome to bring a flash to use in the woodland hide if you wish.
At around 15:00, we will leave the hides and head inside for a well-earned cup of tea and to discuss the day. We can use this time however the group would like, whether it is to review images, go through some editing techniques or general questions and discussion.
The day will finish at around 17:00, when we will leave and head off to check in to our accommodation. The evening is free, but your leader will arrange a dinner for those who are interested in joining.
Day2: Hide photography and depart
We will meet at around 07:15 this morning, and go straight to our hides (the alternative one to where you were yesterday). As with yesterday, as much time as possible will be spent in the hides, with your leader going between them and being on hand to provide help and guidance.
Please bring a packed lunch.
The day will finish at around 15:00, when we will all say our goodbyes and head home, hopefully with lots of lovely images to remind us of a great couple of days.
Key info
Duration and price excluding international flights: 2 daysfrom £450 pp
Emma is a popular and experienced wildlife photographer and tour guide, whose images have been printed in wildlife photography magazines.
Emma has led workshops on camera settings, getting the best shots in the field as well as post production, to making sure clients can achieve their best images. Having had a passion for all things nature since she was very young, Emma travels across the globe to capture the wildlife in each area, and often supplies international agencies with photographs. With a love for primates, she is captivated by any living things from large mammals to tiny insects and macro photography.
Ben is a published wildlife photographer with over 10 years experience, specialising in British mammals and birds.
Ben has been shortlisted in many high end competitions such as the British Wildlife Photography Awards and looks to further improve on this in the near future.
Ben has travelled to many countries from a young age including North and Central America, as well more widely in Europe. Ben's fascination for travelling helped fuel his passion for wildlife photography and couple with his infectious enthusiasm, he is an excellent young leader.
Hampshire, the home of Wildlife Worldwide, plays host to a wealth of wildlife. Offering a mix of city, coast and countryside habitats and landscapes, the county provides refuge for a multitude of bird species, water voles, otters, deer and the infamous New Forest ponies to name but a few.
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Where: South England
Ideal for viewing: common kingfisher, common nightjar, water vole, barn owl, chalkhill blue
