Whooping Crane Photography workshop

February TBA, 2025

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total cost of workshop is $1495 and $500 is due at time of booking the balance of $995 will be sent out 30 days before event via invoice

A little bit about your instructor

Angie is an award winning photographer who discovered her love for the outdoors as a teenager shortly after her family moved to Lake Tahoe. Her passion is landscape photography, which she broadened after photographing birds for many years, and she’s realized she is definitely a bird watcher too.

Intrigued by so many different kinds of birds, in January 2021, her year end bird count was 202 species of birds.

Angie is a graduate of New York Institute of Photography and is nearly done with her Masters degree at PPA (Professional Photographers of America)

Her first publication was in Diesel Magazine. Since then, she has been featured in Focus on Texas Magazine, and their website numerous times. Angie started offering photography workshops and private lessons in the summer of 2019.

She also has a Facebook group called WT F-STOP and does meetups with local photographers in the South Texas area to share her knowledge with those who are struggling to get started in photography or just need a little help with camera settings.

WT F-STOP was born while she was out with friends, and they would ask “Hey Angie, what is the F-Stop?”.

Who will be our Captain in the mornings?

Each morning, we will head out with Capt. Kevin Sims or Lori Sims both are amazing nature photographer, and he knows how to position the boat for amazing photos from a safe location so both decks will have a view. We will travel to the refuge in the early morning before sunrise so we could possibly get a beautiful sunrise with silhouettes of birds as we head to the location for whooping cranes.  Boat charters is about 4-5 hours each morning giving us plenty of opportunities to find and photograph the whoopers.

In the evenings we will also meet up to do some other birds at local refuges in the Rockport area along with some landscapes at sunset. 

5 Fun facts about whooping cranes

1) The Whooping Cranes are North America’s largest bird at nearly 5 feet tall and a wingspan of about 7.5 feet.  

2) Whooping cranes live about 22-30 years in the wild. 

3) They are one of the  world's 15 crane species, the endangered Whooping cranes are the rarest. In 1945-46, only 15 Whooping wild migratory cranes remained. The original flock migrates between Texas and northern Canada..  If you include the other wild flocks in North America and the captive whoopers there is only  about 800 cranes left in existence today.  

4) While whooping crane hatchlings cannot fly, they can swim to escape predators.

5) Whooping cranes are omnivorous animals whose diet depends upon available food in their region. Blue crabs and wolfberries (also known as goji berries) are a staple of their diet, and can be supplemented with terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, snakes, rodents and agricultural waste. 

Arkansas Wildlife Refuge facts

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1940 by  president Franklin Roosevelt.  It is an 114,000 acre protected area situated on the San Antonio Bay along the Gulf Coast of Texas.  The refuge serves as a breeding ground for many migratory birds and other wildlife.  Bird life includes waterfowl, egrets, herons, roseate spoonbills, pelicans, and the endangered whooping cranes.

Workshop days are 

February 2025

Workshop Itinerary

1st day PM

Meet and greet in the evening at a local restaurant in Rockport Location to be announced 

February 3 AM boat rides

Meet up at boat dock early morning time will be announced We will be on the boat for about 4-5 hours looking for Whooping cranes and other birds.

February 2 PM birding adventures and with some landscapes

We will go to a few local refuges and Goose Island state park for whitetail deer and other birds.  There is also a blind option but is limited on how many people it will fit.

Changes to the Itinerary

In order to offer the best experience possible for the workshop participants we reserve the right to alter the itinerary when our judgment warrants it.  This could be due to unforeseen circumstances, closures, weather or other conditions beyond our control.  We may also alter due to new or unexpected photographic opportunities that may arise.

What is Included

• Your workshop fees includes personal instruction by Angie  throughout the workshop including image critiques and post processing instruction using DXO, Adobe Lightroom Classic inc Luminar Neo these are options and are not required.

• Transportation can be provided during the workshop but is limited

• 3 private boat charters on specially designed boats for photography with guides Kevin who is also an amazing photographer 

What is Not Included

Transportation to and from the workshop, lodging, meals, incidental expenses, gratuities, and items of a personal nature are not included.

I don’t include lodging and meals because then each participant is free to choose their own level of accommodation and choice of meals.  I have some participants stay in high end motels, while others prefer camping or RV’s. Here is a link to the closest Hotel Hampton Inn is very close to my location.

Cost

The workshop fee will $1495.00 per Person. By adding to cart you will pay the $500 deposit to reserve your spot. I will send out a invoice 30 days before workshop for the balance of $995 that will be due upon receipt.

The workshop fee includes all fieldwork and critiques of your images during our  sessions.  This is a photography workshop, not just a photo tour, my goal is provide as much personal hands on help as possible.  I will check with each participant to see how you are doing and if you need help,  if you wish for assistance let me know, if not just let me know, and you will be free to shoot on your own.

Instruction will be provided on an individual basis to learn how to capture birds in flight or any other assistance needed.

Equipment Needed

To get the most from the workshop you should have a Digital Single Lens Reflex  (DSLR) or mirrorless camera, tripod and an assortment of lenses.  That being said, it is the photographer not the camera that makes the photo.  You will need a laptop computer to use, remember to bring all software, drivers, cords, and camera manuals when attending any workshop. Our post processing will be done using DXO, Adobe Lightroom Classic and Luminar Neo.

I would recommend the following

• super telephoto 500mm or more

• Zoom lens 100-400mm or similar

• Tripod with gimbal

• Extra Memory cards

• Rain gear for you and your camera

• Hat

• Sunscreen

We will be going out on the bay in a boat early in the morning and it can be cold, even if the temps are going to be in the 70’s. Bring cold weather clothing that you can layer and adjust during the day.

Registration, Payment, and Refund Policy

You can register any way you like, just so I get your information, you can use the online registration, the contact form, email,  postal mail, or call me on the phone (361-396-9665) either to register or just ask a question.  Registration is done on a first come basis, so register early to secure your space.   A deposit of $500 is required to reserve your space, and full payment  is due 30 days prior to the workshop. Enrollment is limited in our workshops, so once you have been accepted your participation is important to us – we are counting on you to attend. If you must withdraw from a workshop, we must receive written notice of your cancellation, and then apply the following refund policy:   We do not make refunds on workshop fees. We do not make partial refunds for unused portions or services of a workshop for any reason whatsoever. If we are able to fill your space in the workshop we will give full credit towards another workshop. If we are not able to fill your space we will issue 50% credit towards a future workshop.  If there are openings I will accept last minute registrations when possible.

We can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in the services to be provided. We reserve the right to change our arrangements should conditions necessitate, or to cancel any aspect of the workshop due to exceptional circumstances.

In the unlikely event that we need to cancel a workshop we will refund all monies paid, in full. Notification of our cancellation will be made via either a telephone call or an e-mail to you at least 14 days prior to the beginning of a workshop other than an emergency. We cannot be responsible for phone messages and e-mails not being received in a timely matter due to your service providers. We cannot be responsible for non-refundable airline tickets unused or other travel arrangements because of a workshop cancellation. All workshops have a minimum participation level which must be met or the workshop may be canceled. We recommend you get trip insurance.

Liability Waiver

All participants will be required to sigh a liability waiver before beginning a workshop.  As there is always an element of risk in any adventure associated with the outdoors, participants must read the liability release form carefully. Participant’s signed/dated release will certify that said participant is physically fit and capable of participating in outdoor photography exercises in field locations, and is fully and completely aware of any associated risks created by field locations and weather.

Weather

The more the better, at least as far as the photography goes.  Workshops will not be canceled and no refunds will be made due to weather, we will not be responsible for any additional costs that may be incurred by weather delays or cancellations due to weather, flight delays, or other. Participants should come to the workshop prepared for all weather conditions.

Trip Extensions

We may be able to extend your trip in the area, if you would like more time and personal instruction.  Please contact us for more information and rates before the workshop.

Smoking

We prefer that you do not smoke, however if you must please abide by the following guidelines.  Smoking is not allowed in or near vehicles, during instructional sessions, during group meals, or at other times when in close quarters with other workshop participants.