The Spring Wildlife Photography Workshop in Grand Teton is led North American Nature Photography Association Ethics Chair, Jennifer Leigh Warner. We will search out the abundant wildlife photography opportunities while capturing the iconic landscape compositions as well. A wide and diverse portfolio will be the takeaway for participants of this workshop!

Springtime in the Tetons is flush with beauty and photographic opportunities. With such a shortened growing season, both flora and fauna burst forth with energy and vigor to make the most of the warmth and food sources that appear. Young babies are welcomed into the world about this time as the wildflowers carpet the landscape. Elk, bison, moose, mule deer, and pronghorn are just a few of the commonly seen species in the area. Both black bears and grizzlies bring their cubs out of hibernation, and, with a bit of luck, we will capture them foraging and learning the “bear” necessities. 

With so much to see, you will be happy for the long days in the field. Evening will be reserved for rest, relaxation, and image critiques as requested.

ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!

As the snow begins to melt, signs of life in Yellowstone start popping up everywhere. With new life arriving both blooms and baby animals litter the landscape. Bears begin to emerge from their dens and birds begin to make their nests.

Southern California has some of the richest biodiversity in the country. With the Mediterranean climate, summertime along the California coast is comfortable all day long. From San Diego to Orange County there is no shortage of birds and wildlife to photograph. June is pupping season for California Sea Lions and La Jolla is one of the best places in the world to see newborn sea lion pups gathered together. With the beautiful weather, the rich wildlife viewing opportunities and the gorgeous scenery to photograph, what are you waiting for?

La Jolla is home to one of the only main-land rookeries for California Sea Lions and because of synchronized reproduction almost all California Sea Lions are born within a few days of each other in mid-June. This makes it one of the only places in the world to photograph newborn sea lion pups. With such rich biodiversity, the coastal community of San Diego is a hotspot for wildlife photographers. Join us for an opportunity to photograph newborn California Sea Lion pups, Harbor Seals as well as shorebirds. Your leader, award winning nature photographer, Jennifer Leigh Warner, has photographed extensively in this area, creating images that have won awards and have appeared in publications around the world including Gizmondo and National Geographic online. She will share her knowledge of the area and how to create ethically sourced, award winning images

Everyone should visit the Galapagos Islands… the experience is magical! During our adventure we will seek out the endemic species of birds and other animals of the Galapagos. Some of the bird species include Darwin’s finches, Galapagos Penguin, Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Dove, Swallow-tailed Gull and Waved Albatross—doing their wonderful courtship dance! Other creatures we will see include Land Iguanas, Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards and two endemic species of butterflies.

From the Pacific Ocean to spectacular mountain ranges, to its fertile agricultural lands in the east, Washington is known for its variety of ecosystems. During this Best of Washington State tour we will photograph it all. From the snowcapped mountaintops to the endless waves of grain and into the Pacific Ocean, expect to photograph the best wildlife and landscapes that Washington State has to offer. We will start our journey with a city tour of Seattle before exploring and photographing western Washington’s local wildlife. After immersing ourselves in wildflowers we will make our way across the Colombia Gorge to view some of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the country. As we make our way across the state we will photograph the rich agricultural landscapes of the eastern part of the state. We will end our tour in the San Juan Islands for a journey out to sea to photograph the whales and other marine animals that live in the waters off the Pacific Coast. 

The Palouse Valley is a bucket list location for landscape photographers due to its natural beauty. The fertile land easily grows wheat in glorious shades of green and gold, with a sprinkling of the yellows of canola added in for spectacular panoramic views. It has been dubbed the American Tuscany, with wheat and rapeseed replacing vineyards.

County roads with 100 year old barns, rustic farm equipment and rolling hills are a dream for any landscape photographer. The Palouse features 215 of Washington’s annually recorded bird species and Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site is a 150-acre, 3,612-foot-tall National Natural Landmark. The thimble-shaped, quartzite butte looms high over the surrounding flat lands. The park offers panoramic views of nearby farmlands, the Blue Mountains, and other neighboring ranges and peaks.

Fall is an amazing time to be in South Texas. As the weather begins to cool down the wildlife activity starts to heat up. With many of North America’s birds heading south for the winter we will spend a full day photographing these small birds, like green jays, northern cardinals and Pyrrhuloxia and many more. Next we will trade the small birds for the big bucks. We will head to a private photo ranch where we will photograph some of Texas’s largest buck fighting for mating rights.

The lush and varied ecosystems of Costa Rica are abundant with tropical plants, diverse wildlife, and colorful birds. Join award-winning conservation wildlife photographer Jennifer Leigh Warner on this 9-day adventure for the perfect opportunity to photograph the best of the country’s biodiversity. Become immersed in the vibrant flora of cloud forests, rainforests, and rivers. Walk beneath towering 700-year-old trees and learn about innovative conservation projects. From visits to world-renowned tropical research institutions, guided trail hikes and boating excursions, this photographic journey will allow you to create images that you will be proud to place on your wall.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge provides one of the greatest bird and wildlife experiences for nature photographers in the United States. With flocks numbering into the 1,000’s and sometimes the 10,000’s Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese lifting off each morning and returning in the evening will overwhelm the senses and provide incredible photographic opportunities.

Combined with beautiful sunrises and sunsets the color palette can lend a dramatic flair to wildlife images. Lucky days we may also see and photograph Coyotes stalking at the edge of flocks or a Bobcat walking along a trail or dike. A local pond provides excellent opportunities to get low and shoot waterfowl at eye level.

Highlights

· Hands-on photo instruction for wildlife and landscape photography with Nikon Professional Jennifer Leigh Warner

· Explore the coastal wildlife habitats of Northern California and photograph the native wildlife that winter in this region.

· Learn about the importance of setting aside habitat for endemic species such as the Tule Elk and endangered species like the California Sea Otter.

· Photograph the Monarch Butterflies during their winter stopover in Santa Cruz and see how they cluster together in large groups on the eucalyptus trees.

· Photograph California’s predator species like bobcat, owls, and elephant seals and look for the very rare

Winter in Minnesota provides a unique opportunity to photograph owls and other birds that live in this winter wonderland.

We will spend 3 full days exploring the famous Sax-Zim Bog looking for owls including the Great Grey Owl, the Snowy Owl and the Northern Hawk Owl. We will also look for other boreal specialties like Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay, and Northern Shrike. We’ll visit local feeders to look for rare Hoary Redpolls mixed into swirling flocks of Common Redpolls. Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskin, and Purple Finches also frequently visit feeders and can also be found foraging in conifers and birches throughout the region. We will also check berry-laden bushes for flocks of hungry Bohemian Waxwings.

Other exciting winter wildlife photography is possible in this area including Pine Marten, Ermine, Fox, Deer, Moose, Coyote and maybe if we are really lucky a Timber Wolf. You just never know what you may find.

We’ll use Duluth as our base for this tour, so you can unpack and stay in one hotel throughout this tour.

Hands-on photo instruction for wildlife and landscape photography with Nikon Professional Jennifer Leigh Warner

• Photograph the largest wildlife migration in North America as over half a million sandhill cranes arrive during their spring migration.

• Learn about the importance of the ecosystem along the Platte River and why this is such a critical stopover location for migrating birds.

• Photograph from photography blinds positioned along the Platte River for ideal viewing of the cranes as they take off from the river in the morning and return to the river in the evening.

Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. Birding in Cuba is extraordinary. According to the new Endemic Birds of Cuba: A Comprehensive Field Guide, 371 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 26 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.

Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful bird photography locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay mainly in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality.

Join Jennifer Leigh Warner and naturalist, Gabriel Lugo for a photographic trip of a lifetime!

The Spring Wildlife Photography Workshop in Grand Teton is led North American Nature Photography Association Ethics Chair, Jennifer Leigh Warner. We will search out the abundant wildlife photography opportunities while capturing the iconic landscape compositions as well. A wide and diverse portfolio will be the takeaway for participants of this workshop!

Springtime in the Tetons is flush with beauty and photographic opportunities. With such a shortened growing season, both flora and fauna burst forth with energy and vigor to make the most of the warmth and food sources that appear. Young babies are welcomed into the world about this time as the wildflowers carpet the landscape. Elk, bison, moose, mule deer, and pronghorn are just a few of the commonly seen species in the area. Both black bears and grizzlies bring their cubs out of hibernation, and, with a bit of luck, we will capture them foraging and learning the “bear” necessities. 

With so much to see, you will be happy for the long days in the field. Evening will be reserved for rest, relaxation, and image critiques as requested.

ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT!