Our 2024 PhotoTrack is sure to generate excitement with opportunities for all experience levels no matter what type of camera you have. We offer something for every interest level and ability. Indoor classroom topics on digiscoping, in-the-field excursions to get hands-on experience, guidance from professionals, action shots, and demystifying those settings are some highlights. If you are new to digiscoping, you can learn from the master, Clay Taylor. If you’re looking to get those crushing Crested Caracara photos, try the Laguna Seca Ranch for fantastic photo ops in natural settings for fabulous reflective shots of Green Jays.
LAGUNA SECA RANCH RAPTORS-$160
Fee $160 per session
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
6:15am-10:30am
The renowned, private Laguna Seca Ranch is open for special opportunities to a small number of festival participants (maximum: twelve people) to photograph raptors in flight and perched during morning sessions.
Photographers of all skill levels can expect to observe and photograph Crested Caracaras, Harris’s Hawks and other raptors at very close range. This trip is an excellent opportunity for behavioral observation and study as well.
The raptor area includes three different blinds from which to photograph: above ground, below ground, and at ground level.
Modern bathrooms and electricity for charging camera batteries, etc., are on the premises. Photographers may use hand-held cameras and/or those requiring tripods. Lenses equivalent to 300mm and longer are highly recommended.
Meet at 6:15am at Love’s Truck Stop (Exit #12 on highway 281/69C). If you run late and miss us at the truck stop, call Gene Gwin at (940) 642-2276 to coordinate your arrival at the ranch.
LAGUNA SECA RANCH SONGBIRDS-$160
Fee $160 per session
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
2:00pm-5:30pm
The renowned, private Laguna Seca Ranch is open for special opportunities for a small number of festival participants (maximum: six people) to photograph songbirds during afternoon sessions.
You will photograph from blinds specifically designed for the best photos of songbirds on and around attractive perches situated at a natural-looking water feature. The songbird blinds put your lens at ground level, at eye level with the birds. Modern bathrooms and electricity for charging camera batteries, etc., are on the premises. Photo opportunities exist for all hand-held cameras and those requiring tripods. Lenses equivalent to 300mm and longer are highly recommended.
Meet at 2:00pm at Love’s Truck Stop (Exit #12 on highway 281/69C). If you run late and miss us at the truck stop, call Gene Gwin at (940) 642-2276 to coordinate your arrival at the ranch.
Sunsets, Birds & More!-$60
With Clay Taylor, Swarovski Inc.
Friday 3:30pm – 9:00pm
We will depart the Convention Center in the late afternoon and head to South Padre Island, where we will scout locations and discuss settings and equipment. As the sun sets, we will try to silhouette birds in front of the sun for spectacular images! We will head to the South Padre Island Brewing Company for dinner before heading back to the Harlingen Convention Center.
Goals: Learning how to plan for sunset silhouettes of birds and rewarding ourselves with some great food!
Digiscoping from the Deck-$20
With Clay Taylor, Swarovski Inc.
Saturday 2pm – 5pm
This workshop, sponsored by Swarovski Optik, is designed to help digiscopers with all levels of experience but will be particularly valuable for struggling beginners. It will be conducted by Clay Taylor, the Naturalist Market Manager with Swarovski Optik Ltd and a pioneer of digiscoping in the U.S. Meet onsite at the deck at Estero Llano Grande State Park Visitor Center. Clay will cover setups, camera settings, field-shooting techniques and reviews of images. Please bring all your equipment including spotting scope, tripod, camera and adapter, fully charged batteries and empty memory cards. If you do not have a spotting scope, let Clay know in advance at Clay.Taylor@swarovskioptik.us. Clay will also have digiscoping adapters for DLSR cameras and smart phones available.
Goals: Understand the best ways to use your scope as a long lens to get the best up-close shots from a basic camera.
Photgraphing Shorebirds-$50
With Paul Denman
Friday 6:30am – 10:30am
Meet Paul Denman in front of the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center for an early morning photo field trip on the nature center’s boardwalk. He will guide camera-toting participants, share tips to improve photography, and teach many techniques he uses for photographing birds, including how to capture sharp images of birds in flight.
This trip is limited to a small number of festival participants for Paul to provide the most one-on-one help possible. Photo opportunities exist for all hand-held cameras and those requiring tripods. Lenses equivalent to 300mm and longer are recommended.
Evening Photography at the South Texas Ecotourism Center-$50
With Ruth Hoyt
Friday 3:30pm-6:30pm
Meet Ruth Hoyt at the brand-new South Texas Ecotourism Center in LAGUNA VISTA for a late afternoon to early evening photo field trip. She will guide participants around this new location which is already known to nature lovers for its great variety of birds and wildlife as well as a high level of animal activity. Black-tailed jackrabbits and diamond-backed rattlesnakes are regulars, and you might meet “Weazzie,” a wild, long-tailed weasel, at and around the visitors ’center.
Ruth will share tips and techniques to improve your photography, whether for birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, or insects such as butterflies. This location is known for beautiful Texas sunsets, and often wild, (exotic) nilgai on the landscape.
Photo opportunities exist for all hand-held cameras and those requiring tripods. Lenses equivalent to 300mm and longer are recommended for wildlife and shorter lenses for landscapes
Getting Close to things with Wings-$50
With Melody Lyttle
Saturday 7:00am-11:00 am
Meet Melody Lytle at the West Wildlife Preserve for an early morning photo workshop for a few lucky participants. Here you will focus on things with wings, from butterflies and moths to dragonflies and damselflies, to birds, bees, and insects all around Melody guides you in the native plants and pollinator gardens as she shares tips to improve your photography and teaches various techniques she uses for expert close-up photography. This trip is limited to a small number of festival participants for Melody to provide the most one-on-one help possible. Photo opportunities exist for hand-held cameras and those requiring tripods. Cameras with macro lenses or normal lenses combined with extension tubes are recommended.
