Birds of North Florida
St. Augustine
March 29 - April 1, 2027
A large number of wading birds make the rookery their home each winter and spring as it is an ideal location for nest building and rearing their young. It is also a perfect setting to hone your skills and achieve beautiful images of birds - perched, on nests, displaying courtship behavior, interacting with one another, and in flight. All levels are welcome!
We will also make at least one visit to the seashore as the sun rises or sets... with the possibility of photographing shorebirds, pelicans, ospreys, and more.
We will concentrate on refining composition, position/pose of your subject, lighting, focus, post-processing, and more. This location offers unparalleled opportunities to improve your bird in flight photography as flight paths are somewhat predictable, at close range, and with large wading birds.
Three full days in the field with image reviews and editing sessions plus Zoom sessions before and afterwards. The Zoom sessions will include instruction on photographing birds and logistics before and more reviews and editing demos afterwards.
Shared time together over meals in the ancient city of St. Augustine is optional but always a high note. Restaurants are carefully selected to give you a flavor of our historic city.
At a Glance
Dates: March 29 - April 1, 2027 (Meet & Greet March 29 at 5pm) We will begin shooting early on Monday, March 30, and end the evening of April 1st.
Includes: All instruction in the field and classroom plus online Zoom orientation beforehand, post-conference Zoom session.
Cost: $1399 (earlybird pricing is $1299 through August 2026)
Location: St. Augustine, FL (we will be based at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm with at least one session at an offsite location)
Suggested Lodging: You will receive information on lodging after registering.
Not included: Lodging, meals, entry fees, and transportation (you will need to purchase a photo pass to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm)
Group size: Limited to 8 photographers
Physical Level: Easy. You will not need to walk long distances or climb hills. Indoor and outdoor seating is available to escape from the sun or take a break from standing for extended periods.
Image Gallery
Gear you will need...
Camera: Participants are expected to know how to operate their equipment. If you have any new gear, it is important to become acquainted with it BEFOREHAND to get the most from the workshop.
Lenses: Telephoto zoom (100 - 500mm equivalent) will allow you to photograph as they approach from a distance to a fairly close range. Wide angle zooms (15 - 24mm, 24 - 70mm equivalent) will be good at the beach for seascapes if you choose to do a sunrise shoot.
Tripods: A sturdy tripod (with a gimbal head for birds & ballhead if only using for seascapes). Tripods or monopods are helpful if you need assistance holding your camera for a long period of time when photographing birds. They are necessary for long exposure images at sunrise.
Software: All post-processing will be done using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Jackie will share editing techniques ranging from basic image adjustments to more advanced application of layers in Photoshop.
Pre & Post-workshop Zooms: An overview and orientation will be held online prior to the workshop. Post-workshop Zoom will consist of image reviews of fully edited images, although feedback will be shared in the field and in review sessions during the workshop.
St. Augustine is my home & I look forward to sharing it with you! I take pride in organizing group lunches, which are optional, to give you a flavor of our city, founded in 1565.
About Jackie
Jackie lives in St. Augustine and has been photographing the natural world since high school in Sarasota, FL. She is known for her rich colors and for infusion of personality in her floral and wildlife images. Jackie has received international acclaim for her images and has been published in several noteworthy magazines. Jackie also maintains an active group, Phlorography - Artistic Floral Photography, with thousands of passionate floral photographers from around the world. Phlorography is a community in which everyone and their photographic expression is valued.
