GANNETS OF PORTLAND - BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY GETAWAY
February 15-19 2019
Join Craig on this bird photography getaway to Australia’s only mainland gannet colony in Portland, Victoria. The colony is home to well over 3000 Australasian Gannets and a number of vagrant Cape Gannets from South Africa. You will be treated to incredible photography opportunities while receiving expert tuition. We will also be targeting some of the songbird and waterbird species of the region.
PRICE: $1350.00 AUD per person inc. GST.
LOCATION: South-East South Australia and Portland, Victoria
PAYMENT: Payment can be made via EFT transfer using online banking or contact Craig to make alternative arrangements.
THE TOUR
DAY 1: Friday 15 February
Depart Adelaide at 8am arrive in Mount Gambier at 3pm. (Lunch en route). After checking into accommodation we will spend the afternoon working on bird photography skills at Pick Swamp where will be targeting Australasian Bittern and a variety of other waterbirds, Southern Emu-wren, Golden-headed Cisticola, raptors and more. At this location Craig will get to know your strengths and weaknesses as a photographer and if needed, we will assist in getting your camera properly set up for bird photography. When the light fades we will head back into town for dinner.
DAY 2: Saturday 16 February
Early morning start for more bird photography around Glenelg River where we will target target local songbirds including Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Bristlebird, Beautiful Firetail and more. At around 11am we will depart for Portland where we will eat lunch before settling into accommodation and taking some rest. At 3.00pm we will make our way to Point Danger to photograph Australasian and Cape Gannets until dusk. Afternoon is the best time to shoot at the colony as the sun sets behind you. Here we will have ample opportunity for both flight and portrait photography and the instruction will be focussed on achieving perfect exposure, sharpness and composition. We will head to dinner at a local venue when the light starts to fade.
DAY 3: Sunday 17 February
This morning you get a bit of a sleep-in before breakfast and a morning session editing images taken so far. I will demonstrate my editing workflow and tutor participants on how to get the most from your RAW files. A laptop with editing software, preferably Adobe Photoshop is required for this session. We will break during this session to eat lunch.
At 3.30pm we will head back to the Gannet colony to put into practise the skills you have learned, taking into account the feedback from the earlier session. Dinner will be at a local venue before retiring to our accommodation.
DAY 4: Monday 18 February
This morning we will depart Portland to return to Adelaide, stopping at various locations along the way to find and photograph any species we may have missed over the previous three days. Arrive back in Adelaide late afternoon/early evening.Day
INCLUSIONS
The tour includes all transport and motel-style accommodation (minimum four stars) for the duration of the tour, expert photography instruction from Craig and any entry fees payable to parks etc. Water, tea/coffee and snacks will also be provided.
EXCLUSIONS
Meals and drinks are not included in the tour price.