Fourth, in addition to learning how to effectively use all the mechanical parts of hummingbird photography like flashes and camera equipment, this course examines the art of hummingbird photography. Learning to work with flowers, sugar water, and backgrounds are keys to making highly artistic hummingbird images.

We use our digital projector to examine your digital images of the hummingbirds. All of our participants now shoot digital. We find digital shooters easily shoot more images than film photographers because they have nothing to lose in terms of money. Any bad images are easily deleted. Everyone soon realizes the more images you shoot, the greater the chance of catching a really terrific pose. By the way, one of our past participants won first place in the bird division of the National Wildlife Photo Contest with an image taken at the workshop.

Who Should Attend the Workshop?

This workshop is suitable for beginners through professionals who shoot digital cameras. We provide all of the specialized electronic flash equipment, backgrounds, and other materials. Participants must provide their own cameras, lenses, and tripod though.

These hummingbirds are friendly! We do all of our flash photography without a blind from a distance of only six feet or less. John’s favorite lens combination for photographing the hummingbirds is his Canon 300/4 lens with a Canon 25mm extension tube to make it focus closer.  Barbara uses her Nikon 200-400 zoom, but a 200mm macro lens also works well. The ideal lens for this type of hummingbird photography has a 300mm focal length and can focus close enough to fill the viewfinder with a 3x4 inch object. You may need a 25mm extension tube to do this.  However, many cameras with a 1.5x or 1.6x crop factor do it without the extension tube.

Be sure to bring plenty of storage space. If you edit your images on a computer, then you can delete many of the inferior images shot during the day to make room for more images. Since you can’t see the position of a hummingbirds wings when hovering, many photos are inferior because the wings are poorly positioned. On the other hand, flash makes sharp images easy to come by and eliminates metering errors. Since you are shooting on a 90 minutes on, 90 minutes off schedule, most digital shooters download their cards to a computer during their off period.

Do bring a tripod. It doesn’t need to be heavy, since flash gives you sharp photos even if you shoot hand-held. However, you’ll want a tripod to hold your camera and lens in position while awaiting the arrival of a hummingbird at your flower.

What’s the typical Day Like?

The price of the workshop is $1870 which includes intensive instruction from John & Barbara Gerlach, use of all the equipment, six nights lodging (double occupancy) in a beautiful cabin, and all meals from Monday through Saturday morning. If you prefer to have the cabin all to yourself, then the total cost is $2330 which includes the ($460) single supplement. If you are sharing the cabin with another participant, then the workshop fee is $1870. If you do not have your own roommate to share the cabin, then we can try to provide a roommate. However, if we cannot get a roommate, then you must pay the ($460) single supplement. Transportation to and from the guest ranch and other personal costs are not included. Each cabin has a full kitchen for cooking. Participants can purchase food in Cranbrook on the way to the guest ranch.

Double (2 people/1 cabin) $2720 total for a participant with non-photographer spouse or friend (This includes the meals for both people)

For those wishing to have a room mate, we will do our best to help you, but if no one else is available we will have to charge you with the single supplement.

Workshop Package Includes

Six nights lodging at the Bull River Guest Ranch

Sixteen meals beginning with breakfast on Monday morning and ending with breakfast on Saturday morning.

Intensive photographic instruction from John & Barbara Gerlach

Use of all flash equipment

Gerlach’s Detailed Guide, "The Art of Photographing Hummingbirds".

Once we receive your reservation form and deposit, we’ll send you information that covers everything you need to know in great detail such as what to bring in the way of clothing and camera equipment and detailed directions to the Bull River Guest Ranch.

A deposit of $600 per person is required to hold your space. There is a $150 Cancellation fee. All remaining unpaid balances are due in full April 7, 2009. The $600 deposit becomes non-refundable 60 days before the start of the workshop unless we are able to refill your spot and cabin on such short notice. Even though we usually have a waiting list, refilling your spot with only 60 days to go is not likely. Most people make other plans when told a course is filled and it is difficult to get cheap air fares at the last minute. The guest ranch has a no refund policy 60 days out so we need to pay for the cabin we have reserved for you even if it sits empty. That is the reason for the $600 non-refundable deposit with less than 60 days to go.

This workshop is sold out with only 10 participants maximum. We are keeping the size of the group small so everyone has plenty of time at each hummingbird station to make numerous outstanding images. We’ll also have more time to give each participant the kind of one on one instruction you deserve!

Important Reservation Information