Make the jump and do this bucket-list item with me during my “Jaguars of the Pantanal Photo Tour ~ 2021!” You will photograph wild jaguars, endangered giant otters, ocelots, Hyacinth Macaws, Jabiru Storks, monkeys, parrots, raptors, and SO much more.
This photo tour takes place during the very best time to be in the Pantanal: August. This region, the world’s largest contiguous wetland, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for a very good reason — the wildlife sightings here are off the charts!
Introduction
Alaska is one of the last truly wild places in North America, and aptly considered our modern day “last frontier.” Wildlife and landscapes here are like no place else. Come and spend 8 days (7 nights) on an amazing Alaskan Wildlife and Landscape photographic adventure.
I have scheduled this workshop to coincide with the herring spawning season which is one of the largest spring herring spawning occurrences on the west coast of North America. The huge biomass attracts many species of wildlife comprising a spectacle of many thousands of animals which come to feast on the vulnerable rich fish.
The widely distributed Pacific Herring biomass is an essential resource for the existence of almost all marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. The herrings annual spring spawning event is a celebration of this absolutely essential component of Southeast Alaska’s natural environment. Eagles gather by the thousands lining the tress along the shoreline with their majestic white heads. The eagles’ keen eyesight and winter long hunger helps create a more than formidable aerial presence with their continual elegant dives catching herring by the talon full. Seals and Steller sea lions rush through the tremendous schools of herring that ribbon the shallow waters along the shoreline. Humpback whales demonstrate a variety of forage techniques to capture the extremely elusive schools of herring. It is even not uncommon for us to observe the whales fascinating cooperative ‘bubble-net’ feeding behavior up close. And of course, what marine wildlife party in SE Alaska would be complete without an appearance of the oceans top predator the killer whale. The orca’s nomadic travels most definitely include a ‘shopping trip’ to the buffet presented by the herring’s arrival to spawn along beautiful isolated beaches.
During this workshop we will be traveling aboard a privately chartered 84-foot world-class expedition yacht. This luxuriously appointed yacht was designed and constructed from steel with the same rugged integrity of vessels built for Alaska’s renowned commercial fisheries. It offers an ideal balance of public and personal space with ample outdoor areas for play and lounging.
We will have an onboard chef that will be preparing specifically for us the locally caught salmon, crab, halibut, shrimp, caviar and black cod purchased from Southeast Alaska fishermen. Dinner will be served alongside a selection of boutique wines or specialty beers from Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau.
What sets my photo workshops apart
I believe that in order to truly enjoy your time and get the most out of a photography tour and/or workshop you need to have small groups, and a very high ratio of instructors to participants.
This is a very unique workshop and as with most of my workshops, the group will be very small, limited to 7 participants to ensure everyones comfort and ensure that everyone gets the attention they need making once in a lifetime images.
What you will learn
You will be accompanied by Juan, and Captain Dennis. Juan is an accomplished professional photographer, and photographic educator who has a deep passion for the outdoors, he has been visiting this area of Alaska for over 6 years. Dennis is the captain and owner of our amazing boat. He lives in this part of Alaska and has spent a lifetime in Alaska first as a commercial fisherman and now the owner of an expedition yacht.
We believe that the best way to teach is by demonstrating, and to this end, we will be shooting alongside you, demonstrating our vision, technique and sharing our love and knowledge of wildlife and the landscape. However, our priority is always YOU, and helping you get the best images YOU can get.
The biggest advantage of having small groups is the flexibility they provide for customizing and adjusting both the schedule and agenda to suit the interests of the group while being able to maintain the flexibility required by variable weather. This allows us to cover only those topics that you are all interested in, including:
• How to create asthetically pleasing wildlife and landscape photographs
• Storytelling thru natural history photography
• Best use of equipment
• Panoramic and High Dynamic Range Photography
• Digital Workflow
• Adobe Lightroom basics
• Image presentations and critiques
What to expect
My workshops are pretty intense, and as such you should not expect this to be a leisurely vacation. My goal is to capture the best images we can during our time on the yacht.
Within 2 working days of registering for the workshop you will receive a confirmation email with a request for your deposit. Once I receive your deposit, I will email you a registration confirmation as well as the details you will need to book your airfare. I will then be emailing you periodically with any pertinent information about the workshop, including checklists for clothing and gear to bring.
About 2 to 3 months prior to the workshop, you will then start hearing from me on a more regular basis. At that point I will provide you with detailed rendezvous and contact information and go over more details of the workshop and get you excited and thinking about the images you want to capture during the workshop. At this time you will also receive from me a list of recommended clothing, equipment and even discounts for equipment you may want to acquire for this once on a lifetime trip.
I always available to answer any questions you may have leading up to the workshop, simple call or email me.
About our Yacht
The Northern Song is an 84-foot steel expedition yacht which was designed and constructed with the same rugged integrity as Alaska’s renowned commercial fishery vessels. Safe, functional and comfortable, it offers an ideal balance of public and personal space with ample outdoor areas for play and lounging.
The Northern Song features three beautiful guest staterooms each feature en suite private bathroom and shower, and an additional spacious Master Suite with a queen sized and an en suite private bathroom and shower.
Our yacht features an expansive indoor common areas that are ideal for dining and relaxing. In addition, several covered and open decks provide a perfect platform for wildlife watching and photography.
For more detailed information and pictured of the Northern Song please go here.
What is Included
• Privately chartered Yacht
• Lodging during the workshop
• All meals and snack during the workshop
• Beverages, including beer and wine during the workshop
• All permits, fees & gratuities
• Instruction
• Inspiration
• Camaraderie
• A great time
Africa, what a place! I’ve been visited 17 times and last year I spent more days in Africa than I did in my apartment, and she never disappoints. If you are like me; you grew up watching Tarzan, loved the circus and the zoo, Marlin Perkins was a hero, Hatari was an incredible movie, and you dreamt of being in Africa. I can assure you that the real thing is even more amazing than you have imagined. I love this Kenya Safari! I’ve done this exact safari 4 times and can’t wait to share that with you! Once you experience a Kenya Safari, you will love it too! And of course, You Will Be Amazed!
I am so excited to be going back for a Kenya Safari in the “green” season. It is the most beautiful time of the year and the plains are a verdant green and not the browns of fall. We will visit the stunning Amboseli National Park, and if the “shy mountain” Kilimanjaro allows, we’ll see vast herds of elephants along with that iconic peak. From there we continue our safari and explore the fabulous Masai Mara National Park. We’ll be looking for the Big Five (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo) and everything in between. And that is just the highlights!
Kenya Safari Highlights
12 Nights and 13 Days
Two Private Safari Vehicles
Small Group – 6 Clients MAX
Masai Mara, and Amboseli Parks
$9010 for single occupancy or $8084 for double.
“The Serengeti of North America”
Yellowstone has been called the Serengeti of North America and with good reason; it contains the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states. The numbers are staggering, sixty-seven different mammals live here, including grizzly bears, black bears, gray wolves, wolverine, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pronghorn, linx, elk, bison, moose, coyotes, foxes as well as other numerous small mammals.
Any description of Yellowstone will be filled with superlatives; First National Park in the world, greatest concentration of thermal features in the word, up until recently the largest National Park in the lower 48 states, home to the largest Bison herd in the world, and of course, it is home to, perhaps, the most famous geyser in the world, Old Faithful.
What sets my Yellowstone photo workshops apart
First know that I have been leading winter photo workshops in Yellowstone for 16 years, every year. In Yellowstone it is imperative that you have a guide that knows the park very well. Yellowstone is vast, and you need to know the trends in the animal behaviors to know where to find them and how to photograph them in the bets possible way.
I believe that in order to truly enjoy your time and get the most out of a photography tour and/or workshop you need to have small groups, and a very high ratio of instructors to participants. My Yellowstone workshops are very unique in that the group is very small, no more than 6 participants with 2 instructors, that is a 3:1 ratio! The reason our Yellowstone groups are so small is very simple, I want EVERY participant to have their own door and window out of the vehicles. This provides participants with the best opportunities to capture those images when speed is of the essence in exiting the vehicles and setting up or when it is necessary to shoot out of the window. Additionally I want to make sure you have plenty of room for your gear and warm clothing.
Compare that most other tours were you have one instructor and up to 14 participants in a single van, with no operable windows! With me you are assured to have the best vantage point at all times, and never be held back by sitting in an overcrowded van.
As a photo workshop leader I take my responsibilities seriously. I work closely with the National Parks and I always operate with all the proper insurance, permits and certifications. I am an Authorized Permittee of the Yellowstone National Park.
What you will learn
You will be accompanied by Juan, an accomplished professional photographer, and photographic educator who has a deep passion for the outdoors. I believe that the best way to teach is by demonstrating, and to this end, I will be shooting alongside you, demonstrating my vision, technique and sharing my love and knowledge of Yellowstone. However, my priority is always YOU, and helping you get the best images YOU can get. Additionally, I freely share my equipment with you in order to give you some “in-the-field” experience with some of the equipment you may have been thinking of acquiring.
The biggest advantage of having small groups is the flexibility they provide for customizing and adjusting both the schedule and agenda to suit the interests of the group while being able to maintain the flexibility required by variable weather. This allows us to cover only those topics that you are all interested in, including:
• How to create asthetically pleasing wildlife and landscape photographs
• Storytelling thru natural history photography
• Best use of equipment
• Digital Workflow
• Adobe Lightroom basics
• Image presentations and critiques
What to expect
My workshops are pretty intense, and as such you should not expect this to be a leisurely vacation. My goal is to capture the best images we can during our tour. What this means is that our days are long, typically starting before dawn and ending after sunset. However, we typically will take a long lunch to rest and recouperate.
Within 2 working days of registering for the workshop you will receive a confirmation email with a request for your deposit. Once I receive your deposit, I will email you a registration confirmation as well as the details you will need to book your airfare. I will then be emailing you periodically with any pertinent information about the workshop, including checklists for clothing and gear to bring.
About 6 to 8 weeks prior to the workshop, you then start hearing from us on a more regular basis. At that point I will provide you with detailed lodging and contact information, go over more details of the workshop and get you excited and thinking about the images you want to capture during the workshop. At this time you will also receive from us a list of recommended clothing, equipment and even discounts for equipment you may want to acquire for this once on a lifetime trip.
However, I am always available to answer any questions you may have leading up to the workshop.
What is Included
• All Lodging
• All Meals
• Ground transportation including private Snowcoach
• Snacks and water in the vehicles at all times
• All permits & fees
• Instruction
• Inspiration
• Camaraderie
• A great time
Join Juan Carlos Vindas on a photo tour of a life time! enjoy taking dramatic pictures the beautiful species found in Costa Rica. We will be focusing primarily on birds but there will be also native and colorful frogs, snakes and mammals but don’t forget to bring your wide angle lens as there will be opportunities to take some landscape images!
We will visit some of the most enchanting locations where the number of species will blow your mind. Let me show you the northern plains, the caribbean lowlands, the high mountains and the wild Pacific of Costa Rica. Travel with a local Costa Rican naturalist, bird watcher and professional wildlife photographer with over 20 years of experience leading tours in the country.
LIMITED to six (6) participants. All-inclusive (double occupancy). This is a SCOUTING TRIP offered at a special price — $6995 (all-inclusive; double occupancy)
This Botswana Wildlife Photo Tour ~ 2020 (SCOUTING TRIP) will take place in the wildlife-rich the Chobe River region and Okavango Delta.
Our tent camp in the Delta is perfectly located to find and lions (by the way: the lions of the Okavango Delta are the ). There are also leopards and cheetahs in the area. With our expert Bushman trackers we will have excellent chances to photograph these stunning creatures.
Only six (6) photographers on this trip. Grab it and growl: https://exploreinfocus.com/joinme/botswana-photo-tour/
What wildlife photographer or enthusiast has not dreamed of visiting the “Mammal Continent?” Africa! This Botswana Wildlife Photo Tour ~ 2020 (SCOUTING TRIP) will see that dream realized as we visit the Chobe River and Okavango Delta.
Our tent camp in the Delta is perfectly located to find endangered African wild dogs and lions. There are also leopards and cheetahs in the area. With our expert Bushman trackers we will have excellent chances to photograph these stunning creatures.
This is a scouting tour. I have not visited these lodges before. I’ve done the research, but without having the experience I can’t really tell you how every detail will work. There may be some bumps, things I’ll change on future tours. In return, you’ll be getting a super discount rate on this tour.
LIMITED to six (6) participants. All-inclusive (double occupancy). This is a SCOUTING TRIP offered at a special price of only $6870 (all-inclusive; double occupancy)
Come join Juan Carlos Vindas on a most productive, and practical tour. Air transportation to the capital city of Quito, is quite easy from Miami, and Houston serving as prime departure hubs.
Then we will spend 4 nights and 5 days in the world famous Mindo area. We will visit 3 of Ecuador’s finest bird photography lodges (the Amazon extension tour includes another wonderful lodge!). At each lodge, you will photograph a diverse number of hummingbirds and many other colorful birds, giving you the opportunity to create your own exclusive portfolio of neotropical bird images. Also, we will visit a few private gardens, where you will have the opportunity to photograph many more birds and hummingbirds coming to feeders; Juan Carlos will help you get the shot of your dreams by using natural-looking perches and smooth backgrounds! Juan will also provide all the necessary equipment for doing multiple flash photography at three different locations to maximize the number and diversity of species.
We will focus our efforts on photographing the amazing diversity of hummingbirds and tanagers that inhabit the cloud forest at various altitudes and life zones. Then later, we will travel to the eastern side of the Andes for totally new species of birds!
We will travel in an altitudinal gradient that ranges from 2000ft up to 13000ft on both Eastern and Western slopes of the Andes plus we will visit the Antisana and Cayambe-Coca Reserves, both world-famous for their unique ecosystems and bird species. Let me show you Ecuador from my perspective!
I will also be offering an extension to the Ecuadorian Amazon starting on November 12 until November 17.
Join Dan and Tanya as they venture to the exotic island of Madagascar. Experience the extraordinary natural diversity that Madagascar has to offer, from their various species of lemurs (110+ species!) to the exotic chameleons and frogs that reside there. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and features over 150,000 unique flora and fauna species which can’t be found anywhere else on the planet! Many charter flights included to make your trip more memorable than the bad roads! Nature lovers and photographers must experience this incredible dream destination!
Join me in the land of superlatives!
The Brazilian Pantanal:
Home to the world’s largest fresh-water wetlands, the Pantanal is ten times the size of the Everglades, covering about 200,000 square kilometers mainly in the southeastern Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.
Many targets to number but top 5 are the Brazilian Tapir, Ocelot, Hyacinth Macaw, Giant Otter and the largest feline in the American Continent, the jaguar.