Allegheny Songbirds and More

Available Dates: Dates: May 5-7, 2012 Sold Out

Fee: $1100 includes three full days shooting in the field with mid-afternoon slideshows and photoshop demonstrations.

Deposit: $400

Target Group Size: 3-4 participants

From: Salamanca, NY

Warblers and songbirds abound in this gorgeous 65000 acre park. Mountainous areas attract more northerly species like Blackburnian, Canada, Magnolia, and Black-throated Green Warblers while unglaciated valleys host species such as Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Northern Parula, Black-and-white, and many others.

During the Warbler Workshop, Matthew shows you how to get that perfect shot. We focus on quality over quantity. The photo tour focuses on giving the images that extra touch that separates the good images for the work of a master bird photographer. Matthew also knows exactly which parts of the forest to shoot from and when, how to take advantage of the birds' daily patterns and work with the light. Matthew also provides natural props to enhance compositions if desired. .

Equipment: As with all songbird workshops, I recommend bringing a digital SLR with matching lens. When you calculate your digital crop factor (usually 1.5x the normal focal length or so for digital cameras today) and slap on your tele extenders (1.4x or 2x) you should have the equivalent of at least 600mm. Please be familiar with using the equipment you bring. While I have experience with basic Nikon, Canon, and Olympus systems and can help guide you along, you could miss a rare photo opp when adjusting settings or even looking through the viewfinder with new equipment.

If we have cloudy weather, the photos often turn out as good or better than in sunny weather, but having a fill flash really helps bring the colors to life in overcast conditions.

Once a participant commits to doing the tour, a down payment is required right away to reserve the date. Pay with personal check or via PayPal to matthewstudebaker@yahoo.com. Unfortunately, refunds are impossible.

Physical Activity Requirements: Low activity. We’ll be shooting near the car most of the time. We may walk across a couple small fields. You certainly don’t need to be athletic to do this workshop. If you can walk a normal city block or go grocery shopping you should be just fine. One of the biggest hassles of the workshop is simply taking out the equipment from the van and putting it back in every couple hours. Bring waterproof shoes as the grass may be very wet with morning dew.

Likely Species - species in bold have historicly been the most cooperative, and a sampling of the other species usually oblige as well:

• Common Merganser
• Osprey
• Wild Turkey
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Scarlet Tanager
• Eastern Pheobe
• Least Flycatcher
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Warbling Vireo
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Yellow-throated Vireo
• Louisiana Waterthrush
• Pine Warbler
• Blue-winged Warbler
• Blackburnian Warbler
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Magnolia Warbler
• Hooded Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Yellow Warbler
• Canada Warbler
• American Redstart
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Northern Parula
• Ovenbird
• Indigo Bunting
• Eastern Towhee
• Song Sparrow
• Chipping Sparrow
• Purple Finch

Contact Matthew Studebaker for your reservation today!

Make Checks out to: Studebaker Studios, LLC
and mail to:

Studebaker Studios
c/o Matthew Studebaker
3339 Fox Run Drive,
Richfield, OH 44286

matthewstudebaker@gmail.com