Fee: $2950 includes 6 days total shooting
in the field, ground transportation, mid-afternoon slideshows
and photoshop demonstrations when we have a little down
time.
Deposit: $750
Min Group Size: 4 participants
From: Barrow, Alaska
Leaders:
Matthew Studebaker
Explore America's final frontier for bird
photography. The only place in the world you can photograph
the three rare species of Eiders during the day of the never
setting sun, and then return to modern luxuries like hotels
and restaurants. Matthew's experience shooting in Barrow,
along with many other similar arctic locations, will prove
invaluable for finding the birds and understanding their behaviors.
Some extremely rare photo opportunities
my research may be able to produce include Yellow-billed,
Red-throated, and Pacific Loons, and the 3 rare species of
Eiders. Other Barrow specialties will include Red Phalarope
in breeding plumage, and displaying shorebirds on breeding
territory.
This workshop is about more than getting
you close to these species. I'll will show you how to take
a good photo to the next level, how to use light and backgrounds
to portray our subjects in the most beautiful way possible,
and how to control every aspect of each photo, from where
the birds land to getting them to give you that perfect head
turn. I also know exactly where to set up and when, how to
take advantage of the bird's daily patterns and work with
the wind and light.
Travel considerations:
Fly into Barrow, AK
Equipment: I recommend bringing a digital SLR with matching lens. On this workshop, the longer your lens the
easier it will be to make outstanding photos. Anything less than a 500mm prime lens will probably not be enough.
Physical Activity Requirements: Strenuous
activity. Walking through the wet tundra grass will be unavoidable,
with hikes up to 1/2 a mile many days. You don't have to be
an athlete, but if you aren't in good physical condition this
workshop is not for you. If you have knee or back problems,
or have difficulty walking while carrying your equipment,
this workshop is not for you.
Hiking short distances across the tundra can be tiring, but the never setting sun also presents a challenge. In order to take advantage of the best light, our shooting schedule will involve splitting up the day's sleep into a very short night's sleep, and then a longer mid-day's rest in the afternoon. While not easy, the results will be spectacular.
Likely Species on the Barrow Birds
Workshop - species in bold are species most frequently
photographed on the trip.
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
Greater White-fronted Goose
(Anser albifrons)
Brant (Branta bernicla)
Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Pintail (Anas
acuta)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
King Eider (Somateria
spectabilis)
Spectacled Eider (Somateria
fischeri)
Steller's Eider (Polysticta
stelleri)
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula
hyemalis)
American Golden-Plover
(Pluvialis dominica)
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Long-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris
melanotos)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Red-necked Phalarope
(Phalaropus lobatus)
Red Phalarope (Phalaropus
fulicarius)
Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius
pomarinus)
Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius
parasiticus)
Glaucous Gull (Larus
hyperboreus)
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus
incl. Vegae subspecies)
Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)
Snowy Owl(Bubo scandiacus)
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni)
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius
lapponicus)
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax
nivalis)
Detailed Itinerary will be provided upon
further request or upon confirming a reservation.
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. Make Checks out to: Studebaker Studios, LLC
and mail to:
Studebaker Studios
c/o Matthew Studebaker
3339 Fox Run Drive,
Richfield, OH 44286
