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2015
G E R L AC H
P H O T O W O R K S H O P S
MAY 17-23 OR 24-30
HUMMINGBIRDS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
WITH B ARB ARA & JOHN GERLACH
Limited to Twelve Participants
RUFOUS & CALLIOPE HUMMER(ABOVE)
CALLIOPE HUMMER
AMONGST LILAC FLOWERS (LEFT)
Gerlach Nature Photography Workshops
Join Barbara and John Gerlach for an
exciting hummingbird photography
workshop at a secluded guest ranch
amid the spectacular Canadian Rockies.
You’ll learn to photograph
hummingbirds with multiple flash and
natural light set-ups. When not
photographing the hummingbirds, many
other photo opportunities and
wonderful wildlife viewing is available.
We looked for the perfect place to
conduct hummingbird photography
workshops since 2000 and finally found
it in May of 2003. We checked out all of
the known hummer hot spots in
Arizona and New Mexico. While many
of them were promising, we rejected all
of them for one reason or another.
Little did we expect to find the perfect
spot in southeastern British Columbia.
© 2004 Gerlach Nature Photo Revised 1/15
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
H U M M I N G B I R D P H OTO G R A P H I C WO R K S H O P
May 17-23 or May 24-30, 2015 - Week long photo workshop with John and Barbara Gerlach
It all began innocently enough. While
leading a polar bear photo tour, the
conversation turned to the topic of
hummingbirds. One of our participants
said she and her husband owned a
guest ranch that attracted hundreds of
hummingbirds in May and early June.
They piled into her guest ranch to
feed at their hummingbird feeders
while waiting for snow to melt and
flowers to bloom in the spectacular
mountains surrounding the secluded
ranch.
We taught our first two hummingbird
workshops here during 2004 and every
year after that. The photography
opportunities are absolutely superb.
Everyone shoots at least two thousand
images. The only complaint we hear
is it is difficult to select the very best
from so many wonderful images. One
lady came all the way from Texas
hoping to get terrific photos of male
Black-chinned, Calliope, and Rufous
Hummingbirds. She reached her goal
during the first half hour she shot
images!
MOOSE CABIN ONE OF THE GUEST CABINS
- BULL RIVER GUEST RANCH
These hummingbirds are friendly.
Sometimes they perch on the
shoulders or heads of the
photographers between feeding
sessions. While the hummingbirds are
most actively using the feeders early
and late in the day, they are present at
the feeders in good numbers
throughout the day.
We’ll have six high-speed flash stations
and three natural light stations. Each
participant has the opportunity to
photograph for at least seven hours on
various stations every day with both
flash and natural light. We make every
station unique from the others by using
different flowers and backgrounds in
the setup to provide a nice diversity of
images. Natural light stations are
available for your use when not
shooting on a flash station.
What Kinds of Hummingbirds will you
photograph?
The mix of hummingbirds is especially
good. The three species of
hummingbirds at the ranch include
Calliope, Rufous, and Black-chinned.
Male Calliope and Rufous
hummingbirds are especially beautiful
while the Black-chinned is quite
handsome. About 50% of the
hummingbirds are Calliope and 40%
Rufous. Only about 10% are Blackchinned, but they learn our photo
setups easily, so you’ll photograph
them, too. All of the hummingbirds are
wearing striking breeding plumage, so
you’ll be photographing colored gems.
What You Will Learn?
This course has many objectives. First,
you will enjoy a lovely week at a
secluded guest ranch that is
surrounded by towering mountains.
Naturally, hummingbirds are a big part
of your wildlife experience. However,
Mule Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear
and Whitetail Deer are plentiful at the
ranch and nearby. You are certain to
see some of them. Second, we use highspeed three-flash setups for our
hummingbird photography. We’ll explain
the system in great detail, so you can
go out and purchase your own setup.
NAT URA L L IGHT
C ALLIOPE MALE
RU F O U S M A L E
The group size is limited to only 12
photographers and we’ll have six
multiple-flash setups to use, plus the
natural light stations. The participants
take turns at each station to get variety.
Third, it’s our goal to train you to
become an exceptionally skilled
hummingbird photographer. We’ll do
everything we can in our week
together to make sure you capture
great images and learn a system that
you can use on your own to make
outstanding images of hummingbirds
wherever you find them. All participants
get our undivided help while
photographing them and our detailed
written guide to hummingbird
photography. Fourth, in addition to
learning how to effectively use all the
mechanical parts of hummingbird
photography like flashes and camera
equipment, this course teaches the art
of hummingbird photography. Learning
to work with flowers, sugar water, and
backgrounds are keys to making highly
artistic hummingbird images.
Viewing Your Hummingbird Photos
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 just deleted. Everyone
soon realizes the more images they
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. We provide all of
the specialized electronic flash
equipment, backgrounds, and other
materials. Participants must provide
their own digital cameras, lenses, and
tripod.
What Photo Gear
Do You Need to Bring?
While the flash gear is somewhat
specialized and cost about $1000 for
each setup, the gear participants need
to bring is quite minimal. All you need
is your camera body that accepts a PC
cord to plug a flash into it. Nearly all
cameras have a PC terminal, but do
double check. Some digital cameras,
such as the Nikon D70 and Canon
Rebel, don’t have a standard PC
terminal in the body.You may need to
purchase a PC to hot shoe adapter that
fits into the flash hot shoe, so a PC
cord can be plugged into it. Even if your
camera has a PC terminal, using a PC to
hot shoe adaptor is far more
convenient. It is wise to bring a second
camera body in case one breaks down.
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
was a Canon 300/4 lens with a Canon
25mm extension tube to make it
focus closer. Now he uses the Canon
200-400mm f/4 lens. Barbara uses her
Nikon 200-400 f/4 zoom. We want to
stress that if you own the Nikon or
Canon 200-400 lens, that is the best
hummingbird lens ever made, so bring
it. Any zoom lens that reaches 300mm
works well as long as it focuses close
enough to fill the viewfinder with a 3x4
inch subject. Nearly everyone can
benefit by using a 25mm extension tube
to focus closer.
because we are devising new flower
setups and letting the hummers “learn”
our new setups. Of course, you don’t
have far to go since the hummingbird
flash stations are on the front porch of
the cabins. We’ll help you get your
photos during the morning hours when
the hummingbirds are actively feeding.
We want you to bring no more than 20
digital images to show. Bring a CD, jump
drive, or other storage device of your
choice with some images for viewing on
our digital projector. The last four hours
of the day tend to be the best times
to photograph hummingbirds, so you
will be busy photographing then. John
and Barbara are available to help out in
any way they can.
Meals
The Bull River guest ranch has a chef to
feed our hungry group of
photographers. These meals are first
rate, so you won’t lose any weight
during this workshop. Prepared meals
are provided beginning Monday
morning through Saturday morning.
Our participants eat their breakfast and
dinner during their 90 minute off
period. Since lunch is a slow period for
hummingbird photography, we eat lunch
together as a group. Please let us know
Bring plenty of storage space. If you edit by email if you have any food allergies
your photos on a computer, then you
and we will notify the chef.
can delete many of the inferior images
shot during the day to make room for
2015 Workshop Fee
more images. Since you can’t see the
The price of the workshop is $2025
position of a hummingbirds wings when which includes intensive instruction
hovering, many photos are inferior
from John & Barbara Gerlach, use of all
because the wings are poorly
the equipment, and six nights lodging
positioned. On the other hand, flash
(double occupancy) in a beautiful cabin,
makes sharp pictures easy to come by
and all meals from Monday through
and eliminates metering errors. Since
Saturday morning. If you prefer to have
you are shooting on a 90 minutes on,
the cabin all to yourself, then the total
90 minutes off schedule, most digital
cost is $2485 which includes the ($460)
shooters download their cards to a
single supplement. If you are sharing the
computer and/or an external hard drive cabin with another participant, then
during their off period.
the workshop fee is $2025. If you do
not have your own roommate to share
Bring a tripod! It doesn’t need to be
the cabin, then we can try to provide a
heavy, since flash gives you sharp
roommate. However, if we cannot get a
photos even if you shoot handheld.
roommate, then you must pay the
However, you’ll want a tripod to hold
($460) single supplement.
your camera and lens in position while
awaiting the arrival of a hummingbird at Transportation to and from the guest
your flower.
ranch and other personal costs are not
included. Participants can purchase
What is the Typical Day Like?
snacks in Cranbrook on the way to the
Our day begins early at 7:30 am.
guest ranch. There is a restaurant about
Hummingbirds are active by 6:00 am,
10 miles from the ranch.
but we don’t photograph them then
Tips for the Ranch Staff
Workshop Package Includes
We believe in giving tips for a job well
done. The staff at the Bull River Guest
Ranch is amazing. Plan to bring about
$70 for tips (single person - a couple
should plan on about $140). We pool
tips and give a group tip to the staff.
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 the flash
equipment * Gerlach’s Detailed Guide,
“The Art of Photographing
Hummingbirds.”
2015. The $600 deposit becomes nonrefundable 90 days before the start of
the workshop because the guest
ranch has a no refund policy 90 days
out, so we must pay for everything we
have reserved for you. All fees are nonrefundable if you should cancel the
workshop thirty days or less before the
start of the workshop. We strongly
encourage trip cancellation insurance
to protect your investment.
Workshop Location
Enroll Now!!
Non-photographer Spouse or Friend
Non-photographer (meaning they don’t
take photographs of hummingbirds) are
encouraged to attend the workshop.
The cabins are very comfortable and
the porches are great for enjoying the
view and hummingbirds. It’s a wonderful
place for resting, reading, or just plain
relaxing. Many non-photographer
WORKSHOPS FEE
ludes
Single (1 person/1 cabin) $2485 (inc
$460 private cabin supplement)
Double (2 people/1 cabin) $2025 per
person if each are participating
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Bull River Guest Ranch in the Canadian
Rockies
Greg & Gina Koch
P.O. Box 133 Station Main
Cranbrook, BC Canada
V1C-4H7
Tel 250-429-3760
E-mail [email protected]
For more info about the ranch check
out the Website
www.bullriverguestranch.com
This workshop is sold out with only 12
participants maximum. We keep the size
of the group small so everyone has
plenty of time at each hummingbird
setup to shoot numerous outstanding
images. We’ll also have more time to
give each participant the kind of
personal instruction you deserve!
SUBJECTS LIKE.....
How to Get to
the Bull River Guest Ranch
From Cranbrook, British Columbia
Fly into the Cranbrook airport. Then
rent a car and drive about 45 miles
to the ranch.
From Kalispell, Montana
BLACK -C HI NN ED F EMALE
Fly into the airport in Kalispell.
Rent a car and drive about 130
miles to the guest ranch. John &
Barbara Gerlach drive from their
home in Idaho. It takes one day and
is about 440 miles. The drive
through the mountains of western
Montana and southeastern British
Columbia is magnificent!
Pre-departure Information
spouses join us and they all have a
wonderful time. The cost for a nonphotographer is $390 to cover the
meal plan. Non-photographer spouses
are invited to all activities during the
week. They just do not photograph
hummingbirds which is reserved for
participants only.
RU F O U S F E M A L E
Once we receive your reservation
form and deposit, we’ll send
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.
How to Enroll in this Photo Workshop
A deposit of $600 per person is
required to hold your space. There is a
$200 Cancellation fee. All remaining
unpaid balances are due in full March 1,
SILH O UET T ED H U MMERS