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Photographs are Copyrighted © 2011, Marsel van Oosten — All Rights Reserved
Qualifications of the Tour Provider
Deciding which photographic seminar to attend is a daunting problem for many. But, in all instances, one should first determine whether the person or persons conducting the seminar are accomplished photographers and whether their work has been recognized by publications or artistic awards.
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Marsel van Oosten, owner of Squiver, meets all these criteria. Marsel’s images are famed for his mastery of composition, lighting, color and perspective. In addition to winning First Prize in the International Photography Awards three times, Marsel’s awards include top honors in the European wildlife Photographer of the Year, First Prize in the Nature’s Best International Photography Awards, and was just selected the Landscape Photographer of the Year by Nature Scapes Net. His photographs are featured in galleries and museums, and are used in advertising, design, and magazines such as National Geographic, Science Illustrated, and Geo.
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In addition he holds a BA in Art Direction and Graphic Design from the Academy of Arts.
Indeed, browsing through his extensive gallery is magical, image after image showing his emotional approach to communication and his love for the natural world and concern for the environment. Simple, yet very powerful images are his specialty.
In sum, Marsel is a world class nature photographer.
His partner, Daniella Sibbing, graduated from the school of Marketing and Economics. She has worked for various renowned agencies. Daniella took up video to shoot travel documentaries, capturing the nature, wildlife and different cultures from countries all over the world. Her video footage is used by stock agencies. She is co-host on most Squiver Photo Tours, taking care of all organizational aspects of the trips.
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Where Are Seminars Offered?
The next considerating is where are the seminars offered? There are countless places one can go on the earth to do photography, but few tour providers offer more than one selection. Not so with Squiver. Tours are available to Japan, Alaska, Namibia, Kenya, Spain, Turkey, and Zambia.
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Japan
Unique is the tour offering to Japan, which encompasses photographing Snow Monkeys, the famous red-crowned cranes, Stellar’s sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, whooper swans, red fox, sika deer, and the mountains near Nagano. All coupled with opportunities to experience the Japanese culture, customs, and food.
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Namibia
Quivertrees, a sand-covered ghost town, the famous red sand dune at Sossusvlei and the surreal Deadvlei along with elephants, zebra, oryx, as well as black and white rhinos at the famous Okaukuejo waterhole in Estosha, while having the opportunity to do microlight fights, ballooning and gamedrives in Etosha. This tour is perfect for those who enjoy both landscape and wildlife photography in one of the most remote and sparsely settled places on earth.
Turkey
On this landscape tour Squiver takes you to the best spots to photograph the surreal fairy chimneys and bizarre rock formations in Goreme National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the day you can expect to wander through ancient villages, visit an amazing cave town, rock-hewn churches and mosques, underground dwellings, and a carved rock citadel at the highest point in Cappadocia.
Spain
Squiver takes you to the largest zoological park in the world where one can photograph over 100 species from five continents.
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Zambia
This wildlife photography tour takes you to Victoria Falls and Lower Zambezi National Park. Likely subjects are elephant, hippo, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, lion, and leopard. You will be photographing the animals from land as well as on eye-level from the river. The versatile shooting possibilities of this tour, is what makes it different from other “traditional” safari countries. And the water attracts large herds of animals.
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Katmai, Alaska
The ultimate coastal brown bear tour, the tour takes you at close range on the tidal flats of Katmai National Park, in small groups of five guests. Brown bears, seals, sea otters, fox, bald eagles, tufted puffins, ducks, geese, and perhaps wolves, wolverine, moose and lynx are likely subjects. All in very close range.
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Masai Mara Migration, Kenya
This tour takes one to see one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth: The Great Migration. One will visit the famous river crossings where the huge Nile crocodiles lie waiting for the wildebeest to cross, and you will search for the Big Five: buffalo, rhino, elephant, leopard, and lion.
Costs
Considerations for a photographic seminar also involve the issue of cost. There are dozens of tour providers to choose from, many of which are very expensive. What is refreshing about the Squiver offerings is that costs are reasonable. For example, a tour of East Africa typically costs from $8,000 to $12,000 per person sharing. The Squiver tour begins at approximately $5,500 — a bargain price.
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Photographic Instructions and Critiques
Most tour operators offer one the chance to go to exotic places, few of them offer expert instructions on camera equipment, photographic techniques, and also take the time to critique one’s work. The Squiver tours offer not only these critical components of a good photographic tour, but they also work with one in advanced Photoshop techniques.
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Conclusion
The PTR Team knows the world photographic community very well. We have attended seminars, conducted our own, and we know the work of most well-recognized nature photographers. Marsel and Daniella offer something very special to the traveling photographer — vast experience and recognition for their work, a variety of places to go, reasonable costs, and expert instruction. In sum, the best combination of all attributes that make up a successful photographic holiday.
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Photo Travel Review Magazine highly recommends Squiver Tours. The offerings are among the best in the world — Squiver has earned PTR’s five star rating plus (✭✭✭✭✭+). We added the “+” to the rating because their tours are among the most reasonably priced that we have encountered.
Website: http://www.squiver.com/
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Squiver tours are also highly recommended photography tours by PhotoGray.CA
They are best for time behind the camera and resident photographer tutoring.