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Photographs courtesy of Glenn Bartley, Copyright © 2011, All Rights Reserved.

For those who enjoy Bird Photography the choice of which photo seminar to attend is difficult as there are hundreds of tours offered.

How does one choose which one to attend?

As the PTR Team has stated many times, get to know the photographer who offers the seminar and then ask some fundamental questions:

Is the photographer recognized for his/her work?

Is what the photographer offers unique and different?

Will the seminar improve one’s technical skills?

Is the cost of the seminar reasonable?

What have those who have attended the photographer’s seminars said about their experiences?

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Is the photographer recognized for his/her work?

Glenn Bartley has a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Studies, among his recent publications are two books, highly praised for their quality:

“Birds of Vancouver Island: A Photographic Journey”

“Birds in Ecuador: A Photographic Journey”

Moreover, he has written countless articles about Photoshop techniques, photographic equipment, photography locations, and bird species.

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His articles have been published in magazines, including:  Birding, Bird Watchers Digest, Canadian Wildlife, and Nature Photographer.

His photographs have appeared in National Geographic and Audubon Magazines.

He continues to work on projects with the National Geographic Society.

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Is what the photographer offers unique and different?

Glenn’s tours include travel to some of the most remote places in the Western Hemisphere, and range from Costa Rica and Ecuador in South America to Vancover Island and Churchill in North America.

Visit cloud forests in Ecuador then travel by boat down the Amazon in pursuit of rare bird species.

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Or, tour  Vancouver Island, which is without question one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Home to majestic mountains, lush temperate rainforests and miles of breathtaking coastline it seems that natural beauty can be found anywhere you look.  In addition to its scenic beauty Vancouver Island possesses a variety of wildlife including numerous species of birds, ocean mammals such as seals and killer whales, bears, otters and a fantastic selection of butterflies.

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Such opportunities are different and perhaps unique to bird photography.

While Glenn specializes in Bird Photography, his tours also include opportunities for Landscape Photography.

His wide range of tours can be found here.

Will the seminar improve one’s technical skills?

Too often, the PTR Team hears about seminar leaders who spend their time shooting and not teaching.  Glenn is a teacher, whose knowledge goes well beyond camera equipment and lenses, but gets into the special techniques and post production workflows which can transform one’s skills from beginner to accomplished nature photographer.  Comments from his tour participants stress how much Glenn works to help participants improve their works.

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Is the cost of the seminar reasonable?

Photographic seminars can be extremely expensive to attend.  We looked at Glenn’s offerings to judge whether his charges are reasonable.

One good example is his 17-day tour of Ecuador, including the Amazon River, for approximately $6,000.  This is an excellent price considering that he is covering one’s ground transportation, air transportation in country, and boat transportation.  All lodging and meals are included.  And, he limits participants to six persons!  Given the remote locations, the cost of $350 per day is exceedingly reasonable.

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He offers others tours for far less, particularly his tour of Vancover Island.  Lengths of tours can be varied as well.

A complete listing of his tours can be found at his website.

What have those who have attended the photographer’s seminars said about their experiences?

”Glenn Bartley is an exceptional teacher when it comes to the ‘computer’ and its many applications and challenges. As a recent student of his, I have admired his infinite patience and encouragement during my struggles at grasping new concepts. Not only do I appreciate his ability to teach, I am also captivated by his style of expression when depicting nature in photographs. His shared wisdom, and teaching style, can benefit anyone in his company. I have also enjoyed this same experience while participating in one of Glenn’s recent photo workshops to Churchill. I hope to continue to learn much more with Glenn in the world of computers and with photographic forays into the world of Nature.” Marie O. – 2010

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“Theresa and I would like to thank you for an excellent workshop in Victoria.  Overall, the experience far exceeded our expectations.  Your knowledge of the individual species and local habitat put us in the right place with the right light.  Your attention to detail ensured we were getting the best opportunity for shooting.  Your excellent photographic skills allowed you to make individual suggestions that were quite helpful in the field.” Bill & Theresa P. – 2010

“Glenn is an exceptional, hard-working photographer and always puts his client’s needs first. Locations are well researched and – if the circumstances aren’t ideal – he always makes the best out of it. I would certainly come back for another tour. ” Roland M. – 2010

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Glenn Bartley Photography has earned the Photo Travel Magazine Rating of Five Stars (✭✭✭✭✭). The PTR Team highly recommends his tours for their unique offerings, costs, and personalized attention that every workshop participant wants. Moreover, we are impressed with Glenn’s credentials — few bird photographers have received such acclaim or can point to similar achievements from among the best nature magazines in the world — National Geographic and Audubon to mention two.

The following video, produced by Glenn, may provide you with some insight into what is special about his offerings.

By Jillian Pichocki

I participated in a workshop through photoexperience.net during the summer of 2006, and it was a life changing experience.  I studied the historical photographic process of the daguerreotype with the contemporary master, Jerry Spagnoli (www.jerryspagnoli.com).

Learning the process in itself was amazing, but to be in such a beautiful environment at the same time was what really made it unique.

It was an awakening occurrence to go to Peru and observe a lifestyle so different than what I have been accustomed to living outside of Washington D.C. where the standard of living is very high.  With so much in excess, this trip opened my eyes as to what one really needs to get by with in life.

All the participants were excited to take part in the daily excursions organized by Adam Weintraub. Adam is a freelance photographer who lives and works in Seattle, Washington.  His wife and extended family are from Cusco, and he has been traveling to and from both cities for over ten years.  Words cannot really express how someone as knowledgeable as Adam made the whole transition of settling in to the new environment easy and enjoyable.  Adam was always available to provide an insider’s scoop as to what to see and what to bring to the various locales. The website for the bed and breakfast is: http://www.panzadelartista.com/ The majority of the time was spent exploring, but it was a great release to come back to the house and have the privacy to process the experiences from that day and to bond with fellow participants.

As I said, this trip opened my eyes to a different culture and was a good reality check for my life back in the states. I began to see the world differently and appreciate the simpler things in life.  I also got a chance to meet some amazing people.  We all had different interests in photography and not all were working in that field, but we enjoyed learning and being a part of something incredible. When I look back at my other travels around the world, none are as significant as my trip to Peru.  It was the personal growth and exploration that helped me develop a better sense of purpose and to continue to inspire my photographic interests.

The workshop series is growing and each year they have an amazing assortment of photographers that lead a different topic.  This summer they have Keith Carter (who is one of my favorite photographers), Bruce Barnbaum, and Stella Johnson.

Link:  http://www.photoexperience.net

Jillian Pichocki is a freelance/fine art photographer living in the Washington DC area. She received an MFA in Art and Visual Technology, with an emphasis in photography, from George Mason University in 2007.  Her work has been shown in the Metropolitan galleries such as: Transformer Gallery, Touchstone Gallery, the Fraser Gallery, and the Ellipse Art Center.

For over eight years, her interest in the history of photography has led her to experiment with different processes and seek out the possibilities of this medium.  Covering a wide range of formats from plastic and Polaroid cameras to large format, she uses analog photography as the foundation of her work.

By Trevor Davenport ARPS DPAGB

Trevor is a recently retired engineer who has had an interest in photography for about 20 years – mainly travel and nature. A dedicated slide worker for almost all this time but a recent convert to the joys and pains of digital imaging – and still learning.

Trevor is a member and past president of Southport Photographic Society, one of the largest photo clubs in Northern England; he is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and lectures throughout the North of England on themes connected with travel and nature photography.

Welcome to Cambodia.

Cambodia nestles like an interlocking jigsaw puzzle piece snugly surrounded by her South-east Asian neighbours of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam; to the South-west she has plentiful coastal access to the Gulf of Thailand. This ancient and superbly fertile land, though poor in monetary terms and savagely scarred by the Khmer Rouge regime and recent wars, is still fat with the richness of its long history, the glory of the fabled temples of Angkor and the beauty of the land and its people. It is a travel photographers dream!

I was here as part of a small group on an “Images of Cambodia” photographic tour arranged by All Points East and led by professional photographer Nathan Horton. The initial chaos of the streets clearly illustrates the benefits of having a knowledgeable local guide in new travel locations.

Our long-haul photographic travel vacations are those rare exceptions to my personal view that says “being there is what it’s all about – coming back with a picture is a bonus”.  Yes, being there is wonderful – to see, smell, taste and feel all the magical ingredients of a new and exciting location – and the probability is that there will be pictures everywhere; however, a new country, a new language, a new culture and a new time zone can throw even the most hardened travel snapper into the frustrations of “wrong time, wrong light, wrong angle, wrong place!

There is an old and valued tip for the travel photographer that says the first port of call in a new location should be to buy your postcards – not necessarily to send home but to find out where all the best picture locations are. This is still one of the best tips I know; but it is much better to have a local guru who knows the times and locations of all the best potential images. And if the local guide is also a keen and time served photographer into the bargain then so much the better.

Hence our first day pre-dawn trip to the Olympic stadium. Who but a local photographer would know what evocative images can be made out of silhouettes stretching and posing against a city backdrop splashed with the pinks and purples of a tropical dawn.

Nathan lives and works from his studio in Cambodia and has an obvious love affair with both the country and its people. Part of our tour was a welcome refresher session on the basics of travel photography in the studio and then we were off – to markets, street scenes, and some of the more disturbing places associated with the Khmer Rouge regime and the killing fields.

We were in the right place for dawn at the fabled Angkor Wat temple and the warm evening light for Ta Prohm now perhaps better known as Tomb Raider Temple; we trudged to remote jungle temples and spent happy hours with villagers on the way; we plied the murky waters of the Tonle Sap river and lake and meandered in and out of the floating villages and fishing families; we were entertained by water-baby children splashing and shouting in the warm waters of this watery world; and we were awed by the style and symmetry of the Royal Palaces and gardens.

Each and every episode requires a detailed description – far more than space allows for here – but every day was filled with rich and satisfying adventures – and yes, photo opportunities to die for!

The measure of any travel adventure can be assessed by asking, simply; “would you go back”? My answer, in case you hadn’t guessed already, is “yes – as soon as possible”!

Trevor Davenport, July 2008

*****

Editor’s Note:  All Points East was formerly known as Gecko Travel and this article has been edited to reflect the new name of the tour operator.  All links to the website for Gecko Travel have been changed to the website for All Points East.

By Claire

Image by Kaz (Lake Bled)

PTR held its workshop in October 2008 and here I present some of the images taken by (and of) participants.

The workshop was a huge success. The accommodation turned out to be even better than expected, the apartments gave everyone a bedroom to themselves, two nice lounges where we could meet and free Internet access.

We had cooking facilities but the added bonus was home cooked food that had been reared and grown on the farm where we stayed.

Initially we had some confusion due to the clocks going back in Slovenia and people arriving from 4 different countries. For a day we couldn’t decide what the time really was and we had one early start waiting the sunrise, which turned up an hour later than expected! The added bonus to this was we arrived on the top of the mountains in the pitch dark and the stars were out, I can’t remember seeing stars like this before – magical. The clear sky that followed sunrise was a challenge but the mist in the valley was breathtaking.

Photo by Claire

The first two days proved to be the best weather wise and everyone got some good shots. This always lifts the mood, as you know you won’t be going back home disappointed.

Photo by Kaz

Image by Herman

Image by Bill

Slovenia in autumn was a delight. We had previously visited the location in May and had chosen the area around Lake Bled as “base camp” due to its proximity to water, forests and mountains. We had our fingers crossed that the autumn colours would hold on and we were not disappointed.

Photo by Kaz

Photo by Herman

The weather at this time of year is unpredictable, we could have had deep snow in the mountains but initially we were stripping off layers rather than adding them.

Photo by Claire

By mid-week the weather had changed and we sought some height to meet the snow. It was time to use all the cold weather gear we’d brought.

Photo by Roy

The last few days were wet. This found us still out and about and there were some brief moments of light worth catching…

Photo by Kaz

Photo by Bill

Image by Herman

There were villages to explore………

Photo by Bill

And the leaves took on even better colour after a wash……..

Photo by Claire

Photo by Herman

Bill also found some wildlife and demonstrated what a Canon G10 can do in capable hands.

Photo by Bill

We hope to repeat the Autumn trip in 2009 and if you want advance notification I can add you to a mailing list. As an added bonus we may add a day trip to Venice.

Image by Claire

A big thanks to those who have provided images for this article.

Claire