Bat Flight Photography Workshop

 

SUMMER 2016: HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY – BAT FLIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

 

 

In summer 2016, Felix Heintzenberg will be running his exclusive high-speed photography workshop in and around Lund in southern Sweden. This workshop is for a very limited number of three photographers who want to learn the exciting secrets of high-speed flash photography from scratch. It is a rare introduction to anyone who is interested in high-speed photography with an infrared barrier and flashes. The workshop is designed for both professional photographers and amateurs. Out target species are bats, not roosting ones but flying ones.

During the workshop, each participant will have the chance to learn high-speed flash photography from scratch. For the nighttime photography, we will be using the professionally designed infrared barrier ‘Joker 2’ by Eltima Electronics, made in Germany. In my opinion, the ‘Joker 2’ is the most versatile and best suited IR barrier for wildlife photography on the market today. It is a combination of one to three different barriers in one system. The different IR-barriers can be connected in many different ways or they can be used separately.

 

We will also learn to work with a smaller IR-barrier with a single IR-beam, the ‘Jokie 2’, made by Eltima Electronics. This IR-barrier is about the size of a key ring. Despite its small size, this IR-barrier is fast and very powerful. It is an excellent tool and is more than capable for capturing flying bats, owls, insects and other fast animals. It is probably the best solution for anyone who wants to learn high-speed photography.

In the evenings, we will get out and try to photograph flying bats with the high-speed photography technique. We will be working with the ‘Joker 2’ IR-barrier, several infrared-beams and several flashes and we will be active in the afternoons and at night. Each participant will be operating his/her own camera. We will sleep in the mornings.

 

What do you need?

• One or preferably two digital SLR-camera with smaller zoom lenses, preferably about 70-200, 300 mm
• Two steady tripods/two tripod heads
• Rubber boots
• Torch
• Warm clothes

 

Preliminary High-speed photography workshop schedule

Friday 22/7

• 14.00 start & introduction
• 14.30 lecture – the basics of high-speed photography
• 15.30 indoor training with an infrared-barrier
• 17.00 we move outside in order to photograph flying bats with an infrared barrier.
• 21.00 – late night/early morning – bat photography

Saturday 23/7

• 12.00 start – breakfast/lunch and discussing the results from the evening before
• 13.00 we move outside in order to photograph flying bats with an infrared barrier and we will try to work in two different places simultaneously. We first set up our cameras in a castle where they can be left during the night, så that the bats can photograph themselves. After that we will go back to the same river where we were the night before and do some more photography there.
• 19.00 – late  night – bat photography at the river.

Sunday 24/7

• We have to go back to the castle to get our cameras and to check the photographs that were taken during the night.
• End of the workshop.

 

Included in the workshop

• Lectures and information about high-speed photography
• Two nights of bat wildlife photography with an IR-barrier ‘Joker 2’ and flashes (a bit weather dependent)
• Personal service within a small group

 

Not included in the workshop

• Accommodation. We recommend that you check in at e.g. Ibis Hotels in Lund or any other place nearby. Nighttime photography is very demanding and it is important to get some good sleep between the two workshop days. We can offer that you sleep with a sleeping bag at the place where we have the workshop, for free.
• Food – however we can offer a simple breakfast.
• Insurances.

 

Important

• Please keep in mind that this is wildlife photography. As with everything that concerns wildlife, there are no guarantees that we will succeed with the bat photography. However, there is a good chance that we will succeed.
• It is important to keep in  mind that his is a workshop where you learn a highly advanced photo technique, and not only a shortcut to great photographs. You will get more than just the chance to take great images of bats. You will get knowledge and tools which will allow you to do your own high-speed flash photography in the future.
• It is important to keep i mind that bats are protected by the EUROBATS agreement. They may therefore not be disturbed at their roosts. The workshop takes place after that the bats offspring are fully grown and manage to live by themselves. We will not photograph at any bats roost but go to carefully chosen places where bats fly around and hunt or pass by. We will do sustainable wildlife photography with high ethical standards and will therefore not affect the bats behavior and will not stress the animals.

 

Workshop dates 2016:

Workshops		Dates
High-speed photography workshop:		22/7-24/7 – 2016

 

Workshop leader: Felix Heintzenberg

Language: Swedish or english

Number of course participants: 2-3 (minimum 2)

Workshop fee: 6000 SEK/650 EURO (including VAT)

Reservation deposit: 1000 SEK, payable upon reservation.

 

Please use the CONTACT FORM if you want to make a reservation or if you have any questions.

 

Terms and Conditions

1. A reservation is made once a reservation, together with a deposit, has been received from you and we confirm the booking in writing. Provisional bookings can be held for 14 days, pending receipt of a completed booking form.

2. Deposits paid are not refundable. The balance is payable 14 days before the workshop.

3. If we need to cancel a workshop for any reason, a full refund of the amount paid by you will be made, but we can accept no further liability.

4. We cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to personal items, or for personal accident or injury: all activities are entered into at your own risk.