3 Day Everglades Photo Adventure
January 24, 25, 26, 2014 SOLD OUT!
March 21, 22, 23 2014 SOLD OUT!
Have fun, travel, and improve your
photography!
The Everglades, called Pa-hay-okee, the grassy water, by the Seminoles, is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S.. At its heart is a slow moving freshwater river, 60 miles wide and over 100 miles long. Its 1.5 million acres contains a wide variety of plants and animals, many threatened or endangered. Sweeping vistas of the river of grass, lakes, mangrove forests, dense, jungle like, hardwood hammocks, and subtropical pine forests are yours to capture. Wildlife is everywhere. Birds, the Everglades is host to 350 species, as well as the ever present alligators will provide you with unique photo opportunities.

You will capture spectacular images of all this and more when you join Understand Photography in the Everglades for a 3 day photography workshop. Have fun, improve your photographic skills and return home with memorable images. Experienced workshop leader and mentor Joe Fitzpatrick will guide you to his favorite locations at the time of day when the light is right.
At each location Joe will share his techniques, enabling you to overcome exposure, lighting and compositional challenges. With his guidance you will learn to control the complex features of your camera. Joe’s easy to understand style of instruction will help you to become the photographer you long to be. This trip is limited to five participants so that everyone will receive personal attention.
The field workshop will offer you the opportunity to photograph breathtaking landscapes and a wide range of wildlife under a variety of lighting conditions. Your photographic exploration begins at the Shark Valley visitor Center at 8:00 AM on Friday and concludes in the Everglades National Park, mid-day, on Sunday.
Price includes two nights lodging, double occupancy, at the Holiday Inn Express, Florida City, FL and all admission fees. If you are traveling a great distance you may wish to consider obtaining lodging for the Thursday night prior to our 8:00 AM start at Shark Valley. Be aware that the Tamiami Trail is under major construction east of Shark Valley and can be limited to a single lane of traffic at times.
Early Registration Price only $595 through February 20, 2014.
Regular price $695
Price listed is per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy $140 extra, based on availability.
- Everglades Photo Adventure – Stuff You Want to Know
Where will we be staying?
Our base of operations will be the Holiday Inn Express, 35200 S. Dixie Hwy, Florida City, FL 33034 on Friday and Saturday nights. The hotel is minutes from the main entrance to Everglades National Park. Our first day begins on Friday at 8:00 AM at the Shark Valley Visitors Center, 36000 SW 8th Street. Miami, FL 33194, in the Western Everglades. Shark Valley is approximately 70 miles east of Naples on the Tamiami Trail (US41). If you are not located in the Fort Myers, Naples, or Miami areas you may wish to stay at a local hotel Thursday night.
How will we get around?
You will be expected to provide your own transportation for this photo adventure. We generally car pool when in the park.
What will we be photographing?
This Photo Adventure encompasses landscape and wildlife subjects. Everglades National Park comprises over 2300 square miles of unique wilderness, the river of grass, and is home to countless species of wildlife.
What skill level is required?
This photo adventure is geared to photographers of all skill levels. Our proven 5 to 1 photographer/mentor ratio allows every adventurer from beginner to advanced to proceed at their own pace. We strongly suggest that you take our beginning DSLR course if you are not familiar with the basics of exposure: shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
What will I learn during the Photo Adventure?
At every step of your Photo Adventure Joe will be at your side, sharing his techniques. Our ratio of a maximum of 5 photographers per leader assures that you will receive personal attention and allow you to learn at your own pace. We will cover:
- Which of your camera’s exposure modes is preferred for each shooting condition.
- Which metering mode works best for each subject.
- Using the histogram to improve your exposures.
- How to take advantage of your camera’s various auto focus modes.
- Composition.
- Filters.
- Advanced techniques tailored to your level of knowledge.
What equipment should I bring?
This Photo Adventure encompasses a wide range of subject matter from very large, the sweep of the river of grass, to very small, a dragonfly alighting on a flower. We suggest:
- DSLR camera or advanced compact (bridge camera).
- Ideally, lenses to provide the equivalent coverage of full frame lenses from 24mm to 500mm or longer. For “crop” DSLRs this means lenses in the range of 17mm to 300mm or longer. A lens with close focusing ability so you can fill your frame with a flower or butterfly is useful.
- A circular polarizer if you own one.
- Tripod
- Remote shutter release. Useful, but your cameras timer will suffice in a pinch.
- Memory cards, bring them all!
- Batteries, you will need spares.
- Chargers for everything.
- Laptop if you have one.
- For equipment questions email Joe at Joefitzpatrick@comcast.net. Include your phone number.
To register call or email Peggy or Suzanne at naplesportraits@gmail.com or (239) 263-7001