Date: November 30 – December 3, 2023
Although the Bald Eagle has been a spiritual symbol for native people for generations, in 1782, the Bald Eagle became the national emblem of the United States, beating out the Wild Turkey, which was favored by Benjamin Franklin. These majestic birds soar, glide, and chase others for their food. Known for the piracy, eagles have been known to steal prey from other birds and mammals, including humans when the opportunity presents itself. Once endangered by hunting and pesticides, Bald Eagles are a protected species and are flourishing.
Capturing images of the majestic birds is both exciting and challenging. Their white-feathered heads and tails gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings which poses a metering challenge for everyone! These birds move fast; diving from their perches in the trees to the water in a flash. Learn how to anticipate their behavior and get the “shot” of them lifting fish from the lake. The great thing about our location is that it is a wintering location for eagles, so we should have lots of opportunities over the days to learn and practice our techniques. The techniques you learn can be applied to other birds and wildlife, so you will definitely be building a skillset!
Eagles can be in found in many states throughout the U.S., but generally congregate near large bodies of water during their winter migration. Geff and I have found such a place in Idaho and would love to share it with you.
Cost $750/participant (Deposit to hold spot: $250)
Click here to Register <Register Now
Minimum # of Participants: 2
Maximum # of Participants: 5
Trip details:
* Everyone will fly in on Thursday to get settled (depending on arrival times, maybe we all grab dinner together)
* We will help everyone set up their cameras for this type of photography. Make sure to bring your owner’s manual or know your camera well, including how to change your auto focus settings, image stabilization, metering, etc.
* Friday and Saturday (all day) and Sunday morning until noonish, we will head out to the lake
* Because the days are short in winter, we will head back to hotel to review images and refine techniques. We will also share image processing tips and provide critiques for those who are interested.
* Each night, we will head to dinner as a group for those interested (Friday night will be the hosted group dinner)
What does the trip entail for you?
* Flying to Spokane, WA, renting a car and driving to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (about 45 minutes away)
* Reserving your hotel room at designated location
* Standing for long stretches in cold/frigid weather (0-32 degrees), there are pit-toilets
* Walking on uneven ground, including rocks, ice, and snow (ice-cleats are required)
* Winter clothing (heavy coat, ski pants, hats, gloves, good cold weather boots, ice-cleats, etc)
* Long lens (depending on your brand, a 100-400mm or 200-500mm at a minimum, 200-600mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm) (Generally speaking, this is the only lens you will use), consider a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter if you have a shorter long lens
* Wider lens (70-200mm or similar for environmental shots), though the focus will be eagles
* Flexibility – this trip will be weather and salmon-run dependent, so although we will set a date, the date may need to shift, so buy refundable/changeable airline tickets
* Trip insurance, including medical
