2025 Dates
May 5th – 9th
May 11th – 15th
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Guides / Instructors
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Price
$4,195 CAD + 5% GST ( Approximately $3,080 USD) | Deposit: $750 CAD
(Includes 4 Nights Accommodation)
Limited to 4-5 Participants
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Workshop Summary
This photo workshop focuses on the many avian highlights of one of Canada's premier birding destinations, during the beginning of the breeding season. During an intensive 4 days of photography, our travels will take us throughout the Okanagan Valley of south central British Columbia, as well as the surrounding highlands.
Throughout the trip, our focus will be on creating images of utmost quality, while exploring the many factors that play into successful bird photography. This workshop will be fast-paced, in interest of making the most of the many opportunities present during the height of spring. However, whether you're relatively new to this pursuit and are seeking out instruction, or you're a more seasoned shooter, primarily interested in being guided to the best sites, we're confident this trip will be a great fit. With two guides, and a maximum group size of only 4-5 participants, ample time will be afforded for 1-on-1 instruction.
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About The Area
Crossing eastward over the Cascade and Coast Mountains, effects of a strong rain shadow become evident across the landscape. The wet coastal temperate clime transitions to semi-arid valleys dominated by rolling hills of sage. While only a few hour drive from Vancouver, those perceptive to the flora and fauna suddenly feel a world away. It's no wonder, as the plant communities, and consequently the wildlife that thrive within them, are more reminiscent of desert regions much further south. In fact, the Okanagan Valley represents one of just a few seams of this habitat that extend across the Washington border. As a result, several bird species present here are found nowhere else in the country. What's more, is the close proximity to adjacent pine-fir forests, large swaths of montane spruce, plentiful lakes and marshlands, and even alpine habitat – producing the highest bird diversity in Canada.
Outside the shoulder season – with which our trip coincides – hot summertime weather makes the Okanagan a popular holiday destination for those seeking out recreation on the lakes, or tours at the region's numerous wineries. Though much of the landscape is dominated by nature, viticulture, and growing urbanization clash greatly with the ecological integrity of some of the most unique and rare ecosystems. During this trip, we'll highlight the importance of habitats that, in some cases, sustain the last remaining Canadian populations of several species of plants, birds and other wildlife. It truly is a special area, and your images will help underline its inherent value. We can't wait to share it with you!
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Accommodation
For the duration of this workshop, we'll be staying at The Lodge at Gallagher Lake, just a short drive north of the town of Oliver. This will be central to our shooting locations which will span the south Okanagan. Though much of our time will be spent exploring the surrounding area, this scenic spot will serve as a comfortable home base.
Accommodations are included within the cost of the workshop.
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Getting There
For those travelling by air, we recommend flying in to the Kelowna International Airport. From here, a ~ 1 hour 20 minute drive southward along three scenic lakes will bring you to the lodge.
Alternatively, for those who'd prefer to eliminate a connecting flight, and enjoy a scenic drive instead, flying in to Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia, or Spokane International Airport in Washington State, will both require an ~ 4 hour 30 minute drive.
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Transportation
Group transportation is not provided during this workshop. Why?
Simply put, multiple people piling in and out of a cramped passenger van with tripods, large backpacks, and potentially wet clothing is no fun. Travelling in separate vehicles allows for the following:
You won't be obligated to adhere to all group plans. If you're feeling low on energy, or need to return to the lodge for any reason, you'll be able to do so at any point in the day, without worrying about affecting the experience of other participants.
With much more space available, your camera gear won't have to be fully broken down after each shoot, and can be left mostly assembled and ready to go at a moment's notice. This allows us more time in the field, and ultimately, more images.
Also, should you wish to extend your stay either before or after the workshop, you'll be able to travel in your personal vehicle to other worthwhile destinations surrounding the Okanagan Valley.
How we'll get around...
We will be convoying together to our shooting locations. As we move about throughout the day, we'll be sending out location pins by group text. In the rare event we become separated on the road, this Google Maps pin will direct you to exactly where we're headed next. Participants should be familiar with navigating using a maps app on their smart phone, which we are happy to assist with.
Rental Car Considerations
If you're flying in to the workshop location, we strongly recommend renting a vehicle with reasonable off-road capabilities. We will spend time travelling on gravel forest service roads, and smaller dirt tracks which can often be muddy and rough. We won't be going anywhere too extreme, but a crossover or small SUV will be beneficial.
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Daily Schedule
Our workshop will begin at the accommodations with an introductory meeting and presentation where you'll be acquainted with the plans for the following days. The next four days (first afternoon, three full days, last morning) will be spent photographing an assortment of exciting birds throughout the area. With many of the most sought-after subjects right on our doorstep, our travels shouldn't take us much further than an hour's drive from the lodge.
One of the most important attributes of any successful nature photographer is a willingness to adapt to the many dynamic things you'll inevitably be confronted with in the field – changeable weather, uncooperative subjects, etc. With this in mind, our daily plans will never be set in stone. As guides, we'll do our best to put us in the right spot that prioritizes both quality of experience and photographs.
As a rule, to take advantage of the best light and bird activity, we'll start our days early, and our evening shoots (which may include owls) may not wrap up until past sunset. Depending on the conditions and our energy levels, we may return to the lodge around midday for some downtime.
Sunrise 5:20am | Sunset 8:30pm
Meals
In interest of maximizing our productivity in the field, we tend to avoid too many sit down meals, which can be very time consuming. What we recommend is to purchase groceries in order to have some food on-hand, should we decide as a group to forego stopping at a restaurant. Rooms come with well-appointed kitchenettes, which are very handy for prepping a quick breakfast before we head out the door.
Just like our other plans, we'll play things by ear and adapt to the conditions and how everyone is feeling. If the light is really sweet, neither Connor or I is above stealing a juicy caterpillar from a bluebird to tide ourselves over.
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Instruction
One particular aspect of our workshops that we take great pride in, and that sets us apart from many other outfits, is the high level and amount of photographic instruction that we provide. You are not here to pay for our photo holiday. You are here to learn, and to experience tremendous wildlife encounters. As such, our time belongs to you for the duration of the workshop. In fact, it is rare that we take our own images, other than to demonstrate angles or check exposure settings.
Naturally, level of experience and learning objectives differ from person to person. Through email dialogue prior to the workshop, and in-field discussions, we aim to establish areas where each participant may hope to improve. Our low participant to instructor ratio allows us ample time for one-on-one teaching.
Topics discussed in detail and exercised in the field include the following: selecting the proper shooting perspective, assessing light angle, approaching/stalking birds, attaining a proper exposure, achieving pleasing backgrounds, eliminating distracting elements, capturing critically sharp detail, photographing birds in flight, low light techniques, etc.
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Physical Requirements
This workshop tends not to involve any particularly technical or strenuous hiking, and the majority of our shooting locations will be a short distance from the vehicles. Keeping in mind your safety and comfort, our pre-trip scouting will always prioritize the shortest and most straightforward approach. With that said, we never know what we'll come across, and a particularly excellent opportunity may justify a longer or more arduous hike. The ability to comfortably carry your gear on relatively flat terrain (some of which may be rooty, rocky, and muddy) for 1-2 km (0.6 - 1.2 miles) will be beneficial, though not imperative. Age and physical limitations tend not to be very restrictive during our workshops.
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Highlight Species
The Okanagan region boasts an impressive diversity and abundance of birds year-round; particularly during the breeding season. If you've travelled with us before, you'll know that preparation and consistent opportunities are synonymous with our workshops. The chance at an unexpected or particularly awesome find during our scouting only adds to the excitement for us as guides. While it's likely that we'll encounter many others along the way, the list below compiles what we feel are some of the region's highlights, with emboldened species being those that should present excellent photography opportunities, or those we'll make a concerted effort to track down...
- Ruddy Duck
- Barrow's Goldeneye
- Red-necked Grebe
- California Quail
- Ruffed Grouse
- Western Screech-Owl
- Great Horned Owl
- Northern Saw-whet Owl
- Northern Pygmy-Owl
- Osprey
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Red-naped Sapsucker
- American Kestrel
- Say's Phoebe
- Cassin's Vireo
- Violet-green Swallow
- Mountain Chickadee
- Pygmy Nuthatch
- Canyon Wren
- Rock Wren
- Western Bluebird
- Mountain Bluebird
- Townsend's Solitaire
- Townsend's Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)
- Western Tanager
- Lazuli Bunting
- Western Meadowlark
- Bullock's Oriole
- Cassin's Finch
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Equipment Recommendations
Camera Gear
The following are our recommendations for the most critical pieces of equipment. Should you have any questions regarding gear, don't hesitate to contact us.
- One or more Mirrorless or DSLR camera bodies
- Telephoto lens of at least 400mm (Anything smaller than a 600mm will generally require teleconverters on a full-frame body)
- For those using a prime super telephoto, a secondary mid-range telephoto lens may also be useful (e.g. 100-400mm, 200-500mm)
- Wide-angle lens with circular polarizing filter - *For optional landscape photography*
- Lens plates and the tools for installation
- A sturdy tripod and head (smaller travel tripods not recommended)
- Rain covers for cameras and lenses
- Flash (not essential)
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Air blower for clearing lens of water droplets
- Spare batteries and ample memory cards
- Laptop and external hard drive for storing images
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Get To Know Your Guides
Jess Findlay and Connor Stefanison grew up together in the city of Burnaby - just outside Vancouver, British Columbia. Having both struck up an interest in photography during their mid teen years, they began exploring locally with cameras in hand; eventually joining a photography club. As this hobby started to bring them further afield, their focus gravitated towards exploring and documenting the area's diversity of wildlife as well as their adventures in the British Columbia backcountry. This was only natural, having grown up in families passionate about the outdoors — with childhoods spent birdwatching, hiking, fishing, skiing, and mountain biking.
Gaining notoriety in local competitions, Jess and Connor began taking this hobby more seriously and it soon consumed the bulk of their time. It wasn't long until a demand for sharing their skills and local knowledge spurred on a career guiding workshops and photo tours.
Since 2008, their travels have taken them across the globe. Several successes in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition and the Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice Awards have garnered them international commendation. Their work has been displayed on numerous occasions in the London Natural History Museum, Royal British Columbia Museum, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
Connor has photographed several editorial assignments for Audubon Magazine and has assisted on several film projects with both National Geographic and BBC – including Planet Earth. His travels have taken him to the Canadian Arctic, remote areas of Norway, the rainforests of Panama, and throughout western Canada and the United States.
For the past several years, Jess has been guiding photography workshops in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Peru. Working as a naturalist, bird guide and photographer aboard a charter vessel, his travels have also taken him to remote regions of Alaska's Aleutian Islands and Katmai Coast. Jess also spends part of the spring/summer field season working on conservation biology projects as an ecological consultant.
With science backgrounds, Jess and Connor bring a unique perspective to their teaching; emphasizing the importance of understanding animal behaviour, and their connection to habitats, in efforts to find, photograph, and better respect their subjects.
A collective passion for their native province of British Columbia drives both their own photographic pursuits and their enthusiasm of sharing it with those who visit.
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How To Register
If you'd like to register for this workshop, please click here to navigate to the workshop webpage, scroll down and fill out the form.
Hope you can join us!
© Jess Findlay & Connor Stefanison 2024