New Bosque workshop date just added
Thankfully my first Bosque workshop in late Nov has sold out so I am happy to announce a second workshop on December 8-11, 2010. Find out more here: New Bosque workshop
If you have ever thought about visiting Bosque you really should consider joining my new workshop. Bosque has to be one of the premier bird photography locations in the SW and for good reason. The opportunities can be amazing and I always look forward to going back year after year. I am also leading a White Sands New Mexico landscape workshop right before this new workshop. There is limited space in both so let me know if you would like to join as soon as possible.
Snow Goose about to touch down at Bosque, NIKON D700 and Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR, 1/1250 sec at F5.6, manual metering, flash off, ISO 400. Image Copyright 2010 Robert OToole / Robert OToole Photography.
New Bald Eagle Workshop
In March of next year and I am co-leading two sold out Robert O’Toole Photography Homer Bald Eagle Instructional Photo-Tour with Arthur Morris. I will be adding another workshop soon so if you are interested please send me an email or call to be placed on the interest list so you will have the first chance to sign up. Act soon so you wont be disappointed. The winter and summer opportunities at our workshop locations were awesome and I am looking forward to the next workshop up there. This image was made during my June eagle workshop. The colors, the tail drag with talons out make it one of my favorites. If you would like to have some opportunities to make images like this why don't you join me this winter.
Bald Eagle about to strike, NIKON D700 and Sigma 150-500 OS, 1/1250 sec at F8.0, manual metering, flash off, handheld, ISO 1250. Image Copyright 2010 Robert OToole / Robert OToole Photography.
The Sigma 150-500mm lens
For my June Bald Eagle workshop Sigma was nice enough to Fedex me a 150-500 OS lens. This was my first experience using it in the field. Honestly I a little skeptical about the performance of this lens when I looked at the wide zoom range and the compact size (for a 500mm anyway). After the first shoot with the lens I has very surprised with the image quality. The image sharpness was great at F8 and the zoom range was fantastic with the eagles. Sigma should win some kind of award for producing a lens like this that leads the field with an impressive price vs. performance ratio, actually there isn't anything else to compare it to in the same price range. The image above was made with the 150-500 handheld this June and is only slightly cropped top and bottom.
Sigma Workshops coming soon
If you would like to try out one of Sigma's longer lenses at a photogenic location and learn about state of the art techniques I have some interesting news. Right now I am looking at final planning for a Sigma sponsored workshop series late this year and through 2011. More info will be posted here soon. The workshops will provide loaner equipment and I will be providing the training on how to make better nature photography images. They will include in the field and classroom sessions. These one day workshops will be great for people without the time or the budget for a full multi day workshop.
If you have any ideas for good location ideas for something like this and would like to share, feel free to send me an email.