Workshops & Tours Archives

13 Day Japan Photography Workshop and Tour

by Michael Snedic | Mar 24, 2016 | Workshops & Tours

Join us on this 13-day adventure, exploring the the culture and scenery of Japan and learning new photographic skills with two professional photographers and tutors: David Burren and Michael Snedic.

The tour starts in Kyoto, and finishes in Tokyo. We travel by a mixture of high-speed train, private bus, and on foot. We will be exploring some of the cultural highlights which make Japan so special. This is not a pure “nature” photo tour (although we will of course be visiting and photographing some natural areas with wildlife and landscapes). Each region we visit also has its own range of local cuisine, which we aim to be able to experience along the way.

Photographers of all experience levels are welcome. David and Michael will be guiding you and supporting your photography during the week. Not just in taking photographs in the field, but also in reviewing and refining your photos along the way using software such as Lightroom.

During the tour we have a number of group tuition sessions where we will be covering practical photographic advice as well as some digital topics.

No matter what your level of experience, Michael and David will help you gain valuable photographic techniques that will ultimately lead to you taking better quality photos.

Anyone in normal good health can join us on this adventure. There are no special fittness requirements, although we do advise you to bring good walking shoes for some of the longer walks.

Kyoto has many attractions: temples, parks, people (including costumed geisha), and even the train station is stunning.
In Hiroshima we explore nature, more temples, and the Peace Memorial Park.
We explore the Edo-era Nakasendo trail in mountainous central Honshu.
We visit (and spend a night in) a buddhist monastery. The rest of the accommodation is in “western-style” hotels.
We finish the tour with several days in Tokyo, which is an experience unto itself!
With two professional photography tutors and 14 workshop participants, you will have plenty of opportunities for one-on-one tuition.
Our itinerary and activities have been planned throughout to provide exciting photographic and cultural experiences
Our local bi-lingual guide will be with us throughout the trip, helping us concentrate on the photographic opportunities and tuition.

On this workshop you will have access every day to two professional photographers and instructors. David and Michael are there to help you photograph the scenes we will encounter. We will be conducting a series of classes throughout the tour, as well as being on-hand throughout the trip.

As full-time professionals, David and Michael are both accredited members of the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP). As well as being experienced photographers they’re both experienced photographic tutors who regularly conduct workshops together.

Michael Snedic

Michael is an experienced (20-years) and widely published photographer, writer and Photo Expedition Leader. His photography articles and images have featured in numerous publications in Australia and across the world.

He is owner of ‘WildNature Photo Expeditions’ and presents exciting photography workshops and tours to many wonderful photographic and travel destinations including Australia, Antarctica, the Arctic, SubAntarctic, Africa, Galapagos, Peru, the Amazon and many more. He is also an Australian Ambassador for both Lowepro and Lenscoat. Michael loves sharing his photographic knowledge and passion with workshop participants, helping them improve their photographic skills.

David Burren AAIPP AAPS

David has been photographing since the 1970s (professionally since 2002). As well as winning awards for his photography, and teaching the field craft to hundreds of people, his IT background provided important tools in managing the photography workflow.

He is an Adobe Certified Expert, and has spent years teaching Photoshop and Lightroom at a tertiary level and to individuals and groups. As the principal of LuminOdyssey Photo Expeditions, David regularly conducts photographic workshops and tours to destinations around Australia and the globe. This will be David's second expedition to Japan.

8 Day Bowra Birding and Bird Photography Workshop

by Michael Snedic | Mar 4, 2016 | Workshops & Tours

Michael Snedic, one of Australia’s most accomplished wildlife photographers and tutors, has teamed up with Barry Davies, a highly respected and experienced Birding Guide, to present an 8 day birding and bird photography workshop, ‘out west’. In this workshop, Barry’s immense birding experience will help participants find and identify numerous species of birds by studying their behavior, habits and habitat. Michael’s experience as a leading bird/wildlife photographer and tutor will also be utilized to help you improve your bird photography, including tuition on birds in flight, composition, lighting and correct exposure, focal points and much more. The majority of the trip will be spent at one of Australia’s birding hotspots, Bowra Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, Queensland, where there are lots of different habitats, and therefore birds, to locate and photograph. Below is some information on Bowra Sanctuary, courtesy of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy website:

Mulga communities, often mixed with Poplar Box and bloodwoods, dominating the low scarp and elevated ridges in the northern section of the property.
The southern section of Bowra comprises mainly alluvial plains decorated by gidgee and Coolabah open woodlands. Low sand ridges rise marginally above the plains, hosting Cypress Pine and more bloodwood and Poplar Box.
Majestic River Red Gums guard the length of Gumholes Creek, the property’s major watercourse. Permanent, deep waterholes are a feature of this creek. Bowra lies within the catchment of both the Warrego and Paroo Rivers, two of the most biologically significant rivers within the Murray-Darling basin.
Bowra hosts numerous other wetlands ranging from Bluebush swamps to gilgais and other smaller swamps.

Day 1	Brisbane to St George (510km): 7.30 am departure from arranged point. Travel by 4WD with occasional stops along the way; lunch break at Lake Broadwater near Dalby. We will be going out for dinner at St George and we will be also staying overnight at St.George, on the Balonne River.(L) Accommodation: Pelican Park Caravan Park Cabins
Day 2	St George to Cunnamulla (310 km): 7.00 am start. Some birding and photography along the way, with lunch at Bowra. Bowra Sanctuary is a 40,000 hectare former grazing property just west of Cunnamulla. After settling in, Michael will introduce the art of bird photography beside the waterhole.Evening session: Audio-visual on identifying birds and bird calls with Barry.(B, L, D) Accommodation: Bowra shearers' quarters.
Day 3	Bowra Sanctuary: Morning - Finding and identifying birds in the field, with Barry. Michael will then show you how to get the best photos. We will walk from our base and head to various spots around Bowra Sanctuary.Afternoon – Michael will present a session on how to get the best shots of birds in flight. This will be at the Wier in Cunnamulla. Evening – Audio-visual on bird photography with Michael(B, L, D)
Day 4	Bowra Sanctuary: Morning – Stony Mulga country, Bowra’s ultimate birding/photography challenge. Find and identify the most iconic birds, Hall’s Babbler and the Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, as well as any other birds found.Afternoon – Getting in close, using bird hides and camouflage to get the best possible pictures. Theory and practice.Pre-sunset - Some landscape photography tuition by Michael at the lagoon right near our base. Evening – Free time to relax and unwind(B, L, D)
Day 5	Bowra: Morning – Visit some of Bowra’s waterholes and other habitats with Michael and Barry, for more birding and photographic opportunities. Afternoon – Free time to go and practice your bird photography. Alternatively, have a rest.(B, L, D)
Day 6	Bowra: Morning – Head out to different parts of Bowra Station with Barry, to search for different species we haven’t seen and photographed yet. Afternoon – Questions and Answers – the opportunity to ask more questions about bird photographic techniques (Michael) followed by a field session (Michael and Barry). Evening – A review of some of the participant’s best bird images of the week with Michael(B, L, D)
Day 7	Bowra to Goondiwindi (500 km): 8.00 am start. We head east with a lunch stop at Bollon with various birding stops along the way.(B, L) Accommodation: Goondiwindi Tourist Park cabins.
Day 8	Goondiwindi to Brisbane (420 km): 7.30 am start. We travel back to Brisbane via Inglewood and Warwick, where we will have lunch, visiting some bird watching areas including Coolmunda Dam and Durakai State Forest, before crossing the Great Divide to head into Brisbane late afternoon.(B) Accommodation: Own arrangements.

Travel in air-conditioned 4WD vehicles with driver/guide plus 4 passengers in each vehicle. Tour cost covers twin or share accommodation, which is budget style. The Bowra shearers’ quarters are quite basic with outside bathroom and toilet. Meals provided as part of the package are shown in the itinerary by B, L or D. Dinner on the way out and coming back home and lunch on the last day will be your responsibility and will be at places where cafés, restaurants or roadhouses are available. (NB - some changes to the itinerary may be necessary because of possible conditions prevailing at the time).

Whale Photography Workshop

by Michael Snedic | Mar 4, 2016 | Workshops & Tours

Being onboard a boat and experiencing close-up encounters of Humpback Whales is very special. These majestic mammals often venture quite close to the boat and the types of behaviours encountered vary from ‘mobbing’ the boat, ‘spy hopping’, breaching as well as tail flukes. It can, however, be quite difficult to capture these behaviours with your camera. This exciting new workshop is designed so that you will acquire all the skills necessary to capture great shots of whales. Michael will not only present some group sessions, he will also talk to each participant individually, to make sure their cameras are set up correctly and that they are ‘up-to-speed’ with their photographic techniques. Once everyone is set up, Michael will walk around the boat talking to participants, to make sure they are ready for when the whales start to appear.

The workshop tuition starts at the Redcliffe Jetty and then will continue onboard Brisbane Whale Watching’s ‘Eye Spy’, captained by the very-experienced Kerry Lopez. Any whale sightings in the vicinity are closely monitored and Captain Kerry will get as close as is legally allowed to the whales. Often, the whales will swim right up to, and under, the vessel itself.

Photographic tuition is geared towards various skill levels and Michael is very patient with participants. Questions are very welcome!

Wildlife Photography Workshop at Taronga Zoo – Sydney

by Michael Snedic | Mar 4, 2016 | Workshops & Tours

9.30am	Introductions, an outline of what to expect from the day, then camera settings discussed. Subjects covered will include best use of aperture/DOF, recommended shutter speeds, focal points, white balance, low-light photography, ISO, metering and much more. Once this session is complete, we will head out into the zoo and start photographing the various animals (Michael will assist you to make sure your camera is set up correctly, before you start shooting).
10.45am	Morning Tea. Time for a cuppa! Your tutor will be available during morning tea for any photography-related questions you may have. After morning tea, we will photograph some of the African and Asian wildlife.
12 noon	Chimpanzee Talk. This is where you will get a good chance to get some close-up images of Taronga’s amazing Chimpanzees, as they get fed. Michael will give you tips on getting great shots, before the talk starts.
12.15pm	A great opportunity to photograph some of Taronga Zoo's native wildlife
1.00pm	Lunch break – Purchase at café or bring your own
1.45pm	Wildlife Walkabout – This is where we wander around the various enclosures, looking for the best photographic subjects and opportunities. Your tutor will talk about best angles to shoot wildlife, pitfalls regarding distracting backgrounds, portrait versus landscape formats, lighting and other techniques for great wildlife shots.
2.45pm	We will visit some of the most photogenic animals at the zoo, including Meerkats, Kodiak Bears, Snow Leopards and much more.
3.15pm	‘Questions and Answers’ - This is where you can ask your tutor any questions you may have related to wildlife/nature photography or photography in general. The questions can be personal to your own individual needs but the whole group may benefit from the answers.
3.30pm	Finish time

Weekend Bird Photography Workshop – Bunya Mountains – Queensland

by Michael Snedic | Mar 4, 2016 | Workshops & Tours

Our first session starts with Michael presenting a session on how to photograph birds, no matter what camera you own or level of experience you have. Subjects covered will include composition, apertures and depth-of-field, recommended shutter speeds, focus points, metering, lighting as well as the best photographic equipment to use for great bird photos.

During the next session, we will walk around and photograph any birds we see around the campsite. This may include King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas and Superb Fairy Wrens. Michael will also teach participants how to photograph birds in low light conditions, including how to best use inbuilt and external flash units.

After lunch, we will head into the rainforest to search for the special birds found there. Here we will practise our low-light photography techniques, incliding flash use. Some of the species found in the rainforest include the delightful Eastern Yellow Robins, Southern Logrunners, White-browed and Yellow-throated Scrub Wrens, Golden Whistlers and many more.

For our last session of the day, there will be a ‘Question and Answer’ session, where Michael will endeavour to help you with any issues you may still have in regards to photographing birds.

This morning we head out to ‘Grass Tree Country’. Here we will spend the first half of the day photographing the birds that live there. Species found may include Spotted Pardalotes, Mistletoe birds, various honeyeaters and many more.

After morning tea, we will be searching for and photographing any bird species on the edge of the rainforest, including Rose Robins and Black-faced Monarchs. After lunch, we will head into the forested area high on the hill, searching for Eastern Spinebills feeding on native Grevilleas and Banksias.

For our last session, we will look for Satin Bowerbirds working their bowers. Photographing a male Satin repairing his bower or attracting nearby females is a real treat! There will also be a chance to try and capture some of the species encountered the day before that you may have missed.

5 Day Tarkine Photography Workshop – Tasmania

by Michael Snedic | Mar 2, 2016 | Tasmanian Experiences

Michael is a widely-published photographer. He has authored many articles over the years, for magazines such as BBC Wildlife, Australian Photography, Australian Geographic, Australian Birdlife and Wildlife Australia. His images have featured in calendars, diaries, books and billboards and has had his own photographic books published on Australia’s wonderful wildlife. His work has also featured at Tasmania’s own Wilderness Gallery at Cradle Mountain. Michael is also a Nikon School tutor. He is passionate about photography and loves sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with workshop participants.

Day 1: Depart Launceston approx 10:00am. Arrival at Corinna Homestead late afternoon.
Day 2: Full day of shooting around the numerous trails around Corinna.
Day 3: Pieman River Cruise to the mouth of the river, where there will be great opportunities to photograph the rugged west coast. Image critique session.
Day 4 A cruise to photography the scenes along the Savage River, including Lover's Falls. Landscape shoot in the afternoon, then some macro photography.
Day 5: Depart Corinna and photograph the lush rainforest surrounding Waratah Falls. Transfer to Launceston and end of workshop, with photographic stops on the way.

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Day 13 (16 September)

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Tuesday 25th of August 2026

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