2020 West Coast Wildlife Photography Workshop
Join Stan Novotny and Stuart Clark on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada Thursday, July 23rd – Saturday, July 25th with the option of adding on a full day Digital Photo Editing Session on Sunday, July 26th (details coming soon). Participants are also invited to a “Meet & Greet” on Wednesday evening where we will have chance to meet each other and discuss camera settings and answer questions.
This year’s West Coast Wildlife Workshop is limited to 8 participants with 2 instructors throughout the workshop. Each day we will be departing from the Discovery Harbour Marina in Campbell River, BC for three full days on the water (6-7 hours each day) on a privately chartered Zodiac.
The optional Digital Photo Editing Session on Sunday, July 26th will be limited to a maximum of 30 participants. Participants attending any of our multi-day workshops will have the option of adding this one day course at the discounted amount of $50.
Marine Mammal Viewing:
Three full days will be dedicated to searching for marine wildlife around the Discovery Islands aboard privately chartered vessels. Wildlife photographers Stan and Stuart are both commercially licenced boat captains and are trained marine naturalists working seasonally in the industry with considerable knowledge of the area. Both Stan and Stuart will be operating the boats offering a photographer’s perspective when approaching wildlife and allowing them full control over the daily agenda. Positioning of the boat in relation to the direction of light is always a priority providing that safety of the wildlife is not compromised and government regulations are followed. Mammals that are known to frequent this area include Humpback Whales, Orca, Harbour Seals, Stellar & California Sea Lions, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Harbour & Dall’s Porpoise, Bald Eagles and sometimes Bears along the shorelines.
The Eagle Show:
Previous years, Stan and Stuart have hosted this workshop in September. For 2020, the dates have been moved to July with the goal of including what has been labeled locally as “The Eagle Show”. The waters around Campbell River have some of the strongest tidal rapids of any place on earth. If tide changes occur during times when strong currents are forecasted, it forces large volumes of water through some of the smaller channels creating significant tidal rapids. In one particular location during a few months of the year, at very specific times and dates, Bald Eagles gather to fish. During this 1.5 to 2-hour window, small fish called Hake get caught in the whirlpools caused by the rapids and they fill with air causing them to float to the surface. Without the ability to swim, they become easy meals for the eagles that wait perched in the trees. Many months in advance, Fisheries and Oceans Canada produces charts that predict the strength of the currents for each day. By referencing these charts for the months where Hake are expected, it is possible to determine dates where this is most likely to happen.
Workshop Cost: $1495 CDN Per Person (approximately $1,215 USD depending on currency rate). A non-refundable deposit of $750 is required to secure your place in this workshop. We are not able to hold spots without the full deposit amount. Should you not be able to attend after placing the deposit, the non-refundable deposit can be transferred if you are able to find someone to take your place. The balance is due in full on, or before, June 23rd, 2020. If final payment has not been made by this date, we will attempt to fill your placement from the waitlist (if any) and only the deposit will be lost if someone takes your place. If the position is not able to be filled, the balance of the workshop fee is due on, or before July 22nd, 2020.
For additional information, please call Stuart Clark @ 250-202-4968 or visit www.stannovotny.ca
Payment Methods: Please contact us if you are planning to attend and an invoice will be generated and sent to you by email.
Payment by cheque can be mailed to:
Stuart Clark
878 Timberline Drive Campbell River, BC V9H 0A8
Electronic Transfer can be sent to Stuart’s email:
questforwildlife@gmail.com
Payment by Credit Card:
We have held the workshop pricing to the same as last year. To offset the increase in boating costs this year, payment by credit card will be accepted via PayPal with participants responsible for PayPal and Credit Card fees which are estimated at approximately $100.
Workshop Includes: Photographic instruction, all boat transportation for daily tours, use of survival suits and lunch each day (sandwich or salad, juice, water, tea, coffee and snacks). Dinner will be provided one evening, to be determined based on boating schedule.
Not Included: Accommodations, transportation other than above (recommended airport is Comox Valley YQQ; approx. 35 minutes south of Campbell River with connecting flights from Vancouver International Airport YVR), meals other than listed, travel/medical insurance, photographic equipment. Campbell River has become a very popular tourist destination and it is recommended that accommodations be booked early.
Recommended Camera Gear:
Changeable lens camera body/bodies with lenses with focal lengths from 100mm and longer, teleconverters are also an excellent option. Zoom lenses that have a reach of 500 or 600mm will be beneficial. Stan and Stuart both use the Canon 100-400mm lenses while on boat tours. Limited space does not permit tripods or large prime lenses (500/600mm F4) unless they are able to hand-held. Monopods may be used but engine vibration and waves may cause issues. Last year’s participants found that lenses that can be handheld worked best.
Disclosure: Participation in this workshop requires acceptance of waivers provided by the workshop organizers and Eagle Eye Adventures.
Wildlife sightings around Vancouver Island are very abundant but vary greatly from day to day. Animal behaviour shown in promotional material have been taken by Stan Novotny and Stuart Clark in the general area where the workshop will take place over a course of numerous trips. As wildlife is unpredictable, there is no guarantee that all species listed will be seen or that behaviours shown will happen. Historically, July has proven as being an excellent time of year to see a wide variety of activity and is the driest month of the year with an average of only 35mm of rain.
Federal regulations require vessels maintain a minimum distance of 200 meters to Orca and 100 meters to all other marine mammals except where an animal approaches the vessel.
Workshop dates are fixed and proceed rain or shine unless marine forecasts indicate weather that is unsafe for small vessels. Any days cancelled due to extreme weather will not be rescheduled or refunded. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended. Medical Insurance for Canadians residing outside of British Columbia is suggested and mandatory for Non-Canadian residents (proof of medical insurance will be required). Weather in this area in July is historically warm with less precipitation but appropriate clothing for warmth and rain, including protective covers for camera gear is strongly recommended. Temperatures on the water and in a moving vessel can be 10-15 degrees cooler and therefore it is recommended that participants wear layers.
Contact Information and Registration:
Additional Information or Questions, please contact Stuart Clark by email questforwildlife@gmail.com or by phone/text 1-250-202-4968
Register online at www.stannovotny.ca/workshops
Photographer Portfolios:
STAN NOVOTNY
www.stannovotny.ca www.facebook.com/StanNovotnyWildlifePhotography
STUART CLARK
www.facebook.com/QuestForWildlife