Saturday, March 5, 2016

Pacific Northwest Photography Workshop



Step into the land of the “Group of Seven” painters and capture the essence of the Pacific Northwest. Our destination, Tofino, British Columbia.

The Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, typifies the majesty of the Pacific Northwest, boasting flawless natural beauty accentuated by a tapestry of vibrant communities.

This area inspires many renowned artists and artisans, who honor the magic of this land by bringing it into the physical realm. Add to that a climate that summons outdoor enthusiasts from all corners of the Earth and it is clear that Vancouver Island is poised to please the photographer.

Dates: July 30th, 2016 to August 5th, 2016

Instructors: Kevin Allen Pepper and Chris Pepper

Arrivals and departures: Please be in Richmond, British Columbia to be picked up at 1pm on day one. Plan your departure on the last day after 5pm as we will be dropping you off in Vancouver at 2pm.

Price for the workshop: $3975CAD plus taxes ($2735USD plus 13% taxes... please check actual USD rate at time of booking)

Deposit to secure your place in the workshop is $1000.00CAD

Number of Attendees: There is a minimum of 5 people to a maximum of 10 people that will attend this workshop with Chris and Kevin.

Included: All accommodation in two bedroom cabins, two ferry rides, entrance fees to Buchart gardens, all meals except that which is not covered in itinerary, all National park entrance fees, all Provincial park entry fees, wildlife viewing on boats, transportation

Not Included: items of personal nature, alcohol, laundry, travelers insurance, extra nights if needed.

Notes on photos: Simon Pidcock is our partner and boat captain that will be taking us out on our excursions to photograph the whales.

Day One – Saturday

You will be picked up at the Vancouver International airport or your hotel in Richmond near the airport. Pickup is at 1:00pm.

From there we will take a ferry ride across the Georgia Strait, ending up in Victoria. We will check into our hotel and have an early welcome dinner

After dinner we depart for Buchart Gardens in the afternoon to Victoria. Here you will photograph the world famous Butchart Gardens is a wonderland containing spectacular theme gardens, exotic plants, streams and ponds. Ross Fountain, the famous Sunken Garden, Rose Garden and Japanese Garden are sure to create a lasting impression.

The Butchart Gardens firework shows began in 1977 and continue to be one of The Gardens’ most popular draws. The show times and dates vary from year to year, so please check below for the detailed schedule. The same show happens each Saturday but changes from year to year. If you’d like to get a sense of what our firework shows are like have a look at postings on YouTube and Flickr.

After the show we will linger a while to enjoy the Night Illuminations and a half hour live recital from the rare Aeolian Pipe Organ situated in the loft of the Organ Pavilion.

Day Two - Sunday

From Victoria we head west towards the west coast of Canada to your cabins near Port Renfrew.

On this part of the trip we will be photographing the rugged seascapes of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. An untouched area of the island that is sparsely populated and considered a photographers paradise.

Overnight at private cottages in Port Renfrew (home cooked meals in our cottages)

Day Three – Monday

Today we will Continue to explore all the areas of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park such as China Beach Provincial Park, Loss Creek Park, Parkinson Creek Park

Overnight at private cottages in Port Renfrew (home cooked meals in our cottages)

Day Four - Tuesday

Today we head north to Tofino and Ucluelet. We depart in the morning, taking roads that wind through the interior of the island.

On the way we will stop at Cathedral Grove. Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. Here visitors can stroll through a network of trails under the shadow of towering ancient Douglas-fir trees, majestic pillars untouched by the modern world – some more than 800 years old.

We will arrive in Ucluelet in the afternoon and check into our cabins for the next few nights.

After we check in walk part of the Wild Pacific Trail. This easy, family-friendly trail traces the edge of reefs where shipwrecks, whales and vistas abound. You will be enthralled by Vancouver Island’s dramatic beauty and helpful interpretive signs will enrich your visit to Ucluelet’s famous 9km trail network. A perfect destination for photographers

Tonight we will visit one of the secluded beaches or inlets for a sunset photo session.

Stay in two or three bedroom cabins in Ucluelet (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day Five – Wednesday

Today at low tide we will go and photograph the black bears. Resident bears come down to the beaches at low tide to forage for such beach delicacies as rock crab, starfish and even a bit of kelp. They are an absolute pleasure to watch from the boat and thanks to their poor eyesight they are usually unaware of our presence so long as we keep quiet and a respectable distance up wind.

We will once again walk part of the Wild Pacific Trail and go photograph the area beaches between Tofino and Ucluelet. You will be photographing crashing waves, surfers riding the crashing surf and endless beaches long into the night as the sun sets before you. This is another perfect destination for photographers

During high sun we will spend some time back at our accommodation location and spend some time going through our images.

Tonight we will once again visit one of the secluded beaches for a sunset photo session.

Stay in two bedroom cabins in Ucluelet (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day Six – Thursday

We will leave our lodge after breakfast and head towards Cowichan Bay. When we arrive in Cowichan Bay you will have the opportunity to wander the seaside town and take photos around the harbour.

After dinner we will head out our first Whale Watching tours to focus on the Southern Resident Orca Whales, Transient Orca Whales, Humpback Whales, Grey Whales and Minke Whales. You will also encounter Sea Lions, Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, Dalls and Harbour Porpoise as well as a myriad of marine birds on your whale watching eco tour.

Stay in two bedroom cabins or lodge in Cowichan Bay (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day Seven - Friday

This is all about the sea life in the ocean around Cowichan Bay after first light. Today we will head out for another Whale Watching tour to focus on the Southern Resident Orca Whales, Transient Orca Whales, Humpback Whales, Grey Whales and Minke Whales. You will also encounter Sea Lions, Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, Dalls and Harbour Porpoise as well as a myriad of marine birds on your whale watching eco tour.

In the afternoon we will depart for the ferry terminal for an early afternoon sailing back to Vancouver. You will be dropped off at the airport by 3pm, or at your local hotel.

(Breakfast included)

Are you ready to take a trip of a lifetime? Email me at kevinapepper@outlook.com or click on the following link http://northof49photography.com/contact-us

Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Largest Bald Eagle Migration in North America



Bald Eagle Workshop

This photo tour is centered on the largest bald eagle migration in North America. Between 2000 to 8000 bald eagles find their way to this area beginning in October to feed on the spawning salmon. They then stay in the area until later in the winter months to have their young before returning to their summer area in Northern BC and the Yukon.

Your guides(s) for this tour will guide you to the best locations for photographing the eagles in the Fraser Valley that is surrounded by the Cascade Mountain range. This is the fourth year we have returned to this location and Kevin Allen Pepper lived within 30 kilometers of this location for three years prior to running workshops here.

Primary Bird Species we will be photographing


We will also visit between peak eagle viewing time. We have seen the following species at these locations in previous years: Snowy Owl, Red Tailed Hawk, Pacific Loon, Red Throated loon, Grebe, Golden Eyes, Wood Ducks, Sandhill Cranes, Herons, Buffleheads, Mergansers, Egrets, Snow Geese, Mute Swans, Rough Legged Hawk, Canvas Back, Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Virginia Rail, Common Snipe and Great Horned Owl.

White trumpeter swans and snow geese also converge on the productive Harrison region every winter. These birds migrate to the Harrison Valley during the cold winter months, feeding mostly on corn left over from the fall harvest. Trumpeter swans and snow geese are often spotted swimming in the region’s many sloughs or feeding in the corn fields along the roads we drive on during the workshop.

Dates of Workshop: November 26 to November 30, 2016

The cost for the five day workshop is $2750CAD including taxes and $324 for a single room

To reserve a spot, a $1000CAD deposit per reservation.  The final installment to be made 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.

Guides for these workshops: Kevin Allen Pepper and Chris Pepper

The Maximum attendees per session are 4, the minimum attendees per session are 3. Bring your non-photographer spouse for $595 as there is a spa in Harrison with many sightseeing opportunities. (includes their accommodation and the same meals that are included in your workshop)

The tour cost includes all the following: Shared accommodation at a local hotel along the beach. A welcome meeting/dinner with your fellow photographers and your guides. All breakfasts, Daily snack lunches and drinks while on location, dinners, Personal hides to use during the workshop. Instruction in the field with your photographer guides with a maximum of 3 photographers per guide, Image critique (optional)

The tour cost does not include: International or domestic airfare. Travel Insurance, Alcohol, Items of personal nature, Anything not outlined as included. We begin the tour with a welcome meeting in the afternoon of day one as we get to know everyone and discuss the plans for the coming days. For the next five days we will make frequent visits to the different viewing grounds. Once on site, your instructors will utilize their knowledge of the area and the eagles; then guide you to that perfect location for obtaining your “once in a lifetime” shot in the picturesque British Columbia scenery.

We can also head out to some of BC's pristine landscape and waterfall photography locations in the lower mainland of British Columbia.

The tour size is limited to six photographers so you can count on minimal interruption throughout your journey in British Columbia. The maximum attendee to instructor ration is 3-1

What you will learn: We will focus on planning for a successful bird of prey shoot... from clothing, to gear, to positioning and planning techniques.

When we are out photographing raptors we will discuss camera settings, holding your camera properly and what settings to consider using to maximize the number of shots that you consider a "keeper". We will also discuss bird habits to watch for to increase your success.

When we return to the hotel we will then open up our laptops and discuss editing techniques to achieve sharper images, composition from cropping and introduce you to some techniques we use to create more appealing images.

Example of Secondary Species we will be photographing


Day One Events - Pick Up attendees from the Abbotsford Airport in Abbotsford, British Columbia and transported to our Hotel in Harrison Hot Springs. You should arrive to be picked up before 11am.

Meet and Greet Lunch for group at resort (included) after a photography shoot session with the eagles along the shores of the rivers.

Day Two Events - Today we will be visiting all our scouted locations where the eagles traditionally hunt and rest. Expect to be out photographing eagles from 730am till 330pm.

Night time editing session to look at your photos and help you make adjustments to capture better photos in the coming days

Full Breakfast / juice and snacks during the day and dinner is included

Day Three Events - Half of the day we will spend at the Delta Dykes or George C Reifel Bird Sanctuary and the other half of the day we will be visiting our scouted areas where the eagles traditionally hunt and rest.

Night time editing session to look at your photos and help you make adjustments to capture better photos.

Full Breakfast / juice and snacks during the day and dinner is included

Day Four Events - Today we will be visiting all our scouted locations where the eagles traditionally hunt and rest. Expect to be out photographing eagles from 730am till 330pm.

Night time editing session to look at your photos and help you make adjustments to capture better photos.

Full Breakfast / juice and snacks during the day and dinner is included

Day Five Events - We will be out photographing eagles at the various locations we have scouted until noon. After that we will take you to the airport. Please schedule your departures after 3pm and you will be transported to airport after one last morning photographing the eagles along the flats of the river’s edge.

Full Breakfast is included

If you are ready to see the largest Bald Eagle Migration in North America, or have some questions, please click on this link http://northof49photography.com/contact-us