Bird and Wildlife Photography Workshop
Bosque del Apache Nat’l Wildlife Refuge and Surrounding Area
with Bryan Maltais
Dec 11-14, 2024 Weds-Sat
These dates avoid the crowds of the Annual Crane Festival while encountering peak bird numbers in the middle of their winter stay.
Why experience this Photo Workshop at Bosque del Apache?
I’ll guide you to the best spots in Bosque del Apache and lesser known spots in the area that allow getting close enough to birds for frame-filling action shots. This workshop affords 4 sunsets and 3 sunrises! You’ll be surrounded by dense flocks of swirling birds. You’ll have enough time, guidance and subject matter to comfortably set up, dig in and practice capturing great shots. The Rio Grande flyway is one of North America’s premiere destinations for bird and wildlife photography. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese concentrate here in Winter. Highlights of the workshop include photographing Snow Goose “blast off” during sunrise, Sandhill Cranes sparring, birds in flight and colorful duck species. You’ll also have the possibility of photographing Eagles, Pheasant, Quail, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Coyote, Mule Deer, Elk and Javelina. Bosque del Apache lies between the Chupadera and San Pascual Mountains. In this unique setting you can photograph birds with mountains in the background. Photography will be near our vehicles. This is also a great opportunity to combine your trip with visiting nearby White Sands National Park, The Organ Mountains, and the Very Large Array.
I’ve written this article about how to photograph birds and wildlife.
WildernessShots Photo Workshops holds a Bosque del Apache outfitter’s permit
Bosque del Apache Photo Workshop Instruction
My goal is to help you capture photos like the ones I’ve taken on this page. I provide a customized level of field instruction to each participant based on experience level. I’m there to help beginners build a foundation in basic camera settings, intermediates to move to the next level, and advanced photographers who might desire a more passive approach.
How to focus on birds in flight
Best shooting modes for wildlife photography
How to capture tack sharp action photos
Creating Motion Blur
Tricks of using the Super-telephoto lens
Getting proper exposure in extreme light
Bosque del Apache Workshop Information
Dec 11-14 2023
- Workshop cost is $1500 including $100 discount for payment in full
- Or pay $450 deposit with $1150 remainder due 60 days before workshop
For Terms & Conditions and registration please click below:
Weds
2:30-5:30 pm-Meet at hotel for briefing then head into field for sunset photo session
Thurs
6:00-10:00 am-Sunrise photo session then return to hotel
1:00 pm-Photoshop/Lightroom session
2:30-5:30 pm-Sunset photo session
Fri
6:00-10:00 am-Sunrise photo session then return to hotel
1:00 pm-Photoshop/Lightroom session
2:30-5:30 pm-Sunset photo session
Sat
6:00-10:00 am-Sunrise photo session then return to hotel for check-out
12:15 pm-Group Lunch
1:30-5:30 pm-Wildlife drive and sunset photo session.
*It’s not mandatory to stay the whole day if you have travel arrangements to keep
A block of rooms with discount pricing is reserved at the Best Western Hotel in Socorro. After booking, you’ll be sent information on how to reserve your room. Staying at this hotel is not required for the workshop, though this is a good option for staying coordinated with the group.
Sorroco is serviced by Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ) 75 miles north
6 to 8
Easy. We’ll be shooting from our vehicles and standing in-place. The primary challenges of this workshop are rising early, the cold, and moderate elevation (5,000 ft).
Workshop participants will be driving their own vehicles, which allows maximum versatility for exploration before and after the workshop and saves on workshop fees. Please be willing to car-pool. No special type of vehicle is needed; we’ll be driving on paved and smooth dirt roads.
Included
- Room discount
- All necessary entry fees and permits
- Field and classroom instruction
- Guiding to best spots
Not Included
- Cost of hotel room
- Transportation/fuel
- Meals
Recommended Gear
There are no equipment requirements to attend this workshop. You can use a cell phone or point & shoot if you desire. The following gear will let you practice all the techniques offered in this workshop:
Interchangeable Lens Camera
Super Telephoto Zoom/Prime Lens I recommend at least 500mm*
Sturdy Tripod
For this workshop, maximum lens reach is helpful for far-off birds. With no limitations, an 800mm lens, even with a 1.4x teleconverter, can come in handy for this. We’ll also be getting fairly close to birds where such a powerful telephoto lens isn’t needed. In other cases, we’ll practice photographing birds taking off and in flight. They may take-off far away, then fly right past you. For this it’s easier to acquire and shoot them with a zoom lens that can quickly shift from medium to telephoto. If you can only have one lens for this workshop, a zoom in the range of 200-600mm is ideal.
You can rent any gear, including a telephoto lens. It’s conveniently shipped to you, then you ship it back in supplied packaging. I recommend Borrow Lenses.
Teleconverter
Medium Zoom Lens (e.g. 24-105 mm or cropped sensor equivalent )
Polarizer Filter
Arca Swiss L-Bracket-Specific to your camera model, for vertical shots
Laptop with Adobe Creative Cloud for editing sessions and image reviews
In addition to what you would normally pack for a trip, these are special considerations for this workshop:
Food/Water: Though we plan to be back in Socorro for lunch and dinner, you should bring enough snacks and water to last you through sunset.
Clothing: Pack for extreme cold. We’ll be standing/sitting outside before sunrise in winter to shoot Snow Goose blast-off. Though it may be mild, southern New Mexico can still get bitterly cold. Consider bringing insulated boots, thermal underwear, wool hat, gloves, face gator/balaclava, down/fleece layers, and both a top and bottom outer shell.
Foldable/Camp Chair: Useful for getting at eye-level with birds without bending over.
Ready to sign up?
Questions? Contact Me
Workshop Testimonials
- Ed-Falston, MD
- Michael-Eaton, CO
- Jason-Houston, TX
- Stacey-Fort Collins, CO
- Lily-Chicago, IL
- David-Ashburton, NZ
- Michael-Morgan Hill, CA
- Shanna-Loveland, CO
“This workshop was by far the best one I’ve attended. Bryan took us to amazing places! Even though I’m a pretty experienced photographer, he still was constantly checking in with me (and everyone) to make suggestions or check on my progress. He was flexible in changing plans to try and catch the best light. Definitely a five star experience.”
-Ed. Fallston, MD
I took a private camera settings lesson to learn how to use my Sony A6700 with the 200-600m telephoto lens for wildlife photography. Bryan tailored the lesson well and helped me understand many aspects of my camera and the skills needed to make the most of it while shooting my chosen subject wildlife. We covered so much more than I’d expected in the two hour lesson. I feel huge value was added to get the most out of the equipment and subject. Looking forward to getting out into Colorado.
-Michael, Eaton, CO
“I took an absolutely amazing private workshop with Bryan in Telluride, CO. His photography expertise is only surpassed by his knowledge of the Colorado countryside. We shot a large variety of shots including astrophotography, sunset, sunrise, pano, long exposure, starburst, eclipse, and even a little wildlife. I would recommend using Bryan anytime you want to improve your photography game and see some back country hidden gems.”
-Jason, Houston, TX
My husband and I have taken 3 private workshops with Bryan so far. I took the beginner’s camera course and 2 Milky Way workshops in RMNP. I started with the beginner’s course because we bought nice cameras, knowing we wanted to get into serious photography, but let them sit there because they seemed too complicated. In only two hours Bryan showed us how changing one setting affects the others, and how each setting makes the picture look different. I was blown away by how much I learned in just a lesson. I then booked him to take us up to a stunningly beautiful lake in Rocky Mountain National Park at night to learn how to shoot the Milky Way. What an adventure! It was a beautiful hike where we learned how to shoot blue hour along with the milky way. Bryan gave us step by step instructions of which settings to dial in and why. He let me figure them out on my own and stepped in when I couldn’t. And then, voila, I had this amazing, bright picture of the Milky Way on my viewfinder! We even witnessed SpaceX launching a bunch of satellites into orbit! It was so much fun we did it again! I felt safe and listened to the whole time and now feel like since I can take night photos I can do anything with my camera!
-Stacey, Fort Collins, CO
My husband and I have taken 2 workshops with Bryan, awaiting a third. He’s an excellent field guide and teacher! My favorite photo spots with him were landscapes in Colorado, including Crystal Lake and bent Aspens, and his macro workshop in the Ozarks to photograph frogs, insects and salamanders. For the Colorado Fall Colors tour in 2023, I was very impressed with the landscape pictures I was able to take with Bryan’s guidance, both with his technical expertise and willingness to address each student’s needs with personalized tutoring. I went with my husband who had attended Brian’s previous trips. Both my husband and son (age 15) recently attended Bryan’s Missouri Macro photography workshop in April and loved it. We appreciated the wonderful full experience that Bryan provides with from spot-on expertise and fun. Bryan’s tours are one of the best and continue to be a great value. I shoot with a Sony and I plan to buy the Sony A1 second generation camera when it becomes available in 2025. we will continue to refine our photography with his workshops.
-Lily. Chicago, IL
“My wife and I met Bryan while he was photographing the Routeburn track in New Zealand. I had just become interested in photography and he shared some impactful tips for making better landscape photos. We travelled to America a few years later for a photography trip through the western states. For our Colorado leg, we enlisted Bryan for a photography tour of Crested Butte and the Telluride area. As a fledgling photographer, it was highly educational watching and learning from a master at work. Bryan’s knowledge, hospitality and professionalism to his craft is amazing. We are looking forward to getting to the States again soon for more of the same.”
-David, Ashburton, New Zealand
“I’ve been a professional nature photographer and cinematographer for 20 years, and needed video and stills of Colorado’s best spots for a large project. Being from CA, I didn’t have time to figure this out alone. After reviewing Bryan’s website and speaking with him, I spent three highly productive days with him in the San Juan Mountains during fall colors. I captured more material than I could have hoped for. Bryan had an excellent attitude during our 18-hour days. Whenever the light or clouds changed for the worse, he knew right where to go next to suit conditions. He was even able to teach this “old dog” some new techniques.”
Michael Routh, Dreamchase on Demand
“I took a wildflower workshop with Bryan in Crested Butte and was most interested in learning how to shoot flowers in the foreground with mountains in the background. I also wanted to practice macro photography. Bryan took me to spots I would have never found, at the perfect dates for peak bloom. I needed some help with my complicated Olympus, which is a one of the systems Bryan also shoots with. I was amazed what I learned; focus stacking, super magnification, and beautiful ways to take landscape compositions. Bryan was super patient and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!”
Shanna, Loveland, CO
About Bryan Maltais- Fort Collins, CO
Bryan Maltais is an award-winning professional photographer, film-maker and founder of Wilderness Shots Photography Workshops. His images are displayed in spaces around the world and have been published in well known photography magazines and media channels.
“I was addicted to exploring nature and observing animals very young, keeping terrariums full of insects and amphibians. Craving a camera to capture the beauty that I witnessed in nature, my dad gave me a manual Canon that he had lying around from 1970. A military brat, I grew up in Germany, New Jersey and Missouri. I received my BS in Wildlife Biology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. This gave me a good foundation for understanding the natural world. I also did a stint in the Army, which gave me a good foundation for tolerating insects and lack of sleep. My dream was to live in the Rocky Mountains, so after college I moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado where I still live today. Since then I’ve been shooting and documenting the American West and producing wildlife nature documentaries. My latest film is on Amazon Prime. My goal with nature photography workshops is to share knowledge, fun and adventure with others while enjoying nature. I currently shoot Sony and Olympus gear. When not photographing, I garden in my raised beds and teach 3-4 year olds in Sunday School.”
