New Bird Photography Workshop - Learn the pro's secrets, tips and techniques.

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Birds Photography Workshop presented by 

Mark Rayner and Michael Snedic

First Workshop: Friday 7 June 2013

Where: Lamington National Park (O'Reillys Plateau)

Join Michael and Mark for a full and exciting day learning the secret tips 

and techniques of bird photography, both at rest and in flight.

Session 1

Our day commences in the near O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat as we capture images of many small 

rainforest dwellers such as Regent Bower Birds, Eastern Yellow Robins, Eastern Whipbirds, 

Lewins Honeyeaters, Satin Bowerbirds and more.
You'll learn to identify and adapt to the behaviour of different species and anticipate their movements. 

Knowing what they are up to will boost the opportunities to capture amazing images.




Session 2

After morning tea we'll track down an active bower and stalk the Satin Bower Bird as they maintain 

and decorate the bower. With patience we may see him entice a female for courtship to the bower.




Session 3

After lunch, we will utilise the marvellous 'Birds of Prey' flight show presented by Mark 'The Birdman' 

Culleton.
You will be fully briefed on the correct settings and techniques to capture the birds in flight as they pass 

overhead. An amazing show and an equally amazing opportunity to learn how to photograph birds in 

flight.




Session 4

Join us in O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat's Media Centre as we look at the best ways of bringing out the 

most from your digital avian images. Sharp eyes, feather detail and colour that will make your images 

'pop'. Mark and Michael will also present a 'Best of Birds' from their respective collections and share 

their secrets as to how the images were captured.

Session 5

Out in the field again for the last session where we show how to attract and photograph species on the 

edge of the forest.



Subjects covered will include:

Hand holding

Panning

Lighting / Flash

Composition

Metering

Post-processing

Depth-of-field

Use of tripod

Aperture

Shutter speed

ISO

Focusing methods

and more...

Price:  $297.90 per person (includes Birds of Prey entry)

Please note a 2.9% surcharge applies to credit card payments. 

Click here to book this workshop

Lightroom 5 Beta Release

Lightroom 5 beta now released to the public Hi , Adobe have just made their latest version Lightroom available to the public by way of a beta release. What this means is that you download and use the software, free of charge, until the beta expires (30 June 2013). That's not a bad trial run, especially if you don't already have Lightroom. There are a heap of great new features available in Lightroom 5, but remember, it is a beta version and may have some bugs. I've been using it for a while now and have not had a single issue but be warned, it may lock up or crash on you. Having said all that it is well worth downloading and exploring. So whats new? Spot Removal brush improvement One of the big ticket items is the change to the Spot Removal tool. You can now use this to remove unwanted lines, hairs and the like, a job which previously you would have needed to open up the image in Photoshop. That's a pretty big deal for many people who would only visit Photoshop on the rare occasion. They can save a lot of money just using Lightroom 5. In the image below I removed the lines above the bride and groom just using Lightroom 5. Easy!! Smart Previews This feature is fantastic. If you are working with removable media (external USB drive) you create Smart Previews and then work on the images even when the drive is disconnected. Plug the drive back in next time and all your editing and changes are transferred to your original images. Brilliant! Auto Straighten The gurus at Adobe have woven some magic into this feature. Just click on 'Level' under 'Lens Corrections', 'Basic' and voila, image is straight. Radial Filter This one is a gem if you, like me, are prone to a little vignette. Just create a circle or ellipse, position anywhere, any size and the use the sliders to adjust to your own requirement. Easy. The beta does seem very stable and all my plug-ins and presets (NIK, OnOne, Imagenomics etc.) are still working from Lightroom 4. There many other tweaks and new tools and, like any beta, I'm sure a few more will sneak in before the actual product release. There is no doubt I'll be upgrading and saving even more time in my digital workflow. Weekend Digital Processing Bootcamp I have a full weekend Digital Processing Bootcamp coming up on the 11 and 12 May and I'll be discussing and demonstrating Lightroom 5 in depth over the weekend (as well as the usual Photoshop topics). There are still some spots available if you would like to join me. Details here -> Weekend Digital Bootcamp Happy shooting. Cheers, Mark

NEW - Kangaroo Island Photography Tour and Workshop

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This island, south of Adelaide in South Australia, is known as the 'Galapagos of Australia' for good reason!!

NEW - Five Day “Kangaroo Island Adventure Photography Tour and Workshop” presented by Michael Snedic and Mark Rayner

When: 19 - 23 September 2013 

Where: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Please come and join Australian professional photographers Mark Rayner and Michael Snedic on an amazing photography experience on Kangaroo Island.

Come and join professional, AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photographers) accredited photographers and experienced photographic tutors, Michael Snedic and Mark Rayner, for five glorious days of photography on beautiful Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island hosts an amazing array of wildlife, many of the species thriving due to the low number of feral animals found on the island. It also boasts a wonderful array of photogenic landscapes, just waiting to be photographed.

This itinerary was created so that you will get to visit and photograph the most photogenic subjects and locations the island has to offer, at the best possible times. We have sourced the most comfortable accommodation, the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat, close to Flinders Chase National Park, and your accommodation and your meals will be tasty and filling.

From the time you are picked up on the island, until you are dropped off at either the ferry at Penneshaw or the airport at Kingscote, all your needs will be looked after. No need to hire a vehicle, book accommodation, organise meals or source photographic locations – it’s all done for you!

Trekabout Photography workshops guarantee you a fabulous photographic adventure!

• Maximum of 12 participants, with two professional photographers and tutors, for maximum student/tutor ratio

• Workshop designed one hundred percent with photographers in mind, taking you to the best subjects and locations available across the island

• One-on-one photography tuition time given to every participant

• Landscape, wildlife and macro photography covered as well as post-processing and image critique sessions

Itinerary and Program of Events

Thursday 19th September 2013

Our 'Kangaroo Island Experience' photography workshop/tour starts in the morning, where you will be picked up by 4WD coach from either Penneshaw (ferry drop-off), the airport at Kingscote or from your Kingscote accommodation.

Travel across the Island through the central plateau breaking the hour long trip with a look at some of the rural landscapes and the wilderness vistas through the back of Flinders Chase National Park. Enjoy a barbeque lunch at a private bush location before continuing on to our accommodation at Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat.

We will then get together for our official welcome, where you will receive an overview of the itinerary and any questions will be answered. Photography skill levels will be assessed and Michael and Mark can help with your camera settings, if required, to make sure you are ready to get out there and start shooting away! 

In the late afternoon, we will head to the New Zealand Fur Seal colony overlooking the ocean, for some wildlife photography. Also nearby is the Cape du Couedic lighthouse – well worth a photo stop. This will be followed by a sunset shoot at the renowned Admiral’s Arch. 

After sunset, we head back to our 'Welcome Barbeque' at the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat.

Friday 20th of September 2013 

It’s up early for a sunrise shoot at Kangaroo Island’s most iconic landscape feature – Remarkable Rocks. These massive rocks are covered in orange-lichen and with the early morning sun shining on them, are very photogenic.

Back for breakfast and we then head to Little Sahara for some photography of the rippled sand dunes.

On the way back, we will stop off at Hanson Bay to photograph the aqua-coloured bay and rocky surrounds.

Lunch will be in the field. We will then look for any wildlife to photograph, including the Cape Barron Geese, goannas, echidnas and any other species we can find. Late afternoon, we head to stunning Vivonne Bay for some sunset photography. In the evening, Mark will present a session on post-processing and how to improve your digital workflow.

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia 112 km (70 mi) south-west of Adelaide at the entrance to Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is 13 km (8 mi) off Cape Jervis on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Once occupied by Australian Aborigines, the native population disappeared after the land became an island following rising sea levels several thousand years ago. It was subsequently resettled from the early 19th century onwards, at first casually by sealers and whalers, and officially from 1836.

Since then the island's economy has been principally agricultural, with a southern rock lobster fishery and with tourism growing in importance. The largest town, and the administrative centre, is Kingscote. The island has several nature reserves to protect the remnants of its natural vegetation and native animals, with the largest and best-known being Flinders Chase National Park at the western end.

Saturday 21st of September 2013

After a bit of a sleep-in and breakfast, we will head to Seal Bay to photograph the Australian Sea-lions. Seal Bay has one of the largest colonies of these sea-lions in the world and with our own personal guide, we will be able to walk on the beach and photograph to our hearts content! A wonderful wildlife photography experience indeed…

After some morning tea, Michael will present a session on bird photography. We will then head to the famous birds-of-prey show, ‘Raptor Domain’, for some bird photography. Either get some great portrait shots or try your luck at birds in flight!!

Lunch will be at the head of the Cygnet River where there are tall forests (a different habitat type than encountered thus far). Birds and koalas are likely subject as well as some massive endemic Tate’s Grass trees. 

We then head on to Lathami Conservation Park where there is a high chance of encountering kangaroos and wallabies at close range in their natural habitat, rather than open pastures. 

Late afternoon, we head to Grassdale, a historic island property only available to a select few operators on the island. Here we will get a chance to photograph kangaroos at twilight, with a backdrop of stunning Grass trees. Back for dinner and then Michael will present an audio-visual on wildlife photography. 

Sunday 22nd of September 2013 

One more attempt at photographing Remarkable Rocks at sunrise. Back for breakfast and then Michael and Mark will present an image critique session. This is a great way for you to get feedback on some of the images you have taken so far, with constructive critique given. This will be followed by a macro photography session, using the flowers around the Wilderness Retreat as our subjects.

We will then head north for a late picnic lunch and a shoot at Snelling’s Beach. Later in the afternoon, we will photograph the subtle light over the fields and cover panoramic landscapes. This will be followed by a sunset shoot at King George’s Beach.

Dinner tonight will be a ‘Farewell Barbeque’ at the Wilderness Retreat, where you can eat, drink and share stories and images taken during the workshop!

Monday 23nd of September 2013

After breakfast and moving out of your room, we will head to Duck Lagoon to shoot some inland waterways – water birds, tall red gums, reflections on the water, old rusty vehicles and farm implements. This location gives plenty of options and freedom to frame up your own perfect shot. We break for lunch, then on to Reeves Point for some seabird photography. This will be followed by the spectacular Pennington Bay and Pelican Lagoon.

We will then head to American River for our last session, where you will be able to shoot some fishing boats, reflections in the water as well as pelicans and black swans. At the conclusion of our workshop, we connect with the ferry shuttle or you can be dropped off at the airport.

Nearly half of the island has never been cleared of vegetation, and a quarter of it is conserved in National Parks, Conservation Parks, and five Wilderness Protection Areas.
The main protected areas are:
• Flinders Chase National Park
• Seal Bay Conservation Park
• Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park
• Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area
• Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area

Because of its isolation from mainland Australia, foxes and rabbits are absent from and prohibited from entering the island. Registration and microchipping of cats is mandatory. 
The Kangaroo Island Kangaroo, Rosenberg's Sand Goanna, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Tammar Wallaby, Common Brushtail Possum, Short-beaked Echidna and New Zealand Fur Seal are native to the island, as well as six bat and frog species. The sole endemic vertebrate species is a small marsupial carnivore called the Kangaroo Island Dunnart. The Koala, Common Ringtail Possum and Platypus have been introduced and still survive there.

An endemic species of Emu, the Kangaroo Island Emu, became extinct between 1802 and official European settlement in 1836, however, the island is the last South Australian refuge of an endangered subspecies of the Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus).

Kangaroo Island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of the vulnerable Fairy Tern, the near threatened Bush Stone-curlew, Hooded Plover and Western Whipbird, and the biome-restricted Rock Parrot and Purple-gaped Honeyeater. It also supports over 1% of the world populations of Cape Barren Geese, Black-faced Cormorants, Pacific Gulls and Pied Oystercatchers, and sometimes of Musk Ducks, Blue-billed Ducks, Freckled Ducks, Australian Shelducks, Chestnut Teals and Banded Stilts.

Locations visited include:

• Remarkable Rocks
• Admiral’s Arch
• New Zealand Fur Seal Colony
• Cape du Couedic Lighthouse
• Little Sahara sand dunes
• Vivonne Bay
• Hanson Bay
• Seal Bay (largest Australian Sea Lion colony in the world)
• Raptor Domain – Free flight bird show
• Cygnet River
• Grassdale (Grasstrees and kangaroos)
• Lathami Conservation Park
• Snelling’s Beach
• King George’s Beach
• Duck Lagoon
• Pennington Bay
• American River

Photographic Prerequisites:

This amazing photography tour workshop is designed to suit the beginner or serious enthusiast. A digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera is recommended, however, any camera that has manual functions would also be suitable. Best lenses to bring include a longer zoom and wide angled lens (and macro lens if you own one). A sturdy tripod is essential, especially for our landscape and macro photography sessions. 

Inclusions:

• All transport on the island (comfortable 4WD coach)
• Accommodation at the renowned Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat
• All meals provided - Breakfast, gourmet lunches and scrumptious dinners
• Morning and afternoon teas
• Drinks (South Australian beer, wine and soft drink)
• All ‘Parks and Wildlife’ fees and permits
• Photography tuition from professional, AIPP accredited photographers and experienced tutors, Michael Snedic and Mark Rayner
• Your own private, experienced Kangaroo Island guide for the duration of the workshop. This means heading to some locations unavailable on other tours

Exclusions: 

✗ Meals not specified 

✗ Drinks, entrance fees, porterage, tours/excursions and transfers not specified above

✗ Travel insurance

✗ Any items of a personal nature

Price:

$3767.50 per person (twin share) – Courtyard Suite – 4 Star
$3283.50 per person (twin share) – Lodge Room – 3 Star
*Single Room supplement cost - $423.50 for Lodge Room
*Single Room supplement cost - $533.50 for Courtyard Room

Courtyard Suite - overlooking the natural bush courtyard with a small deck to enjoy the surrounds. All have ensuites, televisions, small fridges and tea and coffee making facilities.

Lodge Room – a simple style motel room with no outdoor area and are part of our lodge which has a large communal lounge area and Flinders Walk art gallery.  All rooms have ensuites and tea and coffee making facilities.

Travel Insurance 

Travel insurance is recommended and remains your responsibility. 


This workshop is limited at 12 participants to ensure a high student/tutor ratio.

The workshop requires a minimum 6 bookings to proceed 

To book please call Mark on 0459 221678 or email

Australian Photography + Digital 'Photo Tip of the Week'

My latest venture... I have been chosen as one of the writers of the 'Photo Tip of the Week' section for the Australian Photography +Digital' website and online newsletter.

Enjoy... Cheers - Michael

All day Bird Photography Tips, Tricks and Techniques workshop coming soon!

Hot on the heels of Michael's new Australian Photography + Digital tips column on photographing birds is news that we are putting together a full day Bird Photography workshop. We've been planning this for some time and have just about finished the fine tuning. We'll share all the secrets to capturing those amazing shots that you would love to have in your collection. More details coming soon Cheers, Mark :-)

Bali Galungan Photography Workshop and Tour with David Metcalf (Dayak Dave) and Mark Rayner (Buffalo Master)

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Day one March 26th

Everyone gathered  at Puri Sunia at 5 pm for Introductions, pre dinner drinks and dinner. I knew immediately that we had a great group and the group dynamic over the coming week was awesome. The group was quite diverse in their knowledge and they were all very keen to learn. There was Terry Gooley and Pam Barnett from Adelaide, Joyce Rode- Bramanis from Brisbane, Geoff Cooper from Brisbane, Rob Morgan from Melbourne, Robin Gray from Melbourne and Bernie Rosser from Albury - Wodonga as well as David Metcalf (now residing in Bali) and myself. We were also accompanied for the week by the amazing team from Take It Easy Tours. Dana (team leader)  Dewi, Putu, ( the most amazing guides and interpreters) and  Made, Ketut, Wayan and Wayan (our awesome team of drivers). If ever you go to Bali look them up. You will not do better!

Day Two  March  27 th – Full Moon.  Galungan Day

We departed from our luxurious accommodation, the Puri Sunia, to head off to Guning Kawi an ancient temple with amazing architecture and history. Along the way, however, we caught a glimpse of Mt Agung in the distance being bathed in the light of a lovely sunrise. Calls to stop  echoed throughout the convoy of vehicles and we pulled over for our first impromptu shoot looking down from the highlands.

Rob sorting out the Graduated ND filters

Bernie having a good time.

Mist in the valley on the way to Guning Kawi

The ever-watchful Putu looking after the group

We finally arrived at Guning Kawi to negotiate the 300 stairs to the temple. A quick stop to photograph the rice terraces on the way down and soon we were treated to a spectacular and mystical photographic bonanza.

Some of the group were interested in HDR techniques and there were areas of the temple that were perfectly suited to this style of photography. Some nearby steps provided access to the fast flowing river below so it was tripods out and into the water to capture some silky smooth cascades.

Our amazing guides, Dewi and Putu, had carried breakfast boxes down for everyone which we enjoyed to sound of the water below. Of course if you come down 300 steps then it stands to reason that we had to climb back up 300 steps. All too soon we were gasping our way to the top to board our convoy and head to then the renowned terraced rice fields of Teggagalung. Rather than fight the crowds of tourists along the more trafficked area we slipped down into a restaurant that had views across the rice terraces away from the hustle and bustle. Very handy having local guides who know all the tricks :-)

Soon we were off to Ubud for lunch at the Indus Restaurant. Great food and great company from a top bunch of explorers and adventurers. 

We arrived back at the Puri Sunia for a quick break and then it was all aboard to head to Carang Sari Village for a Odalon, a special temple ceremony. We had to don our sarongs at this satge out of respect for local customs.  We were invited in behind the scenes to photograph the dancers having their makeup applied and squeezing into amazing costumes. This was the groups first real introduction to Bali culture and soon we were being treated like family. Coffee ( Bali Kopi, my favourite) was brought out and served to us as we'll as an assortment of snacks.

Joyce having her sarong adjusted

Dana showing Robin how it's done.

The dancers were fantastic letting the group get in for close portraits and many would get the giggles when shown their photos on the LCD screens. It was a wonderful experience for all.

 Later the ceremony end dancing started and we were treated to wonderful colour and pageantry. 

Day Three  March  28

A 5 am departure to photograph the sunrise over Mt Agung from the rice fields kicked off the day. Sunrise was gorgeous and a sign of things to come. An added bonus was the full moon setting behind us which made for some terrific images with moon reflecting in the rice fields. We wandered along the road watching the local Bali wake up. Many people heading to work on the bikes and of course the mandatory family bikes with mum, dad and two kids on board. Amazing.

Moonset to the west

Sunrise to the east

Mt Agung

Dewi leading the group astray

Next was Tirta Empal, a beautiful water temple with magnificent grounds. We entered to find a huge pond full of colorful koi. Tripods and slow shutter speeds were in order to capture the colorful trails and then we were into the temple proper. 

There is a wonderful spectacle here where the people go into the water for Holy cleansing. No one is shy here and everyone captured some stunning images. One of our participants, Geoff, decided to join the throng and get wet too. A wonderful experience.

That afternoon we conducted the first review/post-processing/critique session and then headed out to photograph the duck farmers. As we wandered along the road we came across a piggery and were to add that into the afternoon agenda.

Why did the duck cross the road?

Day Four  March  29

A sleep in for a 7 am departure to Goa Gaja, the Elephant temple for some fine photographic opportunities and then it was off to Monkey Forest to photograph the Macaques monkeys in the early morning light. This was a trip highlight with some amazing images and some hilarious ones of Joyce, Dewi and Pamela covered in monkeys.

Joyce and her very friendly monkey

Dewi and her very friendly monkey

I discovered a new area ( to me) down some steps ( there are always steps ) where there was an amazing bridge, the sides of which were two huge carved dragons. Huge Komodo dragons were carved into the rocks and monkeys were swinging on vines from a huge tree growing around the bridge. This was a scene straight out of an Indiana Jones movie and I was half expecting a secret tunnel to appear if I touched the correct stones.

Indiana Dave 

Lunch at Clear Café and then back to Puri Sunia  to download images and another review session.

we departed for Pejeng Village at 4 pm for special dance and music performance put on just for our group. Wow, wow, wow. What a night. We were all invited into the temple first for a blessing from the highest Holy Man. I felt quite humbled by this experience as we were truly welcomed into the local community.

What a fine looking group of adventurers and explorers!

Rob getting in tight

Nyoman hiding the Canon logo. He really wants a D800 :-)

Soon enough the dancers were performing for us and what a performance. The Gamelan was first performed by the ladies of the village ( quite uncommon) and later the men had their turn. The dancing was spectacular as were the costumes but I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

A delicious feast was prepared for us by Wayan and her very talented team and then the grand finale, the Kecak Dance. To understand some of what goes on during the Kecak Dance hop onto the web and google it. Look for videos in YouTube and specifically an excerpt from the movie Baraka. Now imagine a group of children doing the same thing. They were fantastic. But unlike the movie Baraka we got the whole nine yards culminating with fighting with fire.

How no one ended up medivaced to the nearest hospital is a mystery that I will never solve. It was an amazing spectacle and one that everyone thought would be impossible to beat, but the rest of week awaited and the best was yet to come. 

Day Five   March  30

Another early start with a 5 am departure to Ketewel beach to photograph the sunrise and the colourful rock formations. Traffic was remarkably light and we made good time. Breakfast boxes by the sea and then off see the salt farmers of Kusumba. These people have an incredibly harsh life. They toil all day walking down the hot beach sand to the water where they fill up two huge pigskin buckets carried on their shoulders.

Unloading the boat. OH&S huh???

The end result of incredibly hard work

Incredibly hard work!!!

Joyce, Terry and Pam and an incredibly hard worker.

And check out what the women have to carry.

A huge basket of sand back to the beach to start the process over.

I'm getting a sore back just looking at this.

The evaporation trays (split and hollowed out logs)

 Apparently when full they are carrying 70 kilograms. They walk back up the beach and splash the water over hot black sand and then repeat and repeat...all day! Eventually they scrape up the salt enriched sand and go through another drawn out process to extract the salt. They were lovely people inviting us into their home giving us a first hand view of the harsh conditions they live in. Funny thing is they never stopped smiling the whole time we were there. 

 Another review session at the Puri Sunia revealed some terrific images were being captured by the group.

Day Six  March 31st

A late 8:30am start and today we headed to the Bali Bird Park. Being a bit of a wildlife nut this was a session that I was really looking forward to, as were the group. We were not disappointed and ended up spending much longer there than planned. The birds were spectacular and the inflight show was one of the best I have ever seen. The walk-through aviaries allowed us to get up close to a variety of birds unavailable to us in AUS without having to worry about wire mesh. Most of the other aviaries had black mesh which all but disappeared when shooting through it. All in all, another brilliant session.

Lunch at The Pond, a superb restaurant in Ubud and then off to our new resort, the Puri Sebatu. The Puri Sebatu consists of individual rooms built into the side of a valley. Total privacy and spectacular views albeit with a few steps to negotiate. 

That night we headed up to Kintamani for a night shoot. My trusty Photographers Ephemeris showed that we would have an (almost) full moonrise over Mt Agung at around 10:00pm. Sure enough, up she came and it was stunning. We were also playing with star trails and Milky Way sky shots and we had intended to head to a temple to demonstrate light painting techniques.

Looking down from Kintamani to Lake Batur and the volcanoes

As it turned out the area we were shooting from was in the car park of a restaurant which was adorned with temple like architecture and was perfect for the light painting session. A somewhat late finish and as we were doing sunrise back up in the same spot the next morning there were sure to be a few sleepy heads. 

Day Seven  April 1st  Last day of tour

Up at 0530 to head back to Kintamani for sunrise and fortunately no one piked out.  We were presented with the best sunrise I have ever witnessed. In fact everyone in the group agreed that they had never seen anything like it. Truly, truly amazing spectacle and the perfect opportunity to demonstrate HDR ( high dynamic range) techniques.

Mt Batur (still active) , Mt Abung and Mt Agung

After we had all caught our breath, high fived and generally behaved in a very silly fashion we headed into the temple at Kintamani to witness the colour and pageantry of the Galungan celebrations.

A very colourful welcome.

Dana shows Geoff the way.

Next it was off down to Lake Batur to photograph fisherman on the Lake and then catch a boat to Trunyan an ancient Bali Aga village.

This was downright spooky as when people pass away they are laid to rest on the ground under a sacred tree. Yep, on the ground with just a light cane tent-like structure over their bodies. They were clearly visible through this structure, but not as visible as the rows of human skulls lined up in another area. Eerie for sure!

And that was it. We headed back to the Puri Sebatu  for a final review and post-processing session and then our farewell dinner. 

What an amazing week it had been. Without exception, everyone on the group said that it was the best photography workshop they had ever been on. Many of the group said that the experience being exposed to the wonderful culture of the Balinese people was life changing. People say this place gets in your blood and I honestly believe it to be true. I can't wait to get back.

Please keep and eye out for new dates and details for another amazing Bali workshop in November 2013 which will include buffalo racing in rice fields and  a trip to Java to climb and photograph an active volcano. Oh, and we'll be popping over to Borneo to photograph the orang-utans while we're there.

Hope you can make it.