Western Australia Wildflowers, Birds and Bush 2019

West Australia Wildflowers, Birds and Bush 

29 August to 6th September 2019

Come and join Pamela Jennings and Mark Rayner for an amazing 9 day Photographic Journey through the wildflower hotspots of Western Australia.

Join us as we travel north from Perth into Western Australia’s Wildflower Country.  Dotted with small country towns we travel to hot wildflower destinations like Moora, Mingenew and Mullewa.  Be prepared to photograph landscapes of Everlastings and clumps delicate Spider Orchids, Candy Orchids and if we are lucky the Ruby Spider Orchid.   

During our tour there will be hundreds of different species of wildflowers to photograph and getting to our nightly destination can be a challenge as we stop for this wildflower or that shrub. Over the nine days we will search out the best  flowering locations and adapt our itinerary to suit. 

It’s not all wildflowers and birds though, we will  visit Yarra Yarra Lakes that is part of a large freshwater system and makes it’s way eventually to the coast, do an Astro Shoot and photograph the Pinnacles in the day and at night.  We visit Australia’s only monastic town at New Norcia and see kilometres of golden Canola paddocks.

 We spend a couple of nights in Perth to ensure we have covered your WA wildflower needs by visiting several national parks, reserves and wetlands to photograph as many species as we can including the Kangaroo Paw, Cat Paw and more varieties of Orchids.

For all the information click -> here

Costa Rica 2019

Costa Rica Bird and Nature Workshop and Tour

20 November to 1 December 2019

It's on again!!

Please join me as we explore the incredible diverse birdlife and wildlife of Costa Rica.

This will be my third tour to Costa Rica and I should say that for the sheer variety and quantity of bird and wildlife photo opportunities this place is right up there with Africa. You will be amazed by hummingbirds, iguanas, sloths, tanagers, quetzal, trogans, frogs, woodpeckers and many, many more.

 

You'll explore rainforest, eco-conservation areas, river deltas on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean sides of Costa Rica, cloud-forests and much more.

 

Spaces are limited so please get in quickly. For all the details check out the website -> here

or give me a call on 0459 221678 anytime.

Wildlife, Reptiles and Frogs Photography Workshop

Wildlife, Reptiles and Frogs Photography Workshop 

Saturday 16 February 2019

Hi Everyone,

Come along and join me as I teach you  how to photograph the amazing world of small creatures.

Where:  Closeburn - N.W. Brisbane outskirts near Samford

We will start off with a session detailing correct camera settings and the best techniques for optimising exposure and focus. If you are not familiar with Back Button Focus all will be revealed and your cameras set up.
Some of the species are all but impossible to photograph in the wild, so this is a chance you will not want to miss.

You will have an amazing opportunity to photograph tame native wildlife at a private breeder’s collection.  Some of the native wildlife species that we will photograph (depending on availability on the day) include: 

• Leaf-tailed Gecko and Knob-tailed Gecko
• Bearded Dragon, Southern Angle-headed Dragon, Water Dragon and Boyd’s Rainforest Dragon
• Pink-tongue Skink, Blue-tongue Skink and Shingleback Lizard
• Carpet Python, Diamond Python and Brown Tree Snake
• Magnificent Tree Frog, Gold Tree Frog, Green Tree Frog, White-lipped Tree Frog and Burrowing Desert Frog
• Various other reptiles 

You will receive professional photographic tuition throughout the workshop. I will teach you how to take better photos as well as getting the most out of your camera.

To find out more just click on this -> LINK. or give me a call on 0459 221 678

Spaces are limited to 6 participants so you will have unfettered access to photograph and plenty of one-to-one tuition.

Hope you can make it along.

Cheers,

Mark

Birds, Birds, Birds

Birds - Birds - Birds

Love bird and nature photography. Check these out!

Flinders Ranges - Gluepot - South Australia - 2 Spots Available

April 2019

Gluepot Reserve, about an hour and a half drive north of Waikerie,  will see you staking out some water holes and looking for some of the Mallee specialty birds such as: Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Mallee Ringneck, Black-eared Miner, Southern Scrubrobin, White-browed Treecreeper and Chestnut Quail-thrush to name but a few. The nomadic Budgerigar has been known to turn up from time to time as well. Gluepot is Birdlife Australia’s first publicly funded reserve and is around 50,000 hectares in area. And of course there is always the beautiful Major Mitchell Cockatoo to pursue.

But that's not all. 

We'll cruise the magnificent Murray River looking for raptors and we'll stay in the magnificent Flinders Ranges photographing gorgeous landscapes and clear night skies. While there we will chase the Red-capped Robin which is often found near our lodgings.

Read more.........

North Queensland - Daintree - Atherton Tablelands - Cairns - Now Open for Bookings

October 2019

We thought our inaugural itinerary in 2017 year was amazing, 2018 was even better and 2019 is going to be absolutely awesome! We have tweaked a few things to bring you even more private visits to special spots, combined with many tried and true locations.

A day boating to the outer reef for the opportunity to get some close-up photos of nesting and roosting sea birds on Michaelmas Cay. The most common being Sooty Tern, Lesser-crested Tern and Common Noddy with a sprinkling of Brown Booby and Frigatebirds. Bridled and Black-naped Terns and other rarities can sometimes be present as well.

Golden Bowerbirds, Riflebirds, Sunbirds and so much more.

Read more.....

Hunter Valley - Newcastle - Cessnock - Now Open for Bookings

October 2019

We'll take you to Maitland to visit Walka Water Works. This is a fantastic resource for birds, both water and bush. An amazing old 19th century pump station has some wonderful colours in its brickwork too. 

You'll visit many of Dick’s secret locations.


A morning on the water will have you photographing Albatross and many other pelagic birds. 


The Hunter Valley Zoo and Hunter Valley Gardens will provide many, many opportunities for amazing images. 


A day at the Hunter Wetlands centre will be a highlight but there's so much more.

Read more ......

Java - Volcanos and Ancient Kingdoms June 2019

9 Day Java - Volcanos and Ancient Kingdoms Photography Tour and Workshop presented by David Metcalf and Mark Rayner 18 June to 26 June 2019 Book now to secure your spot on this amazing photography workshop and tour. Hi Everyone, David Metcalf and myself are pleased to announce that are returning to Java. Without doubt this is one of my favourites. Amazing landscapes and wonderful people make this place something very special. Please read on to learn more. The workshop is planned to show you the real culture and stunning landscapes on the Island of volcanos. This workshop is designed to challenge you as a photographer, teach you new skills and techniques under the watchful guidance of Mark and Dave, capture some amazing Images and give you a great insight into culture of the mountain people of Java. This is a workshop not to be missed. Java is truly extraordinary. It is described as the most habitable and the most hospitable place in all of Asia, a veritable tropical paradise with stunning landscapes, soaring volcanoes featuring balding cones on top, forests in the middle and rice terraces below. Truly luxurious accommodation We'll fly you to the historic town of Malang in East Java, one of Java’s hidden treasures, a large town of around one million people and a great base for exploring the area. Malang is a very well planned city with many parks, tree lined streets and old Dutch architecture. You'll be staying at the beautiful historic Tugu Hotel. We will start our photography adventure in the nearby bird and flower market and mix with the local friendly Javanese. We will catch the late afternoon light and do some street photography around the canals and small kampongs of this wonderful city. The Tugu is one of the most beautiful historic hotels in Indonesia and a photography project in its own right. Volcanos and Wild Horsemen Travelling in modified four wheel drives we'll visit Mt Bromo where you can catch a horse ride ( or walk ) to the top of the crater and photograph a live active Volcano. You'll see the Tengger horseman as they gallop across the sand sea, like a scene out of Lawrence of Arabia. We'll take you to visit the charming Tengger Villages in the area. The tengger are hobbit like and the last remaining group of Hindu’s in Muslim dominated Java. Very friendly they will invite us into their homes and we can get some charming portraits. . Temples from the Past Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, is a spectacular sight and we will be there to photograph the star trails over this amazing monument, then the sunrise as the first light hits the many stupas. To the north and east, a majestic procession of Volcanoes soars to heights of more than 3000 meters, making for an unforgettable sight. To find out more about this incredible adventure follow this link -> Volcanoes and Ancient Kingdoms or give Mark a call on 0459 221 678

California Eastern Sierras 2019

15 Day Eastern Sierras - California Photo Expedition - In the Footsteps of Ansel Adam

When : 23 September  to 7 October 2019 

This photo safari with Mark Rayner will be an incredible experience for those interested in photographing some of the most beautiful landscape scenery in the world.

We will be following in the footsteps of Ansel Adams one of the most famous photographers in the world and learning from his techniques and vision.

For more information and bookings please click here -> Eastern Sierras 2019 or call Mark on 0459 221 678

Highlights include:

Photographing Death Valley, the lowest point in the U.S. Extraordinary colours, beautiful rock formations, dramatic cliffs, spectacular badlands vistas, high rugged peaks, soft textured sand dunes and contrasting salt flats.

 

Mammoth Mountain and river valley surrounds including several beautiful mountain lakes and dramatic canyons contrasting with the vibrant, spectacular fall (Autumn) colours. 

Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the United States (outside Alaska) and the surrounding Alabama Hills, a scenic treasure and magnet for landscape photographers.

Mono Lake, formed 760,000 years ago and home to millions of migrating birds, Mono Lake is a unique sight to see and photograph, producing different hues and colors at sunrise and sunset.

Bodie, the largest preserved (un-restored) ghost town of the west, dating back to 1877. We have special permission to photograph inside some of the old buildings. For those interested in the old west, it is fascinating wandering around the deserted, dusty streets with a wide-angle lens and soaking in the spirit of this historic wild-west town.

Tioga Pass, the highest pass in California and without doubt the most spectacular  with waterfalls, rivers, wildflowers, towering mountains and wildlife. We have allowed a full day to photograph the highlights of Tioga Pass, which ends in our highlight destination, Yosemite National Park and the place Ansel Adams spent 68 years of his life photographing. http://www.anseladams.com/ansel-adams-information/ansel-adams-biography/

Yosemite is a simply unforgettable experience – you experience nature at its finest. We will spend four days photographing the glacier carved valleys and mountains from many different angles - sunrise and sunset and at night under the full moon!

This trip has been planned to take in the beauty of the fall colours , just when the first snows of winter are arriving.

San Francisco – Next we're off to San Francisco where we spend two days to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge, the redwood trees and the wild windswept coastal scenery.

The more adventurous will have the opportunity to take a helicopter flight which actually flies under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Departing San Francisco we head south and take in the Big Sur. Fabulous coastal scenery with an abundance of wildlife and sea-birds will make this a fitting finale to our grand adventure.

We will be staying in comfortable accommodation including mountain cabins and travelling in our own private bus with ample time factored in to upload photos and learn from the review sessions with your professional photographer guide, Mark Rayner.

This workshop is suitable for the beginner to advanced photographer.  Partners are welcome. Small group size (maximum 8 photographers) will ensure you have access to one-on-one tuition and guidance.

The Safari starts in Los Angeles where everyone will meet up before  we head off to Death Valley to begin one of the most exciting 2 weeks of our lives.

If photographing glacier carved valleys, crystal clear lakes, waterfalls, mountain wildflowers, authentic old west towns, one of the most unusual geological regions on the planet, Yosemite, vibrant fall colours with the backdrop of 14,000 foot mountains, abundant wildlife and birdlife interests you, then this is an experience you should be part of.  Please join us.

For more information and bookings please click here -> Eastern Sierras 2019 or call Mark on 0459 221 678

Alaska 2019 - Bookings now open

12 Day Alaskan Photography Adventure and Tour - with Mark Rayner and David Metcalf

ALASKA   - A Wilderness and Wildlife Extravaganza

When : 10 - 21 September 2019

It's on again. We took a break from it in 2018 but we just can't stay away from Amazing Alaska. 

Starting  in Juneau and finishing in Anchorage, Alaska this photo safari with David Metcalf and Mark Rayner will be an incredible experience for those interested in photographing some of the most beautiful landscape scenery in the world.

John Muir a famous American explorer spent some time in Alaska many years ago and made the comment that in all your travels you should leave Alaska to last because nothing else will compare with its grandeur and beauty.

Click here to find out more and book -> ALASKA 2019 or call Mark on 0459221678

There are few places in the world with the unspoiled wilderness, mountainous grandeur and immense wildlife that is Alaska.

David Metcalf and myself will be taking our third photography tour  to Alaska and we are more excited than ever before.

For those interested in wildlife photography and  landscapes so vast and varied that it seems they are beyond the scale of comprehension, then this is the workshop for you.

Alaska is so incredibly huge with a coastline that is enough to circle the globe one and a quarter times, 33,900 miles of oceanic coastline to be exact!

Whilst we will not be able to see all of this in 12 days we have picked out a route that will take in many of the highlights of this beautiful country, and a feast of incredible variety to photograph.

The workshop begins in the states capital - Juneau , the most beautiful city in Alaska on September the 10 th.

This trip is perfect for beginners, seasoned pros or just passionate photographers with a love for wildlife and extraordinary scenery that will take your breath away.

Get ready to photograph majestic whales as we cruise by boat around spectacular waterways, focus your zoom lenses on bald eagles as they majestically sore above the glacier carved mountains. We will go bear spotting on Admiralty Island, which has the highest populations of bears in Alaska. There are 1500 brown bears on this island so the shutters will be in overdrive as we photograph these magnificent creatures. We will travel by  ferry  as we explore the stunning waterways of this part of Alaska, and head up to Haines and Lynn Canal, North America’s longest and deepest fjord.

As we travel from Juneau to Anchorage you will have plenty of opportunities to get tips and instructions from Mark and Dave  on photographing landscapes and wildlife. 

This will be amazing experience and one I am sure you will never forget. Alaska is an extraordinary place and one of the last great wilderness frontiers of the world. There are few, if any, places with the unspoiled wilderness, mountainous grandeur and immense wildlife that is showcased in Alaska. But don’t listen to me come and see for yourself.

Click here to find out more and book -> ALASKA 2019 or call Mark on 0459221678

AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/4E PF ED VR AF-S - Tested

AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/4E PF ED VR AF-S 

Tested

Recently the good folks at Nikon (thanks Tony) loaned me an AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/4E PF ED VR AF-S lens to try out.

The timing was great as I was heading  north to run my North Queensland Bird and Nature Photography workshop with Dick Jenkin and, from what I had read, this lens held a lot of promise.

To cut a long story short, I've ordered one but please read on for all the info on this lovely glass.

So, a bit about this lens.

The first thing you notice is its size and weight. For a 300mm lens its small and very light coming in at around .7kg. In fact its lighter than a 24-70 f/2.8 zoom and almost identical in size. So, it fits very easily into a camera bag.

The lens comes with all the usual things we expect these days like VR (vibration reduction) with normal and sport modes. You can also limit the focus to 3m to infinity which speeds up focusing on more distant subjects. And it has instant manual focus override, always nice to have when you need to tweak the focus manually.

The lens has Nikkon's ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens elements as well as Nano-crystal coatings and fluorine coating on the front element to repel water, grease etc. But the real secret to this lenses' performance is a PF (Phase Fresnel) lens element. This element does some magic mumbo jumbo to keep the weight down and reduce chromatic aberration. The lens also has Nikon's SWM (Silent Wave focus Motor) for ultra quick and quiet auto-focus.

The filter thread is 77mm which is the same as Nikon's 24-70, 16-35, 70-200 and probably quite a few others. So your existing polarising or ND filters will screw straight on.

So that all sounds wonderful but how does it perform in the real word?

It is sharp! Very sharp and from edge to edge. I couldn't discern any noticeable fall off towards the edges of my images. I tested the lens on a Nikon D850 and more recently on a Nikon Z7 and combined with the resolution of those camera the results were outstanding.

My primary target during the test has been birds, both stationery and in flight. I have been rewarded with superb fine feather detail and excellent auto focus capturing birds in flight.

It is an f4 lens so there is a 1 stop light penalty when compared to a 300 f/2.8 but the light weight and the brilliant high ISO performance of modern cameras makes the 1 stop almost meaningless. The light weight will appeal to travellers who constantly hold their breath when checking in at airline counters and also to people who are finding the heavy weight of big primes or zooms is getting more difficult to handle. The light weight also makes this lens so easy to wield when photographing birds in flight or other moving subjects.

Well that pretty much covers it so here are some sample images with the settings used for each.

Victoria's Riflebird (female) in quite dark rainforest conditions.
Nikon D850 Nikkor 300 f/4 PF
1/320s @ f/4 ISO 5000 

Amazon Parrot
Nikon D850 Nikkor 300 f/4 PF
1/800s @ f/4 ISO 720

Rainbow Bee-eater
Nikon D850 Nikkor 300 f/4 PF
1/3200s @ f/4 ISO 640

King Parrot
Nikon Z7 Nikkor 300 f/4 PF
1/320s @ f/4 ISO 560

Brown Honeyeater
Nikon Z7 Nikkor 300 f/4 PF with 1.4tcIII
1/320s @ f/5.6 ISO 1800