Hands-on Photographic Course Offered At Safari West

By Aphrodite Caserta

Santa Rosa, CA - On April 25-26, 2009, Safari West, located at 3115 Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa, California, is hosting a 2-day instructional photography workshop. The 2-day workshop cost is $565 per person, which includes dinner, breakfast and lunch on-site. With overnight lodging (in a luxury tent) included, the workshop cost is $810 for single occupancy; for two people, the overnight stay and workshop cost is only $1,360 (double occupancy tent). These rates reflect a 10% lodging discount for workshop participants.

John Burgess, renowned professional photographer, will provide hands-on instruction in the technical aspects of photography, including expertise on composition and use of light. The expedition includes field-shooting done on Safari among the Safari West animals and the rolling hills of the Sonoma Serengeti. Participants will also have the opportunity to document behind the scenes animal encounters with keepers and early-morning feedings. While the main classroom is in the wild, afternoon and evening instructional periods and slide-shows will be held in our Elephant Room. The workshop is designed for beginners to advanced photographers and is limited to 16 people. Participants will need to bring their own Digital or Film SLR camera with a range of lens focal lengths. Laptops are strongly encouraged for classroom work.

Safari West is nestled on 400 acres in the heart of California's wine country and is home to over 600 exotic mammals and birds. This first-ever Photo Expedition Safari will take full advantage of our dramatic landscape and its unique inhabitants, giving photographers and wildlife lovers an unrivaled opportunity for fascinating images:

For more information:
Safari West – www.safariwest.com

Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp, 3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 www.safariwest.com (707.579.2551)

The Safari West Photographic Workshop is a fieldbased expedition focusing on the technical aspects of digital photography while improving composition and use of light. Beginning photographers will have the opportunity to demystify the sometimes daunting details of photography; while more experienced voyagers will refine their techniques to capture the most elusive moments. The result can be onceinalifetime images rivaling the pages of National Geographic! The details of this safari will adjust with the weather and mood of the animals, with the creative results driven by expert tips and animal instinct.

Class Details:
Instructor: John BurgessDates: April 2526, 2009

(Plan to arrive at 1:30 pm on Saturday, the 25th) Preserve, Santa Rosa, CA

Location: Safari West WildlifeLevel: Beginner to Advanced Cost: 2Day Workshop (includes dinner, breakfast & lunch): $565 2Day Workshop with overnight lodging: Single Occupancy $810 2Person

Special: $1360 (includes workshop, meals and lodging for 2 people; based on double occupancy)

Lodging: Lodging will be on a firstcome, firstserved basis. Space is limited so sign up early to reserve a night in a luxury safari tent. Built on high wooden platforms, with a spacious deck overlooking the giraffe enclosures or our private lake, the experience should not be missed. With a late slide show of your work on Saturday night and an early start on Sunday morning, participants are encouraged to spend the night. See more details at http://www.safariwest.com/cabins/

Equipment: Digital or film camera, with a range of lens focal lengths. A monopod is suggested for heavier lenses. A 300mm focal length (or longer) is suggested, and can be rented. (Note: no film proce
ssing is available at the site.) Optional Equipment: Laptop (strongly recommended). Flash. Note: You will be riding in a bumpy safari wagon or walking with your equipment. Rolling gear bags will not be allowed.
Pare down your equipment to essentials in the field. The instructor carries two cameras: one with a 70200mm f2.8 lens, one with a 400mm f/2.8 lens on a monopod, with a hip pouch system containing a 1.4x and a 2x, and a 2870mm zoom.

Basic Outline: After a quick slide show on Saturday afternoon we’ll load up the safari wagons and explore the 400acre preserve. The itinerary of our drive will depend on the interests of the participants and, of course, the whims of our very independent subjects. We’ll leave seats open in the trucks so photographers have room to turn and quickly grab a shot of a kudu battling a grumpy addax with a newborn, or the perfect light on the horns of our white rhinos. Our classroom is in the acreage so you’ll have ample time for questions. After our 3hour tour, participants can relax with a glass of wine and a gourmet meal overlooking the gallivanting giraffes before heading into the Elephant Room where we’ll present our visual voyages to the group. Together we’ll find ways to improve our shots on Sunday and pick up some
Photoshop tips. On Sunday we awaken early for a unique experience photographing the Safari West animal handlers feeding fruit to lemurs, playing soccer with cheetahs and watching our exotic birds swoop in to catch their morning meal of mice and mealworms. Our animals are fickle, so we’ll grab what we can with the help of those who care for them daily. After breakfast and a cup of coffee we’ll jump back in the trucks and seek ut the morning light.

About the Instructor: John Burgess has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years. John has photographed over 300 assignments for Sports Illustrated, and his work has appeared in most major magazines. As a staff photographer at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, John has photographed the animals at Safari West over the past ten years. He has photographed four giraffe births and documented all 92 animals born on the preserve in 2006. John has also taught photography classes at San Francisco State University and Santa Rosa Junior College. For more images of his work see ww.jburgessphoto.com.