Images 1, 3, 5, 8 by Sheen Watkins. Images 2, 4, 6, 7 by Brooke Ley.
Workshop Cost: $350 per person/day; $300 per day if participant chooses multiple days
- Bird photography instruction, in the field coaching on how to capture 1) clear bird indentification images 2) bird behaviors/birds in action and 3) birds in flight.
- Bird spotting and identification support from birding expert David Watkins and Sheen
Limited to: 10 photographers (2 instructors if attendance is over 6 photographers: Sheen Watkins & Brooke Ley) per day
Location: Tawas State Park, Tawas Michigan
# of Days: 1, 2 and 3 day options on the dates of May 17, 18 and 19.
Camera gear: camera with 300mm and/or greater focal length.
- Terrain is flat, level with wide dirt path. Hiking footwear, sunscreen, hat and rain attire (if rainy) helps ensure comfort through the day. Ticks are abundant, tick spray is highly recommended!
Accommodations, transportation and meals are NOT included in cost of workshop, Sheen will be staying onsite at the Tawas State Park campground, a list of local hotels are provided below.
Tawas Point State Park, one of many Michigan State Parks, holds a huge migratory hot spot for birds and birders throughout spring and fall. Especially in mid-May, birds in their breeding plumage show up and show off in this wonderful park also called, “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”
Warblers, tanagers, orioles, flycatchers, grosbeaks and many other species of beautiful, birds arrive with their beautiful breeding plumage. It’s not unusual for birders and bird photographers to see ten, twenty up to fifty species in a given day during migration season. For new bird photographers, it’s a great experience as the walking path is wide with many birds in viewing and shooting range. Even though they move fast, Sheen teaches how to find, focus and capture great bird images.
This workshop is designed for all levels of photographers. Whether you’re new to photography (and birding) or experienced, Sheen’s combined skills of bird photography and birding helps photographers elevate their skills. Sheen and her husband Dave bring over 30 years each in birding. Sheen’s bird images are used by Audubon, Conservancies and various publications in addition to business and personal wall galleries.
TO REGISTER: Send an email to sheensnaturephotography@gmail.com. A deposit of $100 is required to hold your spot(s) with the balance due April 17. Your deposit is refundable if cancellation is prior to April 16.
Sheen holds a photography permit for Tawas State Park.
Sheen Watkins
Students learn how to better identify and anticipate birds and their behaviors. Her enthusiasm for photography, birds and bird photography ethics positively impact relations with her clients in and off the field. She supports the Piping Plover Project, is a Michigan State Parks Photography Ambassador and is a moderator for Your Best Birds, an Instagram page of 350,000 members.
Sheen is a docent for the Leelanau Conservancy where she leads bird and other nature hikes. She is a past board member for Saving Birds Thru Habitat.
David Watkins
Dave's birding experience started in an Ornithology class in college. Since that time, he's served as a birding guide across multiple venues in Michigan.
He's introduced birding to young students from the Detroit Public School system by arranging field trips to Magee Marsh in Ohio. Through his pre-trip training, students, many of whom had not travelled outside the state, learned how to use binoculars, spot and identify birds.
Dave is a docent for the Leelanau Conservancy where he leads bird and other nature hikes. He's a past board member for Saving Birds Thru Habitat.
Brooke Ley
Brooke's diverse portfolio crosses landscapes, birds, flowers and night imagery. She's a natural coach in working with others in their photography.
A seasoned photographer, Brooke combines her technical expertise with an infectious enthusiasm for avian subjects. Her strength is harnessing light balanced with strong compositions. as a stronghold to her subjects.
Both Brooke and Sheen work together as photo Ambassadors for the State of Michigan State Parks and curators of photography for Best of the Great Lakes State Instagram page where Brooke is the Administrator.