COSTA RICA
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
8 Nights & 9 Day Tours
COME JOIN US
Do you want to capture amazing tropical bird photos and become a better photographer in the incredible rainforests of Costa Rica? If your answer is YES, then these workshops are for you!
TOUR DATE
Jan 20th - Jan 28th
2024
TROPICAL FORESTS
I will teach you tips and tricks on how to shoot in a tropical setting while enhancing your skills. You will also learn important techniques to get outstanding photos like me! We will be staying at one the top photography lodges in Costa Rica! During your stay you will be capturing tropical birds like the yellow throated toucans, brown headed parrots, keel billed toucans, montezuma oropendola, aracari, several species of tanagers and many more amazing tropical birds’ species! There are also chances to see other rainforest wildlife like sloths, monkeys, and coati!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Early bird gets the worm! We will start our days by photographing the early morning bird activity while the sunrise provides us different elements of light to play with. We will continue to shoot and explore throughout the day and have discussions on aperture, shutter speed, iOS, shutter priority, shooting in raw and answers questions that come up throughout the day. You will experience hands on photo sessions that include, macro photography, field photography, shooting from a hide and multi-flash. In the evenings we will concentrate sharpening your post processing skills on your favorite captures of the day. Post processing is my specialty and where most photographers tend to struggle.
Costa Rica Workshops 2023
Itinerary
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 1
Arrival at SJO International Airport (Please have the flight arrive as early as possible)
Your guide and driver will be waiting for you at the airport, holding a sign with your names. Once the entire group is together, you will start your drive towards the Talamanca Highlands, home of the highest peaks in the country and a lovely place to shoot wildlife. We will check in and spend the rest of the morning and afternoon photographing hummingbirds at the deck of Miriam's Quetzal Lodge restaurant. Many species of birds are here, including Acorn woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, Large footed Finch, Hairy Woodpeckers, and much more.
LODGING Miriam Quetzal Lodge
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 2
After breakfast, we will drive to Paraiso Quetzal to shoot hummingbirds, quetzals, and Chlorophonia. Hummingbirds are abundant here, and you will have an unforgettable experience. We will also have a Multiflash photography session with hummingbirds, where we will set everything up for you. Multiflash freezes the action and gives excellent background lighting. You can continue photographing hummingbirds on the large deck with beautiful scenic views {with fantastic food and excellent coffee} for the rest of the day.
LODGING Miriam Quetzal Lodge
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 3
After breakfast, we will drive toward Tarcoles, a wonderful little town along the Pacific coast, where you will spend the day scouting for many species of birds, including Macaws, Orange collared Manakins, and Ferruginous pygmy owls.
LODGING Sueno Pacifico
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 4
Early morning, we will take a boat tour on the Tarcoles River, where you will photograph right off the boat. The sunrise is always a site to see, and you love seeing the many different species of birds and wildlife. Afterward, we will have lunch nearby and continue scouting the local area for bird photography opportunities.
LODGING Sueno Pacifico
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 5
We will drive 2 hours NE to San Ramon and arrive a Nacho's Tours. This remarkable place located in the cloud forest gives us excellent opportunities to photograph Queztals bellbirds and much more.
LODGING Nacho’s Casa or Local Lodge (depending on group size)
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 6
We will enjoy a second day in this beautiful cloud forest area and continue our opportunity to photograph Queztals and bellbirds, and much more.
LODGING Nacho’s Casa or Local Lodge (depending on group size)
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 7
After breakfast, we will drive to Sarapiqui, where we will shoot at Tico's place; this is Tico's private home. It's beautiful, with a deck running all the way around the second floor, perfect for photography. There are just too many birds that you will see here even to begin to name them off. We will spend the afternoon here shooting from the and exploring the property.
LODGING Selva Verde
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 8
After breakfast, you will go on a 40 minutes drive to Cope's Place. One of my favorite places to shoot for comfort and ease of
4
shooting. You will spend the entire day photographing many species of birds and wildlife that stop by. Additionally, there is an optional walk in the
forest to look for owls and the Honduran White Bats. At this location, you can also do a macro session with frogs.
LODGING Park Inn in San Jose
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 9
International departures. Our transport partner will drop you off for your flight at the airport.
End of tour.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
The cost of the workshop cover’s all meals, lodging, local guides, a professional driver in a spacious tour bus, photography skipper services, airport pick up and transfer, entrance fees, and taxes for all described activities. All activities are easy to moderate and suited for intermediate to advanced photographers. The group size will be a maximum of 8 people.
● Lodging as specified.
● All breakfast except for first and last day are included
● All dinners except for first and last day are included
● Airport Transfers
● Private transportation during the tour and professional driver
● Professional Guide throughout the tour
● Entrance fees for all described activities.
● Taxes on all services listed above.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
● Non-mealtime snacks
● Dinner and or breakfast on first and last day
● Lunches
● Non-mealtime soft drinks and bottled water.
● International/personal airfare
● Travel Insurance
● Covid test if necessary
● Phone calls
● Laundry
● Guide tips are not included and can be handed to the tour leader upon arrival
(USD10/day)
● Cost of hospitalization and evacuation, if necessary
CHANGES TO ITINERARY
Changes may be made to the stated itinerary if in our professional opinion it will benefit the workshop and its participants by providing better photographic opportunities. A change in the order that locations are visited is not deemed to be a major change. Should a major change of itinerary or schedule be forced upon us while the tour is in progress (for example due to strikes, weather delay or breakdown) any additional costs are the responsibility of the participants. Once again, we insist that travel insurance is essential.
LODGING
We at Jeffrey P Karnes Photography try to book the lodges based on the Photographic opportunities, they may not always be of the same comfort or facility level as of a luxury lodge. Most Rainforest lodges are nestled in forests with comfortable, clean accommodation and local food options. On very rare occasions the accommodation that has been reserved for the tour may not be available and under such circumstances we shall arrange an alternative accommodation of similar standard.
WHAT TO BRING
It is recommended that each participant bring the following equipment:
A digital SLR and your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more.
A macro lens.
A sturdy tripod or monopod.
You may also bring your flash with a flash bracket.
Pack a ton of memory cards and laptop.
Cost:
$4,800.00 USD per person single accommodations.
$4,300.00 per photographer if sharing accommodations.
$3,800.00 per non photographer if sharing accommodations.
Medical
Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations and check the CDC website for more information.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Internet Access
Most lodges have free WIFI in the reception/dining area.
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Costa Rica’s San Juan Santamaria Airport. Our representative will be waiting to provide your private transfer to a hotel near the capital city of San Jose.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.
BASIC INFORMATION
Cancellation Policy
To Register: $1000 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration and please contact us with questions and concerns at jpkarnesphotography@gmail.com
More than 60 days before the start of the tour: Refund of workshop payment (not including deposit)
• 60 - 45 days before the start of the tour: Refund of 50% of workshop payment (not including deposit)
• Less than 45 days before the start of the tour: No refunds will be given, and all payments will be forfeited. Full payment is required no later than 45 days prior to departure. If full payment is not received by this date you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 3 business days, your spot will be forfeited and offered to participants on the waiting list.
Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for the calculation of the cancellation fees.
CANCELLED WORKSHOPS: If we are forced to cancel a workshop for any reason, your entire payment will be transferred to another comparable workshop within one calendar year.
COVID-19
As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to affect us all, we understand you have concerns about how your upcoming workshops will be impacted.
The health and safety of our workshop participants and instructors is our priority and will inform all of our decisions during this pandemic. We are monitoring the situation closely, and we are adjusting our workshop schedule as necessary. We will continue to make cancellation decisions as soon as it is possible and practical. And at that time, we will have appropriate health, hygiene, and social distancing protocols in place for the workshops that we are running.