Florida’s Birding & Photo Fest Offers more than 110 Field Workshops and Classroom Events for Photography and Nature Enthusiasts
Photographers and nature enthusiasts will find the perfect event to hone their skills and enjoy the great outdoors at the17th Annual Florida’s Birding & Photo Fest. From April 24 – 28, one of the most popular events among birding, nature and photography enthusiasts will take place on Florida’s Historic Coast – St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches. Event headquarters are located at the Celebration Hall at St. Anastasia, St. Augustine.
Florida’s Historic Coast is spreading its wings to present another great year of birding and outdoor photography. With more than 110 birding and photography field workshops and classroom sessions led by acclaimed photographers, Florida’s Birding & Photo Fest has something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner photographer, advanced or somewhere in between, there are hands-on workshops at locations around St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches.
World Renowned Photographers
Instructors are a “Who’s Who” of photographers including Bobbi Lane, Lee Varis, Roman Kurywczak, Scott Bourne, Lewis Kemper, Lisa Langell, Chas Glatzer, Joe Brady, Brett Wells, Shiv Verma, Jack Rogers, Kevin Loughlin, Dan Walters, and Tim McEver along with new photographers this year – Rick Sammon, Ken Hubbard, Mandy Lea and Ben Hicks.
Popular Workshops
One of the most popular workshops each year is the “Horses on the Beach.” Led by world-class instructors, participants will practice panning, stop-action photography, settings for capturing motion, shooting in low light, silhouettes, golden hour lighting and much more. Birds in flight are arguably one of the most difficult techniques to master. There are several workshops to choose from to gain a better understanding and learn from the masters.
Bird Rookery
One of the most spectacular activities during Photo Fest is a visit to the natural bird rookery at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park. A winding boardwalk through the Land of the Crocodiles allows for the rare opportunity to view wild nesting birds at extremely close distances. The two-acre exhibit is home to hundreds of American alligators and crocodiles. Twelve species of wading and nesting birds frequent the area. You’ll see Great egrets, Roseate spoonbills, and the endangered Wood stork. You’ll also see Snowy egrets, Tri-colored and Blue Herons, and Cattle Egrets.
Outdoor Tours and Excursions
Explore the diverse ecosystems of Florida’s Historic Coast. Photo Fest offers kayak, paddle boarding, and boating excursions. Take part in bird walks and nature walks through dunes, hammocks, wetlands and low tide marshes.
Top Brand Exhibitors
Located at the Celebration Hall at St. Anastasia, the exhibitor area is the perfect place to spend time between workshops and classes. This year exhibitors include Hunt’s Photo & Video, Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Olympus, FujiFilm, Used Photo Pro, It’s Hats, Peachtree Camera Repair, Wildside Photo Tours, MAC Group, Best Buy and more. In addition, Sigma, Tamron, FujiFilm, and Canon all offer loaner lens programs so you can “try before you buy.”
Photo Contests
Enter your original nature photographs for a chance to win high tech photo equipment in the Photo Contest. Original photos of birds, wildlife or nature taken within the last year prior to the contest can be submitted. Photographers can submit up to 5 photos. There’s even something for the young birders and budding photographers. Through a partnership with The Cameron Bespolka Trust, the Young Birders Photo Contest aims to inspire and encourage young photographers. The contest is open to anyone under the age of 18 with a parent’s or guardian’s permission. Visit the Young Birders Photo Contest page to learn more about the contest, the legacy of Cameron Bespolka and his passion for nature.
The deadline to submit entries to the photo contest is March 29.
Festival Guide & Registration
The festival guide and registration information can be found at FloridasBirdingAndPhotoFest.com. Registration for Florida’s Birding & Photo Fest can be made at FloridasBirdingAndPhotofest.com. There is a $25 registration fee, all classes and field workshops are priced individually.
For more information, contact Erin Masters, (904) 209.4422 or emasters@floridahistoriccoast.com.
Get a Room!
When registering for classes and workshops for Photo Fest, be sure to book your room. There are several host hotels at varying price points.