⚠️Registration for this workshop opens at 7:00 PM Eastern on Sunday, June 28.⚠️

Until then, feel free to explore all of the workshop details below. When registration opens, simply return to this page to reserve your spot.

Why is this experience so Magical?

For our participants, there is a moment—often within the first few minutes—when everything clicks. The hummingbird hovers perfectly in place, the light comes together, and an image appears on the back of your camera that feels almost impossible. That instant of surprise, delight, and accomplishment is what we call the Magic of Hummingbirds.

Arizona is the undisputed Hummingbird Capital of the United States!
Set at nearly 5,000 feet in the cool, scenic beauty of Madera Canyon, Arizona, you'll photograph some of North America's most captivating birds while surrounded by the sights and sounds of one of Arizona's most celebrated wildlife destinations. Relax in comfort, immerse yourself in nature, and experience the thrill of creating stunning hummingbird images of the highest quality.

Join instructors Lisa Langell, Kim Gray and Dan Walters for an unforgettable photographic adventure. Timed to coincide with the spring migration, this workshop places you in the heart of one of the world's premier hummingbird flyways. Madera Canyon is internationally renowned for its incredible hummingbird diversity and abundance, offering extraordinary opportunities to observe, photograph, and appreciate these remarkable birds up close.

What's truly unique about this event?

Unlike most hummingbird workshops, where participants must share shooting stations and rotate opportunities, every attendee receives their own fully dedicated multi-flash setup. That means more shooting time, more creative freedom, and more opportunities to capture the images you've envisioned.

Step outside and start photographing
No long drives. No strenuous hikes. No wasted time. Your photography experience begins just steps from your lodging, allowing you to maximize your time with the birds and focus on creating images rather than getting to the location.

Experience the magic, not the crowds
Spend your time immersed in myriad hummingbirds rather than waiting for your turn. With abundant photographic opportunities and individualized access, you'll have the freedom and instructional support to experiment, learn, and create images that reflect your own artistic vision.

Hummingbird Species most often photographed here:

• Broad-billed hummingbird

• Ravoli's (Magnificent) hummingbird (North America's largest hummingbird)

• Broad-billed hummingbird

• Black-chinned hummingbird

• Rufous (seasonal)

Others occasionally spotted:
•  Berylline hummingbird

•  Anna's hummingbird

•  Blue-throated Mountain Gem

The Magic Goes Beyond the Birds

We go much further that most other hummingbird workshops—providing a comprehensive learning experience designed to help you create exceptional images during the workshop and continue producing them long after you return home. Your creativity is unlimited and we support you along the way.

Master the Gold Standard of Hummingbird Photography
Learn the flash techniques that remain the most effective method for freezing wing motion, revealing intricate feather detail, minimizing image noise, and creating beautifully illuminated, professional-quality hummingbird portraits. Our custom-designed stations utilize six flashes per setup, providing exceptional light quality and creative possibilities.

Create Dramatic Low-Key Images
When conditions allow, you'll learn to produce striking low-key photographs that showcase hummingbirds against rich, dark backgrounds for a moody, artistic look.

Explore Elegant High-Key Photography
Discover how to create luminous, high-key images featuring bright, clean backgrounds that highlight the beauty, color, and delicate form of these remarkable birds.

Live Editing Instruction and Image Development
Watch step-by-step demonstrations and learn how to transform your captures into polished final images through thoughtful and effective post-processing techniques.

Build Skills You Can Use Anywhere
We don't simply provide a setup—we teach you how it works. You'll gain a thorough understanding of flash-based hummingbird photography, empowering you to recreate similar results in your own backyard, local park, garden, or favorite birding destination.

We don't just give you access to hummingbirds—we teach you how to create the magic yourself.

What else can you expect?

• Instructors: 3
• Participants: 8

• We provide all flashes, specialty gear & flowers - simply bring your camera, a 400+mm lens, a wired remote and tripod!
• Access to post-processing tutorials
• Photograph just steps from your room --no hiking or driving required
• Lots of laughter, smiles and joy included in every event!

What you will learn:

•  Learn how to set the proper exposure settings for all styles of hummingbird photography listed above using off-camera flash
•  Properly use multiple off-camera flashes to illuminate and freeze the birds' wings
•  Position flowers, backdrops, lights, and feeders to get excellent images
•  Post-process images captured in-camera as well as optional compositing
•  Basic troubleshooting so that if something is amiss, you'll know how to fix it
•  Understand the ethics and research of using low-powered flash photography with the birds

•  September only: Learn to photograph bats at night using off-camera flash and LIDAR

Permits:  Langell Photography, LLC ensures all National Forest permits and local permissions have been obtained and paid for in order to to legally run this event.  This helps ensure your workshop will not be disbanded by the National Forest or local land owners. 

Level 2:  Easy to moderate

Appropriate for those who are in good health and can participate in half or full day events.  They generally involve walking at a light intensity at a light pace.  Involves standing for longer periods of time, walking on flat or very gentle incline/declines on paved or unpaved surfaces for short periods (5-15 mins) with standing for periods of up to one hour. Chairs are provided.  Elevation at Magic of Hummingbirds is approximately 5000'. Temperatures are 60-80°F in spring and 70-90°F in fall.

You must be able to transport your own gear, luggage, etc. to and from your cabin and your vehicle and/or the hummingbird stations. (Approximately 50-150 feet.)

Skills required:  You do not need to understand aperture, shutter speed, or ISO before you arrive. We'll teach you the manual camera settings needed for hummingbird photography and send you a simple list in advance showing which settings to locate on your camera. From there, we'll guide you every step of the way. Photographers of all experience levels are welcome!

Minimum gear required:  

• A DSLR or Mirrorless camera, memory cards & batteries

• A lens that can reach at least 400mm.

• Remote shutter release (the inexpensive, wired models work really well)

• Tripod

• No flashes required.  We provide them for you to use!

• Additional details provided in your information packet upon registration

Madera Canyon, Arizona, USA

Santa Rita Lodge

Wildlife abounds in Madera Canyon!  The following birds and animals are often spotted in the spring at the lodge or on nearby trails.  This offers additional opportunities for you to photograph wildlife.
 

Birds often sighted at or near the lodge:

• Acorn Woodpecker
• Mexican Jay
• Gould's Turkey
• Gambel's Quail
• Bridled Titmouse
• Arizona Woodpecker
• Elf Owl (Spring)
• Elegant Trogon (spring/fall)
• Black-headed grosbeak
• Summer and hepatic tanagers
• Sulfur-bellied flycatchers
• Painted redstart
• Bell's vireo
• Pygmy owl
• Mexican whip-poor-will
• Whiskered screech owl
• Zone-tailed hawk

• Black hawk

Mammals often sighted here:
•  Coatimundi
•  Arizona Gray squirrel
•  Rock squirrel
•  Coues whitetail deer
•  Raccoon
•  Black bear

•  Lesser long-nosed bat (endangered):  Photographable during September workshops

•  Mexican long-tongued bat:  Photographable during September workshops

Comfortable, quality lodging is included in the price of the workshop. You will be staying and photographing hummingbirds right on the grounds of the charming and historic Santa Rita Lodge.  The lodge is nestled in Madera Canyon, which lies within the Santa Rita Mountains of the Coronado National Forest.  These mountains are considered a Sky Island and feature several unique habitats and species endemic to the area.
 

• Private Room option: Your private room.  You may bring one additional, non-participating guest at no extra cost
• Shared room option: Joining the workshop along with a relative or friend?  Share your room (two beds) with one other workshop participant.
• Extending your stay?  Contact the lodge to make your additional reservation independently. 

Cancellation Policy, Terms & Conditions and FAQs:  

Please review ALL of our complete terms and conditions.  These will be provided to you again at the end of your completed registration to initial and sign.    

What if I need to cancel?   You have several options: 

Option 1:   You may submit your claim to travel insurance.

Option 2:  You have self-insured your trip and choose to absorb any losses from cancellation.

Option 3:  You may transfer your seat to a qualified* friend you nominate for an administration fee ($250).  The friend is responsible for any remaining balance. 

Option 4:  You may request that we attempt to resell your seat for up to full price wherever possible.  To do so, there is an administration fee of $350.  We cannot guarantee it will be resold, but we will market it to our waitlist for this tour if there is reasonable time before the start date to do so.   

*Qualified friend: Someone you refer to us who meets the criteria for the tour, has agreed to all terms & conditions, and agrees to pay for any balance due and/or future costs that arise.       

Get settled and grab your gear to begin our hummingbird photography meet-and-greet!  Here we will start with introductions followed by a group orientation and individualized lessons (one-on-one) to using photographing hummingbirds using a 6-flash setup at your dedicated stations. (Detailed info provided in your Welcome Email upon registration.)

Hummingbirds are very active at golden hour once the light starts hitting the inner canyon! Head to your assigned station for the morning. Kim or Lisa will meet you there to help set you up and continue instruction so that you become more fluent in the flash photography setup and image capture process.  We will focus on traditional styles of multi-flash hummingbird photography.  The group breaks for lunch at 11:00am; however you are free to use any station as long as you wish until 3:00pm.

From 11am-3pm, the birds tend to take a bit of a siesta. You can, too! Head to your cabins (optional), eat lunch, download images, take a nap, or go for a hike. You are also welcome to continue photographing the hummingbirds.

To ensure all participants have a similar experience, we will rotate participants across the individual stations.  (One photographer per station—no sharing required!) This gives you variety with hummingbird species and more opportunities to master using the setup.  Kim and Lisa will assist you every step of the way.  

Wake up and photograph the hummingbirds! Rotate stations and try something new!  We will introduce the techniques for capturing hummingbird images in High Key Style (shown above)!  You may then choose to experiment with either traditional or high-key styles while you photograph hummingbirds—adding your own creativity to the mix!  

The hummingbirds slow down their activity in the peak of the day so we also provide a break for the photographers to enjoy!  That said, you're welcome to still photograph them at any open station, take a lunch break, head to town to shop, or take a walk through the woods on the beautiful trails nearby!

Continue photographing the hummingbirds, rotating stations (every morning and afternoon) to keep it fresh.  You will practice and explore your creative genius with varying the flowers, backgrounds, high-key and traditional styles to your liking and preference.

You've learned and practiced high-key photography.  Additionally, if light conditions are appropriate, we will also introduce low-key photography of hummingbirds.  This challenging style requires patience, but the payoffs are amazing!  Deep black backgrounds created in-camera with very specialized lighting techniques to give a gorgeously rich and moody feel to your portfolio!  You may also choose to continue using traditional or high-key styles as well!  It's your choice!

The workshop ends at 10:00am. You must check out of your room by 11:00am.

We will provide you with a pre-workshop webinar to help you fully understand how to prepare for this event, what to bring, and what to expect.  You'll also get to meet your workshop leaders!  

Additionally, we will provide you with online tutorials to help you make the most of your images, processing tips and more—a great resource to reference once your workshop has been completed!