⚠️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 photography experience so Magical?  

The joy and vivid imagery participants are able to capture brings an instantaneous "ah-ha!" moment and delight when it all comes together in-camera! It truly is like magic! All while sitting, relaxed in your chair at 5000' altitude (cooler than the valley), taking in the amazing nature of Madera Canyon in southern Arizona.
 

Join instructors Lisa Langell and Kim Gray on this magical and very memorable experience. You will be amidst myriad hummingbirds that are concentrated in this renown area as they travel northward through Madera Canyon, Arizona-- an internationally known flyway for migrating hummingbirds.

What's truly unique about this event?  THREE BIG THINGS!

• No need to share a station!  You get your own fully dedicated flash setup station!  This is rare among hummingbird photo workshops as nearly all of them require you to share stations with another participant and thus dramatically limit your photography time. 

•  No long drives or hikes during the workshop—step out your front door and start photographing birds and bats!

•  BATS!  We will photograph nectar bats at night right at the lodge—this is an exciting opportunity to learn how to capture bats flying through the air using LIDAR - Light Detection and Ranging - to remotely trigger your camera while the bats fly through a pre-determined area.  You will get beautiful bat photos with this incredible technique. All LIDAR and flash equipment provided. 

Hummingbird species most often photographed:

• Broad-billed hummingbird

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

• Broad-billed hummingbird

• Black-chinned hummingbird

• Rufous (during migration)

Others occasionally spotted:
•  Berylline hummingbird

•  Anna's hummingbird

•  Blue-throated Mountain Gem

We offer what others do not!

•  You will learn traditional flash-based hummingbird photography which reigns supreme as the current best method for freezing the wings in action in any position and properly illuminating the bird while reducing noise and capturing beautiful backgrounds.  We have 6 flashes per station for our setups, ensuring you have beautiful light for your photography. 

•  Learn Low-Key style (if light conditions are supportive, we will capture this moody, darker style of hummingbird photography)!

•  Learn High-Key Style (light style, white background) photography of hummingbirds for that amazing, illustrative style

•  A suite of on-demand video tutorials for post processing support

•  In-person post processing demonstrations and instruction

•  We thoroughly teach you how to use flash setups so that you can do this from anywhere 

•  Bat photography also offered at the lodge in the evening!  (September workshops only)

What else can you expect?

• Instructors: 2
• Participants: 8

• We provide all specialty gear & flowers - simply bring your camera, lenses, a release trigger 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 and bat 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

•  How to photograph bats at night using off-camera flash and LIDAR (September dates only)

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 to moderate intensity at a light to moderate 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.  Frequent stops made as needed for rest, but seating may/may not be available at all times.  Elevation at Magic of Hummingbirds is approximately 5000'.

You must be able to transport your own gear, luggage, etc. to and from your cabin and your vehicle and/or the hummingbird stations.

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
Note:  "Bridge" or "point-and-shoot" cameras typically do not work as well for this workshop as they often lack the technology needed to function effectively with the flashes and settings we require)

• A lens with a minimum reach of 400mm or greater. 

• 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 tanager
• Sulfur-bellied flycatchers
• Painted redstart
• Bell's vireo
• Pygmy owl
• Mexican whip-poor-will
• Whiskered screech owl
• Zone-tailed hawk

Mammals 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 will 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 is 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.

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!

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.  

Learn how to photograph two endangered/protected species of bats:

•  Lesser long-nosed bat (endangered)

•  Mexican long-tongued bat

Using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems, we will help you capture stunning images of nectar bats in their summer range from the comfort of the lodge. 

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!  

After lunch, we will have a learning session focused on reviewing your images, post processing tips, Q&A, a show-and-share, and more.  You're not required to bring your computer to this session; however, you're invited to submit your images from the workshop.  Lisa Langell will review  your work, provide editing tips and more.  This is always a fun and engaging session that the entire group enjoys. 

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.

Learn how to photograph two endangered/protected species of bats:

•  Lesser long-nosed bat (endangered)

•  Mexican long-tongued bat

Using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems, we will help you capture stunning images of nectar bats in their summer range from the comfort of the lodge. 

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!

We will close the morning with a group session and activity, then give you the last moments of time to to load your cars before checkout at 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!