Photography Tours

[qwerty]

I have been looking for something different for my vacations and came across photgraphy tours. The seem ideal for me as they are small groups and the whole purpose of the trip is photography. The tours go to places like Big Bend, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks as well as places abroad. The two sites I am looking at are travelimages.com and photosafaris.com Has anyone ever taken a "photography vacation" and what did you think?

[Wes]

Haven't done it, but would love to. Just need the money.

[J Eddington]

Those type of tours I would tend to runaway from. I prefer a more personal tour with people guiding that I others who know have been with them and what to expect.
If you are into birding you can't go wrong with a tour by Artie Morris or any of his leaders. http://www.birdsasart.com/tours.htm#Tour%20Schedule

[kenw]

Therese Tusa (ttusa here on TPF) has done a few of these including one to Alaska last year (?). Look her up in the macro section.

[deblack]

My wife and I were in Yellowstone last year and signed up for one of their guided photo excursions originating at the Old Faithful Inn. The guide was knowledgeable on photography and on where (and when) in the park to set up for good shots. It was not tourist / novice oriented. We thought it was worth the time and money. It was probably an advantage that my wife and I were the only two signed on for that day and the personal attention and extra time were great. Our guide noted that the photo excursions originating out of other Yellowstone N.P. hotels were different than the one we took. Each was tailored to a different area of the park, and each guide had expertise regarding the geography, animal whereabouts, etc. If Yellowstone is on your itinerary, you should look into a guided photo tour there.

Good luck,
Darrel

[dmora]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

Those type of tours I would tend to runaway from. I prefer a more personal tour with people guiding that I others who know have been with them and what to expect.
If you are into birding you can't go wrong with a tour by Artie Morris or any of his leaders. BIRDS AS ART: Instructional Photo-Tours

exactly.

Smaller is better and i'd rather not be near a bunch of other boobs who are in my shot.

[Texasdave]

I would offer Larry Ditto I believe he is a member of this fourm too and he does wonderful bird photography. He is in South Texas Larry Ditto Nature Photography, Wildlife Photography, Photo Tours- Home

[Patti Edens]

I've done several photo trips with Kathy Adams Clark and thoroughly enjoyed each one. She does some short trips to Big Bend, Hill country, South Texas, etc. on her own and then some extended trips through Strabo Tours to Costa Rica, Ecuador and one later this year that I hope to do to the Tuscany region of Italy.

I think most of the photographer leads on the Strabo Tours are all really good at what they do and can put you in the right spot with the right tips to get some great photos.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

I've done several photo trips with Kathy Adams Clark and thoroughly enjoyed each one. She does some short trips to Big Bend, Hill country, South Texas, etc. on her own and then some extended trips through Strabo Tours to Costa Rica, Ecuador and one later this year that I hope to do to the Tuscany region of Italy.

I think most of the photographer leads on the Strabo Tours are all really good at what they do and can put you in the right spot with the right tips to get some great photos.

That is why I would never take one of these tours. I will find the right spot, right time for my vision, that's what creativity is about. The great photos these kind of tours offer can be had cheaper by just buying postcards.

Learn to trust you vision.

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

That is why I would never take one of these tours. I will find the right spot, right time for my vision, that's what creativity is about. The great photos these kind of tours offer can be had cheaper by just buying postcards.

Learn to trust you vision.

You have a point Stovall, and for advanced photographers that know the area well, this would probably not be a good idea. But I don't really have the time to explore many of these places and to do the homework in advance to know where to be at sunrise and where to be at sunset or where to be if it is an overcast day, etc. And I am still new enough to photography to be glad to have some instruction and helpful tips. Luckily I am still learning. When I stop learning, I will probably go find another hobby.

The local tour guides know the areas and can get you to the right place at the right time and the photography lead can help folks that need help. If you don't need or want help, most of them will just leave you alone to do your own thing. That's the beauty to me of these trips. You can have 6 photographers all shooting in the same area and you will see six different visions.

Half the fun of these trips is the time (usually set aside each day) when everyone gets together to show their photos and get critiques from the photo lead and others in the group if they want. It is just amazing to me to see what others got and I learn a lot from this.

[plph56]

I generally take myself (and family) on my own photography tours, but it would be nice occasionally to get away on my own for once.