The Sean Pattrick Photographic course is for wildlife enthusiasts who wish to make the most of their time and opportunity in the bush to achieve great images.  Although the course covers all the basics of photography, the focus of the course is to provide participants with an understanding of animal behaviour and the sensitivities of working with wildlife so as to allow the photographer the best chance of capturing great wildlife images.

If you’re planning a trip to Africa, be it on safari or to join one of various wildlife-related programs, this course would be ideal for you to do before you start your holiday. In this way, the photo’s you take while on your trip-of-a-lifetime are bound to be great! Because of the super locations used for the photo course, you may even clock up some excellent shots before the official holiday begins.

If you are simply looking to spend a fulfilling long weekend in the bush while learning photography, this course caters for your needs to.

Although the course aims to use digital technology to workshop images taken by the participants on each outing, all camera formats are welcome (with the understanding that there are no development facilities for film cameras).  This course is not a digital workflow seminar but focuses on maximizing photo opportunities with wildlife.

COURSE CONTENT

The course comprises the following themes / lectures:

Lecture 1:            Introduction to wildlife photography & basic equipment
Lecture 2:            Composition                                                                        
Lecture 3:            Technique (including aperture & shutter speed)                                               
Lecture 4:            Flash usage & night photography                                                
Lecture 5:            Animal behaviour & bush sensitivity                                    
Lecture 6:             Exposure and metering light                                               
Lecture 7:            Understanding light                                                           
Lecture 8:            Course overview & wrap up           

DAILY PROGRAM

5:00                         Wake up and early morning tea
5:30                         Morning drive and photography session
10:00                       Breakfast
11:00                       Photo review & lecture
14:00                       Lecture & Afternoon task preparation
15:30                       Afternoon tea
16:00                       Afternoon drive and photography session
19:30                       Dinner
20:00                       Photo review, lecture & after dinner photography (occasional)

VENUES

Venues include various upmarket wildlife destinations in the Greater Kruger National Park region of South Africa such as Elephant Plains Game Lodge (Sabi Sands); Tintswalo Manor House (Manyaleti Game Reserve), a private lodge in the Makgokolo Game Reserve and N’kaya Lodge (in the Thornybush Game Reserve).

All reserves have the iconic African mammals and some (if not all) the big game species. Accommodation is in lodge-style manor houses in the bush or in the luxurious game lodge itself. The accommodation is usually exclusive to the photographic course group and is fully catered.

Please visit www.elephantplains.co.za and www.tintswalo.co.za to view images of some of the accommodation options.

PAX

There is a minimum of 4 participants per course and a maximum of 7.

***Please note: a minimum of 4 people are required for the course to run. In the event that a course is cancelled, you have the option to attend a future course or to be refunded.

DATES

	Elephant Plains (Sabi Sands)	Tintswalo Manor House
	20 - 23 April 2008 30 May - 2 June 2008	3 - 6 March 2008 11 - 14 July 2008 2 - 5 October 2008 4 - 7 December 2008
* Current options are four-star but more budget options are available on request.

COST

The cost includes accommodation, meals and tuition. Excluded costs are: transport, entry to the various game reserves (about R50.00-R75.00 per vehicle) and drinks. Kindly enquire for rates by email (naturalx@worldonline.co.za) as these differ for the different venues.

*Please note that if you would prefer to attend the photo course as part of a package trip including a safari or another kind of wildlife-related program, this can be provided on request from Sean. Please contact him at naturalx@worldonline.co.za.

WHAT TO BRING