join Colby Brown on an amazing adventure to one of the most biologically diverse locations on the planet, Costa Rica. Here we will spend our time learn a variety of different camera techniques and skills as we photograph scarlet macaws, cormorants, kingfishers, hummingbirds, caimans, lizards, monkeys, turtles, toucans, tanagers, honeycreepers, parrots, and much much more. If you are looking for a wildlife photography workshop that provides you the opportunity to photograph some of the most colorful and amazing wildlife species on the planet while learning how to be a better photographer, this workshop is geared just for you!
06 Jan 2025 - 14 Jan 2025 | 12:00 pm - 12:00 pm
$5250
Juan Santamaria Airport, Alajuela Province, Río Segundo, Costa Rica
Suitable for All Levels
The workshop starts on January 6th, 2025 at Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose (SJO) but you can find more details about each trip in the FAQ section below.
From there, we will pick you up in our private bus to begin our amazing wildlife adventure.
Throughout this adventure, we will provide you with a mixture of wildlife photography opportunities which include finding a variety of species organically in their own natural environments, photographing birds from man-made perches & feeders, and macro night photography excursions.
My team and I will work with you to make sure you learn to master a variety of different wildlife-focused techniques such as photographing birds in flight, shooting in low light situations, expanding your plane of focus, understanding AF tracking, macro photography skills using both natural and artificial light and much more…
While the workshop starts and ends in San Jose, giving you the opportunity to visit four different Costa Rican providences throughout our time in this amazing country.
Our night photography excursions will offer excellent opportunities to photograph a mixture of poison dart frogs, lizards, owls, insects, and even bats. They are truly a highlight of this trip!
This trip is geared to photographers of every different skill level, from beginners to professionals. We will work hard to make sure we meet you on your level, answering each of your questions when we are out in the field as well as when we have some downtime at our hotels to focus on the post-processing side of things.
What to Bring
With a focus on wildlife photography in Costa Rica, I recommend the following cameras.
Sony a1 (Setup Guide) – The a1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera that can handle everything you can try to throw at it. With a 50mp sensor, 15 stops of dynamic range, industry-leading AF performance, and the ability to shoot up to 30fps, this is my go-to camera for most adventures worldwide!
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Sony a7R V (Setup Guide) – Another great option would be the Sony a7R V with its 61mp FF sensor and dedicated AI/AF processor. While limited to 10fps, this camera can hold its own in most wildlife-based situations. Just note that with incredibly fast-moving subjects, the Sony a7R V’s AF system simply isn’t as fast at tracking as the other two recommended camera bodies.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Sony a9 II – A third alternative or backup would be the Sony a9 II, with its ability to shoot at 20fps with a 24mp FF sensor and a high-speed and accurate AF system. Its solo limitation might be its 24mp sensor, which is less than half the resolution of both the a1 or a7R V listed above.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
With longer lenses, you have the ability to fill more of your frame with your wildlife subjects. In Costa Rica, we will be focusing not only on a variety of different bird species but mammals, reptiles, and amphibians as well. I won’t bring all of these lenses, but they are lenses I recommend for this trip.
Sony 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 GM – A great zoom wildlife zoom lens option for those wanting a bit more reach with their images but still have something relatively portable. While the lens is very sharp, it isn’t the fastest lens in the Sony lineup, with a variable aperture of 4.5-5.6. In some situations, the minimum aperture might force you to use a higher ISO to compensate for the lack of light hitting your camera’s sensor. It is ideal for larger animals such as Jaguars, Tapier, Caiman, and even larger birds (Jabiru, Egrets, and Herons) but it might not offer enough reach for smaller birds such as kingfishers.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Sony 200-600 f/5.6-6.3 G – The most affordable telephoto zoom lens in the Sony lens lineup, the 200-600 is a great lens to use to photograph birds and larger mammals such as Jaguars. It is ideal for most wildlife situations where you have enough light to work with. At f/6.3 at 600mm, this lens will struggle at dawn and dusk, forcing you to shoot at very high ISOs.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM – If you are looking for optical perfection, look no further than the Sony 400mm prime lenses. This lenses are by far the sharpest and most impressive glass in the Sony lens lineup, but it isn’t cheap or very travel friendly. This lens is ideal for low-light situations with larger mammals, but the 400mm maximum reach is a little short for birders.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Sony 600mm f/4 GM – Sony’s longest telephoto prime lens is the 600mm. Like the 400mm, it offers the best optics and sharpness throughout the Sony lens lineup, although it comes at a cost both financially as well as with how portable/travel friendly it is. However, if you are keen on photographing birds, especially the smaller ones, it does not get better than the 600mm f/4 GM from Sony.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro – With a portion of our workshop dedicated to macro wildlife photography, bringing Sony’s super sharp 90mm macro lens is a must. This will be your go-to for nearly all of the frogs, snakes, lizards, and insects we come across in the Jungles of Costa Rica.
B&H Photo | Direct from Sony | Rent From Lens Rentals
Notes
While many photography workshops in Costa Rica focus on the most touristed National Parks in the country, this workshop is different. Our time will be spent exploring 4 different Costa Rican Providences that offer some of the best-hidden gems in the country when it comes to wildlife experiences. Away from the crowds, you will have the unique opportunity to explore the lesser-traveled northern part of Costa Rica, making this workshop an incredible experience no matter if this is your first time to Central America or even if you have visited Costa Rica numerous times before.
Caption
UK
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f/8.0
20.0 mm
1/5
1/5
50
