Description
Butterflies are one of natures most appealing subjects for photography with incredible natural colours and designs made visible in their natural form. The Stratford Butterfly Farm has an amazing collection and is the largest tropical butterfly display in theUK. Throughout the year they have over 250 different species of tropical butterfly form 20 different countries. At one time we can expect to see around 1,500 free flying individual butterflies (sometimes it’s a few more, sometimes a few less) all of which make great photographs. There are also a variety of species of colourful free range birds and an Iguana to try and capture.
Our Day begins at 9.15 with a briefing from the photographic guide about what to expect and the best approaches and techniques for capturing good butterfly images. We will then have the chance to get into the greenhouse about 30 minutes before it is open to the general public. This time can be particularly useful in the amazing pupae room where we might need space to carefully set up tripods on these small subjects. We can then move out into the main flight area to work on capturing images of the many different species.
After an hour’s break for lunch when delegates can cool down form the greenhouse and eat a packed lunch, we can review our mornings work and then have a second chance to build on the experiences of the morning. There will also be an opportunity for guests to visit the ‘InsectCity’ area where a larger variety of invertebrates are on display.
Throughout the day the experienced photographic guide will be on hand to offer advice and tips and the different techniques for capturing these beautiful creatures and they will ensure time is given to everyone to get the best out of individual cameras and equipment. The whole day is designed to be a challenge and learning opportunity working with this most photogenic of subjects.
- Fitness Level
This event is suitable for guests of all levels of fitness and involves moderate walking over made up pathways
● Photography Level
This session is ideal for most levels of photographic experience particularly those people who are looking to expand their SLR photography with close up subjects. The relaxed pace and small group size is designed to allow time for the guide to offer plenty of practical help and support to those guests that need it. A camera with reasonable close focus (macro) lens capability and a tripod are recommended.
● Disability Access
Our Butterfly Experience Session is held at The Stratford Butterfly Farm in centralStratforduponAvon. There is ample parking only a short distance from the centre and the whole collection is wheelchair friendly.
Wheelchair users or those guests with specific needs are advised to contact us before booking and we will do our very best to accommodate you
●Group Size
The normal group size for this event is 8 delegates.
Itinerary
09.15 Welcome & briefing at the centre entrance
09.30 Session 1 in the Caterpillar Room & around the greenhouse
12.00 Lunch Break (please bring a packed lunch or money to purchase food from the nearby city centre)
13.00 Session 2 in the main green houses
15.00 Summary & Close
Please note: The itinerary is provisional and subject to change depending on weather conditions and the availability of the exhibits. Start and finish times are fixed to enable transport planning.
What’s included
Tea/coffee on arrival
Full Photographic tuition
Entrance to the venue
Venue
Stratford
This event is held at the Stratford Butterfly Farm in centralStratford-upon-Avon. We try to time our visits to ensure the house is reasonably quiet with normal visitors as we do not have the facility exclusively beyond the half hour early access in the morning.
Facilities
Toilets (public toilets a short walk across the car park)
Mains Power
Public transport links for the venue are good with a mainline station a few miles away.
Please note: Unfortunately parking is in the public (chargeable) car park and delegates will be required to have up to £10 in change for the day. Free parking is available but only about a 20 minute walk from the venue.
A detailed map, with full directions, will be sent to all delegates before the workshop and a mobile telephone number will be provided in case of any difficulties on the day.
What to bring
- We will be inside the tropical greenhouses all day and temperature and humidity are held at reasonably high levels. We therefore suggest you wear light clothing with a fleece or jumper for the lunch break.
- The venue has no catering facilities beyond a simple meeting room where packed lunches can be eaten. We therefore will break for an hour at lunchtime and guests may either bring a packed lunch or walk 10 minutes inStratfordtown centre to purchase something. No food or drink is available to purchase in the centre.
- We suggest everyone brings a cold drink as temperatures in the greenhouse can make visitors thirsty.
- You are welcome to bring whatever photographic equipment you believe may be suitable. There is some walking involved and you will not always be very close to your vehicle so please ensure you can comfortably carry all your equipment.
- Monopods and tripods will be very useful for supporting telephoto and macro lenses and can be used in the green houses providing they do not obstruct the pathways.
- A SLR camera together with a selection of lenses including a telephoto with the ability to focus reasonably closely and a macro lens would be very useful so please bring whatever close-up equipment you have.
- Fill in flash might be useful in some conditions e.g. where the subject is backlit.
- Make sure your batteries are charged and ready for action before you arrive but we can access power points for additional charging throughout the day.
- Bring plenty of memory cards or the facility to download cards as its surprising how many pictures you can take in one day.
