Description
Set in the rolling hills of the West Country this is a beautiful place to discover the normally elusive mammals ofBritain. At this private venue we can expect to see foxes, wildcat, munkjack deer, otters and pole cat in natural settings with no fence in the way to hamper us. The friendly keepers will be on hand to help us persuade the animals into the best positions. With well landscaped enclosures and the rolling hills ofDevonthe opportunities are there for the taking.
The afternoon will then provide us with the rare opportunity to see Beaver. Beavers are an endearing animal that are well known but seldom photographed. Shy and semi nocturnal in the wild they represent a challenge for photographers and are rarely captured in pictures. This secure fenced area is large enough to allow the Beavers a dammed pool and the design allows some really lovely low angle viewpoints for photography. The vegetation around the pool also makes for good and natural backgrounds and the Beavers have been busily working on completely natural tree felling and building of their ‘lodge’.
Throughout the day a wild arena guide will be with you talking through the best techniques to capture pictures of all these wonderful animals and they will give a separate briefing on taking pictures as the light level falls during the later session with the Beavers.
• Fitness
This event is suitable for guests of all levels of fitness and involves moderate walking over rough uneven ground
• Photography Level
This event is suitable for all levels of photographic experience and good images should be achieved with all cameras equipped with telephoto lenses. The Wild Arena guide will also be on hand throughout the day to support and advice those guests new to this style of photography.
• Disability Access
This venue is accessed via uneven paths, there is a step up to the toilets and seating area. 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 photographers
Itinerary
14.00 Arrival and briefing
14.30 Session 1 Foxes, Deer, Wildcat, Otter and Pole Cat
17.00 Buffet Tea
18.00 Beaver session
20/22.00 Close and Depart (the session will end when the light has gone)
Please note: The itinerary is provisional and subject to change depending on weather conditions and the availability of the exhibits.
What’s included
Tea/coffee
Sandwich Buffet (please note there are no facilities to buy extra food or drink, so please bring any extras with you)
Full photographic tuition and venue guide
Entrance to the venue
Venue
Devon
This event is held at a private venue in north Devon, where a range of unusual British mammal species are housed in large and naturalistic enclosures ideal for photography.
Facilities
Tea/Coffee
Toilets
SmallVisitorBuilding
Mains Power
As a result of the rural nature of this location, public transport links might be difficult. Please contact us for more specific information.
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
- You will be outside for much of the day so you should be dressed to suit the season and weather.
- We suggest you have a water-proof coat in case of rain and waterproof trousers for kneeling down on wet ground. Shelter is available but you should note that all exhibits are outside and hence can not be viewed while using the shelter.
- Refreshments will be provided on arrival and during the afternoon. However you should note this is a private location and there is no opportunity to purchase additional food and drink; it is suggested that you bring anything you require including drinks, particularly if the weather is hot.
- 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.
- Fill in flash might be useful in some conditions e.g. where the subject is backlit.
- A SLR camera together with standard, wide angle and telephoto lens would be ideal. A zoom lens covering the range up to 300mm will be ample for most situations and shorter focal length lenses will be suitable for close-ups. The layout of the collection even means non-SLR users are able to get good opportunities.
- A tripod or monopod is suggested for use with long focal length lenses.
- 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.
