Photo course with Tomáš Hulík: Birds and other animals of Neusiedler See

Two day photo course focused on birds and animals in National Park Neusiedler See – Seewinkel in Austria

Photo trip date: Saturday – Sunday, May 16 – 17, 2015

FOR THIS TRIP, IT IS NECESSARY TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

Photo course is focused primarily on shooting using telephoto lenses with composition being taken into account. We will try to take bird pictures using photo hides and capture some more elusive animals (ground squirrels, etc.) outside hides. We will learn how to shoot under not favorable light conditions, during dusk, eventually during dark and will try to take pictures of night sky as well. Course is focused on taking pictures using digital SLR cameras and telephoto lenses and is NOT suitable for beginners. In case you are interested in basic photo course in nature, do not hesitate to contact us any time.

Locality: Neusiedler See Lake and its Austrian as well as Hungarian vicinity belong to one of the most important water bird spots in whole Central Europe. Lake is famous for its vast reed areas, periodically dried salt marches, meadows, grazing grounds and small sand pits. Spring period brings, among all locally common birds, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, which use this area as a fuelling station on their trip up north to their traditional nesting grounds. It is not surprise, that this relatively small, yet extremely important bird area provides permanent or temporary shelter to – up to this day – 341 species of birds.

National Park Neusiedler See – Seewinkel in Austria was established in 1993. National Park Fertő-Hanság in Hungary was established in 1991. Protected area now covers approximately 300 square kilometres. This national park is the first cross border national park in Austria and first Austrian national park acknowledged by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Thanks to protective nature of this park, birds and animals are quite accustomed to human presence. Birds are not as shy and elusive as elsewhere, which enables people to approach them close enough to observe and photograph them closely, yet without harmful disturbance. Taking pictures is even easier thanks to many observation towers and hides.

Target species: European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus), European hare (Lepus europaeus), European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), common redshank (Tringa totanus), northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), egrets (Ardea sp.), bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus),  warblers (Acrocephalus sp.), Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), greylag goose (Anser anser), as well as farm animals (Hungarian grey cattle, mangalitsa pig) and many others. This area is also important from botanical perspective with occurrence of many rare and endangered (not only) flowering plant species.

Program:

Day 1: Meeting at 6:00AM n Bratislava, transfer to National Park Neusiedler See – Seewinkel, photo instructions, photography in terrain, lunch break. Transfer to another localities, photographing. Dinner with discussion regarding photographed pictures. After dinner – night landscape photography and night sky photography.

Day 2: Before breakfast – taking pictures under bad light conditions. After breakfast – brief instructions and transfer to another photo spots. Lunch break with discussion about various photo topics. After lunch – another photo sessions in nature. Planned departure to Bratislava – 6:00PM.

During photo course, participants will be encouraged to find the best possible objects themselves.

Tour operator has all rights to make any small changes of program responding to actual animal and bird occurrence or actual light and weather conditions.

Recommended photo gear: D-SLR camera (not necessary) with fully charged battery and empty memory card. Lens with focal length of at least 150 mm and more, other suitable lenses and filters according to need, tripod and external flash (alternatively).

In case of need, our company is able to provide participants with camera, lens, filter etc., for a small fee.

Level of experience: average level of photo experience (understanding of basic terms such as exposition time, aperture, depth of field, etc.)

Number of participants: minimum 4, maximum 8

Price per person: 220,-€

Price includes: instructions by Tomas Hulik and his assistance, full guiding service, transport, accommodation for one night, half board (dinner, breakfast), corporate insolvency insurance and gear for downloading photographed

Price does NOT include: photographic equipment rental, lunch, individual travel insurance (health, injury insurance, damage responsibility and baggage insurance, etc.)

Application form: Photo course Birds and other animals of Neusiedler See 2015

The deadline for registration and payment is extended till May 11, 2015. Please send the application forms to info@watching.sk, in case of any questions, you may call us: +421 948 495 111.

General terms and conditions