Raptor Photo Workshop

Join Denver Audubon, HawkQuest, and award-winning photographer Cheryl Opperman for a one of a kind photo workshop designed to help you master bird photography. Topics include camera settings, using flash, composition, and processing techniques that will take your photography to the next level.

What you will learn:

• How to evaluate and modify light for bird photography including the use of flash when appropriate
• The best camera settings to stop or intentionally blur action, ensure adequate depth of field, and tips to speed your response time so you are always ready to capture the action.
• In depth exposure selection including the exposure triangle, best exposure modes for different lighting situations, and evaluating the histogram.
• Customizable settings most useful in bird photography
• Choosing effective compositions that direct your viewer through the image and eliminate distractions.
• Anticipating bird behavior
• Finding and photographing birds in the wild
• Digital processing techniques to optimize your images.

Learn from a professional with both formal education and over 25 years of field experience 
Choosing a qualified instructor with the best skill set can mean the difference between an average experience and a great experience. Teaching photography requires more than just knowing how to take beautiful photographs. Truly exceptional instructors must have extensive knowledge about fundamental photographic principles, utilize the latest technology, and be able to explain and apply the appropriate techniques in the field.  

Cheryl Opperman’s degree from one of the world’s best photography colleges, plus over two decades of real-world experience, makes her one of the most skilled professionals in the industry today. 

Whether you are just beginning to learn photography or have been taking pictures for years, Cheryl is passionate about sharing her knowledge to help you discover new techniques, develop your own unique style, and reach your photographic goals.

• Photograph over 10 different species in a variety of settings
• Attend bird photography and image processing classes daily
• Proceeds help support wildlife conservation and education
• Includes tuition, meals and local transportation (airfare and transportation to and from the airport not included)
• Packages available with or without lodging

About the Instructor

Cheryl Opperman is a nationally acclaimed nature photographer with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooks Institute of Photography and over 25 years of professional experience photographing nature, wildlife, and indigenous cultures worldwide. She was featured as a leading female nature photographer by Outdoor Photographer Magazine and has received numerous prestigious awards from organizations including The Earth Day Network, Nature's Best Photography, the International Photography Awards, and the National Wildlife Federation. Her work has also appeared in publications or exhibits for The American Humane Association, the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and many others. Employing the power of photography to inspire interest in the environment, she has appeared in on-camera interviews for 9News Denver, The Luminous Landscape, and Smithsonian Earth and regularly presents slide shows or classes on various topics to schools, camera clubs, and organizations. 

$2,750.00  -  Without Lodging (for local residents)

$2,995.00  -  With Lodging, double occupancy

$3,245.00  -  With Lodging, single supplement