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Wildlife Photography Base Camp with Moose Peterson

Wildlife Photographer's Base Camp

Man, how did they get that photo?" or "Man, where did they take that photo?" Or, ever look at a photo in a magazine and say to yourself, "I've got way better than that!" Have you ever looked at someone's wildlife photo and just wish they were yours? Do you want to know the answers, do want those photographs, do you want to be published?

White Ibis © Moose PetersonWildlife Photographer's Base Camp has been developed to give you all the tools, techniques, experience and expertise to handle any wildlife photographic situation from your backyard to the remotest location on the planet. In five days, 10 photographers no matter the camera brand will have run the paces, shoot the shots and be well on the road to mastering their wildlife photography.

Wood Stork © Moose PetersonBut just what the heck is Base Camp? It's not a wildlife photography safari. It's not a week long business classes. It's not a camera gear feast. Base Camp is like nothing else on this planet! It's all of this plus a WHOLE LOT MORE!

WPBC is held in various locations throughout the US. Moose along with Sharon, bring the classroom with them to these locales to maximize YOUR learning opportunities. Each day you'll be in the classroom from sun up to long after the sun sets. The classroom at times is outside with critters, at times will be within four walls, and the rest of the time is behind the lens and whatever time remains is in front of the computer. You will find no other learning experience like this for wildlife photography!

You will be asked to bring all your digital camera equipment. The workshop is geared for Nikon and Canon digital shooters. You will need to bring your computer, hard drives and at least 30 images for portfolio review (in front of everyone). We want to see where you've been with your photograph so we can help you with where it can take you in the future. That means we will also be talking about the business of wildlife photography. Those of you who have participated in our DLWS events know I'm not kidding when I say, you'll need a long vacation after these five days.

Just some of the topics we'll cover during our five days:

  • Rocky Mtn Bighorn © Moose Petersonfield ethics
  • gear packing
  • special projects
  • flash – beginner, advance and multi flash
  • workflow in the field
  • composition
  • light
  • biology
  • lenses & lens selection
  • controlling backgrounds
  • how to do your homework
  • marketing
  • printing
  • working bird feeders
  • photographing small mammals
  • getting involved and working with biologists
  • nesting birds
  • big mammals
  • and a whole LOT more!
  • ALL photo on this page taken during Base Camp!

Mallard Duck © Moose PetersonThe format for the week is structured so what you learn in class will be put right into practice behind the camera. With subjects big and small, as safe or dangerous as North America has to offer, you'll have plenty of images to deal with and (if time permits) to have critiqued at the evening sessions (we do go from sun up to sun down and there is homework too boot!). You'll leave with a 260 PDF workbook written by Moose just for WPBC, a whole lot of new knowledge, your Base Camp custom jacket, some sweet images and most importantly, inspiration to carry your wildlife photography to a whole new level!

The price for the five days is $1750 which includes instruction, workbook & special participant jacket only (this means transportation, lodging & meals are not included). Each Camp is limited to ten participants (sorry, no unpaid, non-shooting companions). Nikon & Canon digital shooters only.

Upcoming Locales & Dates

  • Yellowstone, MT Oct 27-31 '08 (mammals & birds)
  • Ft Meyers, FL Feb 16-20 '09 (birds!)
  • 2009 schedule TBA, SD and others are on the drawing board

Rocky Mtn Bighorn © Moose PetersonJust to make this clear, Base Camp is very unique. WRP doesn't offer (nor ever has) anything else like this, It is not an extension or "next" step after our DLWS event. This is HARD CORE wildlife photography instruction. The goal of Base Camp is not 5 days of solid photography, you'll be lucky to get in a couple hours of hard core photography each day. The critters listed for an event are what should be around, but they are wild critters, mother nature will do what mother nature will do. Base Camp doesn't guarantee you get one great shot, that's not it's goal. We're looking for quality folks, not quantity. We're looking for folks who understand that wildlife photography is a life long passion, not a weekend sport. There is nothing like this, anywhere!

Mule Deer © Moose PetersonWhat has Base Camp captured so far? Well, in Montana we had bighorn sheep and bison, ducks and mule deer. We found this killer waterfowl area providing hours of great flight shots which is where the mallard duck shot here came from. Besides having a great time, we squeezed in a special trip to the North Entrance of Yellowstone which added elk and a wolf to the mix. It's where the bighorn sheep photos here came from. It was a great time and marvleous photography!

FL photographers © Moose PetersonIn Florida, well, you could easily say we went right to work. From the very first morning, we were out in the mud and make the images. We were at the famous Fort DeSoto where we waded right out into the water to photograph this immature Wood Stork (pictured above). We also shot at the famous Vience Rockery and another new, up and coming rockery. It was great photography and fun.

And what's with the tennis balls? You'll just have to come and find out for yourself!

We’re very excited to have Nikon as as official sponsor of our Wildlife Photographers Base Camp! Their sponsorship directly benefits one of you! Nikon is sponsoring 1 "kid" (18-25yrs old) for each of our Base Camps. That’s all tuition paid by Nikon, that’s darn cool! We want to get you young kids involved in what we think is the greatest form of photography, wildlife photography so here’s your opportunity. Contact our office for details (760.924.8632). We look forward to YOUR joining us!

To register for Camp, give the office a call 760.924.8632. Look forward to your joining us!

Montana Base Camp Group 2007

MT Base Camp Campers '07

FLorida Base Camp Group 2008

FL Base Camp Campers '08

South Dakota Base Camp Group 2008

SD Base Camp Campers '08

Alaska Base Camp Group 2008

AK Base Camp Campers '08
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