Northumberland Birds of Prey Photography Workshop
Birds of prey are a fascinating and enjoyable subject to photograph! During this amazing all day photography workshop you can photograph a range of these magnificent birds in varied elaborate and natural settings in rural Northumberland.
While I don’t believe a photograph of a captive bird should be passed off as being in the wild, I do think that helping photographers to get more interesting photographs is a much better format than many falconry and birds of prey centres operate. There will be no photographs of birds sitting on gloved hands or on blocks and perches in enclosures. No distracting fabricated sheds or crowds of people in the backgrounds! This birds of prey workshop is designed by a wildlife photographer and a professional falconer who both understand the needs and wishes of photographers.
As usual, I keep group sizes small enough for tuition and I’ll be on hand at all times to advise on techniques and settings to ensure you take some fantastic photographs.
Book your place
Payment Information
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If you wish to pay via bank transfer, please contact me.
Terms & Conditions
Click here to view photography workshop terms and conditions.
Recommended Equipment
I recommend a interchangeable lens mirrorless or digital SLR type of camera with a lens of 200mm or more and also a wider angle / mid-range zoom. A tripod or monopod is useful for larger and heavier lenses. Spare batteries and memory cards are an absolute necessity and a rain / weather cover is often worth packing.
It’s also worth bringin along your camera manual in case we have any technical issues with camera settings.
Stout outdoor shoes or walking boots are required and warm waterproof clothing. Suntan cream & insect repellant are also recommended. Please bring a packed lunch and drinks.
Common Buzzard
Little Owl in the Japanese maple
Itinerary
We will start at 9.30am with tea / coffee and a quick briefing session on camera settings and techniques for wildlife photography.
We’ll use a mixture of locations from the walled garden at the falconry centre, the surrounding area or nearby countryside. This will be dependent on time, number of participants and weather forecast or other circumstances which may be out of my control. Throughout the day I’ll work with everybody on a group and individual basis.
We’ll use various birds in different elaborate and natural settings. Please note, Some of the photographs shown on this page contain subjects, surroundings and foliage which are subject to seasonal variations. We use many different locations and species on each workshop at different times of the year.
We aim to finish around 4pm.
Full details including location, car parking and confirmed itinerary will be sent before the dates of the workshop.
Back-lit barn owl, a good lesson in exposure control!
Tawny Owl in lavender
I went to the August Birds of Prey workshop with Alan and a few others. What a day! Learning from the moment I got there till the moment I left. I now feel far more confident with my camera and with my photography. The subjects were excellent as were the surroundings, a truly fantastic day and lots of great experience. I can’t recommend this workshop highly enough!
A great day Alan, thank you so much for your time and patience with me throughout the day.
I have just spent another brilliant day with Alan on a Birds of Prey Photography Workshop in the wilds of Northumberland. This is my second workshop with Alan, my first being the Farne Islands in May 2014. As ever Alan has a vast knowledge of his subjects and equipment, and has an ability to pass on that experience to all, novice and experienced photographers alike. He has infinite patience with people like myself who don’t quite get the message first time round. I can’t wait for the next workshop to come around.
I would recommend Alan’s workshops to anyone, they are very good value for money, enjoyable and very educational, I have learned a lot since working with Alan on his workshops. Thank you once again Alan.
Another great day Alan with the right amount of people in the group. The tuition was very informative and as always you catered for each individual person magnificently. I managed to take some great photographs as well as making some new friends. I would like to thank Andy for his patience and kindness too.
Big thanks to yourself for providing another fantastic day of a friendly informative Birds of Prey workshop that I would highly recommend. Thanks x
Absolutely fantastic day Alan! Your tuition is fab whilst making sure everybody is happy and have the shots they want. Brilliant day and I will certainly be recommending your workshops. Also great group of people Hopefully mum and I will see you soon on another workshop.
Thank you very much!
I would like to thank you for a great day on Sunday. I have been on a few courses over the last few years with several photographers and I must say yours is one of the best. It was a long day, but well worth it; the photos I have are fantastic and the tips you gave me were brill. Also, your knowledge of the different species and behaviour is second to none.
I will be coming on some more of your workshops in the near future. Many Thanks Once Again.
Facilities
There is car parking and toilets at the birds of prey centre. Please note, during the morning session we will be out in the Northumberland countryside and there will be no toilet facilities available.
Accessibility
Very little walking is required for the majority of this workshop.
However, we do work on rough ground so this workshop is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with significantly impaired mobility.
Recommended Accommodation
Please contact me for accommodation recommendations.
Common Kestrel
Long-eared owl and prey
Barn owl
