Tag Archives: tour

One new date for the Black Skimmers beach colony!

There will be a second run for the Black Skimmers beach colony on June 29-30 2024! Only two spots left… Shoot me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com if you are interested 🙂 Last year, we had a smaller colony of Least Terns nesting right next to the Black Skimmers. Hopefully, we will have the same situation this year.

The image above depicts a Least Tern bringing back a fish to its mate. Later in the season, one will still see the birds bringing back fish to the colony, but this time to feed the newly borns. Those birds are among the smaller shorebirds and definitely the smallest Terns. There are very few beach colonies left for Least Terns. Nowadays, they tend to go after roof tops…

And the scene above is the following chapter in this magic movie. The male brings the fish offering to the female as a token of its valor. On the other hand, Black Skimmers do not necessarily bring back a fish to offer. Summer time at one of the Sarasota Bay beaches…

Look at this cute Least Tern chick walking on a sand ledge made of seas shells. The mom is patiently observing in the background. When the chicks are so young, they do not venture too far away from the parents. There are natural predators to be wary off such as gulls and crows. Also, the other Skimmers tend to be a bit territorial and will shoe away chicks venturing out on their turf.

Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,190

June 8th-9th 2024 / limit 6 people – 1 open

June 29th-30th 2024 / limit 6 people – 2 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Images from the first 2024 Spoonbill Tours

The start of the year brought more challenges than usual, but good opportunities are always on the table for the discerning photographer.

The image above was created a short instant after the bird took off from the beach. During that short period of time, the birds will typically flap harder while staying fairly close to the water surface. his allows for nice reflections on the water. Note the two tone blue and green background with 1/3 green and 2/3 blue. This is usually preferable to a half half split.

The portrait above is truly an uncommon creation! One of the Roseate Spoonbills was perched on a tree branch over the water, almost completely hidden behind dense foliage. Because of the later, focus was very difficult and I switched to manual focus. Thankfully, the subject was cooperative and did not move much. I am very happy with the green and yellow color splotches in the front of the bird. What do you think?

The landing above is without doubt my favorite wings position. Taking the same stance above the blue water would be a 1000 times better though!! 🙂 Always a reason to go back…

Tampa Bay Spoonbills Rookery Photography Tour – $1,590

January 13th-14th 2024 / limit 5 people – Full

February 10th-11th 2024 / limit 5 people – Full

March 23rd-24th 2024 / limit 5 people – 1 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Tampa Bay Spoonbills rookery. We typically shoot while wading in the water in the mornings and from the boat in the afternoon. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Ospreys / Spoonbills mix Photography Tour – $1,490

April 20th-21st 2024 / limit 5 people – 1 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 2 boat-based Osprey shoots at the Vero Beach Cypress Lake + 1 land-based Spoonbills shoot at a local rookery. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,090

June 8th-9th 2024 / limit 6 people – 1 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Making the most of one subject

During tours, I will typically call out the birds with the most striking breeding colors among a given group of birds. While keeping an eye for outside action, this is what I do to make the most of one subject.

The image above is a couple wing beats after take off. This is usually a good moment as the bird will flap harder to get speed, giving more dramatic wing positions (here wings fully down). Sometimes, you will also see a water drops still in the air. The key is have a good reading on the bird’s behavior and anticipate the take off as much as possible. Then you want to track the bird as well as possible!

After having taken a few action shots, I recommend going for close-ups such as the image above. With the super high-definition of the recent camera bodies, you do not necessarily need to risk a close approach and flushing the bird away. Look for a good head angle and some attitude. The water drop falling from the beak is a nice plus.

The feeding image does not happen as often, but here is a good example of a Spoonbill about to swallow a shrimp. It is thanks to this diet that Spoonbills are able to display impressive pink/red colors. The bird will swish the water with the beak open until it can feel a crustacean. The next step is to throw the prey out of the water for a quick swallow.

Tampa Bay Spoonbills Rookery Photography Tour – $1,590

January 13th-14th 2024 / limit 5 people – 2 open

February 10th-11th 2024 / limit 5 people – Full

March 23rd-24th 2024 / limit 5 people – 4 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Tampa Bay Spoonbills rookery. We typically shoot while wading in the water in the mornings and from the boat in the afternoon. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Ospreys / Spoonbills mix Photography Tour – $1,490

April 20th-21st 2024 / limit 5 people – 3 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 2 boat-based Osprey shoots at the Vero Beach Cypress Lake + 1 land-based Spoonbills shoot at a local rookery. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,090

June 8th-9th 2024 / limit 6 people – 2 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Pink and blue harmony

One of the best color harmony I know is pink and blue! Having a chance to create images of breeding colors Spoonbills around blue water does not happen everywhere. Join me in January to get your chance. 🙂

During weekends with very low tides, the birds will be more likely to land in the blue water. The image above is a perfect example. It is in fact one my favorite landing stances: wings fully extended backward with the beak well ahead of the body. This situation creates a nice diagonal movement in the image.

In my opinion, the color harmony from the image above is absolutely breathtaking! The bird has some of the brightest breeding colors possible, combined with a very clean and pleasing blue from the water for the backdrop. My only wish is that the wings would have been fully extended vertically. And even with the fastest burst rate that exists, the next frame did not capture that exact moment! So, even with the best equipment there is, creating an image with the perfect timing can still be up to chance. What a way to keep it fun 🙂

It feels good to create images with more than one subject. With long lenses, it is very tricky to have all birds on the same plane field and the narrow depth of field rarely allows for multiple birds to be in complete focus. One has to think of ways to incorporate other subjects in a pleasing way, despite the fact that the other birds might be blurred. Hence why I am happy with the image above, where there is a feel for the overall mood of the moment, while keeping things well balanced.

Tampa Bay Spoonbills Rookery Photography Tour – $1,590

January 13th-14th 2024 / limit 5 people – 2 open

February 10th-11th 2024 / limit 5 people – Full

March 23rd-24th 2024 / limit 5 people – 4 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Tampa Bay Spoonbills rookery. We typically shoot while wading in the water in the mornings and from the boat in the afternoon. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Ospreys / Spoonbills mix Photography Tour – $1,490

April 20th-21st 2024 / limit 5 people – 3 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 2 boat-based Osprey shoots at the Vero Beach Cypress Lake + 1 land-based Spoonbills shoot at a local rookery. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,090

June 8th-9th 2024 / limit 6 people – 2 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Best of Tampa Award & Ranger Rick Jr.

In short, I am proud to announce that Steven Bird Photography has been awarded the Best of Tampa Award in the photographer category!! Also, read this post to see which Spoonbill image was published in Ranger Rick Jr. this Summer.

That is right, it is the first time I receive a recognition of this kind 🙂 It only took 10 years of work! Per the Tampa Award Program, they recognize the companies that exemplify the best of small business.

It is always very pleasing when a high visibility magazine reaches out to you for a publication! The image above depicts two newly fledged Spoonbills feeding side by side.

Tampa Bay Spoonbills Rookery Photography Tour – $1,590

January 13th-14th 2024 / limit 5 people – 2 open

February 10th-11th 2024 / limit 5 people – Full

March 23rd-24th 2024 / limit 5 people – 5 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Tampa Bay Spoonbills rookery. We typically shoot while wading in the water in the mornings and from the boat in the afternoon. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Ospreys / Spoonbills mix Photography Tour – $1,490

April 20th-21st 2024 / limit 5 people – 3 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 2 boat-based Osprey shoots at the Vero Beach Cypress Lake + 1 land-based Spoonbills shoot at a local rookery. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .

Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,090

June 8th-9th 2024 / limit 6 people – 2 open

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com .