UPDATE Newsletter - June 4, 2011

I'm writing to my newsletter subscribers with some updates ...

Three spaces left: Ecuador Hummingbirds
New Photos: Ecuador Hummingbirds
New article: ZTS Battery Testers

1. Three spaces left: Ecuador Hummingbirds

Three spaces remain (limit 6 photographers, small group guaranteed) in my popular Ecuador: Hummingbirds of the Andes workshops beginning October 26 this year, in case you might like to join us. This workshop has sold out the previous four times I offered it. And I've added some new Ecuador photo locations. More info ...

You'll visit several sites to photograph Ecuador's incredible hummingbirds, plus many other great birds including toucanets, barbets, tanagers, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, and the amazing Torrent Duck in the fast-moving rapids it inhabits. Along with great nature photography, you'll have comfortable accommodations and excellent meals. This will be my fifth workshop back to Ecuador.

I now supply all the flash equipment and lightstands you need for getting excellent photos of hummingbirds frozen in flight, which makes your travel and packing easier. You are free to arrange them to your liking, and I can teach you how it all works if you're new to hummingbirds. We're also using the Canon imageProGraf 24-inch printer to produce realistic state-of-the-art backgrounds for your use (see examples in the new galleries). To learn more about multiple flash hummingbird photography, you can read my Hummingbird Photography Online Guide.

2. New photos: Ecuador Hummingbirds

I've just added thirty photos from last year's workshop to my Ecuador Hummingbirds gallery where you'll see the types of photos we've been getting. In all my years of photographing hummingbirds, the hummers we photograph in Ecuador are the most stunning and unique I've ever encountered.

If you're interested in hummingbirds but can't make our Ecuador trip, you can still join the Costa Rica Hummingbirds and More workshop which runs March 29-Apr 6 2012. And you can extend it for the Resplendent Quetzal April 6-12, 2012. You'll experience great lodges, excellent food, and some of the world's most photogenic hummingbirds, surrounded by the scenic tropics of Costa Rica. (Limit 6 photographers. Small group guaranteed.) Flash equipment provided, along with other bird, wildlife, and macro opportunities.

These workshops will teach you all about using flash for nature photography, including the subtleties of on-camera fill flash, using the Better Beamer Flash Extender with long lenses, flash tricks for macro, flash batteries, and multiple-flash photography.

3. New article: ZTS Battery Testers

If you're like me, you use a lot batteries. I've found the sophisticated Pulse Load battery testers from ZTS to be excellent tools I use constantly at home and away, and I've written an article describing them for you: ZTS Battery Testers: Useful and Accurate Tools. I hope you find it helpful.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to other photographers. And thank you for your interest.

Join us on a photo workshop and tour. Great photography and learning, in a small group. You can register by phone or email. I look forward to shooting with you again.

Best wishes,
Ralph

P.S. Upcoming articles ...

"The latest flash batteries"

"Tips for using your Better Beamer Flash Extender"