Osprey Airboat Photography Workshop – Freshwater Lake

Osprey Airboat Photography Workshop Climb aboard a big comfy airboat as we search a secret area where osprey are known to pull several species of fish from the shallow waters of a freshwater lake.

There are few places left in the state of Florida where you can find wild sections of nature that are untouched by man. This photography workshop will have you in one of the only areas that is still 100% old wild Florida. This area is so remote that it can only be accessed by an airboat and our airboat captain has been fishing and navigating this little secret slice of wildlife heaven for years. He knows where the fish are and so does our target bird, the osprey.

But you can expect to see a myriad of birds on this trip. It is not unusual to see wading birds such as: Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Little Green Herons and the always colorful Roseate Spoonbill which will be in full breeding plumage at this time of year.

Even though there will be plenty of great wading bird photography opportunities, our target species will be the osprey. Being that they are wild animals, finding them diving and feeding in the shallow waters isn’t a guarantee but our chances of seeing them pulling fish out of the water is very, very good.

Booking information is located at the bottom of the page.

The osprey are known to fish this secret spot quite frequently because it is very close to the world’s largest osprey nesting colony. The osprey are very busy tending to nests at this time of year and they need a constant supply of fish. We will be looking for them when they make their classic talon first dive into the shallow waters below.

This workshop is limited to 4 people per outing.

 Pricing: $450 per person.

A deposit will be required at the time of booking. Remaining balance is due 60 days before scheduled workshop. Cancellation policy for this workshop is as follows. Cancel 30 days prior and I will give you a full refund minus credit card processing fees. Cancel within 30 days of the workshop and you forfeit your deposit.

What’s Included

• Photography instruction.
• First hand knowledge on local wildlife species.
• Your very own personal spotters ( me and the boat captain )
• My personal experience that puts you in the best places at the best time
• Ear Protection

What’s Not Included

• Airfare
• Transportation to all locations during osprey workshop photo tour in the Vero Beach area.
• Lodging
• Transportation to and from airport
• Meals
• Photography equipment

Getting Here

These workshops originate in southeast Florida. Getting here is simple. If you are flying, fly direct into Orlando. From there, I suggest renting a car and heading into Vero Beach. All GPS systems will direct you to a toll road. Make sure your rental car has a toll pass or you have a small amount of cash and change on hand to pay the tolls. $10.00 should be plenty.

Where Should You Stay?

I highly suggest staying at one of the many hotels in Vero Beach. We will be meeting at the shoot site. You will be required to drive yourself. Time and location varies day to day but will be revealed when we get closer to your shoot date. I’m going to be making this as simple as possible for you. The goal is to have a good time, see some mind blowingly amazing osprey and take lots of excellent pictures. Here is a list of hotels in the area:

Holiday Inn Express Vero Beach-West (I-95)
(772) 567-2500

Hampton Inn Vero Beach
9350 19th Ln, Vero Beach, FL 32966
(772) 770-4299

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Vero Beach-I-95, FL
9330 19th Ln, Vero Beach, FL 32966
(772) 257-0252

Comfort Suites
9050 Americana Rd, Vero Beach, FL 32966
(772) 257-3400

What Should You Bring?

First and foremost, bring your sense of adventure. Bring your best long lens. I suggest: One camera body and a telephoto lens. 500mm or 600mm would be best. Tripods won’t be allowed on the boat. A monopod would be the better choice. We need to pack light in order to save space on the boat.

You can’t bring any tripods or camera bags on the boat. Carry spare batteries and memory cards on your person. If you have a small sling type backpack that sits on your chest, that is fine. There is no place to store any bags on the boat and for safety reasons, bags can’t sit on the deck.

I also suggest a “rain jacket” for your gear. While rain is unlikely, this is Florida and it does rain. It is best to be prepared.

How Long Does the Workshop Last?

We will be meeting before sunrise which should be around 6:45. The boat will be leaving at 7:00 AM sharp. If you are not there at 7:00 AM, you will be left behind. We will be back at the boat ramp at 10:00 am.

Clothing Choices

It doesn’t really get too cold in Florida during this time frame but we do get the occasional cold snap. We will be on the boat early in the morning so there could be a strong breeze which can be chilly.

• I suggest long pants that are lightweight
• Closed toe shoes that are comfortable along with comfy socks
• A short sleeve shirt or long sleeve shirt that can be easily removed if things warm up a bit
• A hat
• Sunscreen

This is going to be on an airboat. They are quick and loud. Our boat captain will be providing ear protection.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

A $100 deposit is required at the time of booking in order to secure your workshop. The remaining balance of your workshop must be paid in full within 60 days of the workshop starting date.

Our cancellation policy is as follows. In order to receive a full refund MINUS CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES, you will need to cancel your workshop at least 45 days prior to your booked date. If you need to cancel within that 45 day window, you will receive a refund minus the cost of your deposit.