Testimonials

I enjoyed the workshops Mark.  I found both days with you to be fun and rewarding experiences. You have a great personality and are a very good story teller.  The people that were on my two trips were all very friendly and a joy to be around.  Captain Bob was also very nice and he too had some interesting stories. I would not hesitate to go back on the workshops with you if I come back to Florida again. I wish you nothing but success for the future. I will continue to be an avid follower of your BRILLIANT work in the future. Ten out of ten on the workshops.

BM

I recently attended a photography workshop in Florida, focused on capturing images of Osprey. The workshop was incredibly well-organized and had a friendly and supportive atmosphere. From the moment it started, I was given great advice by Mark on camera settings, which allowed me to dive straight into shooting. Throughout the workshop, Mark shared great tips on lighting, composition, and even post-processing techniques.

The entire experience was educational and enjoyable. For anyone looking to improve their photography skills in a hands-on setting, I highly recommend Mark’s workshops. The next time I’m in Florida, I’ll definitely be looking to join another session!

MS

My wife and I are heading home to Texas on the final leg of a four week road trip to numerous locations in Florida with the main purpose of bird photography and the timing based around joining Mark Smith’s OSPREY AIRBOAT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP in early April.  This workshop has been the highlight of our visit and in my opinion the only practical way for an outsider such as ourselves to see Ospreys hunting and catching fish in a completely wild and little visited area which is representative of their true natural environment.  The airboat ride was interesting and once at the viewing site(s) provides a very stable and uncluttered platform for action photography.  In addition Mark provides help and guidance on the best camera settings for the prevailing conditions along with a really interesting commentary about Ospreys and local wildlife in general.  Altogether an extremely pleasurable experience and I will not hesitate to join Mark on one of his future workshops should the opportunity arise.
Thanks again, Mark, for a great workshop!

Brian

It’s always fun going out on field workshops with Mark Smith. He knows where the birds are active and puts you in the best position and time to get the shots you are looking for. 

Alan

Thanks for an amazing two mornings of shooting ospreys. What an absolute blast. I got some great photos and had a great time. I really appreciate your help and advice with camera settings, sightings and making this a great experience. Thanks also to Roy for his expert guide service. Again, if you ever get to the Oregon coast, please let me know. Thanks for an amazing experience!

Sam

Mark’s workshop was such a wonderful experience. He not only helped with a new camera and lens but shared his knowledge and love for the wildlife in Florida.  His kindness meant so much.  I am looking forward to adding these new photos to my bird portfolio! 

ER

Mark lives in Vero Beach and so he knows the area well. He knows the habits of the birds, and where are the best places to find them in the best light. He can even talk about the fish they eat. He also helped me with camera settings, and with making a particular setting on a new lens which I was using for the first time. He is enthusiastic and personable. I enjoyed my day with him, and got some great shots, too. I’d do it again

Bob

Mark is extremely knowledgeable about not only photography, but also the ecosystems you are photographing as well as the animals. Highly recommend his workshop

Dan

I recently completed my third owl photography workshop with Mark (I’ve done a few others for ospreys). How can I put this.  There are no guarantees that you will find owls, or that they’ll cooperate for excellent captures, etc.  But what is a certainty is that the workshop will be a very enjoyable experience, regardless of outcome!  Being out on the boat in the lake for a few hours, enjoying the company and knowledge of Mark and fellow participants, can’t be beat.  It’s a great vibe and it’s only amplified when you do capture excellent photos (which I’ve managed to do 95% of the time!)  Highly recommended!  

Tony

Fantastic Osprey diving and feeding workshop.  Mark and his son provided the group with loads of tips and tricks on birds in flight photography and helped set my camera up to aid in focusing and allow easy access to specific settings.  They both have a laid back teaching style, which was appreciated.  I walked away with some very good pictures.  I highly recommend

ES

I recently attended The Afternoon Owl Exercsion Photography Workshop and I Highly recommend it.  Mark’s easy going vibe added a real personal touch. His first hand knowledge of the birds habits and what to expect as we came across them so we could be ready to photograph.  He provided so many useful photography tips, that I was able to come away with many beautiful pictures of the Owls and other bird species along the way. Thanks to Mark and his crew for hosting this fantastic workshop.

M W

Thanks so much for putting on the workshop. I took the best pictures I’ve ever taken of Osprey during the feeding frenzy; we were in the right place at the right time due to your expertise. It was also just a pleasure to hang out with you and your son — your enthusiasm for birds and life is infectious! 

Derek

Even though it was rainy, overcast, and the wind was pushing 25-30mph, I had a great time at both the Osprey and Owl workshops this week.   Torin gave me a couple of tips to help track diving birds and your shutter speed / iso technical help on the owl hunt helped me get a keeper image that my wife and daughter both said is their favorite of mine to date.  This is a very good thing as it might mean my wife will let me get away for another workshop. 

David

It was a pleasure experiencing beautiful barred owls with you, your son & Ray.  We were amazed to have multiple close encounters with several owls and a surprise appearance from the peregrine falcons.  The workshop completely exceeded our expectations.  Simply amazing!

R. Davis

Thank you, Mark for a fantastic workshop. It was everything I was hoping for. The locations were excellent, the lighting on the last day was perfect and we got lucky with the action. I do like your style of teaching and your willingness to share your wealth of knowledge. I’m looking forward to doing other workshop with you in the future. I appreciate that even after the workshop you’re open to answering any questions that I may have.

K

Huge thanks to Mark, Torin and Roy for two wonderful afternoons on the water in search of Owls. It was a collaborative effort to make sure that we were put in just the right position to get some great portrait shots and Owls in flight, they did not disappoint. I would definitely join Mark again, in the future. 

P B

Mark is the EXPERT you’ve always wanted as your workshop leader.  This guy is miraculous when it comes to knowledge, experience, and professionalism.  Going on a workshop with Mark is like having the “master” birder, the most skillful photographer all in one package.  He’s the one you’ve been looking for and he knows just the PERFECT locations to do amazing photo shoots.  Book  now with this birding genius before he gets too busy (I know I will !)  

Recommendation Joy Miller, Phd, LCPC, MAC

I was able to get many great shots that I’ve been wanting to add to my portfolio.  Mark knew when and where to go to position us to get the images I’ve been wanting to capture.  He and his son were great spotters, which was way more helpful than I would have imagined.  Also, because we both shoot the Sony A1, he was able to give me some tips on some camera settings and explain some nuances off of the autofocus system that were very helpful.  He is very generous in sharing his knowledge and experience.

MA

Thanks Mark for letting me and my hubby go on the owl excursion.  Hearing the owls call, seeing them fly, land in a tree its all a priceless experience.  Just amazing. 

Thanks for the advice on camera settings, and learning to prefocus. Thanks for explaining things at my beginner level. Thanks for being down to earth and totally approachable with any question. 

Shelly

Mark, thank you for the wonderful Osprey diving and feeding workshop.  You are very generous with your knowledge of photography, sharing locations to get the best shots and preparing participants for the workshop.  I’ve followed your tutorials for some time and they definitely helped to elevate my photography.

Elizabeth

This was my second and third workshop with you.  I really enjoyed both the owl trip and the mourning shoot for osprey. Your knowledge of location and  desire to be helpful was there all the time.  The other thing that is important to me is your groups seem to attract friendly people.  Three trips and three times all the people were open, friendly and co-operative.  I came away with this trip feeling more confident in my ability to get out there and do it.  I’ve enclosed a few pictures, which are not necessarily the best, they just caught my eye, have not been able to go through the hundreds of pictures yet

Thanks for everything

Stan

I attended Mark Smith’s Washington State Bald Eagle Workshop May 31st/June 1st ’23. What a great workshop! Mark and his son were very helpful both with helping me move my gear, and with their excellent knowledge of why, when, where and how to successfully photograph these amazing birds. Many, many eagles, herons, ducks and geese (with babies) were there in abundance and easy to photograph. We arrived just as the tide was going out, and the feeding frenzy was beginning.

Philip

Over two 4-hour periods in two days, I shot more than 3,000 frames. Now I have the enviable dilemma of deciding what to print from the dozens of “keepers”.

I  had a wonderful time at the workshop in Washington. The location was epic, with more eagle activity than I’ve ever seen before. Both you and Torin were great with calling out/spotting the birds. Both of you also provided invaluable tips that immediately improved the photos I was able to capture. In addition, I was having transportation issues, and I greatly appreciated that you offered to provide me with a ride to and from the location. For anyone considering a workshop with Mark, my only advice is this – do it. It’s an awesome experience and you will definitely have a good time. 

Grunt

I  want to thank you and your son for two wonderful days of photography.  It was the best bird photography workshop I’ve ever attended.  You and your son were friendly, technically helpful and really kept it a fun environment.  I traveled from South Florida to attend the workshop and it really was not oversold.  The location was terrific and there were plenty of bald eagles to photograph. Another plus is the workshop attracted very friendly people.  I have been to  other workshops and I can say for sure the environment  was not as congenial.   Thanks and I look forward to seeing you on the owl and Roseate spoonbill trips.

Stan

Mark – This ranks as one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in my life. During the workshop, your personnel instruction increased my camera knowledge and confidence while photographing the Roseate Spoonbill. 

These photos are some of the best I’ve ever taken, I look forward to attending your other workshops in the near future.

Vicki

Thanks so much for the great workshop!    It was amazing to spend the morning photographing the roseate spoonbills!    I really appreciated the recommendations for camera settings that you and Torin shared.  It was extremely helpful for getting some beautiful shots.    You are an amazing educator when it comes to photography and the natural environment.   It was an inspirational morning.    Keep doing what you’re doing! 

VP

As I told you personally at the end of the workshop, I really appreciated you freely sharing your expertise.  I enjoyed your kind manner and your love of the subjects you shoot is clearly evident and contagious. The ride in the air boat was an added bonus.  I certainly hope our paths cross again. Until then-blessings to you in all your photo endeavors.  

Drayton

After many years of following you through your videos, it was a pleasure to finally meet you and attend the Nesting Osprey workshop.  You are an exceptionally knowledgeable photographer who has the capability of articulating information in a manner that is concise and easily understood.  I cannot begin to tell you how much I have learned from you over the years.   The Osprey workshop was an amazing experience where I was able to capture incredible images of not only my favorite raptor, the Osprey, but also Barred Owls, numerous Shorebirds and scenery reminiscent of Old Florida.   The entire tour was impressive, right down to your boat captain who also shared his knowledge of the area and a respect for wildlife that parallels yours.  Thank you Mark for a wonderful experience that I will be recommending to other photographers.  I look forward to registering for several future workshops of yours.

Sharon

The Florida Nesting Osprey Colony was my second workshop with Mark and it met all of my expectations and more!  The lake is beautiful and well worth the trip in its own right.  Very Jurassic park like!  There were not only several dozens of osprey nests and ospreys but per my count I also photographed a dozen other species of birds and two alligators.  At the beginning of the workshop another guest and myself both had camera/setup issues which Mark jumped in and quickly resolved.  Will I do anymore workshops with Mark?  Yes I hope to in the future!

Steve

Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn from you and for you to know where to get the best shots of osprey. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. 

Nick

The workshop was everything I hoped it would be. The setting was spectacular and I never imagined seeing so many Ospreys in one place. Worth a trip across the country.

Joy

The workshop was everything I hoped it would be. The setting was spectacular and I never imagined seeing so many Ospreys in one place. Worth a trip across the country.

Henry

The Osprey Airboat Photography Workshop did not disappoint. Beautiful scenery and great people. Mark Smith is truly the Osprey Whisperer and was very knowledgeable about all the different birds, their habits and knew the very spot that the Ospreys liked to fish. I plan on taking one of the other workshops he offers again someday. Thank you for an awesome experience!

D L

I got my best osprey and spoonbill pictures on this short trip, in addition to learning to set Sony A1 zebra values. Thanks Mark!

YL

Mark

I enjoyed the workshop immensely, and please add me to your 2024 Osprey workshops when they become available.

CH

Mark,

The workshop was terrific. As I said after we finished….the airboat ride alone was worth it. The workshop is advertised as an opportunity to shoot Ospreys fishing, but it’s so much more. I got a couple of really nice Osprey shots with fish but the real prize shots I got were of other birds.

FB

Yes, the workshop was fantastic and besides having a wonderful time photographing the Spoonbills, your suggestions were/are awesome.  Have implemented them and the changes have been fantastic.  Wish I had more time to pick your brain, but the spoonbills were calling and had my full attention.  Hope to enjoy another workshop with you and am sure will see you again.

Thanks again for all of you help and a fantastic memorable experience.

S

Mark, I thoroughly enjoyed your Roseate Spoonbill Workshop this last Wednesday.  Even though the morning was far from perfect for photography (cold, windy, and drizzly) you and your assistants did a great job of ensuring our cameras were configured correctly and that we maintained the proper setting as the morning progressed.  Even though I had only signed up for a one day workshop you urged me to try and come back the next morning as the weather was supposed to be an improvement.  I’m glad I delayed my return home for a few hours as the weather was considerably better!  Many thanks for a great time!  I hope to be able to fit another workshop into my schedule in the near future.

S R

Recently I had the opportunity to attend Mark Smith’s Roseate Spoonbill workshop.  Mark is extremely knowledgeable about bird photography, media, and most if not all equipment, cameras and lenses.  Mark was willing to go beyond sharing his knowledge and answered any questions we all had.  He gave personal attention to me and other individuals.  I really loved talking with Torin and Amber.  One morning as we were finishing up Mark took us to another area where we all sat around shooting, laughing and taking in the scenery while enjoying Mark’s great sense of humor.  I would love to attend another workshop in the future.

C H

I got very good results at your  Roseate Spoon Bill’s workshop 9-11 March thanks to you and your number one son Torin, Armed with my trusty Sony A1and Sony 100-400mm lens i was able to do little twigs with focus area, exposure and position, this was the first I could use the A1 at 30fps for extended time.

Thanks for allowing me to take part in your workshop

B C

Thank you so much!

Mark,  for the photo education and all around birding adventure.     Really, I learned so much in just a few hours, resulting in some great photos!   Now all I have to do is educate my self on post-process of RAW, which as I mentioned I have been avoiding. 

Regardless, good to meet you and your family and also talk about the old country – Colorado.

LP

I certainly did enjoy the outing to photograph the spoonbills.  I learned how to maximize the settings on my D850 to get incredible shots.  Thanks for sharing your expertise with me.

J

Mark is a wonderful teacher.  We had a great two days with the Spoonbills.  After some instruction we set up to shoot. Mark knows a lot about the different brand of cameras. Mark and his son always made sure we were doing fine. I am anxious and ready to attend my next Mark Smith workshop.

K

As someone who has been a photographer for over 50 years (started with a Kodak Brownie) I was mainly looking for someone who knew the area and where to see the birds. While I wasn’t really looking for technical advice, your hint on being extra careful not to blow out the whites was valuable. I would not have figured the Spoonbills to be such a bright, reflective subject. This shows that you are never to old to seek advice! I have a few shots that look like wall hangers on the back of my camera. I look forward to processing the shots when I get home. 

I really liked the fact that your love of the birds was so apparent. I enjoyed hearing the info you gave on the rapid adaptation of the Snail Kites, and of the whole local ecosystem. Another thing I would not have gotten if I just visited the location on my own. 

You son was fun to visit with, as well. I love his enthusiasm. 

Lorraine enjoyed the day as well, even as a non photographer. 

Thanks, also, for the tip on the Sandhill Colts. We really enjoyed watching the behavior, and I got some nice shots.

As a side note, I got some great shots at Sebastian Inlet yesterday. Herons are my favorite birds and I got a lot of time with a Little Blue along the rocky shore. Lorraine and I are going to head over this afternoon..

Thanks again, Mark. 

W.G.

Thank you for a wonderful experience.  I have never been able to achieve the consistent quality of photos prior to your class.  I attribute this to your technical knowledge and  practical application.  Your ability to teach and coach us individually during the workshop enhanced my overall  photography skills and outcomes.

Your knowledge of bird behavior enabled us to anticipate and time our shots to capture great action shots.

M.S.

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning!  The help we received on our camera settings, the spotters who never let us miss a bird, the concern that we got to make sure that we got awesome photos went above and beyond!  Thank you so much for a wonderful workshop!

C

What a spectacular morning for capturing beautiful roseate spoonbills! Honestly it was like having the place to ourselves and Mark does a great job with explaining those recommended camera settings; and goes a step further by explaining the theory behind those recommendations. I can certainly see what a difference that made in my final preview. Did I mention we also had the opportunity to check out other species in the area during our workshop? We love the flexibility Mark adds to his workshops and always leave stoked for the next adventure! 

D

Thank you for a fantastic Workshop. I was so glad that I had purchased your video before I came and it was a good foundation for doing birds in flight in slow motion.  But two days with you topped it off.  I took a trip right after with my family to Galveston.  Saw some spoonbill in good afternoon light and tried my hand again.  Thank you for helping me enjoy my A1 even more!!!!  Can’ wait for more fun in Washington with the Eagles.

M.M.

Mark.  I enjoyed the company of you and your son, Torin,  as well as the other guests.  Your knowledge of Osprey photography and  behaviour is deep and you are certainly willing to share.  I was also particularly impressed with your son.  He is both knowledgeable but also quite social and comfortable meeting and conversing with strangers.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he follows in your footsteps.

I enjoyed the workshop – it was time well spent.  The location was ideal and easily accessible.  The abundance of bird life was more than adequate.  I shot about thousands of  pictures of a variety of species in order to practice following/focussing on birds in flight, making sure that my exposure was correct in the changing light, and getting pictures of shorebirds and terns that I had not previously photographed.  I am not usually able to have more or less constant action to hone my skills.  The shooting tips and techniques were invaluable.

I spent two photo sessions at the photo location (which I won’t name here to protect your business interests).  Both days resulted in thousands of pictures of various species of birds.  The action on each days was variable.  

But I came primarily for the Ospreys.

I had consistent Osprey action on both days but the second day was more consistent in terms of feeding activity.  I recall up to five Ospreys circling, mostly setting up for a dive to upon an unsuspecting fish.  The aborted dives were as exciting as the actual plunges and resulted in some very good pictures – you have to be constantly ready for the action.

As I mentioned I counted five Ospreys circling about.  Had I been using a shorter lens I could have photographed four in one frame – amazing.  The Ospreys are concentrated in a relatively small area (the extremes being too far for photography) but the action was never far away.

Until last year, I lived on a lake frequented by a few Ospreys but never had action like I experienced in Florida.

 I will remember my time with you, Torin and the Ospreys for a long time.  Overall, I am pleased with the experience.  I will certainly enroll for your workshops if I visit Florida again.

John

I enjoyed the company of you and your son as well as the other guests.  Your knowledge of Osprey behaviour is deep and you are certainly willing to share.  I was also particularly impressed with your son.  He is both knowledgeable but also quite social and comfortable meeting and conversing with strangers – a trait that I don’t think is very common among young men.

I enjoyed the workshop – it was time well spent.  The location was ideal and easily accessible.  The abundance of bird life was more than adequate.  I shot about 1000 pictures of a variety of species in order to practice following/focussing on birds in flight, making sure that my exposure was correct in the changing light, and getting pictures of shorebirds and terns that I had not previously photographed.  I am not usually able to have more or less constant action to hone my skills.  The shooting tips and techniques were invaluable.

In fact, I have a very good picture (attached) of a Royal Tern (I think) with a shrimp in its bill.

However, the Ospreys were a disappointment and they of course were the major reason for my trip.  Anticipation was certainly high as they circled and hovered on the hunt.  And although several initiated the attack, only one (to my knowledge) actually completed the dive.

I certainly don’t blame you for the absence of a feeding frenzy any more than I would blame Yellowstone or Grand Teton national parks if I don’t see a grizzly bear or a wolf pack.

But since this workshop specifically targets Ospreys diving and feeding, I had very high expectations.  Although I have hundreds of pictures of Ospreys, only one that I saw was diving and picked up a piece of bait.  Let me emphasize again, that’s not your fault.  Wildlife are not inclined to perform on queue.

Overall, I am pleased with the experience.  I will certainly enroll for your workshop if I visit Florida again.

JB

I attended 3 consecutive days of owl shooting and came back with some great images.  Mark and our boat captain Roy work hard to locate where the owls are hanging out.  It was never in the same locations all 3 days.  If you have the time it helps to take multiple trips as you will get different locations with different backgrounds.

P J

Owls are the most troublesome bird for me to spot naturally in the wild and my goal was to get a print-worthy shot as a Christmas gift to my Mother.  Mark Smith’s Afternoon Owl Excursion far exceeded all of my expectations given how elusive wildlife can be in their natural habitat.  Mark guided us perfectly to multiple areas in which Barred Owls have been known to inhabit and nature did not disappoint.  Whether they were perched on branches or flying around, I got the best shots of my life that afternoon.  Mark went out of his way to ensure no one was excluded from one-on-one technical and personal conversation during the trip.  If you enjoy Mark’s amazing videos on YouTube you’ll 100% have a great time at any workshop he guides.  In the end, I got the shot and the perfect poster print my Mother loves!

I really had tons of fun at the workshop! Your knowledge about birds, the lake, and all the variety of cameras is extensive!

KT

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I filled the card with 1000+ wonderful pictures. You never know what the tour leader will be like but you are even better than the videos you send.

Dan

I have been on a few of your workshops and have never been disappointed. This month I attended the Owl workshop in Florida with the my expectations being well satisfied again. Patience paid off as we seen Barred owls and Barn owls in this natural environment. Mark is always been a down to earth guy who is willing to pass information on to all who attend his workshops. He enjoys helping people and is excited for them when he sees them gain success from information he gives them. He breaks the information down so everyone can enjoy and understand it. He always makes you feel at ease with what ever photography background you may have. I will continue to follow him to many more of these workshops as I continue to learn after each and everyone. So ‘Let’s Go”

Thanks again Mark for the memories you have given me,

Micheal

The osprey workshop I attended was all I expected and more. Your expertise regarding ospreys and their behavior was spot on and because of that I got many great photos of ospreys and other birds! Now you need to move to California so you can do more workshops here.

S.S.

One of the reasons I came for another session is I knew beforehand we would find what we are looking for and the rest is up to us. I had a minor issue with my camera and you explained it and fixed almost instantly. Your enthusiasm is infectious as well. One of the things I like best is picking a date or days and paying for it rather than a 3-5 day trip where you pay for lodging, food, etc. I live in central Florida and left about 10, shot the owls in the afternoon and was home a little after 6. I look forward to see you again.

J. W.

Hi Mark. I had a wonderful time and am so happy with my photos!  I hope to attend again next year!  I saw so many more birds than I expected. 

Thanks to you and Roy for making it an awesome day I will never forget!

Dena

I’ve been on several photography workshops and I must say your workshop was the work of a real pro.  Your attention to detail and total understanding of the environment we were shooting, the challenges necessary to make this a win were outstanding.  It’s always a pleasure to work with someone who cares about there craft and does what I think ALL photographers really hope far which is to send you home with the shot!

SF

Thank you for putting together the incredible Florida Diving and Feeding Osprey Photography Workshop.  There were many opportunities to photograph Osprey diving and emerging from the water with fish in their talons.  On one occasion I had the awesome experience of capturing an Osprey rising from the water with a fish in each talon.       

This was my third workshop with you and all have been truly amazing.  I look forward to joining you for future workshops.    

Leonard

Mark, thank you so much for a great workshop. The photography was excellent and I really appreciated your expert tips on how to photograph diving Ospreys which is a lot hard than you make it look on your YouTube videos! . I left the workshop with some amazing photographs which will hang on my wall at home. I also really appreciated learning about the biology of the Ospreys which was a great bonus. I would highly recommend this workshop. Thanks again Mark!

Dave

My osprey photography workshop was a wonderful experience. You quickly helped me address the technical issues I was struggling with that were hindering getting sharp pics.  You guided me re my lens 200-600 and its strengths and weakness.  This is why I came.  So mission accomplished!   

I happened to get some great shots and also learned that the most important factors are actually direction of light and direction of wind for bird photography.

O. J.

My two cents on this workshop. It was AWESOME! I had a great time. Mark and his sone were very helpful and easy to talk to. I learned a couple of things about exposure that I look forward to doing more of in future wildlife shoots. I would say this is a must do for anyone who loves wildlife photography, especially Osprey.  If you catch them on the right day, you will have
one heck of a good time. I would give this a 5 out of 5 rating.

Archie

Mark’s Sony A1 Video Capture Guide is exactly the video course for the Sony A1I was hoping to find. I didn’t know where to start when it came to using video on this camera, and Mark did a great job of explaining the alphabet soup of video modes and other camera settings. I especially liked the way Mark explained the use of picture profiles, from S-Log3 to S-Cinetone, plus his run-and-gun, no-picture-profile alternative using a creative look. The explanation of how to use the zebra settings for video was really helpful. I can’t imagine how long it would have taken me to figure this out on my own, either by trial and error or by searching YouTube videos. Also, his expertise in using the A1’s controls gave me a jump start in configuring the camera. Highly recommended for any A1 owner that is new to using video or already knows something about video and wants to take advantage of what the A1 can do. Video capability s a big part of the value of the A1, so you owe it to yourself to learn how to use it.

Roger

I bought the SONY A1 VIDEO CAPTURE GUIDE – THE COMPLETE ONLINE COURSE and it is A+.

There is NO way I would have figured out all the correct settings! Worth every $$$ if you really want to understand how to do video on the super Sony a1.

I really like the short lessons explaining what each setting does and then CLEARLY showing me the steps to do them in the menu step by step with video and slow enough that I can follow along. BIG +

Andy

Your Washington eagle workshop was such a great experience! I was impressed not only by what I learned about photography (a better way to meter for exposure in certain situations for one) but your knowledge of the eagle’s behaviors as well. The latter helped a lot with predicting when the right shot would present itself. The fact that you played a little guitar for us was just an added bonus. Now I just need to scrape up a few more bucks to go to an osprey workshop in Florida. Thanks again!

Stan

Thank you for an exceptional time photographing the eagles on Washington’s Hood Canal. The birds were magnificent and your background info and guidance during the shoot added greatly to the experience. I look forward to seeing your video of the event and hope we’ll meet again at a future workshop.

Jude

A good value for your money with wonderful location and instruction on how to best take advantage of the location. Mark had pre-negotiated for the best spot to shoot. His girlfriend and daughter were a delight to meet. Beautiful photographs with advice and help from Mark. He did a great job explaining why the birds were there. Instructions for getting there were clear and well presented with no confusion. Mark did an excellent job of calling out the birds as they were arriving.

Taylor

 I had a wonderful trip and enjoyed your workshop a lot, thank you!

Francois

I had a wonderful time. Also, enjoyed meeting the other photographers, taking about the guitars and 5150 amp. Oh! The location was phenomenal, I filled 2 card with absolutely amazing photographs. Thank you for the experience.

Charles

I respect Mark and his creative skills so much I followed him over 2500 miles for his Eagle workshop. I was not disappointed. What an experience. Eagles everywhere:  soaring, intimidating blue herons, incredible in-air battles all in front of us with the beautiful Olympic Mountains as a backdrop. All of this in June and in excellent shooting conditions. Highly recommend!

Charlie

Hi Mark.  I have to tell you that I was very pleased with the workshop yesterday.  The only downside was the intermittent showers.  But the clouds made for better shooting.  I really appreciate your (and Tracy’s) attention to your students.  It was nice that you knew so many of the different cameras and their quirks and could help us with settings.  I haven’t made it through all of the images yet but there are quite a few good ones.  I’m looking forward to doing another workshop with you.

Ruppert

So I am one of those people who go to workshops and don’t say much, and don’t ask a lot of questions (except when I’m stuck). I like to listen to the workshop leader, make sure I understand all the input, then try things, and figure them out as I go. I also listen to others’ questions — often the same ones I would ask, if I weren’t so introverted — and learn from the answers they get. It works for me… and it worked very well in Mark’s Washington Bald Eagle workshop. Everything went just as promised (except the weather was a little nicer than expected). The participants, the leader (Mark), the tide, the midshipmen, GBHs and eagles all showed up on schedule and delivered a wonderful, highly instructive experience (and about 4,000 raw images). With what I learned, my BIF keeper rate will almost certainly jump. Mark gave me all the help I wanted and was always around to answer questions and check on my progress. And, since I have “hung out” with Mark via so many of his videos, he wasn’t a stranger to me — I knew precisely what to expect, and I got it. Mark is as pleasant, positive, and informative in person as he is on YouTube. And that’s pretty great! I hope to join him for more workshops in the coming months. Thanks, Mark!

Douglas

I wanted to reach out and thank you for opening up your experience with me and the others who attended the Washington Eagle Workshop. You quickly and thoughtfully provided advice to maximize our time with the eagles and added valuable commentary throughout the day. You created a friendly atmosphere for everyone and took the time to answer any questions. I felt like any question was fair game no matter how easy or complex it seemed.  I look forward to getting the opportunity to work with you again on a future workshop!

Matthew

We are all really happy about your workshop. Do let us know if you have any information about any future ones. We are looking forward to it. We’re so happy for attending your workshop. We all got amazing bald eagles shots. Even though it was our first time photographing them. Without your tips I don’t think we could’ve done it. Thanks for your teaching! Looking forward to photograph with you soon.

Jill

What a stellar photography workshop experience! You certainly delivered on an action-packed morning eagle showdown. Both my husband and I appreciated your historical narrative and one-on-one photography tips and critique, it made a world of difference in our final picture review. I can’t wait to send these eagle shots to print! Thank you again for an incredible experience, we had a blast!

Stacey & Deanna

The workshop was excellent! The eagles performed admirably, and the weather was decent. I think I captured some pretty nice images.  It was nice meeting the future Mrs Smith. She appears to be a wonderful lady and I think you two will make a great team. I look forward to the Osprey workshop.

Leonard

As first time visitors to Florida we were at a bit of a loss as to where and what to point our cameras at. Your field trip along with all your tips and tricks was amazing. Wehave a much better feel for how to shoot flying birds and are now better and happier photographers. We are definitely coming back and hope to see you on our next trip.

Evan and Yan

I joined Mark on a workshop and found it very worthwhile, and had a really good time. Mark is an expert on behavior of the birds, and he kept the group aware of good shooting opportunities in anticipation of the birds’ movements.  We were joined by Mark’s son Torin, who is also very knowledgeable and helped as a spotter, offered many suggestions, and was attentive to our questions. I brought a new Sony camera on the outing, and Mark, with his vast expertise, was very helpful in working through issues and questions about its workings and setup (I had previously set up the camera based on his excellent video on the subject!). I really appreciate his attentiveness and willingness to answer almost constant questions from the group; he really enjoys talking about birds and photography. I learned a lot on the outing, and plan to take another of his workshops in the future. 

J Wiesner

Hey Mark. I am still on a high from my two workshops. Literally, I am reliving the entire time I spent on that lake, of course particularly the falcon scene. How surreal was that? In short, this was absolutely worth the 3,000 mile trip. Thank you so much. Good chance I will see you again next year, with my brother this time around hopefully.

Moshe

I write to thank you for an awesome experience, one I will remember for a long time. I’m still ploughing through the 1500 shots from the two days, which is also a pleasure in itself to relive those moments. E.g. when two of the Osprey’s were fighting. And of course, I can’t forget the owls… I love the owls canoodling together. For me, getting out into the wild and being close to all these creatures in their native habitat was just amazing. As you said, being able to see things you wouldn’t normally see is a privilege and I appreciated yours and Captain Roy’s local knowledge. You were there if we had any questions, which was great. The Z7 did let me down, but I knew that beforehand, but it also surprised me. I am sure I’ll have enough ‘keepers’ for my home and office walls. The brief interaction with the Z9 last evening was very encouraging. Some quick photos of my dogs running proved to me I made the right decision to upgrade. Maybe I’ll see you with it at one of your other workshops. Keep posting your youtube videos, it’s a great mix of content.

Martin

The three days on the boat with you was an experience that I will never forget. What we were able to observe, your expertise on the area, the time that you took with people and the amount of photo opportunities of Osprey were incredible. Your ability to share your information always seemed to enlighten everyone. Also, I’d like to give my thanks to Roy for steering us in the right direction and his help with spotting. Thanks for three great days of your workshop Mark. I will see you again.

Michael

The Osprey nesting workshop was a terrific way to see some beautiful scenery, relax on a nice boat ride and have numerous opportunities to photograph Osprey in and around Cypress trees. If you’re lucky you might see a peregrine falcon and some bald eagles. And it’s fun to spend some time with the king of Osprey photography.

Alan

I am thrilled with the photos I took during both the Osprey Nesting and earlier Roseate Spoonbills workshops.  The custom Sony a1 setup from your website was extremely helpful in being able to make changes without removing the camera from my eye while taking the pictures. Your guidance while we were shooting or when I was challenged was extremely helpful in understanding what I was doing right and wrong.  I feel much more confident moving forward and now have a better understanding of the way my camera works. The other great plus to your workshops is your selection of places to shoot and at the best time of the year.  I look forward to future workshops. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you and the fun I’ve had in selecting the best photos from the shoot!

Jan

Mark it was a pleasure meeting you in person after following your setup guides for Sony cameras and watching your videos. I thoroughly enjoyed your Roseate Spoonbill workshop on March 29.  You and your son are very knowledgeable and extremely helpful in calling out the birds as they approached and helping us to keep our settings and locations on point for the best shots. I came back with great images and am having difficulty choosing my favorites! I’m looking forward to working with you again.

Sandy

I want to thank you and Captain Roy for the thrill of a life time. I had never been on an airboat before and to be able to go where regular boats could never go was such a thrill.  Add to that, the chance to see so many different bird species that I had never encountered before and for them to be so close. Wow! No, I haven’t forgotten the reason for being there, getting a chance to learn more about my favorite bird, the Osprey from a person who truly knows them, such an experience. The sheer number of Osprey over head and diving, gave my neck, visual senses and photography skills a real workout. Spending two mornings with you only made me want more. I hope that I can have more photographic opportunities with you. Thank you so much.

Stan

Mark is amazing, but unfortunately, he cannot control the weather.  He quickly rethought the morning and came up with a great alternative shoot. I’ll reschedule next year with Mark.

Michael

We had a great time! It was so helpful to learn about the birds from you, and what you look for when trying to make a great spoonbill photo!

Nick

I have taken several workshops with Mark and will continue to do so. He is relaxed, knowledgeable and friendly. He not only knows photography and does not hesitate to share information, he also understands his subjects and all the nuances of their behavior which leads to ethical wildlife photography.  I have always learned new insights, come home with memorable images, and enjoyed the experience! I highly recommend you experience one of his workshops and you will come away with great images, new knowledge, and want to experience it again!  Thank you Mark for all you have taught me and others, making it fun and enjoyable! And I want to thank Torin as well, you should be very proud of him! He has many of your “people skills” and relates well to people of all ages and skill levels! 

Sherry

I recently attended a 2-day shooting adventure – photographing Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons and many more species with Mark Smith. It was the BEST! He immediately helped each of us with our specific cameras and the settings and ushered us to the right photographic spots. His son was also there and he was just as amazingly helpful.  He also shared other places around the Florida coast so each of us could  broaden our bird shooting experiences. Thanks Mark and your son!  Your guidance was spot on. I have got some amazingly beautiful photographs to treasure!

Sheila

On February 10 and 11, I joined Mark in Vero Beach to photograph the osprey fishing. When they didn’t show up in numbers, instead of being disappointed, Mark showed me that there were a lot of other birds to photograph and I came home with over 100 incredible photos of snowy egrets, pelicans, gannets, and osprey. In the process, I learned so much about getting a perfect exposure, accurate focus, and the use of light and shadow, and my photos show it.  This is my second workshop with Mark and it won’t be my last. He’s a great teacher and I loved his watchful hands off approach. He gave me tips when I needed them; helped me to see different angles for effective shots, and made the outing great fun. If you are serious about getting better as a bird and wildlife photographer, invest in yourself by taking one of Mark’s workshops. I learned more in two half-days with him than I ever thought possible and had a ball doing it. It was a wonderful experience and I came home with a lot of great photos and some very practical help with exposure, focus, and the use of light and shadow. I just got the book yesterday and plan to start reading it this week.

Christ

Mark and his son knew the area well. They both had a wealth of knowledge about the Osprey and their habits! They were easy to talk to, and are very  knowledgeable about Sony and Nikon gear, but knew enough to help out the Canon shooters as well. We would most definitely do another of Mark’s workshops!

DK & Rose

I’ve taken two of Mark’s workshops, and I’ve been impressed by both his skill as a photographer and his passion for the wildlife that he studies. He has seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the behavior of the animals seen in his workshops, as well as the times of year and environmental conditions that make for the best shots. He even took the time to rescue an injured bird he saw on the side of the road at the most recent workshop I attended. I’ve learned a lot about photography and Sony equipment from Mark, and I highly recommend taking one of his workshops.

Marc

Mark’s workshop achieved exactly what I was hoping it would.  In a relatively short period of time we got to photograph lots of great birds and I got countless pointers and pieces of advice to help me improve my wildlife photography.  I look forward to doing the EXACT same workshop again sometime.

David

Thank you for a spectacular two days. I left feeling much more confident about my camera, my photography skills and with a better understanding of Osprey behavior. I enjoyed our conversations and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and your son, Torin.
The time was highlighted with my signed copy of your new book and I’m already looking forward to our next adventure together.
Thank you.

Tony

Hi Mark,

Thank you for another great experience at a choice location and superb osprey shooting opportunity. As always, I learned a great deal about techniques, camera settings and new technology development. Of course, part or an equal amount of the joy comes from being together and sharing with other photographers.

Again, thank you.

Chris

Mark Smith workshops are remarkable. Mark is highly knowledgeable about all camera equipment and can help you tweak to get the most out of your gear.  The locations are well chosen and he can give you tips on getting the definitive shot.  He and his son Torin are masterful spotters making the workshop fun and successful.

Karen

I enjoyed the Bald Eagle workshop so much and look forward to taking more workshops with you. With your help in making a few changes to  my camera menu, offering  suggestions and tips I was able to finally able to capture images of those breathtaking birds!
Thank you

Marcie

I recently had a great opportunity to go on a Mark Smith Workshop to shoot the eagles at Conowingo Dam.  I had a new A1 with the 200-600 but had not really set it up as I was waiting for Mark to publish his set-up guide.  Timing was perfect and I downloaded the .pdf while watching the Youtube presentation.  I learned a lot just from seeing how and why Mark did the menu choices and button assignments.  Having this information brought my Conowingo Dam experience to a new level.  Mark was there to answer all our questions and coach us.  Both parts of my experience were excellent and I am looking forward to shooting Diving Osprey with him next week.

Dear Mark,
I want to take a moment to THANK YOU for an awesome 4 days photographing Bald Eagles at Conowingo Dam. Marcie and I learned SO much! You’re an amazing photographer, but most importantly, you’re a super nice guy. Your patience and good humor were especially appreciated. Thanks for all your help with camera settings, answering questions (of which we had many), and sharing your knowledge of photography, post-processing (just purchased Topaz DeNoise), birds and life. Seriously, it was an absolute pleasure getting to know you!

Yasmin

Your Osprey photo workshop was amazing!  I really appreciated the instruction on the behaviors of the birds when feeding.  While the wind wasn’t in our favor, I did walk away with some amazing photographs, and I’m quite happy I attended.  I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in bird photography.

Joe

I recently attended one of Mark’s Osprey Photo Workshops, and had a terrific experience. Mark did an unbelievable job, showing me better settings on my camera that would help as the morning progressed. He was well versed in predicting the Ospreys next move, and he knew each type of fish the Ospreys came up with. I couldn’t of had a better Osprey experience. Thank you, Mark.

Robert

Hi Mark,
I just wanted to thank you again for conducting the workshop at Conowingo Dam.  Having the opportunity to have “hands on” assistance, outside of a classroom,  on site was worth the price of admission. Your simple explanations of techniques and why they work helped me get some outstanding pictures.  Also, thanks for all the videos you created on YouTube. I felt like I already knew you before we even met. 
It was a pleasure meeting you!

Joe

Gooood morning, Mark!
One of my best birthday weekends ever was the Bald Eagle workshop with you! What an incredible experience on so many levels. The expert advice you shared was instrumental in my capturing some amazing images! From settings adjustments on my cameras, to explaining the technical aspects of my Nikon equipment and the benefit of fine tuning my D500 and D850 to my lenses. I learned focusing techniques, behavioral tips about Eagles, Osprey and other birds of prey, and how/what to anticipate before/during/after they’re fishing. 
Thank you so much for sharing the incredible stories and images behind the photos and videos you shared, so much learning through those moments as well! And to see your book and hear your anecdotes about the images and the whole process of publishing was really special. 
I met and made wonderful connections with other photographers over the two days and plan on staying in touch to meet up locally and in other parts of the country. You’ve inspired me to dive deeper into every aspect of my photography and I’m looking forward to future workshop adventures with you!
Onward & Skyward!

Danielle

For the past 20 years I’ve gone on quite a few workshops with a variety of professional photographers. But going out with Mark is a totally different experience.
Over the years my wife and I have shot landscape, macro, street, architecture, travel and more. About 5 years ago we moved to southern New Jersey where we discovered shore birds. We found photographing them to be very challenging resulting in not too many keepers.
I started researching what to do to get good shots and came across Mark’s videos on youTube. I was immediately jealous of his great images  and decided the best way to learn was to travel to Florida and go out shooting with him. The first workshop my wife and I went on was to a bunch of different locations where we found an unbelievable variety of birds, most not found in NJ. But the best part of the workshop was learning how to use our equipment to freeze action, how to keep flying birds in the frame, setting exposure to not blow out highlights and keep detail, and more. 
Since then we’ve gone with Mark to Colorado for birds and landscapes, Washington State for eagles and great blue herons, Costa Rica for all kinds of wildlife, and back to Florida for diving and feeding Osprey. Upcoming is Maryland for eagles, Florida for nesting Osprey, and again to Costa Rica. 
We are not Mark Smith groupies but really enjoy learning from him, love his easy going manner, and appreciate the dedication to his craft.  

Neil

It was very happy enjoyed 3 days workshop at Conowingo Dam from 11/15-17 with you.You always very kind to teach me hand by hand with patience. Your new a1 set up guidance lead me to improve my shooting skills a lot, especially how to setup zebra to control the exposure…..; as well as focus control!I will follow you on next steps thanks Mark!

David

It was great spending time with you at Conowingo Dam. I enjoyed watching and listening to how well you interacted with all of the attendees (and others) regardless of their level of knowledge and expertise. No matter how long you have doing this, there is always something new to experience and learn. You asked questions, listened to what the participants had to say and tailored your answer to best fit their needs. I look forward to spending time with you again in the future.

James

Your Osprey workshop was amazing, I could not have ask for anything more. If anyone is thinking of doing this workshop, I highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks for the tips on my Sony A1 settings. I got a lot more keepers with the changes.

Larry

That guide is legit…I starting watching the A1 Setup video on your settings for the A1…I was definitely intrigued and followed your link to the PDF guide.

To be honest, I was a little worried about paying $30 for a PDF, but I will tell you, it was well worth it…the PDF guide is actually priceless…

Just wanted to say thank you for putting the time and effort in to make the guide…

Scott

I would recommend Mark’s workshops to anyone from professionals to hobbyists.  He knows various systems and has the experience to help.  He is a natural biologist with a PhD-level knowledge of the environment!  He obviously is an amazing photographer but best of all he is the nicest person!  He will answer any question and he is an open and positive person.  I will definitely do it again!! Many thanks!!

Tracey

I had a great time at the workshop and learned quite a bit about the setup, settings and behaviors of the osprey and other birds.  Your excitement that you show on your YouTube videos was also there, all of the time, for the 2 days we shot together.  I really appreciated your knowledge on the A-1 and helping me learn this tool better.   I look forward to doing another workshop with you in the next year.

Ken

I did enjoy the outing and I deeply appreciate you taking the time to take me out. I’ve been out on a few workshops like this and one of the things I’ve learned to appreciate most is the rare skill some workshop leaders have, not only with the camera, but with the subject.  It was clear you were seeing and perceiving far beyond what I could.  The subtle insight into the actions of the osprey to help me get ready and increase my chances of success are much appreciated and helped me capture better images than I would have myself.

Todd

I really appreciate and enjoyed for these 3 days workshop with you and Torin in Florida. As your guidance, I have gotten more good shots for Osprey feeding and diving. My friends surprised : “ How do you improve your skills for birding tremendously? “I proud talked to them “ join with Mark Smith for the workshop” This is second time join with your workshop. I have learned and get used to handheld Sony A1 camera to shoot.

David

It was as you described on your web site. The action was amazing and I got plenty of great pictures. I had just gotten my Sony a1 five days before my trip and you were very helpful in teaching me to adjust my menu settings so I could capture the best images possible. Also, watching you help all the different people that were there taking the workshop was nice to see. One of the things you showed me was your monopod with feet on the bottom for more stability.  I had such a fun experience that I have signed up to do your osprey workshop in Florida.

Larry

Mark Smith provides a great photography workshop.  I have been on two workshops with him and immensely enjoyed both.  Mark has a warm inviting personality and is willing to help you as much or as little as you wish.  He was also familiar enough with the equipment I was shooting to help me solve some of the focusing problems I was experiencing.   I got some great photographs!  Mark knows some great places to go for bird photography and did not disappoint!

Jerry

My wife and I are avid amateur photographers. We have enjoyed watching Mark Smith’s wildlife photography videos, so when we found out he was going to do a workshop near our home, we signed up. Mark was very adept at quickly seeing everyone’s knowledge level of their equipment. Any suggestions on your setup came with an informed explanation. Once the action started, he helped spot upcoming shot opportunities, and checked in on settings and results. The outgoing tide exposed a natural oyster bed that was teeming with life – which attracted Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons. Some eagles caught their own fish, while some stole fish from the herons or other eagles. There was plenty of action, and lots of photo opportunities. We had a great time – and yes – came home with some keepers!

Mike and Pat Morrison.

I can strongly recommend this eagle workshop.  I spent 2 days with Mark and his son at this workshop and it was everything that I hoped for.  The bird activity was fantastic and as advertised in the workshop writeup.  Mark and his son are very helpful on the workshops, I also did the Costa Rica workshop.  They are both very personable and approachable with any questions you may have with your equipment and techniques for getting the shots you want.  Mark is extremely knowledgable with Sony gear and knows how to get the best out of it. If you want to get great shots of eagle activity, this workshop is for you. 

John

Mark:  I attended your Eagle workshop in Silverdale, Washington in May this year. It was a totally incredible experience. I learned a great deal and got some fantastic photos, and I loved it enough to sign up for two days in October to photograph osprey in Vero Beach.  I was using my Nikon D850 and 500mm f/4 lens at the workshop, but based on your recommendations and the comments of other photographers at the workshop, within 3 days after I got home, I purchased a Sony A7RIV camera, a Sony battery grip, and the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-f/6.3 lens.  I took that camera to East Africa on safari in July and got some incredible shots.  It was much easier to handle than my heavy Nikon and taking it solved the weight and space issue since we were flying in small planes in Africa and had strict weight limits.

Christ

I completed my Zoom call with Mark last Night. Was worth every penny. Mark and I reviewed some of my portfolio and he was spot on with constructive criticism and suggestions on how to get my images properly composed and edited. We didn’t spend a ton of time on editing individual images but gave me a place to focus on. We did send some time on camera settings and how to squeeze the most out of my camera and lens combo. Mark has a natural teaching style and having an hour to pick his brain was invaluable. 

Alex

Having the opportunity to spend a personal one-on-one workshop with you via zoom has greatly enhanced my technical capability by several light years – Your clear responses to my many questions and your patience in working through issues has improved my image making tremendously – Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge and experience! 

Wayne

Thank you kindly for having me along for your workshop yesterday. The exposure and focus tricks you shared were massively helpful and I got more properly exposed photos yesterday than I normally do in a whole week of shooting. Your son kindly provided a great lunch recommendation as well which I greatly appreciated. I will definitely attend more of your workshops in the future. 
Best

Shawn

I just finished your Washington Eagle workshop. I wanted to say thanks for the wonderful experience. I had already learned a lot watching your videos on youtube, but being out and practicing and taking photos was a thrill.

I just started taking photos of birds about 6 months ago and still work full time, so I don’t have a lot of experience. It was great to be able to take photos almost non stop of the eagles, so we it was a great to take so many photos in such a short time.

I now have photos of eagles that I thought I would never get and for me at least are wall hangers. More importantly, I learned what photos I would like to take in the future and more about what I need to learn and practice.
Thanks again,

Lee Okubo

It’s a busman’s holiday to send you a bird photo of any kind given your expertise, but I want to thank you for a great workshop and your help in setting up my camera to take well over 1000 photos like the one attached or in many cases better.  What a great event.  At one point my wife counted 21 eagles in front of us at one time.  I know that it was at the end of your time away from home but your enthusiasm remained contagious.  Loved seeing the proof of the new book, and the video follow up when I returned home.  I hope to attend another workshop in Florida next year.  Thanks again. 

Dave and Debbie Andrew/ Maple Grove, MN

Hello Mark!
I want to thank you for a thrilling three days photographing eagles. I had never seen an eagle before and was worried that I was not familiar enough with my new camera to capture what I saw. Thank you for the time you took to explain the settings. My friends and family were impressed with my photos, indicating I had a great teacher.

It is fitting that you read this on father’s day as I report that Torin did you proud and it was a pleasure spend time with him.

I will watch your YouTube channel for dates on a Florida workshop where we can photograph the Osprey and don’t forget I want a signed copy of your book.
All the best,

Erwin

I just wanted to say thanks for the amazing workshop this weekend. Tina and I both thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to lean and get to know you. We’ve been enjoying your Prime series and look forward to the next workshop opportunity we go on. Haven’t figured out which one or when but you will see us again. Thanks again!

Rob

Just a very warm “thank you” for an amazing adventure. It was absolutely fantastic, and the weather and lighting could not have been any more perfect. The experience made me feel exactly like I used to feel and for that I am most grateful.

Kim

It was great meeting you again, and as always the workshops were awesome.  I cannot thank you enough for all your help. I could never have got such half way decent photos without your help.

Ann

Mark, Thank you for 2 excellent days shooting the Ospreys! It was an outstanding experience that I will remember and cherish for my lifetime. 

Chuck

Again, thanks for an enjoyable two days at Stick Marsh. Your technical advice, shooting tips, and good nature made the difference. Also, kudos to your son for his bird identification and spotting skills, and his restaurant recommendations. Now I’m psyched to sign-up for your 2022 osprey outings!. That would be the perfect excuse to buy an A1 and 600mm lens.

Bill

Benn meaning to send you and your son a short note of thanks for the 3-day Osprey workshop I spent with you both in late December. It was a great experience and wonderful to witness. I had a great time and I can see why you say that this is the place to be for this kind of activity. It was truly enjoyable. You both were great help spotting and taking time to explain behavior of these great birds. Hopefully I will run into you both the next time I get a chance to visit that area. It was surely a pleasure.

Michael

Hi Mark, I’ve had my Sony a7Riv for about 7 months now, and I’ve struggled a little with settings, etc. I came across your 1 hour/18 min video and I’m amazed at the difference in my results. Most of my photography is birds and until viewing your video, I was unable to get consistently clear sharp focus. I made some of your suggested changes… and, voila! Better, more consistent results. Thanks for all you do – you are a natural teacher and your videos are a huge help. I’m hoping to come down to Florida for one of your Osprey workshops, once this Coronavirus situation is better. I’m an old dude and I’m staying isolated (except for birding and food) until this is behind us. Thanks again

Steve

In thinking about my experience yesterday I want you to know I have deep gratitude for you and your son for the time we spent together. It was really special and something I’ll never forget. Thanks for sharing your experience. I learned a lot and will apply it from now and in the future. Much appreciation brother!

Brett

Mark,

What an absolute joy it was to spend time with you today and shoot the amazing ospreys. Thank you for teaching me sooo much about my camera and these incredible birds.  I’ll be back soon!  I’m not finished going through all of my pics but am sure this will be one of my favorites.  Two fish in one foot!  I look forward to doing it again in April and will eagerly await your next video!

Mike

Hi Mark, I’ve had my Sony a7Riv for about 7 months now, and I’ve struggled a little with settings, etc. I came across your 1 hour/18 min a7riv setup video and I’m amazed at the difference in my results. Most of my photography is birds and until viewing your video, I was unable to get consistently clear sharp focus. I made some of your suggested changes… and, voila! Better, more consistent results. Thanks for all you do – you are a natural teacher and your videos are a huge help. I’m hoping to come down to Florida for one of your Osprey workshops, once this Coronavirus situation is better. I’m an old dude and I’m staying isolated (except for birding and food) until this is behind us.

Thanks again, Steve

I spent some time with your A9 quick start guide and my A92. The menu’s are pretty close and a PERFECT companion to understand the capabilities of this camera. Your teaching style is easy to understand, the pictures are simple and easy to follow!! Thanks for a great product. I am now reading your Bird Photography book, also excellent. Thanks. I will be booking a trip or two in the coming months.

Andy

Mark, My friend and I have followed you on YouTube for about a year now. Your way of explaining complicated topics is amount the best that I have experienced. That holds true for your book for beginners as well. While I have been a photographer for 46 years and, bird photography for about 5 or 6 years, both media have been very helpful. I must admit that, in some ways, bird photography is especially challenging and feels new every time I go.

I feel qualified to judge your expertise in simplification. During my 46 years of photography and communications, people have often asked what I do. Most recently, my answer has been Chief Simplicity Officer — or to make complicated issues easy to grasp. One of my favorite quotes (I do not remembered who said it) is “If you can’t simplify something you don’t know it well enough.”

As I have read your book, I have slowly implemented your suggestions and they have made a major difference. I have always practiced and will continue to do so. One of the best suggestions was not to panic. That alone has dramatically improved my results and enjoyment. I have usually pressed the trigger about 90 percent of the time. However, it is now burned into my mind…even if I think the bird is “already out of the barn.”

I have been pleasantly surprised at some of the results. As in hockey, you can’t score on 100 percent of the shots that you don’t take.

Glen

Mark,
I really enjoyed our workshop / shooting session Sunday. The site was easy to navigate and accessible to some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen.

You are an excellent workshop leader. You gave great instruction, ensured that my camera setting were correct, and frequently checked on me to see how I was doing throughout the morning. You answered all my questions and were free with information and suggestions.

I can’t wait to get home and process my images. And I’m looking forward to going on another outing with you soon.
Thanks so much

Sarah

Tried the new recommended settings in your Sony A7RIV setup guide [in between the showers of course] on some local gulls. The A7R4 is behaving much better. The information in your guide has improved my keeper rate and focus accuracy significantly.

Richard

I had a fantastic time during your workshop, and came away with some amazing shots that I wouldn’t have gotten without your guidance (even if I knew where to go). I learned a ton in just a few hours, and plan on being back there with you around the same time next year. It was really cool picking up the bird’s queues from you and it was amazing how well you could predict what was going to to happen, down to even knowing a particular bird had a tendency to pull up at the last minute (‘ol black tail feather).

Jon

Mark,

I came to your workshop with no experience in shooting ospreys. I came away far better in technique and camera settings. I didn’t get the splash shot but I got some really fine images, especially on the last day.

Thanks so much for your help and advice.

Gerald

I attended the Florida Diving and Feeding Osprey Photography workshop and had a blast. Mark is an excellent host and teacher. He not only took the group to an outstanding location, but he gave us a lot of valuable advice on how to get the best photographs. In addition to ospreys, there were many other birds there (including pelicans, egrets, and cormorants) and Mark had information on the behavior of each species. He spent time with each individual photographer and made sure we were getting the most out of the workshop. I ended up getting some of my best-ever photographs. Thanks Mark!

Glen

I am primarily a landscape photographer and bird photography is new to me. Although I had viewed a number of Mark Smith’s You Tube videos, I knew I still had a lot to learn. To start our workshop Mark helped me properly set up my Nikon D850 for the fast action shoots that were required for this type of photography. The size of the workshop was extremely small so I was able to get all the help I could want.

The locations were excellent with many feeding birds, which provided terrific opportunities to photograph especially for a person new to this type of capturing images. Mark knows the habits of the birds extremely well and was able to anticipate their movements, which helped gain more realistic action shots.

Ted

I will definitely be back again to explore one or more of the many locations throughout Florida with Mark.

My husband and I signed up for Mark’s hummingbird workshop in Colorado. Mark is great to take a workshop with. He was on time to pick us up and really did his homework for each day. His instruction for taking pictures of the hummingbirds were spot on. His son Torin was with us as well and was very helpful. He offered each day to help carry our equipment and it was most appreciated at the end of each day after shooting for 4-6 hours. Even though we were in separate groups due to the location, you never felt alone or neglected. Either Mark or his son Torin was with you all day to make sure your shots were good and/or you needed water. Looking forward to taking another workshop with Mark in the near future!! Thanks!!

Janet

Hello from Palm Coast. I was one of your students in the Costa Rica photography workshop in late October. Thanks again for a great trip. I have attached two photos from the trip. The hummingbird was awarded Best In Show in a local juried photography show last evening—Flagler County Art Show and the landscape won honorable mention.
Thanks to you and a wonderful trip I had some great options to enter into the show.

Larry

Hi Mark. Happy New Year. Sorry I did not write sooner to thank you for a fantastic workshop in Colorado last fall. It was such a joy to spend several full days with you in such beautiful nature and unlimited opportunity to learn. Of course, it was also great to spend a few days with other participants having similar interests.

I learned so much about photography and how to better use my camera. Coming home with a wack of great images was an added bonus. I think I shot several wall hangers but my pride and joy is 23″x36″ print of Red Mountain at sunset.

Chris

Mark I just wanted to send a belated but sincere note of thanks for the time you and your son spent with me in the workshop a few weeks ago. Was definitely worth the wait to finally get there and see the incredible variety of wildlife and your enthusiastic guardianship of it all. I learned a ton and need to get out for some practice!!

Ed

Hello Mark, thank you for the guidance in the morning. I enjoyed it a lot, and despite the osprey not feeding so much, I have a LOT of great photos. I don`t know what it is, probably the back focusing method  but I dropped only about 10% of the photos, the rest is sharp at 100% on my large 4k monitor. I never had this high success rate from the Z7, so this makes me very happy. There are a lot of osprey+fish combos, even some high speed decent / dive pictures. This is great, surprisingly good, ALL THANKS TO THE WORLD FAMOUS ‘MARK SMITH RIGHT HAND CALL SIGNAL ™’ :)))
Btw, remember that one seagull playing with (dropping and catching) that stone ? Turns out it was a fish, at least a front piece of it (full body without back fin). I have a clear photo of it.
It was a great day, thank you.

K

Hi Mark,

Hey, just wanted to touch bases following the Costa Rica trip. Thanks for such a great workshop! I was really happy with the whole thing. It is certainly a great location and the guides were all excellent. Really a good time – Thanks.

I want to thank both you and your son for a great trip in the Osa Peninsula, it was exactly as I had hoped it to be. I will be watching your website for more of your planned trips.

Thank you again for the opportunity for me to go back to Costa Rica after twenty years. It was wonderful! You and your son Torin did so much preparations for the workshop . I really enjoyed it very much and see the beautiful wildlife surrounding us.

I wanted to thank you for the exceptional workshop you taught in Colorado. Got back a couple of weeks ago, and it was incredible. This was a fall color workshop at the end of September, where Mark picked us up at the hotel at 6 am, and drove us to some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We even said in the car, that “you know it is going to be a good day when Mark Smith is driving” Got some gorgeous colors in a few locations, especially Dallas Divide in the morning, and Crystal Lake. Mark, you could not have been more accommodating, more professional and teach us more in those few days. A really big thank you.

I want to thank you for putting together the A9 Setup video and pdf file on Sony a9 Quick Start. They are easily followed and practical for getting the “new” camera out in the field and using it. You have done a remarkable job putting this together so it can easily be followed and modified when desired.

Thanks for a great weekend.  On first blush of some of my pictures I seem to have gotten some great shots.  Your skill as a photographer is clear, but you are equally good as a teacher.

 

I have found that many people can be nice for an hour or so, and some for a couple of hours, but over the course of the time with you it was clear that you are a genuinely great guy. It was nice to see that you are the same inquisitive, and pleasant guy that’s on your You Tube videos.

My experience with Mark Smith during the Colorado hummingbird photography workshop was everything I hoped for it to be and more!  During the entire week of my workshop, Mark and his son Torin extended courtesy, kindness, and professionalism to myself and the other attendees.  Mark’s knowledge, skill, and most importantly – his passion for nature, wildlife, and photography was evident during the entire workshop.  His easy going manner put me at ease when I was nervous and inspired confidence in myself.  I felt like I was learning from a friend – not an instructor.  Every day he was able to help us to find the best locations, lighting, and conditions to capture some amazing photographs!  Mark’s son Torin is also a great guy and helped keep all of our gear organized and made sure we kept hydrated – whilst providing an interesting perspective and conversation.  Mark was very careful to make sure each attendee received personalized attention and instruction.  I learned a lot – while having fun and appreciating Mark’s skill and talent.  He is not only an awesome photographer and teacher, but also a great companion to share experiences with.  I will treasure our experience, the conversation (including a shared meal at one of his favorite places), and the photographs I now have.  It was worth every penny – and I hope to attend more workshops with him in the future

Not only did I enjoy your enthusiasm and sense of humor (always important on adventures). I particularly like your ability to share your volume of knowledge and your hard earned experiences so that others won’t have to go through the same trial and error.

Mark & Torin. I had a great time and I got home problem free. I have many excellent shots I’m really happy with. Thanks for teaching me. I’ll share a few with you soon. I don’t say things to be polite. Life is too short for that.

Thank you so much for all your help today and a special thanks for your patience with me. I am so excited about all I learned and can’t wait to put it to use asap!

From watching your videos I knew you were an incredible photographer. From my lesson today I can add incredible teacher to the list.

Thanks a million

Thank you for the time that you spent with my brother and me on Saturday, April 27. We both agree that it was fabulous. I got better pictures than ever before and that was due to my over exposing, that is, not using exposure compensation. Also I shot at a lot faster shutter speed than I have in the past. We are definitely going to contact you in November for Osprey at Sebastian Inlet.

 

I don’t know if you think about your sessions, or if you are just a natural, but there are several things that we really liked. I thought you might want to know so you can continue the good work.

 

1) You started off by talking us through camera settings, what they do, and why they should be set that way. One of the things that I like about your videos is that you show the way your camera is set up rather than discussing all of the possibilities and expecting someone to figure it out from there.

2) You spent equal time with both of us.

3) Even though you had your camera (and I would have been disappointed if you didn’t) you were more concerned with us getting good pictures than taking your own pictures.

 

In short, it was more than what we expected.

Hey Mark. Thanks again for the great day. I can’t stop talking about it!!  I got some great shots.

Gail and I want to thank you for the two most incredible days of birding and photography of our lives. Thank you for you kindness, generosity, expertise and patience. Yourself and Torin are a great team and we absolutely loved your company!

We had the pleasure to participate in a bird photography workshop with Mark Smith and his son at Vero beach, Florida.  He delivered what we were expecting. His knowledge of birds’ characteristics and where to find them made the workshop very enjoyable and productive. We highly recommend him, we would love to have the opportunity to do another workshop and also have him come to Puerto Rico.  We will be posting the pictures on Instagram at @remmanuelli and @aidelisa.

Hey Mark that was the most fun and rewarding day with a camera in hand I’ve ever had. EPIC! Can’t wait to get the cards downloaded and see them on the big screen. Didn’t want to pack any heavier than I had to, so I didn’t bring my computer. Anticipation is killing me!

Just wanted to take the time to say thank you for the wonderful two days! Every time I learn something new and appreciate all the suggestions and recommendations that you offer. I continue to grow in my photography skills, but it is an evolution, and you have contributed to that now on multiple occasions. You have a special approach that makes it easy to learn. I have and will continue to recommend  your workshops to everyone that I encounter. Your knowledge of the wildlife is incredible and encourages me to learn more about the bird’s habitat and behavior. I have never been a patient person and after our workshop last year, I started to push myself to be patient, move slowly,  and learn the habits of the birds so that I could anticipate and be ready for that special shot! I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of that trait entirely but I am getting better.

Mark – I really enjoyed today with you and your son Torin. I haven’t culled the shots yet, but whether I have wall hangers or not it was a great experience and I felt like I gained some of the practical experience I need while seeing great wildlife. Thank you!

Hey Mark – Wanted to tell you guys thanks again. Had a great day and got some awesome pics. Appreciate all your advice and showing me all the great birding sites.

Just want to thank you for everything you showed and taught me over the last 2 days. Far exceeding my expectations and so enjoyable. Hoping and looking forward to a repeat next year.

Thank you so much for the great adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed your son, Sue and Steve, and of course you and your stories and your great advice.  I hope I can come back and do it all over again next year, if I could afford it I’d return soon!   I can’t tell you how many times I went through my pictures again and again and again trying to pick out just a few to share with friends.  As I was going through them, I could just imagine your voice narrating a youtube video of the action, haha!

Thank you so much for the quick start guide for my nikon D500….this will be very helpful to my beginning start as a bird photographer! I really enjoyed every minute of your workshop and having your son Torin along was an added bonus! I will always remember our time together as a bright spot in gaining new knowledge about photography and birds. I think your teaching style is personal and relaxed and both enjoyable and instructional.

Scott  from Oregon

Just wanted to thank you and Torin again for a great day. I really learned a lot and have a good start on learning more and refining what  you shared with me.

Dick

Using the custom programmed focus buttons, checking/adjusting exposure, and quickly switching shutter speed when needed finally became second nature to me and I am now nailing almost every picture I take… except when I have it all wrong about the bird’s behavior.

At one point I thought I’d get the perfect Great Blue Heron in flight shot, but I laughed when he fooled me by doing a quick U-turn in midair. All-in-all, I learned so much from you and from practicing at the locations you showed me. I also really enjoyed visiting the treasure museum you mentioned. Thank you for making the learning process and my stay in Vero Beach such a fun experience.

Ann

Mark,

I had a great time with you and your son, getting a lot of great pictures and filling in the gaps in my knowledge base was a great way to spend a few days. Your ability to relate to me in layman’s terms what I have been getting wrong shooting birds and the outdoors in general has let me not only take better shots, but enjoy myself more doing so. Your way of gently reinforcing what you were explaining to me never felt like being tutored or schooled, but more like a couple of friends out for a day’s fun, one mentoring the other, helping the other along. Looking forward to catching up with you again early next year. Thanks for making it such a rewarding trip.

Tom Abbott

I recently crammed a week’s worth of photography in a 3 1/2 day fall foliage workshop with Mark Smith in the vicinity of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado in late September. Mark works this miracle by starting days at 6 a.m. and wrapping up 13-14 hours later; it’s like getting a 50% bonus on the value of workshop. But the number of hours doesn’t nearly tell the whole story of a workshop with Mark. It’s how you spend the days with him.

I signed up with Mark because 1) autumn in the San Juan mountains is spectacular and 2) I’d seen some of his fine images on line. He’s noted for bird photography, but his landscape work is equally fine. A day out shooting with Mark has him always near you, always available to answer questions, very willing to offer the occasional suggestion about composition if you ask; he doesn’t impose his own vision on you, but helps you find the look you’re seeking.

His knowledge of the best sites is priceless since he’s been coming to this region for years. He not only knows the locations, but also the best times of day to be there, the direction of the light at sunrise, sunset or any time in between.

An especially lucky stroke for me was that Mark has the same Nikon D850 as me, and he gave some excellent shooting tips for this camera that I hadn’t known about before the workshop and that weren’t so clear in the manual.

When you spend hours in a car going from location to location, it’s a real plus that conversation with Mark never flags, he’s easy to talk to at any time of day and has a great sense of humor. I can say that because he always laughed at even my lame jokes.

I hope I have another chance to do a workshop with Mark the next time he’s available in Colorado and willing to put up with me again.

Len Schweitzer
Fort Worth, Texas

I spent a great day with Mark in Colorado in early August. I wanted to improve my skills with telephoto lenses and bird photography and Mark really helped me out. His photos show that he knows a lot about getting good bird shots but he’s also able to share that knowledge in a simple and understanding way. Plus, he’s a lot of fun to spend a day with. If you want a fun and educational experience, I highly recommend spending some time with Mark.

Rick From Wilsonville, Oregon

I want to tell you how much I enjoyed the Colorado workshops that I attended last week. The birding, scenery, camera instruction, software help and conversation were way beyond my expectations. Thank you! My family loves the photos and I am proud to show them. I do plan to attend your workshops in Florida this winter. Keep up the great work with your videos, books and articles. Having your son Torin come along was an added benefit. This was a trip that I will always remember.

One takes a risk signing up with someone out of the blue. You took very good care of us. Thank you.

Best, Steve Campbell, Reno, Nv.

That was one of the best photography adventures that I have ever experienced. (Colorado Workshop) You and Torin made it more than I anticipated. I thought I was going with you to learn about landscape photography (I did learn a lot), but it turned into so much more. You are a great instructor and an even better storyteller!
Thanks Mark!

Sony Steve

I spent a morning in a workshop with Mark Smith at Wakodahatchie Wetlands to improve my bird photography skills and he was absolutely fantastic! He is extremely knowledgeable about Nikon equipment and the  proper settings to get the most out of your cameras capabilities. He is patient, skilled, and has an easy style of teaching that is gentle and helpful! Most times you don’t even realize he is  in the  “teaching” mode until  you are post-processing  your images. Then you remember things he suggested, like “this might be a better angle, the back lighting is too strong, this side lighting is perfect. Absolutely a great experience and I would highly recommend his workshop and  videos! Thank you Mark for being  willing to share your skills!

Sherry Icardi

I truly enjoyed our day working with my new Nikon D850. Your “hands on “ approach and instruction far outweighed any manuals or aftermarket books. I have a renewed respect for power of  this camera.  Stopped by the beach on my drive home and took a dozen or two great (for me) shots of birds in flight!  Thanks again for your detailed explanations.

David Kempf Indialantic, FL

During a recent family vacation to Florida I did a half-day bird photography workshop with Mark. Photography became a part-time hobby for me when my kids starting playing sports at a young age, increasing in interest to the point of near obsession. Given the vast majority of my time shooting has been with kids in swim meets or on the soccer field I was very excited to branch out to bird photography with Mark.

The location he took me to in southern Florida had an amazing rookery of Roseate Spoonbills and many other birds and wildlife. Mark is not only an amazing photographer as most people who have watched his videos can attest, but he is also incredibly versed in identifying bird species by sight and sound.

When we first arrived, it was early in the morning providing plenty of time to scout the area and talk about camera settings. From that point we took a few test shots and made a few adjustments. Prior to this trip I primarily shot in manual mode with auto-iso adjusting exposure compensation, however during the trip Mark encouraged me to turn off the auto-ISO and expose for the bird against the background. I was very impressed with his ability to quickly understand my level of experience and adjust his recommendations accordingly. He would frequently check the photos I was taking and make suggestions on how I could improve the images. During this trip there was a variety of shooting scenarios from the rookery area to wetlands, dry beds, fields, nests etc. Each of these requiring slight adjustments to settings, and having Mark explain the scene and what to look out for affecting the settings it was truly a fun learning experience. I would highly recommend a workshop with Mark regardless of skill level with photography. Mark is very professional, respectful, humble and knowledgeable. Truly a great experience, and one which has left me with many great images to select from for printing.

David Archambeault
Princeton, MA

I had a wonderful time with Mark yesterday. He is a pleasure to be with. I was with him on a half day workshop. As a budding photographer, I was somewhat hesitant initially as to what I can expect. He surpassed all my expectations. I was at ease, and started to understand the intricacies, and adjustments that need to be made with birds. He constantly asked me if I was understanding, and following what was being explained. He helped me with techniques of holding the 200-500 lens, which was heavy for me.. I ended up carrying it for 4 hours!! We saw few rare birds, and now I have a picture or two  to prove it..I will improve on the skills based on the adjustments he asked me to do constantly, while taking pictures of birds at a distance vs birds in motion…

Above all, I think he is a genuine person with passion for birds and living things in general, and captures it with Photography. The fact that he takes sincere interest in his student learning the craft of Photography, is just icing on the cake..As I myself believe in “Leave no trace” I  appreciated that is how he handles himself..

I would have gone on his Colarado tours, had I known earlier..

Radha Vallabhaneni, MD

I recently booked a private full day workshop with Mark. I could not have been more satisfied with it. During the workshop you will quickly notice that Mark is easy to get along with and that he is very knowledgeable about photography, and the birds and other wildlife you will encounter in Florida. He is able to teach in a way that is easy to understand and is able to adapt his instructions based on your current abilities as a photographer. He will do whatever he can to help you accomplish your goals for the workshop; whether that is understanding a technical aspect of photography, photographing a specific species of bird, or both. I appreciated that he seemed to enjoy the whole process as much as I did. His instructions had an immediate impact on the quality of photos that I am able to achieve. I’m now more excited to get out and shoot with the additional knowledge I gained from Mark. On my next trip to Florida I would book another workshop with Mark without hesitation. I highly suggest you do the same!

Chad Jacobs – Michigan

Spent three days with Mark the first week in April. I added images of several birds to my bucket list, but more importantly, I was able to vastly improve the technical quality and the environment-bird relationship with many of the species. Mark’s patience and gentle demeanor led to a relaxed atmosphere, which is always good for creativity and self confidence. His complete respect for the wildlife was without equal. I have been on over 25 photography shoots around the world, and his treatment of the environment and its wildlife rank number one with me. Great images, great guide. What else can I add?

Merle—Paris, Kentucky

As much as we’ve learned from viewing Mark’s YouTube videos, his workshops are even more incredible! Over the course of 5 days we had the opportunity to visit 6 locations to photograph the most amazing birds. Mark is so familiar with the areas, he can pinpoint trees and even fence posts where some of the birds nest and hang out. Mark can identify species from their flight patterns and sounds.  Technically he is very familiar with camera settings, lenses, and especially light. We came back with the most wonderful photographs and the knowledge of how to photograph birds in the future. The only downside is the hours of processing from the thousands of images we took (but it was worth it!).

Neil Persh & Pat Steo

As a bird photographer wishing to improve my game, and wanting exposure to the wildlife of Florida I was more than impressed with Mark’s knowledge of the native species, as well as his technical expertise in helping me focus on lighting and trying settings to improve my image quality.

If you like the video’s, you will love Mark because he is so welcoming and easy to talk to. He made me feel at home, like 2 friends with the same passion sharing the day together. I wasn’t sure about hiring Mark for 1/2 a day vs. the whole day, but I chose the whole day and I would have regretted it had I done otherwise. The value was second to none!

Mark planned our day based on my birding interests and allowed me to explore and work with my camera, offering advice, sharing information, but allowing me to explore each site until I was ready to leave.

Being chauffeured to the best viewing areas is a big plus when on a short vacation and Mark delivered. I booked Mark for a full day adventure and he just didn’t stop. The day ended when we saw everything I was interested in seeing, plus an unplanned stop at the current local interest… a Great Horned Owl mother and babies nesting locally. What a treat!

I can’t thank Mark enough for the mini education, and the fabulous photo’s I brought home.

Barbara Seeger

I am an amateur wildlife photography enthusiast. The last couple of years I have become quite serious about the birds in my S. California area. Also, I have become aware of awesome birds in other areas. Have been viewing amazing images of the incredible Roseate Spoonbill, and decided some time ago I wanted to visit an area where I had a chance of getting a few decent pics of these pink beauties. But from my area, I wasn’t quite sure about when or where I should attempt this.

Recently, I have been following the online videos provided by Mark Smith. Have found these very informative and found his approach similar to mine. On a whim, I reached out to him, and discovered he was available to join me early March. I flew out to South Florida with goals of bringing back a few keeper pics of the Spoonbills, see some other birds I don’t get a chance to see, and return a little improved as a wildlife photographer.

I just returned from my visit with Mark Smith. All my goals were far exceeded. I found Mark to be prompt, interested, educational, and very knowledgeable about his wildlife. Due to some potential weather issues, he was flexible and willing to alter our schedule at the last minute.

Day one he took me to the “Stick Marsh”. It was amazing. There were all stages of Spoonbills here, and they were passing in all directions. Tons of activity, and in such beautiful am light. I could not even have imagined this. I was close to being overwhelmed…But Mark helped me dial in appropriate exposure settings for the situation. It was so fun capturing these in my viewfinder (but I knew it was going to be afew nervous days until I got home and got these images on my PC). Mark was super attentive to make sure I was staying on top of my exposure setting as the situation dictated.

My day 2, I revisited a second area myself that Mark had taken me to the first day. I spent a few hours being the only photographer here-at an amazing location.

I had such an amazing time at the “Stick Marsh” the first day, I asked Mark if he could take me there once again on my day 3 (my last day). I wanted to really focus on my technique, since I would be better prepared knowing what to expect.

I have such beautiful pics (for me). I ended up keeping about 700 raw images I am so proud of, that I will cherish forever. Now I have to decide which two or three are going up on the wall…Thanks Mark Smith!

Jim Everett

#JEverettPhoto
www.JEverettPhoto.SmugMug.com

On a recent trip to Florida I was searching the Internet to find out how to set up my new DSLR camera. I came across this photographer, Mark Smith I checked out his website sent him a email to set up an appointment. I was not disappointed in fact I was so impressed I walked away with this whole new approach on photographing birds in flight, he was easy to understand, patient and so knowledgeable. If you ever have the opportunity to take a lesson, you will not be disappointed. Thank you Mark !

Jackie

I found Mark through his Youtube Videos and I love the way he presents the videos. I emailed him and quickly booked two full days with him. It was a very helpful and educational trip. Not only did Mark teach me photography, but he also taught me about the incredible wildlife that we saw. It was a very pleasant and enjoyable trip. He is a very experienced photographer and wonderful teacher.

When I got my new camera, I called him right away and setup a lesson through Skype. We had a face to face online class and boy Mark knows every detail of my camera. He helped me setup my new camera and everything I need to know to shoot wildlife pictures that I enjoy so much. This March I will have another tour for the Sandhill Cranes and Roseate Spoonbills. I can’t wait to go out with Mark again because I learn so much from him. Thanks my dear friend and teacher.

Judy

I had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Mark at one of his favorite locations. The experience was brilliant. I was very impressed with his knowledge of the the entire area we were photographing and the various species we encountered. He has a true gift of being able to share his wonder of nature that is infectious. Thank you Mark for a most wonderful day I will never forget.

Nancy True

I just want to say what an awesome day I had with Mark Smith when I took his Bird Photography Workshop. The information that I gained from this experience with Mark could never have been gotten from Youtube. His teaching and knowledge are just incredible as he holds nothing back. Not only did I learn so much that day, I also got some beautiful wall hangings birds in flight. Please don’t hesitate if you are wanting to take your bird / wildlife photography to the next level, try one of Mark Smith’s workshops. It is a day I will always remember and I will definitely do again.

Thanks Mark Smith for an AMAZING day!

Randy Hunt

I am a big fan of Mark’s photography and very appreciative of how he defines himself from most photography oriented sites on YouTube by his wonderful gift of storytelling.
After a year of repeatedly being entertained and educated by Mark’s good humor and unique way of weaving tips on bird photography, metadata on his images and enjoying his books: Florida Birding and Bird Photography, I decided it was time to meet and shoot with Mark.

I am a Nikon shooter and shoot with a D500 and D850 so Mark had already been helpful through his videos, but I knew by his Florida Birding book that he knew and had already documented many of the great rookeries in Florida. I knew from years of experience that shooting with the likes of Mark Smith is a treat that I couldn’t resist. I emailed and spoke with Mark and just completed two days of shooting with Mark and his son Torin. I had a fantastic couple of days. Mark and his son, who is a great guide and videographer, were easy going, very helpful with settings and techniques and above all just good fun to be with. If you like bird photography, I can tell you from having shot with many great photographers over the years, that going with a pro is fantastic. They know where the birds are supposed to be from being out there daily and sharing a network of knowledge of the best place and time to shoot that is very difficult if impossible to replicate on your own. I highly recommend that you book time to shoot with Mark. He is a writer, storyteller, and great photographer and very professional as a practical teacher and guide.

During my two days with Mark this week we took hundreds of images of: Eagles, Sandhill Cranes (amazing), Snail Kites (even more amazing), Limpkin, Tri Color Herons, Green Herons, Glossy and White Ibis, Egrets, a rare Northern Female Harrier Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Whistling Ducks, and a fantastic Kingfisher that put on a fishing exhibition for us. Oh yes, and the most amazing Roseatte Spoonbills flying back and forth building nests.

Many thanks to Mark and Torin for their time and experience. I live in Florida and shoot birds often, but hanging out with Mark was a real treat.

Ralph Liniado