Winter Birding Basics and Winter Bird Photography
Snowy Owl Photo Courtesy of Joe Kwasniewski
In the winter months Michigan is visited by many beautiful and exotic birds from the Far North such as Snowy and Great Gray Owls, Rough-Legged Hawks, Redpolls, Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrikes and Evening and Pine Grosbeaks. In this class Jamie Platt, will discuss the "How, Where and When" of Winter Birding so you will be able to find and identify these fascinating Arctic visitors all by yourself.
Winter in Michigan provides unique and exhilarating photographic adventures with the chance to observe birds that are seldom seen in the rest of the country. Along with photographer, Joe Kwasniewski, explore exciting opportunities and overcome the challenges of photographing birds in the most extreme of our seasons. We will delve into practical tips for success, discussing exposure, composition, camera settings and bird behavior, as well as preparing for the elements to capture stunning images of some of our state’s most iconic and beautiful species.
NCMC Cancellations are non-refundable within 48 hours of this event.
Following this class, Jamie Platt and Joe Kwasniewski will be traveling to the Upper Peninsula for the Hessel School House's Snowy Owl Festival where Jamie will be leading Snowy Owl tours and Joe will lecture on Owl Photography. This event is not in association with NCMC. If you want to learn more about the Hessel School House's Snowy Owl Festival and register for events, click here.
Jamie Platt is an alumni of Northern Michigan University where he graduated with a degree in Zoology. He has taught or lectured at Washtenaw Community College, Monroe County Community College, Schoolcraft College and the Ann Arbor Adult Education program. He is also the founder of Hell's Birders, a birding organization based in Ann Arbor.
Joe Kwasniewski is a lifelong student of the natural world who works professionally as an art director, graphic designer and visual artist with a passion for bird photography. He has over 15 years experience in photography and photo retouching, with an extensive background in post-processing methods and has spent over a decade fine-tuning field techniques for capturing the essence and beauty of wild birds. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI and has lead field trips around the Midwest in search of elusive bird species. He is a resident of West Bloomfield, MI, where he lives with his wife and two daughters, and enjoys gardening with native plants and watercolor painting.
