This will be a joint presentation by Michael Milicia and Shawn Carey.

Mike and Shawn will present a series of tips that will help to transform your bird photographs from simple documentation shots to artful and compelling images with emotional impact. These will range from recommendations on equipment and camera settings to suggestions for adding more artistry to your images.

The “tips” will be presented via a series of ten videos that have been prerecorded by Mike and Shawn. There will be a live Q&A period following each video and, time permitting, a general bird photography Q&A at the end. You will have the opportunity to hear two points of view regarding your questions.

Click here for more details and to register.

The autofocus system on these cameras provides several new features along with a seemingly endless number of possibilities for how to configure it. We will discuss these new features and also take a detailed look at how I have chosen to configure the AF-related settings specifically for bird photography. My goal is to keep things simple while maintaining the flexibility to easily and quickly get to whatever AF settings are appropriate for a specific situation.

Much has been written about this subject and there are many articles and YouTube videos floating around on the internet. Most recommendations I have seen involve using 2 or 3 different buttons to engage AF depending on how you want the system to operate in 2 or 3 pre-imagined scenarios. This approach has always seemed a bit overcomplicated and limiting to me. My approach is distinctly different and I find it to be simpler and more flexible. It may not be for everyone, but it has been working very well for me, and you can always tweak things according to your taste and personal preferences.

IF THE TIME IS NOT CONVENIENT :
This session will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all who have registered whether or not they attend the Zoom meeting in person. The recording is strictly for your own personal use and must not be copied, shared, posted, or distributed in any way or form.

Note : You must join the New England Bird Photography Meetup group (free to join) in order to register.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $50 (Includes a recording of the session)

Online presentation as part of the SPACE COAST VIRTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE brought to you by HUNT’S PHOTO & VIDEO.

I will be presenting this program along with Shawn Carey (http://www.migrationproductions.com)

Mike and Shawn will present a series of tips that will help to transform your bird photographs from simple documentation shots to artful and compelling images with emotional impact. These will range from recommendations on equipment and camera settings to suggestions for adding more artistry to your images.

Registration will allow you to attend live and/or have access to videos of the presentations until April 30.

Sign up for the “Bird and Wildlife Photography” package and you will get access to our talk as well as some other great presentations, including :

“Beyond the Bird Portrait” : Ray Hennessy & Cameron Darnell

“Images with Impact : Explore the world of wildlife conservation photography” : Suzi Eszterhas & Jaymi Heimbuch

“How to turn your backyard into a photography hotspot” : Joe McDonald & Mary Ann McDonald

“Keeping Bird Photography Fresh” : Nicholas Kanakis & Joel Such

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER : Space Coast Virtual Photography Experience

The Canon R5 and R6 mirrorless cameras have several new features that give them some significant advantages over DSLRs. This session will provide an in-depth explanation of this new functionality and how to best utilize it for bird photography. We will also wade through the seemingly endless options for configuring these cameras and I will provide a detailed look at how I have chosen to set them up for bird photography.

I realize that there is a great deal of information available free of charge on the internet about how to set up these cameras and I have read many articles and watched many videos on the subject. These resources can be quite useful, but I have yet to find anything that is as comprehensive and in-depth as what will be presented in this session.

IF THE TIME IS NOT CONVENIENT :
This session will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all who have registered whether or not they attend the Zoom meeting in person. The recording is strictly for your own personal use and must not be copied, shared, posted, or distributed in any way or form.

Note : You must join the New England Bird Photography Meetup group (free to join) in order to register.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $75 (Includes a recording of the session)

This session will be oriented toward DSLR shooters who are wondering if the time has come to take the plunge into the mirrorless world. Although the Canon R5/R6 will be used for any detailed examples, the majority of the content will be relevant to any of the the latest crop of higher end mirrorless cameras.

We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mirrorless as compared to DSLRs (spoiler alert : the advantages vastly outnumber the disadvantages). The presentation will concentrate on the functional capabilities and will not delve into the menu options or the most efficient way to set up these cameras. The goal will be to give you enough information to make an informed decision regarding if and when to purchase a mirrorless camera. Ample time has been allotted to allow for questions throughout.

Note : You must join the New England Bird Photography Meetup group (free to join) in order to register.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $25 (Includes a recording of the session)

A basic understanding of some of the technology behind digital capture will enable you to make more informed choices and increase the quality of your images. This online Zoom session will provide valuable insight into four very important aspects of digital image capture.

You will learn :
1 - what is contained in a RAW file vs. a JPEG file
2 - how ISO is implemented in the digital world
3 - what causes noise and how to reduce it at capture time
4 - how on-camera histograms and highlight alerts are generated and how to interpret them

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $20.00 (Includes a copy of the slides presented)

Color accuracy can make or break an image. Even small improvements in color rendering can often make a photograph come alive right before your eyes. This session will give you all of the knowledge and background information you need to successfully navigate the world of color in the digital photography universe.

After introducing some basic color terminology, we will discuss how the photographer can influence the rendering of colors in an image via the choice of Picture Style, Camera Profiles, White Balance, and RAW conversion software. We will then move on to discuss the need for color management and the role played by color profiles and their relationship to color models and color spaces.

A conceptual understanding of color management is a key ingredient to achieving consistency and making your images look their best regardless of the medium being used to render them. This presentation will go beyond a simple cookbook approach and give you the background knowledge you need to achieve accurate and consistent color and properly troubleshoot any color issues that may arise.

Note : You must join the New England Bird Photography Meetup group (free to join) in order to register.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $25 (Includes a copy of the slides presented)

A basic understanding of some of the technology behind digital capture will enable you to make more informed choices and increase the quality of your images. This online Zoom session will provide valuable insight into four very important aspects of digital image capture.

You will learn :
1 - what is contained in a RAW file vs. a JPEG file
2 - how ISO is implemented in the digital world
3 - what causes noise and how to reduce it at capture time
4 - how on-camera histograms and highlight alerts are generated and how to interpret them

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $17.50 (Includes a copy of the slides presented)

This Zoom-based online session on metering and exposure will begin with some basic background concepts and then build on that knowledge in a step by step manner. This approach should work well for all skill levels. The main goal is to make you comfortable with shooting in Manual mode, but we will also discuss automatic exposure modes and the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $25 (Includes a copy of the slides presented)

Color accuracy can make or break an image. Even small improvements in color rendering can often make a photograph come alive right before your eyes. This session will give you all of the knowledge and background information you need to successfully navigate the world of color in the digital photography universe.

After introducing some basic color terminology, we will discuss how the photographer can influence the rendering of colors in an image via the choice of Picture Style, Camera Profiles, White Balance, and RAW conversion software. We will then move on to discuss the need for color management and the role played by color profiles and their relationship to color models and color spaces.

A conceptual understanding of color management is a key ingredient to achieving consistency and making your images look their best regardless of the medium being used to render them. This presentation will go beyond a simple cookbook approach and give you the background knowledge you need to achieve accurate and consistent color and properly troubleshoot any color issues that may arise.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $25 (Includes a copy of the slides presented)

If you sometimes get a little confused and overwhelmed when navigating through the myriad of menus and their seemingly infinite choices for how to configure your Canon DSLR, then this session is for you!

This session will be most useful for owners of one of the following Canon camera bodies :

70D, 80D, 90D, 6D, 6D Mark II, 7D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 5DS, 5DSR, 5D Mark IV, 1D X, 1D X Mark II, 1D X Mark III

I will be mirroring my camera’s rear LCD to my computer screen and sharing it via Zoom so you will be able to follow along in real-time as I navigate through the various setup menus. As we go, I will explain the purpose of each setting, review the various options available, and make recommendations as to how to best confgure the camera for your type of shooting.

Fee : $25

Click here for more details and registration info

This Zoom-based online presentation will teach you the key basic concepts that are critical to understanding how to use flash effectively. This foundation of knowledge will serve you well as you go on to experiment with flash in the field. Topics will include the inverse square law, camera sync speed, front vs. rear sync, high-speed sync, the relationship between flash & ambient exposure, flash zoom, manual vs. automatic flash, and flash exposure compensation.

Click here for more details and registration info

Fee : $25 (Includes a copy of the slides presented)

Shawn Carey and I will lead this one-day classroom seminar crammed with tips and techniques that will help bring your avian imagery to the next level.

Details and registration info here :

Mass Audubon Program Catalog

This is a special small group edition of my exposure class in which we will cover the material at a slower pace in a supportive environment and include more hands-on exercises. We will start with basic exposure-related camera settings and then move on to camera operation tips and exposure theory. The goal is to enable you to work quickly, efficiently, and accurately in both automatic and manual exposure modes and to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each.

This class is appropriate for beginners as well as more experienced folks who do not yet feel completely comfortable and confident that they can quickly and accurately determine the optimal exposure for a given scene and situation. In order to make it easier to do hands-on group exercises and to allow more time for questions and individual attention, the class will be limited to a maximum of 6 participants.

The class will start at 8:30 AM and we will break at Noon for lunch on your own (with plenty of choices within a 5-10 minute drive). We will reconvene at 1:30 PM and the day will conclude at 5:00 PM.

Maximum class size of 6 ( ONE SPACE LEFT)

Fee : $195

Please bring your Canon or Nikon DSLR and a small lens to class.

For more info or to register, use "contact" button above.

We will cover a wide range of topics ranging from the fundamentals and basic mechanics of flash operation to some of the more advanced concepts and techniques.  Topics will include : Powering the flash, Inverse square law, Camera sync speed, Front, rear, and high-speed sync, Using flash to freeze motion, Relationship between flash & ambient exposure, Flash zoom, Flash as main, balanced, and fill light, Manual flash vs. Automatic/TTL flash, Flash Exposure Compensation, Flash metering, Flash Exposure Lock, Use of Better Beamer.

The main goal is to teach you what you need to know to make effective use of a single hot shoe flash. But you will also gain a strong foundation of general flash knowledge which will serve you well if you choose to go on to learn more about multi-flash setups or studio lighting.  Bring your digital SLR, external hot shoe flash, a small lens (e.g. 24-70), and all of the corresponding instruction manuals to class. 

In order to allow for more individual attention and to be able to do some hands-on testing, the class size will be reduced to a maximum of 8 participants.   Fee : $125.00

Hampton Inn, 25 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA

Send email to register.

This class will explore a variety of tools and techniques which help to maximize image sharpness, ranging from proper tripod and handholding technique to the advanced autofocus tuning and configuration features of today’s DSLRs. Topics will include : Tripods and heads, Long lens technique, Handholding, Effects of lens choice, Single vs. continuous AF, Depth of field, Depth of field preview, Focus and recompose, Phase-detect vs. contrast-detect AF, Types of AF points, Accuracy vs. precision, AF Area Modes, Custom AF settings, Image Stabilization, Mirror blackout time, Mirror lockup, Electronic first curtain shutter, Live view AF, Back button focus (pros, cons, and variations), Microfocus adjustment, and AF fine-tune.  Please bring your camera and a small lens to class.

Hampton Inn, 25 Middlesex Turnpike, Billerica, MA

Maximum class size of 18.    Fee : $75.00

Send email to register.

This session on metering and exposure begins with the basics and builds on them in a step by step manner which makes it uniquely geared toward all skill levels.  In certain situations, Manual exposure mode provides many advantages over the automatic modes and mastering its use can dramatically increase your percentage of "keepers".  Once you grasp the underlying concepts, you will see that working in Manual mode is no more difficult than working in any other exposure mode and, in many situations, it is actually easier.  Please bring your camera and a small lens to class.   Fee : $45.00.

Send email to register.

One of the the main objectives in avian photography is to capture the fine detail in a bird’s plumage. This class will explore a variety of tools and techniques which help to maximize image sharpness. We will take an in depth look at the many features and tuning options of today’s autofocus (AF) systems and how they can be best utilized for bird photography. Other topics will include live view AF, back button focus, tripods and heads, long lens technique, handholding, and microfocus adjustment.  Please bring your camera and a small lens to class.  Fee: $45.00.

Send email to register.

Click here to register