Wildlife Models Shoot

Dates Oct 14–19, 2006
Leader Perry Conway
Fee $2,495 from Louisville, Colorado
Deposit $300
Limit 12
Terms and Conditions

Raptors: the hawks, owls, eagles and falcons. No other group of birds stirs the imagination, lifts our spirits and symbolizes noble qualities more than these. This is your best opportunity to photograph birds of prey under controlled conditions. Against a backdrop of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains, a wide variety of raptors will be brought together to provide an unparalleled opportunity to learn about and capture, with your camera, these hunters of the wind.

Participants will be working with master falconers, educators and raptor rehabilitation experts who collectively represent more than 100 years of experience with raptors. These seminar/photo sessions are made possible through a special use permit issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

We expect to photograph 18 or more species during the photographic sessions. They may include the peregrine and prairie falcons, gyrfalcon, American kestrel, Harris’, ferruginous, red-tailed and Swainson’s hawks, northern goshawk, northern harrier, golden and bald eagles, plus great horned, short-eared, screech, burrowing, barred and barn owls, or others. Some of the birds will be flown free and/or perched in aesthetically pleasing areas with beautiful, natural backgrounds. No cages will be used. The birds will be in excellent physical condition and should provide for natural portraits as well as some exciting action images.

Several beautiful habitats will be used for the photography: rolling prairie grassland, forested foothills and rocky cliffs under brilliant Colorado skies. October—the best season to offer this shoot because of the birds'
superior condition—brings the rich fall colors of oak and aspen, plus the warm golds and browns of prairie grasses. Traditional falconry techniques can be photographed during our shoots and—prey available—a golden eagle eating a (road-killed) rabbit, squirrel or prairie dog. We will witness events that take place every day in the wild, but we will be there to watch, learn and generate many spectacular photographic images.

Your photographs from this shoot will look like you spent the last five years of your life in a remote photo blind. There is, literally, no other wildlife models photo opportunity in the world that compares to this one!


Day 1
We arrive in Louisville, Colorado, via the SuperShuttle from Denver International Airport. The shuttle is not included in the trip fee. (D)

Days 2–5
These four days are filled with exciting photographic opportunities in several different habitats.
Along with the photography, we have firsthand learning experiences regarding the lives of hawks, eagles and owls. Even though all the birds are acclimated to people, participants need a 200mm, 300mm or 400mm lens. Several of the birds, such as the barn owl, Harris’ hawk and golden eagle, may be flown free, directly in front of you, so your 300mm autofocus will be useful. If you shoot film, bring plenty—at least 10-25 rolls per day. Digital shooters should bring lots of memory capacity! A motor drive for your camera is extremely helpful for the action sequences, and two cameras with motor drives would be even better. (BLD)

Day 6
The SuperShuttle service returns us to Denver International Airport.


Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070
Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com
Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.