Grey Seal Photography Workshop - Starring the Heart-Melting Fluffy Pups!
Photograph gorgeous newborn Grey Seal Pups on England's Norfolk Coast and capture your best wildlife shots with UK Photo Tours!This form will open in a new window.
Dates
1) Wed 22nd – Sun 26th November, 2023
2) Wed 13th to Sun 17th December, 2023 (+ Meteor shower)
Fitness Level
Easy – Moderate
Price
1) £995
2) £995
Availability
1) Nov 2023 – last 3 places!
2) Dec 2023 – Sold Out!
Guaranteed Departures.
Included
Join Us for A Photographic Wildlife Adventure On Our Seal Photography Workshop
Our small group workshop of like-minded wildlife photographers will travel to the picturesque coastline of Norfolk, England to photograph some of the largest Grey Seal colonies in the world. Over 5,000 adorable cotton-white pups are born each year in the Norfolk area. On our tour we’ll visit multiple beaches at different times of the day, allowing for a variety of shots, all at a safe distance with our telephoto lenses so as to respect and not disturb the wildlife, particularly the newborn pups.
We’ll observe the behaviours of the pregnant Grey Seal cows as they lay sunning on the beach ready to give birth, the tender interaction between the newborn seal pup and its mother, and the maternal ferocity of the cow defending its young from the lurking bulls. We’ll also witness the aggressive behaviours between the competing bulls as they fight for territory on the beach or in the shallow water for the right to mate with the cows, who breed again immediately after they finish lactating – just two weeks after they give birth. If we’re really lucky, we may even photograph a live birth!
Seal Photography at its finest! This wildlife photography workshop is a favourite both for budding wildlife photographers or those looking for unusual images to quickly bolster their considerable portfolio. We’re proud that several of our recent workshop participants have won competitions, sold their images, or have been published internationally in the press.
Photography Equipment to Borrow!
Along with the seal pups, we’ll also have the chance to visit some of the stunning landscapes of the area which lends itself well to long exposure, or “fine art” photography. As a bonus – as if the amazing scenery isn’t enough! – the best filter company in the business, Kase Filters, is kindly providing multiple sets of their Pro filters just for us, so you can get the most out of this amazing workshop! (over £3,000 worth of filters! So you have a short practical course on filter photography as well)
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival and Journey to the Norfolk coast
You and your fellow wildlife photographers will be collected by your photo guide from the scheduled meeting point. From there you’ll begin the journey to the Norfolk coast in our comfortable 8 seat vehicle.
Our arrival time may permit a bonus afternoon photographic session so pack your wildlife camera gear ready for easy access. Afterwards, we’ll check into our lovely accommodation for the evening, call into a large food shop to gather any supplies needed, then head for dinner to discuss the days ahead, advice on settings and shooting techniques, and get to know each other.
Day 2 – A full day of seal photography
Day 3 – Different locations, more great seal photos!
Following our morning session we’ll take a break at our favourite award-winning cafe for lunch, then head back to one of our beach locations for an afternoon observing the seals.
We’ll look at sunset at one of the lovely windmills that Norfolk is famous for, then back to our accommodation to freshen up before our evening meal.
Day 4 – More wildlife photography – seal pups galore!
We’ll take a lunch break at our choice of cafe or pub before returning for an afternoon photography session, then possibly a sunset location, and returning home for dinner.
Day 5 – Our final morning and journey back to London
We expect to return back to our first drop-off point in central London (near Warren St Station) in the early afternoon and our second drop-off point, West Acton Station, around 30 minutes afterward.
Recommended Equipment
- Telephoto lens – preferably 300mm+, eg 70-300mm, 100-400mm, 200-500mm (we have some options available to share)
- Wide angle lens – 16-35mm, 10-24mm, 14-24mm (for landscapes)
- Walk around/kit lens – 18-55mm, 24-70mm, 24-105mm (less used)
- Don’t have a telephoto lens? We’ll have 3 telephoto setups available (please let us know at time of booking)
- We also have 3 branded teleconverters/extenders available Canon (1.4x) & Nikon (1.4x + 2.0x)
- Monopod or tripod & gimbal if using a lens that’s heavy for you.
- Tripod (for landscape opportunities)
- Extra Batteries
- Battery Charger (we have charging facilities on our vehicle)
- Extra memory cards (please bring a blank spare SD card to use our setups)
- ND Filters – optional/recommended for sunrises/sunsets or any long exposures during the day – we have multiple sets of Kase ND filters available to borrow (please let me know the filter thread size of your lenses prior to the workshop)
- Shutter trigger for landscapes (wired trigger recommended)
- Full head to toe wet weather gear – it is England, after all!
A full packing list will be provided prior to the tour.
Included / Not included
- Included:
- Professional photo guide & tuition.
- Return transportation from central London in our comfortable 8 seat vehicle.
- Accommodation – Cottage style with own private rooms. Shared facilities. There may be supplements for Premium rooms (if available).
- Kase filter kits to borrow if required
- Battery charging facilities in vehicle
Not included:
- Personal & travel insurance
- Food & drink
- Travel to start point or from end point of tour.
- Anything not specified as “Included”
- Professional photo guide & tuition.
Fitness Level
This tour involves walking of up to 30 minutes along paths/trails and requires occasional short steep steps or inclines. A person of average fitness level should have little difficulty.
Where we'll meet
West Action Station is on the Ealing Broadway branch of the Central Line. Post code is W3 0DS.
Return journey will have two drop off points. The first is in central London, close to Warren Street, Euston Square, Euston, & Great Portland Street tube stations.
Second drop off point will be West Acton Station.
We expect to return to London around 1-2pm.
Gallery
Testimonials
Great to use the Kase filters again too!
I’m about 80% through post processing, it’s really difficult to choose as there are so many great shots!
I’ve been considering buying Kase filters too!
Want to know more about the seals of Norfolk?
Read our article on Where to Photograph Seals in Norfolk, which contains facts about the seals, safety tips, and the best beaches to find and view them!
Photographic Guide
Dion Hitchcock
Dion brings over a decade of expertise in teaching and guiding photography. He is an expat Australian and when not running photography tours, resides in London, UK, running photography workshops or as a locum pharmacist. His extensive travel experiences, spanning over 40 countries, ignited his passion for photography as a means to chronicle his journeys. This passion quickly evolved into a profound interest, leading him to actively participate in various camera clubs, assisting them in conducting workshops. Today, Dion independently operates his own workshops mainly across the UK, and occasionally internationally.
His London-based photography Meetup groups have 7,000+ members and over 500 5-star ratings.
Dion still maintains his registration as a pharmacist professional, dedicating his time to aiding patients and educating pharmacy students. However, he has transitioned his time into the realm of photography, where he assists clients in understanding the craft’s technical and artistic aspects. This shift, though unconventional, aligns with his upbringing; both of his parents were artists who nurtured his appreciation for the world’s inherent beauty. His extensive photography experience, professional background, passion for teaching, and numerous five-star reviews ensures you’ll be in the best of care whilst on tour.
You can reach Dion at info@uk-photo-tours.com
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