Join Imagine Your World for a 5-day landscape and wildlife workshop geared towards beginner to intermediate photographers in the Everglades National Park. The Everglades are subtropical wetlands that are shaped by water and fire. Flooding is frequent during the wet season, and fires pose a constant hazard during dry spells. The complex ecosystem is feed by a slow moving rived that originates in Lake Okeechobee and includes sawgrass marshes, cypress swamps, estuarine mangrove forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine rockland, and the marine environment of Florida Bay. After years of development that threatened to destroy the ecosystem, the UNESCO designated the Everglades as a World Heritage Site and one of only three wetland areas of global importance.Today, about 25 percent of the original Everglades enjoy protection within the boundaries of the Everglades National Park. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and is visited on average by one million people each year. The Everglades are home to thirty-six species designated as threatened or protected, including the West Indian manatee, American crocodile, and the Florida panther. Wildlife and nature photographers will find an abundance of shooting in the International Biosphere Reserve.After venturing into the everglades, we will stay the first two nights at the Long Pine Key Campground. Over 28 miles (45 kilometers) of trails that connect south Florida's pinelands are accessible from here. Pinelands are simply higher ground ‘islands.’ They are the most diverse habitat in Everglades National Park and less frequently flooded than the surrounding open wet prairies. Over 200 species of subtropical plants grow here and provide one of the last refuges for the Florida panther.The Flamingo Campground is our home for the next three nights. The camp offers a peaceful, tranquil setting on the side of the Florida Bay right next to the water. Alligators and exotic birds are common around the Flamingo marina and canal. Please note: The Long Pine Key Campground offers rest rooms, water, and a sewer dump station with fresh water fill, but no showers or hookups. The Flamingo Campground provides cold water showers, two dump stations, picnic tables, and grills for BBQ. While mosquitoes are especially bad during the summer and fall season, they can be a nuisance all year long. Lots of insect repellant will help to make this trip more enjoyable.The following topics will be covered during this 5-day hands-on workshopYou have a new digital camera - learn how to use it;Lenses - what you need to know before you buy;Simply better pictures - master the basic roles of composition;Painting with light – why you don't always need this perfect blue sky;Accessories – how simple tools can help you to become a better photographer;Get organized - how software can help you to archive and retrieve/find your images.Bring your gearIt doesn’t matter if own a point-and-shoot or brand-new DSLR camera – bring what you have and learn how to take full control over your gear. If you have some macro, wide angel or zoom lenses, bring them along. A tripod is also very helpful for landscape photography. We do have a limited number of DSLR’s, mirrorless cameras, and SD cards available for rent. If needed, please inquire at the time of booking to make sure one will be available.Be preparedGetting to the best spot will often take some hiking. You should be comfortable walking between up to 10 miles with your photo gear, water and food on nature trails over the course of the day, occasionally with significant elevation gains or drops. You will enjoy the tour best if you bring well fitted, broken in hiking shoes and clothing that can protect you and your gear from the elements. Some energy bars and water will help you to get through the day if we don’t find or stop at a restaurant for lunch. We recommend using a backpack to carry your gear, clothing, and food/water.Lodging, Meals & DirectionsCamping, entrance fees, meals, snacks, and transportation are not included in this workshop.ReservationsReservations are required for all tours.PriceThe price for the 5-day guided tour is $1,280 per person.Meeting PointWe will meet on Monday, December 17, at 10.00 A.M. at the Ernest Coe Visitor Center, 40001 State Rd. 9336, 40001 State Rd. 9336, Homestead, FL 33034-6733.InstructorBernd is an award-winning photographer whose career spans more than 30 years. While working as a full-time journalist and on assignments, images and articles appeared in many national and international publications in Germany and Western Europe.Bernd has a passion for documentary and landscape photography. He leads expeditions and tours in Europe, Canada, and the U.S. and conducts photography workshops and seminars from beginner to Master Class. He is fluent in German and English. While English will be the language of choice for this tour, advice will be available in German if needed.PrecautionThis tour involves prolonged walks, primitive camping, and potentially close wildlife encounters. Please wear comfortable boots, and be prepared for the occasional rain shower. Mosquito’s can be a problem at any time of the year. Please bring lots of insect repellant. Protect yourself and your photo gear since our tours run rain or shine. You also need food for the full duration of the trip. Drinking water is available at most campsites. However, we strongly advice that you bring lots of energy drinks (alcoholic beverages are not allowed) to be prepared for day trips. This will help to make the tour as enjoyable as possible. While day temperatures are usually warm and comfortable, night temperatures can occasionally drop close to freezing from December to February or March. A good sleeping bag will help you to stay comfortable and warm during cold nights. Pets are not allowed on any trails. Remember, you are in a wilderness area, and animals including alligators move freely.Travel insuranceWe strongly recommend buying travel insurance for this tour. If you have to cancel the trip because of illness, injury or death of yourself or an immediate family member, travel or cancellation insurance usually protects all deposits and payments you have made, including third party fees for both air and land cost. Please ask your travel or insurance agent for advice.CancellationsWe are unable to accept cancellations from participants for this trip. However, Imagine Your World reserves the right to cancel or change all or portions of a trip for force majeure or any other circumstances beyond our control. If we have to cancel a tour for reasons beyond our control, full or partial refunds, if any, will be at Imagine Your World’s sole discretion. We also reserve the right to cancel a trip if signups are inadequate to make the tour economically feasible. If we have to cancel a trip due to inadequate signups, we offer a full refund of the fee paid to Imagine Your World. However, we are not responsible for any additional expenses, without limitation, such as non-refundable air tickets, transportation or accommodation, incurred by you for preparing for the trip.Refunds for services not usedImagine Your World does not offer refunds for unused hotel rooms, meals, trek arrangements, and other services offered during the tour. The price is quoted as a package; credits are not given for services not used.Legal Limitations/Independent ContractorsImagine Your World may use independent contractors to provide guide services and other services during a tour. We assume no responsibility, however caused, for injury, loss or damage to person or property in connection with any service provided by an independent contractor or resulting directly from acts of God, force majeure, theft, civil disturbances, strikes, foreign or domestic government restrictions and/or regulations, and failure to arrive or depart as scheduled. By signing up for any tour or expedition offered by Imagine Your World, client thereby agrees to be bound by the above terms and conditions.IndemnityClient hereby indemnifies and holds Imagine Your World, its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, assigns, directors, officers, agents, employees, service providers, and suppliers harmless against any and all liabilities, claims, and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, arising from client's participation in any expedition, tour, workshop or seminar.ReleasesParticipants are solely responsible for obtaining model, property, and other releases in connection with any of the expeditions, tours, workshops or seminars, if needed, unless specifically stated herein.CreditPhoto: Bernd F. Laeschke | www.imagine-your-world.com 5-day landscape and wildlife workshop geared towards beginner to intermediate photographers in the Everglades National Park Everglades 5 day landscape and wildlife photography workshop 1,289.95