Desert to Rainforest: Alamos, Mexico Photography Workshop

September 29-October 8, 2012
September 28-October 7, 2013

• Subjects: Gila Monsters, Macaws, Desert Tortoises, Magpie Jays, Landscapes, Colonial Alamos,and more.
• Instructor: Paul S. Hamilton, PhD
• Enrollment: 4-10

 

Join us in the tropical forests in the mountains of Alamos, Mexico, for a wonderful opportunity to photograph an amazing variety of subjects: black-throated magpie jays and military macaws are some of the better representatives from the avian contingent. The reptiles are strongly represented in the area, with desert tortoises, indigo snakes, and Mexican beaded lizards being just some of the highlights. Several rare and endangered amphibians are also to be found, such as the Tarahumara frog and barking frog. Jaguars are seen in the area, and there is a small chance of seeing one.

The Alamos region of Sonora, Mexico is one of the most unique in all of North America. It is the center of the transition from northern deserts to southern rainforests. The forests at Alamos, called Tropical Deciduous Forests, have two lives. In the wet season, the flora and climate are that of a rainforest – green and visually diverse. In the dry season, they are that of a desert. Our workshop runs in the beginning of October, at the tail end of the wet season, while animal activity is still high and the vegetation is still lush,  but while the temperature and humidity are dropping, making for a more comfortable setting for shooting. We will be shooting primarily on the reserve run by the group Nature and Culture International, which provides a safe atmosphere and local guides. Our itinerary will start in Tucson, Arizona, where transport will take us to Alamos. Our first two nights will be in an ecotour lodge in colonial Alamos, the next six days will be spent up in the wild mountains on the edge of the Sierra Madre Mountains on ranch houses. Our final night will be spent again in Alamos to have a send off social and chance to share some of your best work.

Workshops are led and instructed by Paul S. Hamilton, PhD, a biologist and photographer who has worked in northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S. for 20 years. His work is represented in dozens of print publications, and hundreds of online sources, and his prints are hanging in the homes of over 100 clients. He will work with you on finding and handling animals (although some animals such as venomous snakes will only be handled by him), flash and macro lens techniques, photographing animals in landscapes, dSLR video (for those interested), and natural history of the Alamos region.

Workshops are geared towards intermediate to professional level photographers, although anyone may join. However, for the less experienced, we can offer a 1-3 day pre-workshop in Tucson, either for small groups or as individual instruction. Contact us for details.

Best of all, 100% of proceeds from your registration fees go back into our organization to help with our important work in conservation ecology.

Travel & Expenses

Cost: $2,200 ($1,900 for current registered students and non-photographer participants). A $400 deposit is required to hold your spot.

Covered expenses: Transportation from Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, 9 nights accommodations in Alamos, reserves, and lodges (single room supplement $300), all meals, services of instructors, guides and assistants.

Not covered: Transportation to Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, tips.

Note: Participants travelling from Tucson, Arizona, may opt for chartered ground transportation for an additional $300.

To give you the finest quality experience and maximum attention, we take a maximum of 10 participants per trip, so sign up soon!

Register Now