Costa Rica Photography Workshop

May 6 - 16, 2016

Donald L. Cohen, MD - DLC Photography

Click here for a YouTube Video of Costa Rica Images

 

I am glad to announce our next Photo Safari to Costa Rica, which will take place May 6 - 16, 2016.  One of the most biodiverse locations on the planet, Costa Rica offers unique opportunities for the nature photographer to see and shoot a wide variety of plant and animal species, as well as the incredibly gorgeous landscape of a number of ecosystems. Waiting there are 4 species of monkeys (white-faced capuchins, howlers, spider and squirrel monkeys), 400 species of birds, 116 species of amphibians and reptiles (including the famous red-eyed tree frog and poison arrow frogs), and 139 mammal species (including sloths, anteaters, tapirs and jaguars), not to mention the spectacular butterflies, orchids and other flowers, and an extensive array of flora of every type.

Once again, we have arranged for Marco Fallas to be our full-time Guide for this trip.  I have worked with Marco many times over the past 10 years, and he is without doubt the best nature guide I have ever worked with.  His positive attitude and enthusiasm are infectious, and his skills at finding and identifying wildlife of all types are unmatched.  Enjoying Costa Rica with Marco is reason enough to join us for this trip!

After spending our first night at the beautiful Bougainvillea Hotel, we’ll be heading to Caño Negro.  I have been wanting to visit this area for several years, but the logistics of past trips haven't allowed it.  Caño Negro is one of the most significant wetlands area in Central America.  Bounded by the Caño Negro Lagoon and the Rio Frio, both of which we'll be exploring, it covers an area of 9,960 hectares.  We'll be staying at the Cano Negro Natural Lodge for 2 nights.

Leaving Caño Negro, we travel next to the Arenal Volcano, where we'll be staying at the famed Arenal Observatory Lodge for the next 3 nights.  The Arenal Observatory Lodge is located only 1.6 miles south of the volcano across a gorge from the volcano and surrounded by lush rainforest. Visitors have an impressive view of this "giant which rumbles" and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava. The Observatory is the only lodge situated within the Arenal National Park, which encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife.

Leaving Arenal, en route to the Pacific Coast, we'll spend the morning at the Solimar Ranch.  This 3,000 hectare working beef cattle ranch has reserved 30% of its terrain as a reserve for wildlife. I've been there twice in the past, and both visits were quite productive.  Some likely sightings would include Roseate Spoonbills, Boat-billed Heron, Wood storks, Harris Hawks, Zone-tailed hawks, Crested Caracaras, possibly Double-striped thick knees, Black-necked stilts, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and with good luck, even the impressive Jabiru storks among many others.

We'll next spend 3 nights at the Cerro Lodge, and will be visiting the Carara National Park, Manuel Antonio Park, as well as enjoying a boat trip on the Tarcoles River, one of my favorite photographic activities in Costa Rica.  We'll also be searching for Wildlife along roads near the mouth of the Tarcoles River, and adjacent Wetlands, which should be quite productive.

As we head back to the Bougainvillea Lodge for our final night in Costa Rica, we'll travel through some Highlands areas to sample a different Costa Rican ecosystem.  Making stops that will provide ample opportunity to photograph a wide variety of Hummingbird species (Green Hermit, Green-crowned Brilliant, Striped-tailed Hummingbird, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Coppery-headed Emerald, Brown Violetear, Green Violetear, White-bellied Mountain-gem,  Green Thorntail), along with many other beautiful bird species (Emerald Toucanet, Red-headed Barbet, Tropical Parula, Crimson-collated Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Bay-headed tanager, etc.).

Please see the Daily Itinerary for details. As I have learned in my previous trips to Costa Rica, "getting there is half the fun," with an abundance of things to see while getting from one stopping point to another. With our own bus, driver and guide, we can stop at any time to get a closer look, take pictures, and truly experience all this country has to offer. The itinerary has been specifically designed to make sure any non-photographer spouses, friends or family will have the time of their lives, as we travel from one beautiful landscape to another.

The group will be small (limited to 10 people) to allow ample opportunity for one-on-one instruction. In addition to teaching in the field, we'll be having multiple  Workshop sessions back at the hotels, covering a wide variety of topics in photography, digital imaging, etc. Once the group's participants are identified, a Questionnaire will be sent to each one, to assess everyone's experience, areas of interest, and expectations. In this way, the Workshop Agenda can be tailored to meet the specific needs of our group. The Workshop sessions will take place at the end of the day's activities, and the concepts and techniques learned can then be applied in the following day's shooting. Photographers of all levels of experience are welcome, from rank amateur to pro.


Additional information and details can be found here:

Daily Itinerary

Workshop Agenda

Biography of your Workshop Leader, Donald L. Cohen, MD

YouTube Video of Images from past Costa Rica Trips


Cost:

This trip will cost $3690/person (Single Supplement $910).

This price includes virtually everything, including all meals once the tour has begun, during your stay in Costa Rica. Items not included would be your own airfare into and out of Costa Rica, the $28.00/person Costa Rica Departure Tax which is paid at the airport, Alcoholic beverages, extras in hotels (i.e. laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, etc.

We need a minimum of 6 participants to give this trip the final "green light" so please don't make your airline reservations until the trip receives the final confirmation.

Travel Insurance, including trip cancellation, is highly recommended.

A $500/person deposit will secure a spot on the trip, with the final payment due February 1, 2016. The deposit is non-refundable, but will be returned if the trip is cancelled.  Please contact John Aspinall of Costa Rica Connections, who will be handling these arrangements.

Each person traveling to Costa Rica must have a Passport valid for at least 6 months past the date of entry into the country.


I have created a small gallery of images taken by Participants in previous Costa Rica Photo Safari's: click here.


Comments from past Photo Safari Participants:

"I'd like to thank you once again for the terrific trip. It was a photographic experience that I've never had before. I'm sure that I'm a better photographer (not tough to do) than I was before the trip. I'm looking at my camera differently and will probably use it in a more advantageous manner in the future."

"My wife and I had a great trip and enjoyed being part of the group. We had an interesting mix of people, and the fact that everyone got along made the trip a lot of fun. I learned a lot about shooting wildlife, both from our after-dinner discussions and by observing the various techniques members of our group used in the field. Very profitable."

”My photo adventure to Costa Rica was an opportunity of a lifetime at an affordable price. Don Cohen led the expedition to the Osa Peninsula where Crocodile Bay Lodge hosted us in first class style. I would have been happy to see a few exotic birds and animals, but what I saw far exceeded my expectations. You name it, it is there - from every imaginable insect, butterflies in abundance, crocodiles, reptiles and birds. The rainforest and waterfalls and landscape were a photographers dream. The plant life was spectacular and an afternoon kayaking through the Mangroves was breathtaking.

Each day Don went over digital photography basics and techniques to help us understand how to capture even better images. The Lodge made sure that no one went hungry or thirsty and our tour guide couldn’t have been sharper. All in all, the value for the experience was unbeatable.”

"I still think about Costa Rica and wanted you to know how I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and going on the trip."

"Some of the best pictures I have taken, a couple more trips like this and I could call myself a photographer!"

“This was a fantastic departure from the usual passive tropic resort experience. Interaction with other participants added unexpectedly and greatly to the experience. The guides were very in-tune with our naturalist perspective and very knowledgeable. Don made the evening sessions very educational so it was like a seminar and field trip combined.”

”This portion of paradise had superior accommodations and the staff was always helpful. The local guides were knowledgeable and energetic and Don was a superior photographer and teacher. His helpful ideas tendered before, during and after the safari will always be appreciated and the knowledge we brought home was fresh new and exciting. Thanks for a great trip.”


For all inquiries and questions, my contact information is:

dlcphoto@gmail.com

704-664-6077 - phone

888-452-8026 - fax

To make a reservation, email John Aspinall at:

jaspinall@crsuntours.com

To see a wide variety of photographs taken during my previous trips to Costa Rica, please visit the following Galleries on my website:

Costa Rica
April, 2013
Part 1

Costa Rica
April, 2013
Part 2

 

Costa Rica
April, 2012
Part 1

Costa Rica
April, 2012
Part 2

Costa Rica
April, 2012
Part 3

Costa Rica
April, 2011
Part 1

Costa Rica
April, 2011
Part 2

Costa Rica
March 2010
Part 1

Costa Rica
March 2010
Part 2

Costa Rica
March 2010
Part 3


Costa Rica
April 2008
Part 1

Costa Rica
April 2008
Part 2

Costa Rica
April 2008
Part 3

Costa Rica
April 2007
Part 1

Costa Rica
April 2007
Part 2

Costa Rica
April 2007
Part 3

Costa Rica December 2006 Part 1

Costa Rica
December 2006
Part 2

Costa Rica
December 2006
Part 3

Costa Rica December 2005 Part 1

Costa Rica
December 2005
Part 2

Costa Rica
December 2005
Part 3

Costa Rica Photo Safari
September, 2004

Costa Rica Birds
March, 2004

Costa Rica Mammals
March, 2004

Costa Rica Variety
March, 2004


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