Frog and Reptile Photo Workshop

June 14 - 15, 2025

Most of the previous Frog and Reptile workshops have sold out because the people who participate get incredible pictures way beyond their expectations. Join Jim for this exciting workshop in macro photography. You will photograph beautifully colored poison dart frogs (they are not poisonous in captivity because their diet changes from the wild) and primitive-looking exotic reptiles in a two-day shoot based in Kansas City, Kansas. In a hotel conference room, we set up several shooting stations with natural looking plants, flowers, leaves, and bark as background environments, and the images will look as if they were taken in the rainforest. Actually, they will look better than you can get in the wild because these creatures are hard to find, the lighting in the forest is challenging, you can't get close enough without them scampering away, and the backgrounds are usually busy and distracting.

You will have total control in making the pictures perfect. The lighting will be soft and diffused -- ideal for macro photography, the backgrounds will be natural, the colors outrageous, and you will be able to maintain extensive depth of field to reveal all of the stunning details in these amazing (and amazingly small) creatures. Jim begins the weekend with a presentation on macro photography, lighting, exposure, and the use of extension tubes. He discusses the technical challenges of this kind of shooting, and then he helps you get some of the best macro pictures you've ever taken.

The maximum number of participants is 10.

What you will learn:

How to use a ring flash

Best camera settings for macro photography

How to maximize depth of field

Best focus techique when shooting closeups

How to use extension tubes

How to replace a background

Understanding light fall-off, i.e. the Inverse Square Law

Recommended list of equipment for the workshop:

dSLR or mirrorless body.

50mm macro lens. You can use a longer focal length like a 100mm or 180mm macro, but the lighting won't be as soft and diffused compared to using a 50mm or 60mm macro lens.

Ring flash or twin macro flash setup. You can also use a Rayflash diffuser placed over a normal portable flash. Amazon has an inexpensive version called a Coco Ring Flash Adapter for $49. A ring flash envelopes the small subjects and it produces excellent lighting.

Extension tube set. Using one or more extension tubes allows you to fill the frame with very small subjects.

Spare AA batteries for your flash. As batteries become depleted, the recycle time lengthens. Bring at least 20 AA batteries.

Workshop fee: $965

Includes: Lecture on macro photography and lighting for macro work, two days of photography of some of the most intriguing macro subjects you'll ever find,, and critiques on demand. We will have approximately 40 species of animals.

Not included: Transportation to Kansas City, the hotel, and meals. The seminar is conducted at the Hilton, Kansas City Airport, MO. There is a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

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