The Wildlife of Costa Rica

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15 to 25th Nov, 2022

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Costa Rica Nov 2022

₹ 370,000.00

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    HIGHLIGHTS

    Experience Costa Rica’s rainforest and its amazing wildlife together with professional photographer Sudhir Shivaram.

    Please e-mail us on info@SudhirShivaram.com for easy instalment payment options.

    Costa Rica is a nature photographer’s paradise – beautiful national parks, vast volumes of birds and other animals, rainforests, volcanoes as well as a vast biodiversity that transcends most other countries. Take this opportunity to accompany Sudhir Shivaram – India’s most well known wildlife photographer – on an unforgettable photo tour to this tropical paradise. During the trip, we will photograph everything from tiny insects, spiders, frogs and snakes to larger animals such as bears, deer and tapirs. We will capture the wildlife of Costa Rica’s incredible national parks, including the famous Tortuguero National Park.

    Join us on a journey to this incredible paradise for wildlife and nature photographers while learning more about why a thriving nature is essential for a stable future on Earth. If you want to experience some truly unique wildlife and nature, then this is the perfect photo tour for you.

    Why do this photography learning tour with SSP?

    • Experience many of the country’s best national parks.
    • Capture the Costa Rican rain forests and its amazing birdlife.
    • Night walks through the rainforest.
    • Crocodile photography on the Tarcoles River.
    • Visit to La Selva Biological Reserve.
    • Great accommodation connected to the national parks.
    • Participation and personal tutoring by Sudhir Shivaram.
    • Hands-on learning on field from Sudhir through out the trip and in the camp during our stay.
    • We will learn how to evaluate the practical challenges in field and how to overcome them.
    • On-field review of images and inputs to improve.

    Who should attend this tour?

    • If you are a beginner in photography and want to get started with wildlife photography, then SSP photography learning tours are the best.
    • All SSP tours are targeted at beginners as well as advanced users.
    • Equipment does not matter. You can attend the tour even with a simple entry level camera and basic kit lens like the 55-250mm.
    • If you are interested in capturing the wildlife and birds of Costa Rica up-close and personal – Then this is the tour for you.

    What can you expect from this tour?

    • Practical on-field learning from Sudhir
    • Understand the various challenges faced in wildlife and how to arrive at the correct camera setting for a particular situation.
    • Pre-visualising your images in the field and how to arrive at the camera setting for that.
    • We will have discussions back in the camp as well to ensure all doubts are cleared for your next field outing.
    • At the end of this tour, you will be in a situation to start using your camera / lens combination to it’s best potential.
    • You will be in a position to arrive at the correct camera settings, no matter what kind of lighting you have.
    • You will have a firm hold on the most complex part of photography – which is metering.
    • You will shift from taking images to making images.

    Beyond Learning

    While we are extremely serious about our photography, we never play down the importance of some good old-fashioned fun. And great food. Dinnertime is our designated “huddle time” where we share safari stories that continue well past bedtime. Last night of the workshop is official party night where we match steps with the local tribal folk over a celebratory dinner. So, what do we celebrate? Good times, great food, awesome friends. And of course, photography!!

    SPOTLIGHTS

    AIRPORT/RAILHEAD

    Arrive at San Jose, Costa Rica on day 1. Return flight will be from San Jose on last day of workshop.

    IDEAL FLIGHT TIMINGS

    Please get in touch with us for your flight bookings.

    LAST MILE

    The tour is ex-San Jose. All internal transfers are included in the trip cost.

    RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

    We recommend to carry 2 camera bodies along with a combination of a zoom lens like the 70-200 or the 100-400. The second body can have a tele lens like the 500mm/600mm/800mm. The 150-600 range is also an excellent lens for a single body. You could also get a macro lens. A tripod with a good ball head is a must.

    DURATION / STAY

    10 nights/11 days @Various Locations in Costa Rica.

    CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT

    As per itinerary - at various hotels/resorts.

    SAFARI / FIELD OUTING

    Most of the photography will be on foot.

    WEATHER/TEMPERATURE

    Max temp: 27°C and Min temp: 21°C.

    KEY SPECIES

    Our key subjects includes Insects, Spiders, Frogs, Snakes, Bear, Tapir and a lot of Bird species.

    THINGS TO CARRY

    You can get Camera-lens, binoculars, bird book, warm wear and essential medicines.

    Costa Rica is a nature photographer’s paradise – beautiful national parks, vast volumes of birds and other animals, rainforests, volcanoes as well as a vast biodiversity that transcends most other countries. Take this opportunity to accompany Sudhir Shivaram – India’s most well known wildlife photographer – on an unforgettable photo tour to this tropical paradise.

    TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
    – Participation and personal tutoring by Sudhir Shivaram.
    – Experience many of the country’s best national parks.
    – Capture the Costa Rican rain forests and its amazing birdlife.
    – Great accommodation connected to the national parks.
    – Workshops and lectures by Sudhir Shivaram during the entire trip.

    COSTA RICA
    Costa Rica is located in Central America and adjoins Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. In the capital of San José, approximately one third of the country’s 4.2 million inhabitants live. The climate in Costa Rica is subtropical, and tropical in the lowlands, but somewhat colder in the central highlands. The country has two seasons; rain and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to November and the dry season usually lasts between December and April. Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Although the country occupies only 0.1% of the world’s total land mass, biodiversity amounts to 5% of the world’s animals and plants, equivalent to between 500,000 and one million species. Including 50,000 different species of insects, 208 different species, 850 bird species and a little more than 200 reptiles, of which about half are snakes. Over 27% of Costa Rica’s surface is dedicated to national parks, nature reserves and nature conservation areas.

    The complete tour details is as below:

    Nov 15- Arrival in SJO International Airport in Costa Rica Upon arrival, you will be transferred to our hotel in San Jose in a private van. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes approximately 25 minutes depending on traffic.
    Park Inn Night 1 of 1

    Nov 16 – Drive to the Talamanca Highlands: Hummingbirds & Quetzal Tour
    After an early breakfast, we will make our way up to the Talamanca Highlands. The drive to the highlands is approximately 2 hours long but we will first make a stop at Paraiso Quetzal lodge where we will spend most of the morning photographing hummingbirds in a multiflash setup and also in natural light. Some of the species of hummingbirds we will encounter on this day are: Fiery throated Hummingbird, Lesser Violetear, Talamanca Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird & White-throated Mountain-gem. After lunch, we will go in search of the most sought-after bird in Costa Rica, the Resplendent Quetzal. We will spend close to 3 hours looking for this enigmatic bird at some very reliable spots. After getting some pictures we will continue our journey to the San Gerardo Valley where we will spend the following two nights.
    Suenos del Bosque Night 1 of 2

    Nov 17 – Quetzal Tour Am – Feeders PM
    We will depart the hotel by 5 am with packed breakfast to go up the mountains for our second chance of getting pictures of the Resplendent Quetzal. Again, we will spend close to 3 hours at this site in hopes of getting excellent pictures. We will return to our hotel for a late breakfast and rest. In the afternoon we will visit a nearby location with hummingbird and tanagers feeders. Flame-colored Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Yellow thighed Brush-Finch, and Northern Emerald Toucanet areall possible at this site.
    Suenos del Bosque Night 2 of 2

    Nov 18 – Drive to La Quinta Country Inn with one stop at Cinchona feeders
    After breakfast, we will check out and start our drive towards the Caribbean lowlands, after crossing San Jose and before descending to the lowlands we will make a stop at the Cinchona feeders where we will photograph new species of birds. We will spend what is left of the morning and some of the afternoons at this location, then we will continue our journey to La Quinta Country Inn. Redheaded & Prong-billed Barbets, Crimson Collared Tanager, Common Chlorospingus, Violet Sabrewing, the endemic Coppery-headed Emerald, and more can be photographed here.
    La Quinta Country Inn or Similar Night 1 of 2

    Nov 19 -Full Day Private Property Feeders
    After breakfast, we will go on a 40-minute drive to a private property, where we will spend the full day photographing birds at feeders. Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Golden-hooded Tanager, Red-legged & Green Honeycreepers are all possible today. Additionally, there is an optional walk in the forest to look for Spectacled Owls and the Honduran White Bats.At this location, we can also do a macro session of poison frogs and glass frogs.

    La Quinta Country Inn or Similar Night 2 of 2

    Nov 20 Check out and drive to Laguna Lagarto in the afternoon
    After breakfast, we will do the check-out and depart to our next destination,Laguna Lagarto Lodge. Once we arrive, we will be photographing from the deck. From the deck we can photograph Yellow -throated & Keel-billed Toucans, Montezuma Oropendola, Brown-hooded Parrots, Red legged, Green & Shining Honeycreepers, Black-cheeked Woodpeckers and with luck the very attractive Chestnut-colored Woodpecker.
    Laguna Lagarto Night 1 of 2

    Nov 21 – Laguna Lagarto Deck and King Vulture
    Before breakfast, we will photograph from the deck and by mid-morning we will go to a hide to photograph the extremely elusive King Vulture. The rest of the day we will take pictures from the deck at the lodge. More opportunities for Yellow – throated & Keel-billed Toucans, Montezuma Oropendola, Brown-hooded Parrot, Red legged, Green & Shining Honeycreepers.
    Laguna Lagarto Night 2 of 2

    Nov 22 – Laguna Lagarto and drive to Cano Negro
    After our last photo session at Laguna Lagarto, we will make our way to the bird rich habitat of Cano Negro wetlands. Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Green Heron, Northern Jacana, Crested & Yellow-headed Caracara among many other species are possible along the way. The good looking Nicaraguan Seed Finch will be on of the targets this afternoon.
    Cano Negro Natural Lodge Night 1 of 2

    Nov 23 – Rio Frio Boat Rides
    On this day we will enjoy two boat rides in this picturesque wetland habitat, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.During our boat ride, we have the possibility of seeing all 6 species of Kingfishers: Belted, Ringed, Amazon, Green, Green-and-Rufous, and American Pygmy Kingfisher. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Stork, Anhinga, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and Southern Lapwing will be seen and photographed among many other birds. The photo opportunities during this day are exceptional so pack an extra battery just in case!

    Nov 24 – Rio Frio Boat Ride and departure to San Jose
    We will end our trip in the Cano Negro Wetlands after one last boat ride this morning. This should give us one more possibility to photograph species we have missed the day before. After a great time in the river, we will go back to our hotel to check-out and start our way to San Jose for our last night stay.
    Park Inn Hotel Night 1 of 1

    Nov 25 – International Departure
    Depending on your flight schedule you can have one last Costa Rican breakfast at the hotel and then you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight home.

    Workshop
    During the trip, Sudhir will often have talks and share his knowledge and experience with the group. Many evenings will consist of working on image processing of the photos we’ve been taking during the day.

    Before the Workshop
    We will ask you for:
    – some basic information about your equipment
    – your photos/portfolio
    – your expectations from the workshop

    Based on this, Sudhir will chart out best practices for your set of equipment. He will review the images and judge the areas that need working on.

    Communicating your expectations beforehand will ensure that Sudhir addresses them during individual interactions with you.

    During the Workshop
    – Sudhir will demonstrate the best way to approach and shoot the subjects and give deeper insights on their behavioural aspects.
    – He will introduce the advanced custom function settings of your camera. A firm understanding of these settings will be your first step toward shooting like a pro.
    – In the park, he will continually guide you based on the field conditions and subjects.
    – Knowledge sharing and image review will continue through the evenings as Sudhir interacts with you with focused inputs to reinforce the day’s learning.
    – You will have assignments to complete, giving you ample scope to assimilate and apply all that you have learnt.

    *For a detailed list of the topics covered, please scroll down.

    After the Workshop
    Your pursuit of photography knowledge doesn’t end with the workshop. The SSP Community is your gateway to continued learning and interaction, apart from being the ideal platform to showcase your best images. In addition to image review and critique by Sudhir and his team, you also gain the perfect peer group interaction to grow as a photographer. Theme-based assignments, healthy discussions, candid feedback, equipment reviews and resale are the other great perks of being part of this community.

    *The below topics will be covered and the participants will learn how to apply these concepts in wildlife photography.

    Fundamental and Advanced Concepts of Photography:
    – Manual and autofocus (focusing points, autofocus lock, single or continuous focus, Focusing Sensors, AF cases, Advanced AF settings of camera)
    – Manual exposure (ISO, shutter speed, Aperture)
    – Metering modes (evaluative, matrix, spot metering)
    – Depth of field (shallow, deep, hyper focal distance)
    – Motion (freezing, blurring and panning)
    – Picture styles / picture control (colour, black and white, sepia etc…)
    – Aperture priority, shutter speed priority and program modes
    – Understanding exposure – the 18% concept
    – White balance (pre-set and custom)
    – The temperature of light (natural and artificial colour cast)
    – Composition (framing)
    – Elements of design (seeing v/s looking)
    – Lenses and perspective (the right choice of focal length)
    – Pre-visualization
    – Completing the story
    – Camera settings related to Wildlife Photography.
    – Understanding Subject Behavioral aspects.
    – Understanding your camera and shooting techniques.

    Post-Processing:
    During the course of the workshop, you will be taken through the fundamentals of image processing and the following topics will be covered:

    – Colour management policies (colour settings, working space, ICC profiles etc.)
    – Working with RAW files
    – Cropping and image editing
    – Levels, curves, contrast, saturation adjustments (All through layers and masking)
    – Image sharpening, cloning, dodge and burn
    – Noise reduction.
    – Saving for web/ printing

    During the Field Outing:
    During the field outing, your mentor Sudhir Shivaram will help you make memorable images. Inputs provided on the field will enable you make the most of the opportunity.

    The teaching and learning will not stop after the workshop. In fact this is just the starting point. You will be part of the SSP community of the SSP website where your learning and interactions with fellow photographers continues.

    Proposed itinerary:
    Day 1, Nov 15th, 2022: Arrival and transfer to Hotel Park Inn San Jose
    Day 2, Nov 16th, 2022: Full day in the highland area for multiflash and feeder birds. Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge based on availability
    Day 3, Nov 17th, 2022: Full-day quetzal and hummingbird activities. Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge based on availability
    Day 4, Nov 18th, 2022: Morning quetzal tour and depart to Sarapiqui area. Half-day at feeders and night in La Quinta Lodge
    Day 5, Nov 19th, 2022: Full day at private farm shooting owls, bats, hummingbirds, and macro and night in La Quinta Lodge
    Day 6, Nov 20th, 2022: Drive to Cano Negro wetlands, half-day boat ride, and night in Natural Lodge
    Day 7, Nov 21st, 2022: Morning and afternoon boat ride in Rio Frio looking for amazing wetland species. Night birding looking for owls, potoos, and other wildlife and night in Natural Lodge
    Day 8, Nov 22nd, 2022: Transfer to Laguna Lagarto Lodge, half-day birding on deck
    Day 9, Nov 22rd 2022: Full day of toucans, king vulture, macro photography at the lodge. Bats in flight photography at night. Night in Laguna Lagarto lodge
    Day 10, Nov 24th, 2022: Morning birding at lodge and afternoon transfer to San Jose hotel for COVID test
    Day 11, Nov 25th, 2022: Departure after breakfast

    We will be using the below hotels for our stay

    Day 1, Nov 15th, 2022: Hotel Park Inn San Jose
    Day 2, Nov 16th, 2022: Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge
    Day 3, Nov 17th, 2022: Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge
    Day 4, Nov 18th, 2022: La Quinta Lodge
    Day 5, Nov 19th, 2022: La Quinta Lodge
    Day 6, Nov 20th, 2022: Natural Lodge
    Day 7, Nov 21st, 2022: Natural Lodge
    Day 8, Nov 22nd, 2022: Laguna Lagarto Lodge
    Day 9, Nov 22nd, 2022: Laguna Lagarto lodge
    Day 10, Nov 24th, 2022: San Jose hotel for COVID test
    Day 11, Nov 25th, 2022: Departure after breakfast

    Costing
    Price per person: USD $5000 on double occupancy
    Additional USD $500 for single supplement

    INR 3,70,000 (Doube Occupancy) – For calculation we have considered $1 USD = INR 74. The final pricing will be calculated based on the exchange rates at the time of final payment to vendors.

    Included:
    – All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
    – Accommodation in shared double room in featured hotels.
    – Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
    – Bus and boat transport according to program.
    – Entrance fees for national parks.
    – Participation and personal tutoring by Sudhir Shivaram during the entire tour.
    – Workshops by Sudhir Shivaram during the tour.
    – Hotel taxes and other local fees.
    – Travel documents and other travel information.

    Excluded:
    – Single room supplement: USD 400
    – 5% GST
    – Return flights to Costa Rica.
    – All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
    – Tips to the local guides. Approximately USD 10 / day.
    – Any other item not mentioned as included.

    Flights:
    International airfare to Costa Rica is not included in the price.

    Group Size:
    In order to for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer our groups are always small. On this tour the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8 / 10.

    Photo Gear:
    – A DSLR Camera.
    – Telephoto lenses up to a 500mm.
    – Wide-angle lens, like a 24-70mm.
    – Tripod.
    – A Laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.
    – Extra batteries, chargers etc.

    Tour Leader:
    Apart from an award-winning photographer, a tour leader from Tropical Photo Tours will accompany you to handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you’re having the best possible experience in the wild.

    YOUR CANCELLATION & REFUND
    We understand that sometimes you unfortunately have to cancel a tour. Therefore, the following are the cancellation policies for our tours:

    – 25% deposit is non refundable booking fee.
    – Balance 75% to be paid 60 days prior to departure date.
    – even though initial 25% booking fee will be non-refundable, in event of tour getting cancelled (for whatever reasons), we will refund full amount charged from the clients.

    The below refund policy will be applicable to amount outside of the 25% deposit amount.
    90-60 days before departure, 50% of above mentioned tour cost will be refunded.
    59-31 days before departure, 25% of above mentioned tour cost will be refunded.
    30 days or less before departure, no refund.

    This policy also applies to pre- and post-trip extensions. Any airline tickets issued are subject to the carrier’s refund policy. Leaving a tour in progress will not result in a refund, and no refunds will be made for any unused portions of a tour.

    All cancellation notices must be received in writing and emailed to info@sudhirshivaram.com

    TOUR CANCELLATION

    We reserve the right to cancel the tour due to few guests that have signed up for the tour, strikes, war, natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances that make the tour inappropriate. If a tour is canceled prior to departure, you will be fully refunded.

    We are not responsible for any refund for non-refundable airline tickets or for any airline tickets purchased by the passenger directly from an airline or travel agent.

    In the event of the photo leader being unable to attend due to illness or other circumstances beyond our control, a photo leader of will be provided.

    EXCHANGE RATES AND PRICE CHANGE

    Our tours are based on different currencies and exchange rates. The currency and rate used for calculating are listed under the “Cost” sections of the tour page. In terms of fluctuations in exchange rates a surcharge will be invoiced. Notification will be given at the time of final invoicing.

    The prices are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as increase in fuel prices, government surcharges and other increases beyond our control. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge, we reserve the right to do so, and notification will be given at the time of final invoicing.

    Costa Rica is a nature photographer’s paradise – beautiful national parks, vast volumes of birds and other animals, rainforests, volcanoes as well as a vast biodiversity that transcends most other countries. Take this opportunity to accompany Sudhir Shivaram – India’s most well known wildlife photographer – on an unforgettable photo tour to this tropical paradise.

    TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
    – Participation and personal tutoring by Sudhir Shivaram.
    – Experience many of the country’s best national parks.
    – Capture the Costa Rican rain forests and its amazing birdlife.
    – Great accommodation connected to the national parks.
    – Workshops and lectures by Sudhir Shivaram during the entire trip.

    COSTA RICA
    Costa Rica is located in Central America and adjoins Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. In the capital of San José, approximately one third of the country’s 4.2 million inhabitants live. The climate in Costa Rica is subtropical, and tropical in the lowlands, but somewhat colder in the central highlands. The country has two seasons; rain and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to November and the dry season usually lasts between December and April. Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Although the country occupies only 0.1% of the world’s total land mass, biodiversity amounts to 5% of the world’s animals and plants, equivalent to between 500,000 and one million species. Including 50,000 different species of insects, 208 different species, 850 bird species and a little more than 200 reptiles, of which about half are snakes. Over 27% of Costa Rica’s surface is dedicated to national parks, nature reserves and nature conservation areas.

    The complete tour details is as below:

    Nov 15- Arrival in SJO International Airport in Costa Rica Upon arrival, you will be transferred to our hotel in San Jose in a private van. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes approximately 25 minutes depending on traffic.
    Park Inn Night 1 of 1

    Nov 16 – Drive to the Talamanca Highlands: Hummingbirds & Quetzal Tour
    After an early breakfast, we will make our way up to the Talamanca Highlands. The drive to the highlands is approximately 2 hours long but we will first make a stop at Paraiso Quetzal lodge where we will spend most of the morning photographing hummingbirds in a multiflash setup and also in natural light. Some of the species of hummingbirds we will encounter on this day are: Fiery throated Hummingbird, Lesser Violetear, Talamanca Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird & White-throated Mountain-gem. After lunch, we will go in search of the most sought-after bird in Costa Rica, the Resplendent Quetzal. We will spend close to 3 hours looking for this enigmatic bird at some very reliable spots. After getting some pictures we will continue our journey to the San Gerardo Valley where we will spend the following two nights.
    Suenos del Bosque Night 1 of 2

    Nov 17 – Quetzal Tour Am – Feeders PM
    We will depart the hotel by 5 am with packed breakfast to go up the mountains for our second chance of getting pictures of the Resplendent Quetzal. Again, we will spend close to 3 hours at this site in hopes of getting excellent pictures. We will return to our hotel for a late breakfast and rest. In the afternoon we will visit a nearby location with hummingbird and tanagers feeders. Flame-colored Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Yellow thighed Brush-Finch, and Northern Emerald Toucanet areall possible at this site.
    Suenos del Bosque Night 2 of 2

    Nov 18 – Drive to La Quinta Country Inn with one stop at Cinchona feeders
    After breakfast, we will check out and start our drive towards the Caribbean lowlands, after crossing San Jose and before descending to the lowlands we will make a stop at the Cinchona feeders where we will photograph new species of birds. We will spend what is left of the morning and some of the afternoons at this location, then we will continue our journey to La Quinta Country Inn. Redheaded & Prong-billed Barbets, Crimson Collared Tanager, Common Chlorospingus, Violet Sabrewing, the endemic Coppery-headed Emerald, and more can be photographed here.
    La Quinta Country Inn or Similar Night 1 of 2

    Nov 19 -Full Day Private Property Feeders
    After breakfast, we will go on a 40-minute drive to a private property, where we will spend the full day photographing birds at feeders. Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Golden-hooded Tanager, Red-legged & Green Honeycreepers are all possible today. Additionally, there is an optional walk in the forest to look for Spectacled Owls and the Honduran White Bats.At this location, we can also do a macro session of poison frogs and glass frogs.

    La Quinta Country Inn or Similar Night 2 of 2

    Nov 20 Check out and drive to Laguna Lagarto in the afternoon
    After breakfast, we will do the check-out and depart to our next destination,Laguna Lagarto Lodge. Once we arrive, we will be photographing from the deck. From the deck we can photograph Yellow -throated & Keel-billed Toucans, Montezuma Oropendola, Brown-hooded Parrots, Red legged, Green & Shining Honeycreepers, Black-cheeked Woodpeckers and with luck the very attractive Chestnut-colored Woodpecker.
    Laguna Lagarto Night 1 of 2

    Nov 21 – Laguna Lagarto Deck and King Vulture
    Before breakfast, we will photograph from the deck and by mid-morning we will go to a hide to photograph the extremely elusive King Vulture. The rest of the day we will take pictures from the deck at the lodge. More opportunities for Yellow – throated & Keel-billed Toucans, Montezuma Oropendola, Brown-hooded Parrot, Red legged, Green & Shining Honeycreepers.
    Laguna Lagarto Night 2 of 2

    Nov 22 – Laguna Lagarto and drive to Cano Negro
    After our last photo session at Laguna Lagarto, we will make our way to the bird rich habitat of Cano Negro wetlands. Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Green Heron, Northern Jacana, Crested & Yellow-headed Caracara among many other species are possible along the way. The good looking Nicaraguan Seed Finch will be on of the targets this afternoon.
    Cano Negro Natural Lodge Night 1 of 2

    Nov 23 – Rio Frio Boat Rides
    On this day we will enjoy two boat rides in this picturesque wetland habitat, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.During our boat ride, we have the possibility of seeing all 6 species of Kingfishers: Belted, Ringed, Amazon, Green, Green-and-Rufous, and American Pygmy Kingfisher. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Stork, Anhinga, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and Southern Lapwing will be seen and photographed among many other birds. The photo opportunities during this day are exceptional so pack an extra battery just in case!

    Nov 24 – Rio Frio Boat Ride and departure to San Jose
    We will end our trip in the Cano Negro Wetlands after one last boat ride this morning. This should give us one more possibility to photograph species we have missed the day before. After a great time in the river, we will go back to our hotel to check-out and start our way to San Jose for our last night stay.
    Park Inn Hotel Night 1 of 1

    Nov 25 – International Departure
    Depending on your flight schedule you can have one last Costa Rican breakfast at the hotel and then you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight home.

    Workshop
    During the trip, Sudhir will often have talks and share his knowledge and experience with the group. Many evenings will consist of working on image processing of the photos we’ve been taking during the day.

    Before the Workshop
    We will ask you for:
    – some basic information about your equipment
    – your photos/portfolio
    – your expectations from the workshop

    Based on this, Sudhir will chart out best practices for your set of equipment. He will review the images and judge the areas that need working on.

    Communicating your expectations beforehand will ensure that Sudhir addresses them during individual interactions with you.

    During the Workshop
    – Sudhir will demonstrate the best way to approach and shoot the subjects and give deeper insights on their behavioural aspects.
    – He will introduce the advanced custom function settings of your camera. A firm understanding of these settings will be your first step toward shooting like a pro.
    – In the park, he will continually guide you based on the field conditions and subjects.
    – Knowledge sharing and image review will continue through the evenings as Sudhir interacts with you with focused inputs to reinforce the day’s learning.
    – You will have assignments to complete, giving you ample scope to assimilate and apply all that you have learnt.

    *For a detailed list of the topics covered, please scroll down.

    After the Workshop
    Your pursuit of photography knowledge doesn’t end with the workshop. The SSP Community is your gateway to continued learning and interaction, apart from being the ideal platform to showcase your best images. In addition to image review and critique by Sudhir and his team, you also gain the perfect peer group interaction to grow as a photographer. Theme-based assignments, healthy discussions, candid feedback, equipment reviews and resale are the other great perks of being part of this community.

    *The below topics will be covered and the participants will learn how to apply these concepts in wildlife photography.

    Fundamental and Advanced Concepts of Photography:
    – Manual and autofocus (focusing points, autofocus lock, single or continuous focus, Focusing Sensors, AF cases, Advanced AF settings of camera)
    – Manual exposure (ISO, shutter speed, Aperture)
    – Metering modes (evaluative, matrix, spot metering)
    – Depth of field (shallow, deep, hyper focal distance)
    – Motion (freezing, blurring and panning)
    – Picture styles / picture control (colour, black and white, sepia etc…)
    – Aperture priority, shutter speed priority and program modes
    – Understanding exposure – the 18% concept
    – White balance (pre-set and custom)
    – The temperature of light (natural and artificial colour cast)
    – Composition (framing)
    – Elements of design (seeing v/s looking)
    – Lenses and perspective (the right choice of focal length)
    – Pre-visualization
    – Completing the story
    – Camera settings related to Wildlife Photography.
    – Understanding Subject Behavioral aspects.
    – Understanding your camera and shooting techniques.

    Post-Processing:
    During the course of the workshop, you will be taken through the fundamentals of image processing and the following topics will be covered:

    – Colour management policies (colour settings, working space, ICC profiles etc.)
    – Working with RAW files
    – Cropping and image editing
    – Levels, curves, contrast, saturation adjustments (All through layers and masking)
    – Image sharpening, cloning, dodge and burn
    – Noise reduction.
    – Saving for web/ printing

    During the Field Outing:
    During the field outing, your mentor Sudhir Shivaram will help you make memorable images. Inputs provided on the field will enable you make the most of the opportunity.

    The teaching and learning will not stop after the workshop. In fact this is just the starting point. You will be part of the SSP community of the SSP website where your learning and interactions with fellow photographers continues.

    Proposed itinerary:
    Day 1, Nov 15th, 2022: Arrival and transfer to Hotel Park Inn San Jose
    Day 2, Nov 16th, 2022: Full day in the highland area for multiflash and feeder birds. Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge based on availability
    Day 3, Nov 17th, 2022: Full-day quetzal and hummingbird activities. Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge based on availability
    Day 4, Nov 18th, 2022: Morning quetzal tour and depart to Sarapiqui area. Half-day at feeders and night in La Quinta Lodge
    Day 5, Nov 19th, 2022: Full day at private farm shooting owls, bats, hummingbirds, and macro and night in La Quinta Lodge
    Day 6, Nov 20th, 2022: Drive to Cano Negro wetlands, half-day boat ride, and night in Natural Lodge
    Day 7, Nov 21st, 2022: Morning and afternoon boat ride in Rio Frio looking for amazing wetland species. Night birding looking for owls, potoos, and other wildlife and night in Natural Lodge
    Day 8, Nov 22nd, 2022: Transfer to Laguna Lagarto Lodge, half-day birding on deck
    Day 9, Nov 22rd 2022: Full day of toucans, king vulture, macro photography at the lodge. Bats in flight photography at night. Night in Laguna Lagarto lodge
    Day 10, Nov 24th, 2022: Morning birding at lodge and afternoon transfer to San Jose hotel for COVID test
    Day 11, Nov 25th, 2022: Departure after breakfast

    We will be using the below hotels for our stay

    Day 1, Nov 15th, 2022: Hotel Park Inn San Jose
    Day 2, Nov 16th, 2022: Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge
    Day 3, Nov 17th, 2022: Lodge – Suenos Del Bosque or Paraiso Quetzal Lodge
    Day 4, Nov 18th, 2022: La Quinta Lodge
    Day 5, Nov 19th, 2022: La Quinta Lodge
    Day 6, Nov 20th, 2022: Natural Lodge
    Day 7, Nov 21st, 2022: Natural Lodge
    Day 8, Nov 22nd, 2022: Laguna Lagarto Lodge
    Day 9, Nov 22nd, 2022: Laguna Lagarto lodge
    Day 10, Nov 24th, 2022: San Jose hotel for COVID test
    Day 11, Nov 25th, 2022: Departure after breakfast

    Costing
    Price per person: USD $5000 on double occupancy
    Additional USD $500 for single supplement

    INR 3,70,000 (Doube Occupancy) – For calculation we have considered $1 USD = INR 74. The final pricing will be calculated based on the exchange rates at the time of final payment to vendors.

    Included:
    – All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
    – Accommodation in shared double room in featured hotels.
    – Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
    – Bus and boat transport according to program.
    – Entrance fees for national parks.
    – Participation and personal tutoring by Sudhir Shivaram during the entire tour.
    – Workshops by Sudhir Shivaram during the tour.
    – Hotel taxes and other local fees.
    – Travel documents and other travel information.

    Excluded:
    – Single room supplement: USD 400
    – 5% GST
    – Return flights to Costa Rica.
    – All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
    – Tips to the local guides. Approximately USD 10 / day.
    – Any other item not mentioned as included.

    Flights:
    International airfare to Costa Rica is not included in the price.

    Group Size:
    In order to for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer our groups are always small. On this tour the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8 / 10.

    Photo Gear:
    – A DSLR Camera.
    – Telephoto lenses up to a 500mm.
    – Wide-angle lens, like a 24-70mm.
    – Tripod.
    – A Laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.
    – Extra batteries, chargers etc.

    Tour Leader:
    Apart from an award-winning photographer, a tour leader from Tropical Photo Tours will accompany you to handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you’re having the best possible experience in the wild.

    YOUR CANCELLATION & REFUND
    We understand that sometimes you unfortunately have to cancel a tour. Therefore, the following are the cancellation policies for our tours:

    – 25% deposit is non refundable booking fee.
    – Balance 75% to be paid 60 days prior to departure date.
    – even though initial 25% booking fee will be non-refundable, in event of tour getting cancelled (for whatever reasons), we will refund full amount charged from the clients.

    The below refund policy will be applicable to amount outside of the 25% deposit amount.
    90-60 days before departure, 50% of above mentioned tour cost will be refunded.
    59-31 days before departure, 25% of above mentioned tour cost will be refunded.
    30 days or less before departure, no refund.

    This policy also applies to pre- and post-trip extensions. Any airline tickets issued are subject to the carrier’s refund policy. Leaving a tour in progress will not result in a refund, and no refunds will be made for any unused portions of a tour.

    All cancellation notices must be received in writing and emailed to info@sudhirshivaram.com

    TOUR CANCELLATION

    We reserve the right to cancel the tour due to few guests that have signed up for the tour, strikes, war, natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances that make the tour inappropriate. If a tour is canceled prior to departure, you will be fully refunded.

    We are not responsible for any refund for non-refundable airline tickets or for any airline tickets purchased by the passenger directly from an airline or travel agent.

    In the event of the photo leader being unable to attend due to illness or other circumstances beyond our control, a photo leader of will be provided.

    EXCHANGE RATES AND PRICE CHANGE

    Our tours are based on different currencies and exchange rates. The currency and rate used for calculating are listed under the “Cost” sections of the tour page. In terms of fluctuations in exchange rates a surcharge will be invoiced. Notification will be given at the time of final invoicing.

    The prices are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as increase in fuel prices, government surcharges and other increases beyond our control. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge, we reserve the right to do so, and notification will be given at the time of final invoicing.

    What Students Are Saying

    Reviews and Testimonials from SSP Students

    I wanted to thank you for making photography somewhat easier. I have subscribed to your tutorials and I find them very easy to learn and understand. Being very busy with work, they allow me to learn at my own pace.   What you are doing for the photography community is really commendable and I applaud your dedication and passion; I enjoy your live sessions and photo tips. I often do not…
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    Reuben Canagaratnam

    My friends were little skeptical in the beginning about learning photography through on-line video tutorials. This concept was really new to our country. Though I was doing photography for last 2 years, the learning was through observations and on-field experiments. At times I was worried that why my pictures are not sharp.   Once I enrolled for these on-line tutorials, I started going systematically through each module by module. I used to keep my…
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    Dr Sudhir Hasamnis

    Nevertheless your extensive knowledge sharing with excellent photographic skills has proven you to be the one of the best photographer and a mentor. Now your latest initiative on your learning portal has laid an undoubtedly a wonderful platform for all those budding/pro photographers to learn and to take their interest to their next level. Not to restrict just for photographers, we see nature lovers and hobbyists are too admiring your…
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    Pavithrakumar P Ankad

    My name is Pranav More and I am a banker by profession. Honestly speaking, I was completely lost before getting registered with your tutorials. Even-though there are countless videos available on youtube, one can reach nowhere using them as there is no proper structure in them.   Your video tutorials contains all the crux of photography with every small details which may not be available on other sources, but are extremely…
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    Pranav More

    I find Mr. Sudhir's photography tutorials extremely helpful and intuitive. He is not only a talented photographer; he is a good teacher who is capable of simplifying complex concepts in photography.   Even an amateur wildlife photographer like me can hugely benefit from his tremendous experience and powerful ideas. I was able to fill some conceptual gaps related to some crucial concepts including the proper use of exposure compensation and…
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    Wesam Al Saka