Wetlands of Kakadu Photography Tour

■ Wilderness walking

■ Spectacular wildlife

■ Great bird photography

■ Expert photography advice from Andrew Thomasson

■ Aboriginal culture

■ Wilderness walking

■ Lots of swimming in crystal clear rock pools

■ 6 nights camping under the stars

■ Ubirr and Nourlangie,

■ Cruise the Yellow Waters,

■ Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls

■ Maguk and Koolpin Gorge, Katherine Gorge

■ Aboriginal Cultural Tours

■ Complete understanding of your DLSR, compact, mirrorless or film camera functions

■ Learn shooting modes including Aperture, Shutter speed, Program, Auto, Pre sets, raw vs jpeg, metering  & focusing modes, white balance , ISO, picture style & control, exposure lock & compensation, adding light into shadows  

■ Lighting:  - natural & artificial light, white balance, time the light 

■ Composition: leading & converging lines, the rule of thirds, framing, reflections, colour, star bursts,  showing motion, viewpoint, selective focus, vertical vs horizontal, aspect ratio

■ Landscape photography throughout

■ Photography of flora and fauna

■ Motion, architecture, nature, flowers.

■ late afternoon, low light landscapes

■ Use of your flash & shooting techniques in wireless flash

■ Understanding editing

■ Insight into photographing for personal, stock, editorial & commercial use

■ View unique Australian wildlife and birdlife

■ Use of light on water, clouds, silhouettes, shadows, twilight

■ Notes, critique & ongoing networking, advice and technical support

■ Practical workshops over 6 days covering: What gear, camera handling, food, architecture, landscapes, portraiture,  photography, action & motion, lighting, composition, nature, wildlife, editing, Lightroom 6 classic, output for screen & print and more 

 * we vary the workshops according to the weather conditions and other factors

 

■ No prior photography experience

■ Suitable for amateur photographers right through to semi-professionals 

■ Any Digital DSLR, mirrorless, quality compact, smartphone camera

■ Film Camera's are catered for (Having both digital & a film camera is preferred as it allows for on-location photo critique)

■ At least one quality lens such as a Nikkor 18-200mm or a Canon 17-85mm and other lenses that you own

■ Min 16 GB card per day of shooting

■ Any camera accessories - such as a tripod, and polarising filter

■ Instruction booklet, sense of humour

■ Every tour participant gets custom tailored advice on their gear, what / where to buy, destination shooting tips, knowledge on cameras, lens, accessories and the best deals. Detailed notes give tips on etiquette, security, the best time to go, image storage, battery life, camera care, security issues and much more. We are strong advocates of using an image capturing device to suit the location, your mood and objectives.

■ Fitness Level / Difficulty
Moderate. Some easy-pace walking required at various locations.

What is your photography tour philosophy ?
■ As Australians are currently unable to travel overseas we are lucky to have a great range of Australian tours on offer

■ We take you on a personal journey of discovery, where life and the traditional cultures remain relatively unspoilt, where the wildlife viewing is spectacular, where the scenery is breathtaking.

■ A Focus 10 photography tour reflects our fascination and love for interesting cultures, great architecture, the world's great cities and the natural world. These tours are not just for expert photographers.

■ In fact, we attract an eclectic mix of people who blend other interests with photography - the lover of wildflowers, the birder, the naturalist, the antiquities buff, the painter, the wine and food lover, the avid traveller looking to expand their horizons.

■ Using professional operators companies such as World Expeditions and Utracks who look after the logistics, transportation, accommodation and food, leaves us free to concentrate on the photography.

■ Small groups & journeying to unusual and 'off the beaten track' places

■ Destinations & activities specifically chosen for their photogenic nature

■ Itineraries tailored to take full advantage of photographic opportunities

■ Friendly tuition by master trainers and professional photographers

■ On-location analysis and critique of images after each days shooting

■ Detailed pre-departure and on-location notes to fast track your skills

■ Travel with interesting, fun loving, like-minded individuals

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Do we handle all logistics or work with local operators?
■ Focus 10 only operate its own tours in Australia and in areas we know intimately through running our huge variety of courses in each area. We also shoot commercially in these areas for local Tourist boards, for other travel companies and local tourist business ranging from restaurants, tourist activities ecetera . In other words- we know what works photography wise!
■ Almost all our tours are centred in one area with a minimum of driving . In fact often the participants had their own vehicles and prefer to drive themselves to the various locations we photograph at

■ Using professional operators companies such as World Expeditions and Utracks who look after the logistics, transportation, accommodation and food, leaves us free to concentrate on the photography.

■ Over 30 years as a photography leader with companies such as World Expeditions teaches you many things! Your job as an instructor is to do just that - to instruct your fellow travellers and impart as much of your professional knowledge to achieve the end result - brilliant , memorable photographs that your guests have taken themselves.

■ You also have to be an opportunist. To create opportunities.To be pro-active, energetic and committed.

■ It helps if you have been in the country, area or region before so you understand the customs, the light and the boundless opportunities to take amazing photographs

■ It's also a huge help to use highly reputable travel companies preferably with their own operations on the ground. Having a local when things go pear shaped, and a deep understanding of local customs and protocol is essential. It allows for a division of labour; the local guide can go ahead and check the group into a hotel while the group continues to shoot a beautiful sunset.

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What sort of insurance cover do you and the tour operators your represent have?
■ Focus 10 Pty Ltd has full insurance to run our own tours. It it however mandatory that you also have your own insurance policy. We will not accept anyone on our tours without having a copy of your insurance.

■ We use the reputable PIPP brokers for our camera gear insurance
www.photoinsurance.com.au
www.wscbrokers.com.au
Contact : nancy@wscbrokers.com.au for a quote

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What is our guest to Instructor ratio?
■ All our dedicated Focus 10 tours have small groups of up to 10 persons . This ensures a highly personal training experience with lots of individual attention to each photographers needs. Everyone has their own ideal when it comes to instructor-to-guest ratios. We prefer a small group of
up to eight.

■On other photography tours where we are acting as the photography host and the company runs all the tour logistics such as transport, accommodation, food etc the ratios can be higher.

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What is the difference between your photography tours and courses?
■ A tour is a chance to be guided through an area typically rich in photographic content. There is less direct hands-on instruction, moment to moment, and the subject matter can cover a large spectrum.

■ A course by contrast, is usually more hands-on and directed to a specific goal. An example of this is a one day workshop on street photography. Your instructor will be close at hand to make all those small course corrections and critiques needed for improvement.

■ Photography courses and workshops tend to have a more structured atmosphere with assignments and critiques. Really good courses and workshops are taught by professional photographers and tutors.

■ Our Photography tours are more casual in nature and the instruction isn’t as intense. More emphasis is placed onexperiencing and photographing a bucket-list of great locations, activities and so forth. On our tours we never dispense assignments. We put a high emphasis on having fun.

■ Depending on the tour photographer, you should have the opportunity to get some one on one tuition. We provide that with detailed reference notes and the opportunity to perhaps do one of our 'online' or 'on location' Travel Photography courses beforehand.

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Has the photographer leading the trip been to my destination before?
■ Your photography host Andrew Thomasson has been to Kakadu three times before

■ One of the many great things about photography tours is that you don’t have to worry about wasting time scouting locations yourself

■ Ideally, your leader has been there before and knows what looks best at certain times of the day. They know where the hidden gems are in addition to the tourist hot spots.

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Is it safe to travel and book a NT holiday right now?
estern Australia remains one of the most desirable destinations in the world, Business wise, adventure wise, lifestyle wise - it is a fabulous place

This is Straight from www.wa.gov.au website

'Travel is now permitted throughout all regions within WA, except for entry into remote Aboriginal communities.

Western Australia is incredibly vast and diverse; as the largest state, it covers nearly one-third of the country. Its the size of Western Europe ... From baffling rock formations and ancient Aboriginal sites to sweeping green vineyards of world-class wineries and unbelievably clear ocean waters, Western Australia is the land of endless exploration.

Because of its location so far away from the likes of Sydney and Melbourne, its far less touristy and much more laid-back. WA locals know they reside in the best state in Australia, but you won’t catch them boasting about it, because they wouldn’t want the secret to get out. In the current nasty virus pandemic ravaging the world , we urge everyone in Australia to consider one of our favourite tours in WA

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WETLANDS OF KAKADU & BEYOND
6 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
KAKADU PHOTOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE EMBRACING ABORIGINAL CULTURES, LANDSCAPES & UNIQUE FLORA & FAUNA

Adventure to one of the most pristine and photogenic environments in Australia - Kakadu National Park. Amidst a kaleidoscope of rich colours, sweeping vistas, prolific wildlife and fascinating aboriginal culture, this photographic adventures is a once in a lifetime opportunity to capture Australia's nature and culture. This photographic safari combines hands-on photographic tuition in Australia's wilderness wonderland.

• Tour Dates: 28 August 2021
• Tour Cost: $3,195 (ex Darwin) | Single supplement: $240 extra
• Tour Style: Easy, 4WD. You should be able to walk 4-8km per day

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ITINERARY ( this may vary according to local conditions)

■ DAY 1: arrive darwin, transfer to Kakadu
Join Darwin, transfer to Kakadu, Ubirr, Gulyambi cruise. We pick you up from your accommodation between 7:00 and 7.30am, before heading to the renowned bird watching areas of Fogg Dam for coffee and a briefing on the trip ahead. We then get off the sealed roads and travel east on the Arnhem Highway. Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage area covering around 20 000 square kilometers so a short drive - maybe a couple of hours! An optional scenic flight from Jabiru airstrip (30 mins from $120 p.p.) provides a spectacular overview of the escarpment and wetlands. We will explore the extraordinary rock art of Ubirr as well as expansive views across the flood plains at sunset before retiring to our campsite at nearby Merl.

■ DAY 2: To Oenpelli, Injalak Arts and Crafts
Heading south-west through Kakadu National Park, we will explore the rarely visited art sites of Nanguluwurr as well as the spectacular locations of Angbangbang and Nourlangie. This evening we will join the Yellow Waters wildlife cruise for a spectacular sunset and exceptional wildlife viewing. Saltwater and Freshwater Crocodiles, White Breasted Sea Eagles, Brolgas, Buffalo and huge flocks of Magpie Geese are commonly seen in this exceptional wetland. Camp at Mardugal.

■ DAY 3 Gubara and Nanguluwarr
Wake up to the call of hundreds of birds. After a leisurely breakfast, we head out to explore the vine forest of Gubara. A short walk through the savannah leads to a clear creek and Kakadu’s rainforest equivalent. In the afternoon we will visit the art site of Nangulwarr and the scenic lookout or Nowalandja. We return to our group camp-site at Mardugal.

■ Day 4 To Yurmikmik and Gunlom
Today we will travel into Southern Kakadu and the spectacular South Alligator River Valley. A walk near Yurmikmik reveals stunning escarpment views and hidden waterfalls. We travel on to the idyllic waterfall and plunge pool of Gunlom. An afternoon of relaxing and exploring is followed by camping nearby.

■ Day 5 Katherine River.
Heading south on the Stuart Highway, we travel to the busy outback centre, Katherine and on to spectacular Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park. A number of short walks aim to gain access to spectacular viewpoints over the Gorge. Camp at Katherine Gorge.

■ Day 6 To Manyallaluk
Heading south from Katherine we travel to the Aboriginal community of Manyallaluk. An afternoon of aboriginal cultural experiences introduces us to Jawoyn culture. We camp nearby.

■ Day 7 To Darwin
This morning we have further opportunity to explore Katherine, we aim to return to town by mid-morning and head back up the Stuart Highway to Darwin. We may enjoy a relaxing lunch beside the waterfall of Edith Falls or Adelaide River on the way north and expect to arrive back into Darwin around 5:00pm.

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INCLUSIONS
■ 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 dinners
■ Professional photographer leader
■ Professional wilderness guide
■ All group camping equipment including tents, swags for sleeping, stoves, cooking and eating utensils
■ Wildlife cruise
■ All National Park and camping fees
■ Emergency communications and group first aid kit
■ 4WD transport from Darwin

Not Included:
■ Camera and all photographic equipment.
■ Airfares
■ Travel insurance
■ Accommodation in Darwin before and after the trip
■ Alcoholic beverages
■ Sleeping Bag hire
■ Backpacks