Travel with our mentors and try out all of the latest equipment from Nikon! Including world class digital SLRs, Nikkor lenses and the Coolpix line of Digital Cameras.

After breakfast, it was off to Naples Bay for a private catamaran ride on “Sweet Liberty” to an island. While cruising we were able to photograph many of the water fowl including egrets, osprey, eagles, gulls, and pelicans, to name a few. Dolphins played near the boat. Upon return to shore, it was off to lunch or exploration of downtown Naples.

After lunch it was off to Corkscrew Nature Preserve. Two groups were sent in opposite direction to photograph wildlife throughout the preserve. This tested the skills (and timing) of all trekkers. The excursion put everyone's visual skills to the test. Wildlife was everywhere, but you had to look for it. Alligators, deer, squirrels, numerous water fowl were there to be photograph, but being in there natural habitat, they blended in very well.

From there, it was off to a sunset shoot at Naples Peer, and we were not disappointed! The colors were spectacular, and the mentors both guided all of us in various techniques to get the best possible photographs. Bill, as always, showed the best ways to use the available light, and settings, including thinking beyond the common settings, and changing them to set mood and tones of the available sunset. Chip showed the different ways to look at what is right in front of you. He showed ways to change the color or the aspect of the settings, to give a new and fresh photograph.

Saturday it was off to the Everglades National Park. Kenny (our guide) joined us and took us to an area similar to the Corkscrew Nature Preserve. The boardwalk lead us into a wetlands area that was home to several nesting Eagles, numerous plants, including a “Ghost Orchid” and a small family of Alligators. From there, we traveled to the Airboats. An enjoyable fast paced travel through the Everglades, showing us again all of the amazing wildlife that lives in the national park. At the end of the ride, we were able to touch and hold a baby gator. To watch Erica brave, and hold the gator, then do the “I'm scared” dance was worth every second!

After a fast airboat, slowing down to a very large pontoon boat ride throughout the bay area of the Everglades, we were treated to several dolphins that played near the boat. They surfed the wake of the boat, and jumped with in shooting range of the boat. To watch these creatures in their natural habitat is to say the least, awe inspiring.

Alligators. They appear to be very docile and nonaggressive. Again, they APPEAR to be that way. They are a very dangerous creature. During the warm days, they are in the water or sunning themselves on the shore. Kenny took us to an area along a canal where we could safely took at and photograph them while the warmed up with the last rays of the sun.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for the group picture and were given the opportunity to touch and get up close and personal with a 4ft and 6ft gator. It was back to the hotel with a session on Lighting and Light Painting with the mentors.

Sunday brings us to the end of this trek - and reluctantly so…We spend some time with Bill on Image work flow and some new tools of the modern digital photographer, and with Chip on some Photoshop Techniques and skills. The final slide show reveals to everyone the new found skills and the amazing beauty of the Everglades! Everyone was on the same boats (ok maybe not ALL of the same airboats) saw the same areas, but came back with so many different views and images…it unexplainable. After the closing of the workshop, it was hard to get on the plane to come back to winter, so I am already planning the next trip…

Chauncey Davis