The Wellstead Estuary is the heart of the town of the Bremer Bay. Many people have a connection, a story, a history woven around it. It’s part of the Fitzgerald Biosphere – listed by the United Nations Educational & Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) because it is internationally recognised for its high biodiversity richness, species endemism and high level of threats.

What does that mean though for those who call this place home? Or who are drawn back to visit again and again? Photography can convey that meaning, even as it captures what is special or unique about a place and our connection to it. And who better to show us how to refine our skills than an internationally recognised nature photographer.

Georgina Steytler is a nature photographer and the author of the books 'For the Love of Birds' (2021) and 'For the Love of Flora', published by Australian Geographic. She holds a strong passion for birds, ethics and conservation, with a special place in her heart for the unique beauty and ecological significance of the Fitzgerald Biosphere. Her photography serves not only as a means of artistic expression but also as a powerful tool for advocacy and education.

For the last fifteen years, she has been working on various conservation projects, extending her skillset to educate attendees around environmental and animal photography ethics when it comes to shooting wildlife through workshops, talks and articles, both in Australia and across the world. Check one of her latest entries here

In this regard, Georgina's photographic philosophy can play an important role in the safeguarding the Wellstead Estuary, the Fitzgerald River National Park and the broader Biosphere reserve and can be summed up in these three words:

"Art. Conservation. Ethics.”

Find out more about Georgina Steytler at:

https://www.georginasteytler.c...

https://www.instagram.com/geor...

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Workshop 1 – Key Techniques for Nature Photography Friday 23rd August 2024

09.15am - 1.30pm

Location: Tozers Bush Camp https://www.facebook.com/p/Tozers-Bush-Camp-100057430129092/

We will start with an introductory workshop led by Georgina, focusing on mastering camera settings, composition, lighting, and angles. Afterward, we'll venture into the bush to put our photography skills into practice.

Best suited for beginners to intermediate photographers that are interested in flora and birds.

All cameras welcome, even smartphones.

Morning tea available, please advise of any dietary requirements in your booking. BYO Lunch

Bookings are essential as space is limited.

Cost: $30 per person per day

Workshop 2 – Beginner Bird Photography Saturday 24th August 2024

7:00am – 11:00am

Location: Meet at Paperbark Park, Wellstead Estuary, Bremer Bay.

This workshop will suit those beginner to intermediate Bird photographers, beginning early (Sunrise for 06:30am) to capitalise on the morning light.

While the Wellstead Estuary offers opportunities for capturing flora and other nature photography, this morning’s workshop will focus on honing skills for 'birds in flight' photography.

Morning tea available, please advise any dietary requirements in your booking.

Bookings are essential as space is limited.

Cost: $30 per person per day

Participants will need to bring:

Camera/Phone with appropriate lenses and extra equipment ie, tripod, SD cards, power banks
Water bottle
Sturdy footwear
It would be handy to bring a backpack with hat, rain jacket and any medications needed for the day as this event will take around 4 hours, with both indoor and outdoor activities

It is thanks to funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program and Lotterywest, that the FBG and Fitzgerald Biosphere Community Collective (FBCC) can provide this event for a discounted fee.

As always, weather across the South West Coast of Australia can be variable any time of the year. Given these are mostly outdoor events, we will try our best to make the most of weather conditions with the available information we have closer to the time of these workshops. We ask that you understand our stance on keeping our attendees (and equipment) as safe as we can, should we need to alter our itineraries or cancel due to inclement weather.

Please ensure your vehicle and footwear are free of any mud and debris to help prevent the spread of dieback. For more information see https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/management/threat-management/plant-diseases/phytophthora-dieback