Tag Archives: bird photography

Newfoundland in Focus: Puffins, Gannets & Whales

Photo Safari July 17-24, 2027

I’m excited to announce my 2027 Newfoundland photo safari: Newfoundland in Focus: Puffins, Gannets and Whales, taking place July 17–24, 2027 from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

This small-group workshop is designed for photographers who want an immersive wildlife experience focused on some of Newfoundland’s most iconic summer subjects: Atlantic puffins, northern gannets, razorbills, murres, and humpback whales.

Newfoundland in summer offers extraordinary access to seabird colonies and marine wildlife. We’ll photograph from prime coastal vantage points and from private zodiac excursions that give us outstanding opportunities for whale and seabird photography.

What We’ll Photograph

Over the course of the safari, we’ll focus on:

  • Atlantic puffins at close range along the Bonavista Peninsula
  • Northern gannets in one of North America’s most spectacular seabird settings at Cape St. Mary’s
  • Razorbills and murres 
  • Humpback whales from two private zodiac outings

The Experience

This is a small-group trip with a maximum of 5 guests, which means plenty of room for individual instruction in the field. I’ll be providing hands-on coaching throughout the safari, along with a pre-trip Zoom orientation session and image review and critique.

Our itinerary includes time in St. John’s, Cape St. Mary’s, Bonavista, and Elliston, giving us access to exceptional bird colonies and whale photography opportunities.

Ultimate Birds in Flight: San Diego

Photography Workshop Jan. 18-22, 2026

Master the Art of Photographing Birds in Flight

Join me in San Diego, California to immerse yourself in the art of bird photography. I offer “ask me anything” instruction during the safari to ensure you’re getting the best quality images. Because of the small group size, I’m able to offer a more intimate instructional style that allows each participant to get the knowledge they need to succeed.

Winter is the breeding season for the pelicans and cormorants in southern California, so we’ll be able to capture them in their colorful breeding plumage, and photograph their breeding displays.

This workshop is geared towards intermediate to advanced photographers who wish to learn how to capture  stunning images of birds in flight. We will have the opportunity to photograph numerous species, including pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and terns. We will also likely encounter sea lions and other wildlife on the beaches, and have the opportunity to get some nice sunsets and environmental shots.

Each day, we will download and process our images together as a group, get critiques, and learn new techniques to make your photos stand out. I will work with you to capture and process the best possible images into beautiful finished products.

In addition to “ask me anything” support, I will teach you my complete workflow for bird and wildlife photography using Adobe Lightroom Classic. You’ll get my full set of bird keywords with every bird species in the world, learn how to identify birds from your photos, and then learn how to process your images to deliver maximum impact.

Prerequisites: You are expected to know how to set exposure and autofocus parameters in your camera.

Activity Level: Mild. There will be walking on sidewalks with some hills, but nothing strenuous. You’ll need to be able to carry your gear short to medium distances (0.1 mile).

Where: San Diego, CA (La Jolla & surrounding areas)

Learn all my secrets for setting up the OM-1 Mark II camera for bird and wildlife photography!

OM-1 Mark 2 eBook now available

Birding With the OM-1 Mark II ©2025 Jason P. Odell 

After two years of using the OM System OM-1 cameras, I’m finally able to share my settings and control configurations for bird and wildlife photography with the OM System OM-1 Mark II mirrorless camera. My settings and recommended techniques will help you adapt to nearly any field scenario involving birds and other wildlife subjects.

Panama Rainforest Wildlife Safari 2025

Photograph Birds, Sloths, and More Oct. 12-19, 2025

3-toed sloth in a tree
A 3-toed sloth in the Panamanian rainforest

I’m happy to announce that I’ve locked in arrangements to take a small (8 max) group of photo enthusiasts to Panama Oct. 12-19, 2025 to photograph the incredible biodiversity of Panama’s Caribbean coast. Just a few miles from Costa Rica, we’ll be able to photograph tremendous biodiversity at a private island eco-lodge that abuts a rainforest preserve. One of the best parts of this trip is a boat trip along the Changuinola canal, where the rainforest animals are just feet away in the trees. Our expert guides will help us spot toucans, kingfishers, herons and sloths. We’ll also have many of these animals in our “backyard” right outside our air-conditioned cabanas. Non-photographer companions are welcome and receive discounted pricing.

Bonus: Save $200 per person when you reserve your spot before March 1, 2025.

You can see my images from the 2024 trip here.

Ultimate Birds in Flight Workshop 2025

Bird Photography in San Diego, California

I’m pleased to announce a second session for the 2025 Ultimate Birds in Flight workshop, Jan. 8-11 in San Diego, California.

Winter is the breeding season for the pelicans and cormorants in southern California, so we’ll be able to capture them in their colorful breeding plumage.

This workshop is geared towards intermediate to advanced photographers who wish to learn how to capture stunning images of birds in flight. We will have the opportunity to photograph numerous species, including pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and terns. We will also likely encounter sea lions and other wildlife on the beaches, and have the opportunity to get some nice sunsets and environmental shots.

Each day, we will download and process our images together as a group, get critiques, and learn new techniques to make your photos stand out. I will work with you to capture and process the best possible images into beautiful finished products.

In addition to “ask me anything” support, I will teach you my complete workflow for bird and wildlife photography using Adobe Lightroom Classic. You’ll get my full set of bird keywords with every bird species in the world, learn how to identify birds from your photos, and then learn how to process your images to deliver maximum impact.