Joining forces for the first time, two Hawai‘i wildlife photographers team up to offer a workshop on the art of photographing Hawai‘i’s birds. Kaua‘i’s Jim Denny and Big Island’s Jack Jeffrey will lead a two-day workshop that includes an evening
Joining forces for the first time, two Hawai‘i wildlife photographers team up to offer a workshop on the art of photographing Hawai‘i’s birds.
Kaua‘i’s Jim Denny and Big Island’s Jack Jeffrey will lead a two-day workshop that includes an evening lecture from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 15 at Kaua‘i Hospice in Lihu‘e and a field day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 visiting locales between Kapa‘a and Kilauea.
Denny, a 40-year resident of Kekaha, is the author of two books, “The Birds of Kaua‘i” and “Hawai‘i’s Butterflies and Moths.” Jeffrey, a wildlife biologist, has been observing and photographing Hawai‘i’s birds for the past 35 years. He is co-author of two books, “Hawai‘i’s Beautiful Birds” and “The Pocket Guide to Hawai‘i’s Birds.”
Denny moved to Kaua‘i in 1967. Being a naturalist at heart he found himself curious about the local wildlife.
“I’d go to the library for books but could only find water colors of Kaua‘i birds,” he said.
With money saved from aluminum cans, he bought his first camera and began taking pictures.
“I didn’t plan to publish, I just wanted to get them on film,” he said. “Photographs are the memory of the experience. Birds are inspiring. They lift the human spirit. To see them is an honor. To photograph them is a plus.”
Friday night’s slide show will cover vertical versus horizontal shots, background, strategies for using a tripod in the field, what makes a good photo and how to attract birds.
The day in the field will begin at Smith’s Tropical Paradise in Wailua where attendees will have access to a variety of birds to shoot at relatively close range. From there the group will travel to Kilauea to work on flight shots.
For attendees exploring nature photography for the first time equipment will be made available.
“It’s expensive,” Denny said. “You need at least a 300 lens to shoot birds. This is an opportunity for people to find out if they want to make the investment.”
Photographs by Denny and Jeffrey have appeared in local, national and international magazines, as well as books and calendars. Attendees will be able to glean tips from two of the best in the field who take alternative approaches to their art.
“Jack and I shoot differently,” Denny said. “Jack likes action and he uses a flash where I like profiles of birds and rarely use a flash.”
Denny’s latest projects with high-definition video include, “Hawai‘i’s Birds” and “Birds of the Rainforest.”
The workshop is limited to 15 participants. All photography skill levels welcome. When the class fills names will be taken for a second workshop in the near future. To register send a check for $95 made out to Jack Jeffrey Photography to event coordinator Hob Osterlund, 4209 Kinau Place, Princeville, HI 96722. For more details, hob@hawaii.rr.com.
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
