A photographic workshop immersed in the heart of Slovenia in search of the  European brown bear and the fauna of this splendid country.

Kilometers and kilometers of silent forests populated by hundreds of species of mammals and birds. An enchanted place where unspoiled nature can offer sightings and unique moments at any time.

The Notranjska forest is by far one of the most beautiful and uncontaminated regions in Slovenia where the brown bear population has an incredible density, it is estimated the presence of about 1000 bears that shares this range with other fascinating mammals such as the wolf, the lynx, the wild cat and also deer, roe deer, wild boar, fox, badger, stone marten, squirrels and otters!

These wonderful forests arise a few kilometers from Lake Cerknica, the largest intermittent lake in Europe. Lakes, valleys, mountains and forests mean that the bird population is also incredibly varied and particular. Walking in these areas, hundreds of different species are potentially visible, including some very interesting such as the Ural owl, the Black Woodpecker, the Gray Woodpecker, the White-backed Woodpecker, the Great Spotted Woodpecker, the Lesser and the Middle Spotted Woodpecker; birds of prey such as buzzard, sparrow hawk and kestrel but also an infinity of small passerines such as frosoni, crested tit, wrens, finches and many others!

In the middle of these fantastic forests are our photographic huts, seven different locations, guaranteeing a very high percentage of sighting and the possibility of observing the Brown bear in different places, varying backgrounds, subjects and settings.

A photographic journey to discover the splendid European fauna. We will visit the magical forests of Slovenia in search of the beautiful animals that live within it. The areas we will visit boast an incredible biodiversity and all the rarest European carnivores live within the impenetrable woods: the wolf, the bear, the wild cat and the lynx.

Ours will be a journey in search of the great bear that populates these lands in abundance, the brown bear. Within the program there will be 6 high-level photo sessions. We will dedicate 4 sessions to the brown bear hides that will guarantee us to bring many shots and images from different locations. In fact, during our tour we will have the opportunity to visit at least 3 different locations.

We will optimize our chances of sighting by using the best hides available and each location will be for the exclusive use of our group. In addition to the bears we will also dedicate two activities for other subjects. A morning session will be dedicated to the new hide built for birds and small mammals. An hide with watering that gives the opportunity to observe and photograph dozens of bird species and more at close range; in fact, with a little luck, it is also possible to observe squirrels or other small mammals. Another session, on the other hand, will be dedicated exclusively to the Ural owl, with targeted outings in the forest in search of the majestic nocturnal bird of prey that populates these forests in abundance.

During the entire duration of the trip, the professional photographer Michele Bavassano will be at your disposal to help you find the “shot” you are looking for from your trip.

During this event, for the first time, a photographic workshop will be included where professional photographers will share with you all the secrets, experiences and techniques learned in these years in the field.

The journey as well as photographs and unforgettable moments of wild nature will therefore be a unique opportunity to learn by shooting alongside two professional photographers.

Hide photography is the most used technique  to be able to photograph wild animals at close distances without interfering or disturbing the fauna.

The hides that we are going to use have been designed and built to ensure maximum comfort during the photo session and at the same time to optimize the possibilities of sighting with the use of particular strategies for the elimination of odors, sound insulation and use. of glass to ensure visual isolation.

Inside the hides we will also be able to use photographic heads that can be inserted directly into a pre-built accommodation. Two large side windows will allow you to observe outside the hide in complete freedom, making it invisible from the outside. In this way, in addition to the photographs, each of us will be able to enjoy the naturalistic shows a few meters away.

This itinerary offers a great experience from a photographic point of view, therefore any equipment is sufficient to bring home great shots. You can observe animals at all distances, therefore a 70-200mm can already be enough to give satisfaction. Despite this, for portrait lovers, the advice is to bring with you a focal length of at least 300mm. A medium telephoto and a wide angle can be useful if you are interested in photographing Slovenian landscapes and forests.

Do you think you don’t have the right equipment for this event?
Don’t worry, it is now possible to rent lenses and camera bodies for our events at a special price!

An interesting catalog of lenses and cameras is available to all customers and can be booked and collected directly on site, without deposits or credit cards.

Contact me for more information

DAY 1

Arrival at Ljubljana airport and transfer to the facility where we will be staying. The meeting place is Ljubljana airport, it will be possible to reach it by national flight or personal transport. However, it is also possible to reach Slovenia on your own in the way you prefer.

Accommodation in the hotel of all the participants and presentation of the event where Michele will introduce the locations illustrating the best photographic techniques to be used in each hide, remaining available for each participant to find the best settings of your equipment in view of the dense photo sessions scheduled.

1.00 pm: Lunch at the hotel and transfer to the first photographic location. Here, after a few minutes of travel by car and a short walk in the forest (a few hundred meters) we will reach the first photographic hide.

Here Michele will illustrate the huts and the best set-up for positioning all the photographic equipment inside. Each hide will be disinfected and, in order to ensure maximum health safety, only two people will be allowed access to each hide, guaranteeing the spacing between the two photographers. The session will then continue until sunset (about 8.00 pm)

Day 2

7.00 am: breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the bird drinking pool hide. Here we will dedicate our photo session to birds and  small mammals. Michele, present with you in the hide, will be at your complete disposal to help you in the technical management of the scenes that we will find in front of us.

At the end of the morning session (usually around 10.00 a.m) we return to the hotel and there will be some free hours in which it will be possible to rest for the afternoon session. The professional photographer will be available for any technical questions and to observe the shots of the morning.

1.00 pm: Lunch and move to a new location for the afternoon session. The hides will be choise with the same dynamics of the day before. The session will last until sunset. (8.00 p.m).

Day 3

6.30 am: wake up and move into the forests in search of the Ural owl. Here we will try with several stops to identify and photograph some owls immersed in the magical Slovenian forests.

Michele will always be available to help you seize the perfect moment in the best possible way.

9.30 / 10.00: Return to the hotel where you will be able to load your equipment and get ready for lunch.

1.00 pm: lunch and transfer to a new location for photographic activities dedicated to the brown bear until sunset. (20.00)

After dinner, short projection of the shots of the day. Discussion of techniques and settings used. Michele will help you find the best solutions and techniques to get perfect shots.

Day 4 – Slovenia

6.30 am: Morning dedicated to the shed with watering or to the Ural owl. We will decide on the basis of the shots taken which of the two options to choose, we leave the program open in order to guarantee the maximum possibility of sighting of each species.

8.30 / 9.00: Return to the hotel and last hours dedicated to the development of a complete post-production course.

We will dedicate this morning by observing together the shots taken to date, comparing and talking about file cataloging and how to choose the perfect file to post-produce. Anyone can show their pictures and talk about his photos. The two professional photographers will be available for any questions and to help you find your best photographs. We will carry out a long post-production session where we will observe the main techniques to be used on Photoshop, Lightroom and Camera Raw.

About 12.00: end of the activities, greetings and free return

Michele will remain available and will be happy to share a last lunch together before departure.

Leaving with us means relying on professionals in the sector with photographers who work in this particular field with both naturalistic and photographic skills.

Each itinerary is the result of years of experience. Our team will be close to you throughout the trip and will be available for any questions you may have before, during and after your trip.

During the trip you will always have two professional photographers who know the locations and who will establish an optimal program according to the light and to obtain the maximum chance of sighting.

Our programs designed for your relaxation. Our job is to provide a professional service, thinking of every detail we will make sure that each participant has to worry exclusively about bringing home emotions and photographs.

At the base of each itinerary is the protection of nature. Each outing will take place in harmony with nature, with wild animals free in their own habitat. Our activities will not affect in any way with their habits, allowing us to take natural photographs and to guarantee tourism in balance with nature.