Borneo Rainforest Bird Macro Landscape Nature Photograph Workshop and Tour

Rainforest Bird, Macro, Landscape and Nature Photography Workshop & Tour
in Borneo, Sarawak, East Malaysia

6 Day & 5 Night
Borneo Rainforest Photography Workshop & Tours
April 15-20,2010

Go behind the scene on location with John Arifin to the world’s third largest Island; Borneo. Venture into the tropical rainforest to photograph bazaar creatures and plants found only in this part of the world. Sample the natural beauty of Sarawak in a 6 day 5 night photography expedition and photography workshop at two national parks and one mountain resort. The Borneo photography workshop is limited to only 8 participants which will include guides, accommodations, most meals, and ground transport. The ideal group will be a small group of photographers who have the basic photography knowledge and keenest in learning how to shoot in the rainforest. We have a group formed at this moment.

For more information please contact us before April 3, 2010. Contact us here.

Photography Workshop in Borneo

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher in Kubah National Park Sarawak (Above)

Rainforest bird, macro, landscape and nature photography workshop in Sarawak Borneo

This is no ordinary trip to Borneo, it covers terrains from low land rainforest to coastal and montain forest to photograph nature. During the trip, John will guide participants on how to capture and create powerful images. When time allowed, dinner photo critique will be conducted among the participants to gain further insight and knowledge into the image, the subject and the environment. The 6 day workshop will be packed with daily & nightly outing plus invaluable learning experience.

The rainforest is one of the most diversified environment with more than 50 % of the world species. Unlike the normal wild life in the open area in Australia or Africa, light in the rainforest is very dim and subjects are not exposed. Good knowledge and skill are the key ingredients in locating and photographing the subjects. Workshop contents will focus on

Exposure skills in low light.
Flash techniques in the forest,
Macro photography on insects and plants
Bird photography
Frog, reptiles and amphibians
photography (at night)
Digital workflow using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Kubah National Park Photography Workshop
Situated on a sandstone plateau, mostly covered by mixed dipterocarp forest which interspersed with patches of scrub & unusually rich area of Kerangas forest, is the home of mammals, birds & many species of reptiles and amphibians. Photography workshop subjects: Frogs at night near the water. Bird photography in the morning and plant photography in the afternoon. Two nights at Kubah National Park .

Wallace's Flying Tree frog (left)

Bako National Park Photography Workshop
It is the oldest National Park in Sarawak. It has rich open coastal forest which make wildlife viewing much easier. Birds & mammals that we may encounter include mangrove blue flycatcher, black-naped monarch. Photography workshop subjects: Probably the best place to photograph the endemic proboscis monkeys and variety of pitcher plants and fantastic sunset along the sandy beach and the mangrove forest.

Sunset at Bako National Park in Sarawak,Malaysian Borneo (Left)

Borneo Highland Resort Photography Workshop
Situated at Penrissen Range, 1000 m (3,000 feet) above sea level with morning temperature around 20 degree C. It offer a perfect blend of luxurious comfort and existing virgin rainforest, it spring like environment blessed with an astonishing varieties of flora and fauna, from the rich vegetation & lush montain rainforest provides a great habitat for montane species. Two day and one night in Borneo Highland Resort. Photography workshop subjects: Scenic view of the Indonesian rainforest , frogs and insect, montain birds.

Mountain scene at Borneo Highland in the early morning (Below)

Day 1
Singapore to Kuching. Drive to Kubah
National Park.
Night @ Kubah.

Day 2
Full day in Kubah for nature photography.
Night @ Kubah National Park

Day 3
Kubah NP to Bako National Park
Night @ Bakoh National Park.

Day 4
Full Day at Bako National Park.
Night @ Bakoh National Park

Day 5
Bako to Borneo Highland. By boat and road.
Night @ Borneo Highland

Day 6
Morning in the Borneo Highland. Check out and transfer to Kuching airport for departure to Singapore.
Kuching to Singapore

Photographic Equipment
D-slr with wide angle & macro lens for landscapes, plants and insects. Short telephoto lens for amphibians and reptiles. Long telephoto lens for birds 400mm or longer. Tripod and flash will be needed in most outings. Basic knowledge in photography and nature photography will be beneficial.

What to check-in:
Baggage limit will be 20 Kg based on the budget airline specification. If you need more allowance you can add the extra weight by paying a bit more.

I will check-in tripod and clothing. Make sure that the tripod head and tripod are cushioned properly before putting it in the bag. Use your clothing to wrap around the head of the tripod. The most important part to protect is the tripod head.

Hand carry:
I will hand carry long lenses and cameras on a separate backpack. If you have a laptop, you have to hand carry it as well. Note that the max limit is 10 Kg for the backpack that you can hand carry. Bring not more than 3 lenses.