We have been leading top quality owl action photo workshops for over 18 years!  Come with Hemmings Photo Tours and travel through small town settings and farm regions with miles of owl habitat. This small group, experience ensures you have an intimate experience with the owls and get the instruction you need! Look eye to eye with this majestic creatures and use your acquired skills to capture this beautiful owls in flight. This amazing great grey owls photography workshop should be on every bird and nature photographers bucket list. 

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Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this adventure promises breathtaking moments and unforgettable memories. Don't miss your chance to see and photograph these two beautiful owl species on the same workshop!

In addition to Great Grey Owls Photography you will have the opportunity to see and photograph one or more of the following species:
Short Eared Owl / Northern Pygmy Owl / Northern Hawk Owl / Barred Owl/ Snowy Owl

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Book your space early to avoid disappointment. Only 5 spots available.

This is an ideal workshop to add to the Great Grey Owls in Calgary

Price $ 4,495 USD Free single supplement  USD Deposit required $1500  USD

Calgary Canada -  Questions? info@hemmingsphototours.com

Workshop Leader Harshad K. 

Great Grey Owls! 4 Days/ 5 Nights. Arrive Sat at the hotel. Sun./Mon/Tues/Wed owls photography-.Thurs. Check out-fly home. Thurs. . Price $4495 USD

Arrive Feb. 01- depart 06 2026/ 2027

The Ultimate Owls! 6 Days/ 7 nights - Feb. 01 - 8th 2026 / 2027 Arrive at destination February 1st, depart February 8th. $5795 USD Free single supplement 

Flight Destination: Calgary International Airport Canada (YYC) 

Physical Activity:  Basic. Hotels, Photo instruction, transportation during workshop.  Check in after 2pm.  

Not included:  Flight and travel to workshop location.  Meals, beverages.  Gifts, tips not included.   There is a restaurant at the hotel and others nearby.

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Overview:

Meet the Silent White Ghosts of the North. During this adventure you will have the opportunity to capture your own image of the Great Grey Owls and other owls such as the white Snowy Owls against a cool winter background of snow and ice. Explore, travel and photograph Ontario winter scenery. These cool temperatures bring out crisp blue sky backgrounds .  Use your skills and creativity to utilize cool tones, natural winter settings, evergreens, and snowflakes with your subject. Learn to adapt to lighting changes and techniques to get the best possible photograph.  We will take you on a journey to secret hideaways of these beauty’s allowing you to enjoy a profound experience of photographing the owl.  On this adventure you will leave with a true appreciation of these magnificent creatures. 

 

Itinerary:

Arrival at the Calgary Airport - Take a taxi or Uber to the hotel. Check in. There is a restaurant onsite with a variety of meal options. 

Next morning meet in the hotel lobby at 7:30am ready to go for some action packed owl photography.

Key Learning:
Metering and exposing for different lighting and shooting conditions. Exposure for white subjects on white snow and blue sky backgrounds.
Searching and obtaining desirable backgrounds for your subjects.

Manual Mode- When, where and why.
Capture action images including flight shots. Proper techniques to consistently capture good flight images. Develop your bird-in-flight photography skills.

 

Recommended Equipment and Clothing:
We highly recommend bringing a lens that you are comfortable hand holding as most of the shooting is best done using this method.

Bring whichever camera body that you use, a backup is a good idea in the extreme cold.

Bring extra batteries as the cold drains them faster. Keep your extra batteries in your coat pocket with a hand warmer to keep them charged longer.

Lenses to bring include for hand holding include, 100-400, 80-400, 150-600, 200-500, etc.

The varied focal length ranges of these zoom lenses will make your image making more enjoyable.

Feel free to bring your 500 or 600mm lens if you are comfortable hand holding or shooting moving objects from a tripod (not recommended).

Digital cards, back up hard drive and laptop - internet at the hotel. 

Clothing and accessories:

The temperatures can be very cold while shooting the snowy owls and it is not uncommon to be faced with wind factors making it even colder. It is very important to be properly prepared with the right clothing as follows.

Warm under layers, merino wool is very good. A second layer of fleece or wool, top and bottoms.

An outer layer of down filled parka and pants. Temperatures can be from 5C to -20C . There will be a truck nearby where you can warm up should you get too cold. Buy the boots rated for the coldest climates you can find.  Here is a link to some good brands such as Cabelas and Baffin.

A balaclava is highly recommended to keep your face from the cold and wind.

Cold temperature gloves and or a mitten glove combo. 

Hand and toe warmers. These are the small packets that fit in pockets in the heat 3 gloves and in the end of your boots for toe warmth. Merino wool thin gloves and another pair of gloves or mittens to warm up your hands. 

A warm wool toque to use in conjunction with your hood on the parka.

Sunglasses, plastic or another material not to freeze in the cold. 

Please read the Refund Policy 

Do not book your flights until we have confirmed the owls have arrived.

Looking for another winter photo workshop? Try Canadian Lynx Winter Animals or Polar Bear Mother and Cubs at the den. 

CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE  OWLS PHOTO WORKSHOP

“Thank you very much. I loved the owls and enjoyed the workshop leaders and meeting the other workshop participants. Apart from that I had a lovely time and have come away with lots of great photos.  It was wonderful to get so many shots of the male as well as the females.
Very best wishes to you.” Diane D.
 
"I was totally captivated by the Snowy Owls.  They are truly magnificent!  Their speed, their agility, their gracefulness and their beautiful markings.   I've just scratched the surface of the hundreds of images I took while on the workshop, but I can tell you taking the workshop was a thrilling and delightful experience for me.  Worth braving the elements to see the owls in their habitat!"  Anne W.

 

"We had a great experience and were very impressed. We have great photos as a result. Thanks again" Victor B.

 

" David, thank you very much for a wonderful trip, the instruction was phenomenal. The best I've ever had. I came away with amazing shots!" Evelyn.

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