THE PANAMA COMBO IPT: AUG 9-17, 2009.

The Panama Combo IPT (tropical birds and high speed flash hummingbirds) was announced on Monday to a small group of folks who have participated on various IPTs. (If you are an IPT-veteran and a valued BAA client and friend and did not receive the notice, please accept my apologies and shoot me an e-mail.) Despite the relatively short lead time, we already have six deposits and are holding an additional spot for a friend of one of the registrants. The absolute limit for this trip is ten photographers. We fully expect that this trip will fill within hours of this e-mail being sent. If you would like to join us, please call immediately with a credit card to arrange for your deposit. The group is a wonderful one and as always we are looking to fill it with happy folks. Joining me are Joe Barranco, Mike Goldhamer, Geri George, MaryJane Ellison, Patti Corapi, and Alejandro Furman who is traveling from Chile. The trip is recession-priced at $3199 per person and, but for staff and driver tips, drinks, and your airfare to and from Panama, is all inclusive.

If you would like any additional info it would be best to call me immediately at 863-692-0906 (and leave a number if I am out for my walk). We will maintain a waiting list. For the trip and for the waiting list, it will strictly be first come, first served. Please scroll down for info, details, and images.

NEW: THE PANAMA COMBO IPT: AUG 9-17, 2009.

(Scroll down for info, details and images).

NEW: PANAMA COMBO IPT: AUG 9-17, 2009.

Recession-priced at $3199 per person. Limit 10. 6 Full, 1 Half, and 2 Quarter DAYS of photography. Join Linda Robbins and me for a combination Instructional Photo-Tour of Panama. Half of your time will be spent photographing many species of hummingbirds at a high speed flash set up and half of your time will be spent photographing a variety of tropical birds both at set-ups and in natural settings. We will be bringing 3 complete hummingbird flash set-ups. For the hummingbird photography it will be either one or two photographers per set-up depending on registration. Because of lodge requirements, we need a minimum of six photographers for this trip to run.

You will need to take an early morning flight to Panama City where we will be met by our drivers. (Some folks may wish to over-night in Orlando and catch the early non-stop flight in order to arrive in Panama before lunch.) It’s a short drive to Canopy Tower (a converted US radar installation: http://canopytower.com) where we will sleep August 9-11. We will do some hummingbird photography at the lodge early and late in the day, travel to Carmen’s backyard where you will be overwhelmed by the numbers and colors of tropical birds coming to the feeders, visit the famed bird-rich Pipeline Road, and spend one day photographing hummers at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center. Our host, Raul Arias de Para, states that we will find the highest density and variety of hummingbirds in Panama at their feeders…. After photographing on the morning of the 12th, we will transfer to the luxurious Canopy Lodge (http://www.canopylodge.com/itinerary.php) for four night’s lodging, August 13-16. There we will photograph both at the hummingbird set-ups and at a variety of feeder set-ups. There will be many species of tanagers and other tropical birds at the fruit feeders. At my suggestion, Raul is maintaining several new feeders in an area just 200 yards from the lodge. After a short morning session of photography at the fruit feeders only on the 16th, we will transfer to B&B La Estancia. This bed and breakfast is located in a natural setting with birds, monkeys, and other wildlife on the grounds and nearby. We may or may not get to do some photography on the grounds on the afternoon of the 16th and, for those with afternoon flights to the US, on the morning of the 17th. (We have heard great things about this B&B but have never visited: http://www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com)

In addition to the usual in-the-field instruction (including lots of fill flash work), you will learn the basics of high speed flash hummingbird photography from the Hummingbird Queen herself, Linda Robbins. From me, you will learn to design, create, and constantly change (!) a variety of feeder set-ups. (This will help you with your own backyard set-ups.) With a bit of luck we will find some wildflowers and perhaps a rare lizard to photograph. We will do lots of image sharing and tons of Photoshop work. (Most of the computer work will be done in small groups.)

Amazingly, the trip fee is (except for staff and driver tips, alcoholic beverages, and your flight to and from the US), all inclusive. What’s included? All ground transfers, meals, guide services, one day’s entrance fee at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, in-the field and at-the-computer instruction, and lodging. (All lodging is double occupancy—upgrades to larger rooms may be available.) And even the cost of the cab to the airport on the 17th. The trip is recession-priced at an amazingly low $3199 per person. Sign up with your spouse or a friend and we can apply a $100 discount to the total.

When we first arrived at Carmen’s backyard (after a big build-up), I asked, “What’s the big deal?” as there seemed to be few birds around. Then out came Carmen with a basket of fruit and we were blown away by the amazing variety of the beautiful, colorful tropical birds that appeared almost instantly. Another note, the high speed flash hummingbird photography is child’s play—all that you will need is your camera and any telephoto lens, a tripod, and one flash. We do all the rest. It’s just point and shoot. We have had folks with 20D cameras and a 100-400 lenses make great images….

While we will be unable to run this trip with fewer than six folks, it is likely—in view of the price, the guaranteed incredible photography of exotic birds, the high speed flash hummingbird photography sessions, and the two great leaders , it is very likely that this trip will fill almost immediately.

Before calling to make your deposit, please read the following carefully:

A $500 deposit is required to hold your spot. Due to the short lead time—we tried—the balance is due on May 1. It wouldn’t hurt to pay the whole thing on the spot. (Deposits only may be paid by check, Paypal, or credit card.) A non-photographer spouse, partner, or friend may join the trip for $2499.

Please note our cancellation policy: Your deposit is non-refundable unless the trip sells out, 10 in this case. As above, payment in full (only by check made out to “Arthur Morris”) is due on May 1 and is non-refundable. You will be required to sign a statement of understanding to this effect. Travel insurance is of course highly recommended. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. You can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage, which expands the list of reasons for your canceling to an infinite list, from a sudden work or family obligation to a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services (We regret that we must implement this new policy but we have recently been plagued by last minute cancellations that make it impossible for others to participate and deprive us essential income in addition to the loss of deposits for lodges, ground transfers, and in some cases, flights.

We do hope that you can join us.

ps: All of the images in the two galleries below were created on a single short trip; we visited both Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge.

Linda Robbins Panama Photo Gallery
All images copyright Linda Robbins/Hummingbird Addiction

Arthur Morris Panama Photo Gallery
All images copyright Arthur Morris/BIRD AS ART