Workshop: “Birds, Birds, Birds, Ornithology for Anyone”

Many people in Prescott love the art and science of photography, but oftentimes find themselves unable to engage in this exciting hobby. Joe Webster, an award-winning photographer, will lead a workshop on finding several bird species in and around your backyard including birding locations in the Prescott area. Our avian friends are found in every part of our planet, from the Arctic to the tropics. They range in size from the giant condors to the minute hummingbirds, from seed eaters to raptors. In his presentation, “Birds, Birds, Birds, Ornithology for Anyone”, Joe Webster will examine the world of bird photography. He will offer some tips for composition and techniques for getting that “publishable” image. Joe will discuss how to attract birds, where to find them in their habitat, and provide some great birding spots in the Prescott area and elsewhere in Arizona. The ethics of wildlife photography is one topic that is frequently overlooked which will also be explored in this workshop. As a follow-up to his program, Joe Webster will be available to lead an expedition to Prescott’s lakes to photograph some of the area’s birds, both resident and migratory species, such as egrets, herons, geese, eagles, and a variety of ducks. About the instructor: Joe Webster is an award-winning photographer, specializing in landscapes, macro images, and wildlife. His images have been published in national magazines, newspapers, and has appeared in galleries in Flagstaff, Wickenburg, Phoenix, and Prescott. Joe is a lifetime member of the Sharlot Hall Museum, is the past president of the Arizona Camera Club Council, and Prescott Camera Club, on the Organizational Team of the Yavapai Digital Arts and Camera Club, a member of the Wickenburg and Tucson Camera Clubs, and a docent at the Phippen Museum of Western Art. Joe got his start in photography as a staffer at his high school yearbook and newspaper. Soon after graduation he started work at the local photography studio. He studied under master photographer Pete Bertram in studio skills, portraiture, darkroom techniques and retail sales. He also shot sports for the local newspaper using a 4×5 Speed Graphic, then a medium format camera, and moved on to a 35mm. After a stint in the Air Force, he had a career selling equipment for the biological sciences industry. During this time, he discovered instrumentation for processing film and making prints in one hour. He and his business partner opened the first one hour photo finishing business in Texas. The partnership had 10 stores at its peak. While operating the business, he wrote a column for the newspaper called “Backyard Safari”. In it he critiqued cameras and lenses, described how to find subjects in your neighborhood, and detailed techniques for improving the maker’s photography.