For the last decade, Max has been photographing wildlife, travel and sports subjects professionally.
He has been a finalist in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, and his work has appeared in such publications as Africa Geographic and ESPN the Magazine .
Whether you're new to photography or a veteran shooter, you're invited to take part in a photography class, workshop or tour led by Max Waugh.
We're now offering workshops, classes and photo tours in the Seattle area and abroad. You'll find these events present some nice learning opportunities if you're just starting out, and more importantly they offer a great chance to get out and shoot with Max. We're looking to add new events all the time, so check the listings below to see if there's a workshop or tour that fits your goals!
The classes and tours are designed to be fun and informative for photographers of various skill levels. Even if you already consider yourself a skilled photographer, this will be a great way to keep practicing your nature and wildlife photography, while discovering new locations, subject matter and skills behind the lens.
We realize that everyone's got a different schedule, so we often offer flexible and customizable scheduling. If you're interested in scheduling a private learning session or photo tour with Max, please contact him directly via email .
February - March, 2012
Take advantage of a rare opportunity to photograph wild snowy owls! This winter, the continental US is experiencing an irruption of snowies. They are are coming further south than normal due to heightened competition for food in the arctic. For the first time in 6 years they've shown up en masse in Western Washington.
Join Max on a 2 day excursion to the town of Ocean Shores, WA, along the Pacific Coast. The snowies have used Ocean Shores as a traditional stopping point and hunting ground during past irruptions, and this winter is no different. We will stay in Ocean Shores overnight, giving us an opportunity to photograph the owls both from afternoon until dusk and at sunrise, when we get the best light for shooting and when the owls are most active. The owls are fairly tolerant as long as you treat them with respect, so you may have a chance to capture some great close-ups.
This is a photo tour. There is no classroom work involved, but Max will be shooting alongside you and will be on-hand to provide advice and instruction as needed. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to shoot snowy owls while they're here!
What's Included in the Tour:
Transportation to/from Ocean Shores from the Seattle area
Lodging for 1 night in Ocean Shores
1 afternoon and 1 morning of guiding and photo instruction by Max
Optional photo equipment rental (limited to Canon equipment)
Notes: Owl sightings and close-up photo opportunities are not guaranteed. Anywhere between 1 and 9 owls have been seen at any one time this winter. Owls are wild animals and are unpredictable. They may choose to leave Ocean Shores at any time due to seasonal change, weather or other factors. Tours are scheduled based on client preferences, though weekdays are recommended. When scheduling, check the weather forecast. No refunds will be issued on account of bad weather. Food is not included.
Price: $650 per person. $500pp for groups of 3 or more.
Contact Max to Schedule Your Tour!
See photos from recent snowy owl excursions
February - March, 2012
Photograph wild short-eared owls and other birds, and practice birds-in-flight photography!
VIDEO
Join Max on a half-day workshop to the world famous Skagit Valley, a haven for birds in winter. This workshop will focus on photographing the striking short-eared owl, which circles the grasslands of the valley in search of prey. These small owls are our focus due to their tendency to circle constantly—sometimes close to people—allowing for repeated chances to photograph the birds in flight. In addition to the owls, we may have opportunities to photograph other birds of prey, including hawks, harriers, eagles, falcons and more. Snow geese and swans also migrate through the area in winter.
This is a photo workshop. We will concentrate on finding the best place to practice your bird photography. It is a great setting for serious photographers or those just getting to know their equipment. Max will be on-hand to provide instruction and to shoot with you.
What's Included in the Tour:
Transportation to/from Skagit Valley from the Seattle area
1 morning of guiding and photo instruction by Max
Optional photo equipment rental (limited to Canon equipment)
Note: Owl sightings and close-up photo opportunities are not guaranteed. We have seen multiple owls each time we've visited the area, but other bird sightings are hit and miss. Owls are wild animals and are unpredictable. They may choose to leave the area at any time due to seasonal change, weather or other factors. Workshops are scheduled based on client preferences, though weekdays are recommended. When scheduling, check the weather forecast. No refunds will be issued on account of bad weather. Food is not included.
Price: $300 per person. $275pp for groups of 3 or more.
Contact Max to Schedule Your Workshop!
See photos from recent short-eared owl excursions
March 2011
Learn the basics of nature photography in a relaxed setting, shoot in the field under the guidance of a professional photographer and share your work with others! This new class introduces you to the building blocks of photography in the classroom, and then lets you apply what you've learn in the field.
Though our emphasis is nature and wildlife photography, the course covers many of the core facets of photography in general: equipment, exposure, composition and post-processing. With these basics under your belt, you'll be better equipped to take great photos out in the wild, or in the comfort of home. Here's a sample of the topics we'll cover in the classroom:
Wildlife, landscape and macro photography
Essential camera gear and accessories
Elements of exposure: aperture, shutter speed, ISO
Composition
Patterns, lines and texture
Light
Post processing
Ethics and the business side of photography
...and lots more!
We'll meet for one weeknight classroom learning and critique session each week, and will have three half-to-full day weekend field trips during which we'll shoot and practice what we've learned. Field trip locations will be in and around the Seattle area or the east side.
Price: TBD
Contact Max to Reserve a Spot in this Class!
March 2 - 11, 2012
Join Max on a tour of wild Costa Rica!
This special tour visits some of the best places for wildlife photography in one of Max's favorite places on earth. We'll start in the highland cloud forests, seeking out the resplendent quetzal and other colorful birdlife. Next, we'll drop to the Pacific lowlands and hot spots such as Manuel Antonio National Park and the Rio Tarcoles, places famous for their biodiversity. The tour concludes with an optional extension to Corcovado National Park, the best place to see pumas, Baird's tapirs and scarlet macaws in the entire country. We'll stay inside Corcovado for three nights, making this a truly unique wildlife photo opportunity.
This is a photo adventure, emphasizing exploration and photography in the field rather than classwork. Max will be there to shoot alongside you and help provide instruction and tips on rainforest photography. This photo tour is a great fit for anyone from amateurs to professionals looking to photograph some of the best wildlife Costa Rica has to offer!
Learn more about this tour!
