Linda Burek
Linda Burek is an award-winning photographer and author of several books focused on birds and natural areas of northeast Florida. A certified Florida Master Naturalist, she teaches bird identification and photography and leads birding and photography workshops and excursions. Linda has held leadership roles with the Saint Augustine Camera Club and the St. Johns Audubon Society and participates in long-term bird monitoring projects, including serving as the lead compiler for the St. Augustine Christmas Bird Count and conducting nesting bird surveys at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
Her photography and teaching emphasize conservation, observation skills, and fostering a deeper connection to nature.
Linda's Seminars & Workshops
THUR 10:00 - 11:30 A.M.
Birding Hot Spots Near St. Augustine
Classroom Seminar
Meeting Location: Celebration Hall at St. Anastasia, 5205 A1A S
Ticket Price: $35
Difficulty Level: All Levels
Max No People: 30
Description: This session will introduce local birding hot spots in the St. Augustine area which are easily accessible public places. Linda will share information on some of the birds that can be seen at these locations and what time of year.
Gear List: N/A
THUR 7:00 - 8:30 P.M.
Photographing Sunset on a Coquina Beach
Field Workshop
Meeting Location: River to Sea Preserve, 9805 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Palm Coast
Ticket Price: $100
Difficulty Level: All Levels
Max No People: 10
Description: The River to Sea Preserve has coquina rocks on the beach which makes for stunning long exposure photographs at sunset of the sea flowing over the rocks. Linda will help participants set up their cameras to take images at this stunning Florida location. The sun will be behind us but the colors in the sky over the ocean are often beautiful.
Gear List: Landscape lens, tripod, flashlight. A remote trigger can be helpful but not required. Neutral density filter will be helpful if you have one.
FRI 8:00 - 10:00 A.M.
Bird Identification and Photographing Birds Near Water at Fort Mose Historic State Park
Field Workshop
Meeting Location: Fort Mose Historic State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail
Price: $100
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Max No People: 10
Description: Fort Mose Historic State Park offers a boardwalk over the salt marsh, a boardwalk next to a kayak launch, and mature trees by the visitor center. This offers a variety of habitats to see herons, egrets, sandpipers, roseate spoonbills, woodland birds, bald eagles, ospreys, hawks and more. Sue Killeen will help participants identify the birds they see and Linda Burek will provide guidance on taking photographs.
Gear List: Any kind of camera will work but the best pictures of birds will require a telephoto lens at 200 mm or longer.
FRI 3:00 - 4:30 P.M.
Using Your Photography to Support Conservation
Classroom Seminar
Meeting Location: Celebration Hall at St. Anastasia, 5205 A1A S
Price: $35
Difficulty Level: All Levels
Max No People: 30
Description: This session will describe ways you can use your photography to support conservation. A case study of providing photography support for the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve will be discussed and examples of how photography was used to support the Reserve provided.​
Gear List: N/A
SAT 7:30 - 9:30 A.M.
Bird Identification and Photographing Birds Near Water at the GTM
Field Workshop
Meeting Location: GTM Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Rd.
Price: $100
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Max No People: 10
Description: Behind the GTM Visitor Center and along the adjacent Guana River and Lake by the dam, a variety of birds can be seen including gulls, terns, herons, egrets, osprey, pelicans, oystercatchers, and others. Linda will help participants identify the birds they see and provide guidance on taking photographs.
Gear List: Any kind of camera will work, but the best pictures of birds will require a telephoto lens of 200 mm or longer.
SUN 8:00 A.M. - 3:30PM
Photography 101: A Beginner’s Guide to DSLR & Mirrorless Photography
HANDS-ON ALL DAY WORKSHOP
Meeting Location: Celebration Hall at St. Anastasia, 5205 A1A S
Ticket Price: $100
Difficulty Level: All Levels
Max No People: 12
​Description: This all-day course introduces participants to the fundamentals of exposure and camera control. Through a mix of in-class demonstrations, guided practice, and in-class assignments, students will build confidence in using ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to craft well-exposed, artistic photographs.
8:00 - 9:30 A.M. Session 1: Getting Started + Introduction to the Exposure Triangle
Goals:
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Understand camera types (DSLR vs Mirrorless)
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Basic camera anatomy: lenses, buttons, menus
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What is the Exposure Triangle?
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How ISO, aperture, and shutter speed work together
Topics Covered:
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Overview of exposure
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Introduction to ISO, aperture, and shutter speed (brief)
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Automatic vs Manual modes
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Histogram basics
In-Class Activity:
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Set cameras to different modes and examine settings
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Practice using the camera controls for shooting mode, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
In Class Practice:
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Shoot photos using Program or automatic setting and note the aperture, shutter speed and ISO
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Work with your camera to be sure you know how to change shooting modes, aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
9 :45 - 11:15 A.M. Session 2: Aperture + Depth of Field
Goals:
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Understand how aperture affects exposure and focus depth
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Learn to use aperture creatively for isolation or depth
Topics Covered:
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f-stops explained
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Shallow vs deep depth of field
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Bokeh and lens choices
In-Class Activity:
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Take portraits and landscape scenes using wide and narrow apertures
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BREAK FOR LUNCH
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12:15 - 1:45 P.M. Session 3: Shutter Speed + Motion
Goals:
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Understand how shutter speed affects exposure and movement
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Learn to freeze or blur motion purposefully
Topics Covered:
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Fast vs slow shutter speeds
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Camera shake and how to avoid it
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Panning techniques
In-Class Activity:
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Practice freezing motion
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Practice long exposures
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2:00 - 3:30 P.M. Session 4: ISO + Light Sensitivity and Putting it All Together
Goals:
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Understand how ISO affects image exposure and quality
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Learn to balance ISO with other exposure elements
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Practice balancing all 3 exposure elements
Topics Covered:
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What is ISO and how it relates to light sensitivity
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Noise and dynamic range at various ISO levels
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When and why to adjust ISO
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Manual mode/Aperture Priority/Shutter Priority/Auto ISO
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Exposure compensation
In-Class Activity:
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Photos will be displayed and discussed with students over decisions regarding camera settings
Select Gallery of Linda's Books
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