Todd Nettelhorst

WEDS 6:00 - 9:30 A.M.

Wings Over Water: Sunrise Shorebirds, Fishing Raptors & Leading Lines at Matanzas Inlet

Field Workshop 

Meeting Location: Matanzas Inlet Beach – East Parking Lot, 8690 A1A S

Price: $125

Difficulty Level: All Levels

Max No People: 10

Description: Sunrise at Matanzas Inlet is pure magic—soft light, shifting tides, and nonstop opportunities for clean, dramatic wildlife frames. In this immersive in-field workshop, Todd will guide you through the two big wins that separate “good bird shots” from portfolio-worthy coastal images:
1. Behavior + action (shorebirds feeding, taking off, interacting—and raptors hunting), and
2. composition that looks intentional (leading lines, wave patterns, low-tide textures,
reflections, and layered backgrounds).
You’ll work the shoreline as the light builds, learning how to anticipate movement and position yourself for the best angles—whether you’re capturing Least Terns and Royal Terns in flight, or osprey and eagles actively fishing. We’ll also incorporate sunrise landscape techniques that elevate wildlife images using the curve of the shoreline, receding wave lines, and low-tide patterns to create frames with depth, direction, and drama. This session is built for all levels. If you’re newer, you’ll leave with reliable settings and a repeatable approach. If you’re experienced, Todd will help you refine your timing, clean backgrounds, and storytelling frames for a stronger keeper rate.
Highlights (What You’ll Learn)
• Sunrise coastal strategy: where to stand, how to work the light, and how to shoot as brightness changes
• Leading lines at the shoreline: using low-tide patterns, wave pullback, and shoreline curvesto build depth & direction
• Shorebird technique: settings and autofocus strategies for terns, takeoffs, and fast movement
• Flight shots that hit: tracking, timing, and burst discipline for sharp wings + clean compositions
• Fishing raptors in action: anticipating osprey and eagle behavior, positioning for the dive/strike, and staying ready for the decisive moment
• Background mastery: separation, clean horizons, and avoiding clutter in busy beach scenes
• Ethical wildlife practices: respectful distance, minimizing disturbance, and photographing responsibly
• Wow factors: golden rim light on wings, silhouettes, reflections in wet sand, wave-line abstracts, and peak-action fishing moments

Gear List: 

• Camera: DSLR / Mirrorless / latest smartphone
• Lens: Telephoto 200mm+ (300–600mm ideal for birds/raptors)
• Teleconverter (optional, helpful for reach)
• Filters: CP / ND (optional—CP for glare/reflections, ND for creative motion)
• Cable release / remote (optional—useful for slower shutter creative wave motion)
• Fast memory cards + extra batteries
• Optional: binoculars + field guide (helpful for locating/ID and behavior spotting)

WEDS 4:30 - 7:30 P.M.

THUR 7:00 - 10:00 A.M.

Alligator Farm Prime Time: Bird Behavior, Clean Backgrounds & Killer Light

Field Workshop 

Meeting Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm, 999 Anastasia Blvd.

Price: $100 + Annual Photo Pass

Photo Pass can be ordered here

Difficulty Level: All Levels

Max No People: 10

Description: ​This is your chance to photograph one of Florida’s most iconic wildlife locations with real-time coaching—built to boost your “keeper rate” fast. The Alligator Farm offers nonstop subjects, but it can also feel visually chaotic. Todd will teach you how
to quickly simplify the scene, lock focus with confidence, choose exposure without hesitation, and build clean, intentional compositions even when distractions are everywhere.
Highlights (What You’ll Learn)
• Personalized coaching based on your camera setup and skill level
• The “Scan & Build” method: quickly identify the best subject + light + background combo (and avoid chaos)
• Sharpness + autofocus reliability: improving focus hits on wildlife and action moments
• Exposure confidence: fast decisions that protect highlights while keeping detail
• Composition upgrades: clean backgrounds, separation, edge control, and stronger framing
• Timing + behavior: catching gestures, interactions, and peak moments

• Ethics + conservation awareness while photographing wildlife
• Wow factors: tack-sharp eyes, strong gestures, interaction moments, warm feather detail, rim light, and mood-rich frames (especially in the evening)

​Gear List: 

• DSLR / Mirrorless / smartphone
• Telephoto 200mm+
• Teleconverter (optional), CP/ND filters (optional)
• Extra batteries + memory cards
• Water, sunscreen/hat, comfortable shoes

​

THURS 5:30 - 8:00 P.M.

Wildlife + Waterways Safari by Boat: Photograph Dolphins & Birds While You Learn the
Ecosystem

Boat Excursion & Field Photography

Meeting Location: Municipal Marina, Eco Tours Ticket Booth B

Ticket Price: $125

Difficulty Level: All Levels

Max No People: 10

Description: This is part wildlife photo safari, part living classroom. You’ll be on the water with Todd Nettelhorst plus Captain Zach (Naturalist + USCG-licensed captain) exploring the Matanzas River system, the inlet, and Salt Run. While Todd coaches the photography—settings, tracking, exposure decisions, and composition—Captain Zach adds a powerful layer most photo tours skip: what you’re looking at, why it’s here, and how the ecosystem works. You’ll learn how the waterways function as a dynamic estuary: how tides, currents, and habitat edges influence where wildlife feeds, rests, and moves—so you’re not just reacting with your camera, you’re predicting moments before they happen. In plain English: you’ll understand where to point the lens and when, which is a massive advantage for
dolphins, birds, and changing light. Expect instruction that feels like real-time coaching—because the scene is always changing: wildlife movement, sky color, glare on the water, and boat position all shift minute-to-minute. You’ll leave with sharper images and a smarter mental map of how to photograph this environment anywhere you travel.
Highlights (What You’ll Learn)
• Boat-shooting workflow (the non-glamorous stuff that saves your images): bracing, stabilizing, and using your body/gear to stay steady when the platform moves
• Fast wildlife decisions: shutter speed and ISO strategies for dolphins surfacing and birds in motion
• Tracking + timing: getting consistent focus on moving subjects, and knowing when to shoot before the peak moment
• Naturalist “ecosystem lens” (Captain Zach): understanding habitats, tide cycles, and wildlife behavior patterns that influence where subjects appear and how they move
• Storytelling on water: how to build a sequence (scene-setter → wildlife action → detail frames → closing shot) so your set feels intentional
• Wow factors: golden-hour silhouettes, reflections, banking birds over the inlet, wildlife moments that feel “right place / right time” (because you’ll understand the place)
Recommended Gear (Bring What You Have)
• DSLR / Mirrorless / latest smartphone
• Telephoto min 300mm, ideally 500mm+ (or 100–400 / 200–600)
• Teleconverter
• Filters (CP / ND)
• Fast memory cards + extra batteries
• Windbreaker/jacket, water, sunscreen/hat
Smart add-ons (optional but helpful):
• Lens cloth + small dry bag (waterways = spray + humidity)
• Comfortable strap system (hands free between moments)