Join Bobby Stormer and Unique Photo for an unforgettable 3-day photography workshop dedicated to capturing the radiant beauty of Short-Eared Owls and the surrounding winter landscape. Building on last year’s success, this extensive workshop combines fieldwork and classroom instruction to help photographers of all levels elevate their skills.

*Registration does NOT include transportation, food, and lodging.
*Recommended hotel (where classes and critiques will be held): Courtyard Newburgh Stewart Airport (4 Governor Dr, Newburgh, NY 12550)

In-Field Shooting: Participate in multiple daily photography sessions in carefully selected locations, timed to align with active wildlife periods at dusk and dawn, ensuring optimal opportunities to capture stunning shots.

Classroom Instruction: Learn from Bobby’s wealth of experience in wildlife photography, including techniques for anticipating behaviors, understanding habitats, mastering camera settings, freezing action, using light creatively, and blending technical precision with artistic composition.

Discover the Short-eared Owl: These stunning owls migrate to our area every winter, hunting open fields during the magical hours of dusk. Known for their striking golden eyes and agile flight, Short-eared Owls captivate photographers with their mysterious grace and dynamic hunting style. Their low, gliding flight over open fields at dusk provides dramatic and visually stunning opportunities to capture their elegance and predatory prowess.

More Than Owls: Immerse yourself in opportunities to photograph diverse subjects, including the Eastern Bluebird, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, and many more, all set against the serene backdrop of the winter landscape. Capture breathtaking landscapes and other wildlife species that make the region come alive in winter.

• Meet in the morning at the Courtyard Marriott for a gear review and introduction.
• Classroom session: Bobby shares a powerpoint filled with tips, tricks, and his unique approach to wildlife photography.
• Field session: Travel to our destination (25 minutes away; attendees provide their own transport) in search of the Short-eared Owl!
• Evening: After dinner, meet in the hotel lobby for Q&A and photo critiques.

• Begin the day at dawn with a sunrise shoot at a carefully selected location, searching for wintering wildlife and capturing landscape opportunities.
• Participate in morning and afternoon field sessions, guided by Bobby, as he shares his unique techniques for tracking wildlife, interpreting subtle animal behaviors, and mastering on-the-spot adjustments to composition and camera settings for capturing breathtaking images.
• Afternoon field session: Short-eared Owl!
• Evening: After dinner, meet in the hotel lobby for Q&A and photo critiques.

• Mirrorless or DSLR camera body (Recommended: two bodies, to be safe)
• Long lens (preferably 600mm+; minimum 400mm)
• Wide-angle lens (landscapes, astro, hiking)
• Camera support (monopod/tripod)
• Plenty of memory cards
• Laptop or tablet for editing and backup
• Binoculars
• Warm winter clothing (layers, jacket, gloves, socks, boots, hat, hand warmers, etc)
• Snacks, drinks, and other personal items

Birds of Prey: Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Barred Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tail Hawk, American Kestrel, Rough-legged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, etc...
Wintering Birds: Eastern Bluebird, Horned Lark, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Meadowlark, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, etc...
Mammals: Coyote, Fox, Raccoon

Unique University® is the highly acclaimed education component of Unique Photo®, NJ’s only camera and video superstore. There is over 2000 sq. ft. of learning space, including our state-of-the art, 1000 sq. ft. main presentation hall. Unique University’s mission is to help our visitors “Create Better Pictures” by providing photography education for beginners to pros. With events daily, it is the place where photography groups such as local camera clubs, ASMP, PPA and others meet. We have a full curriculum of classes and seminars from world famous speakers such as Art Wolfe, Rick Sammon, Michael Yamashita, Tyler Stableford, Lindsay Adler, and Will Crockett. We offer photography experiences to such places as the Lakota Wolf Preserve, Wolf Conservation Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rutgers Football, Longwood Gardens, Festival of Ballooning, and much more. Our technical classes include such topics as basic digital photography, lighting techniques, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, macro photography, composition, editing and printing, wedding photography, HDR photography, working with speedlights, how to use social media, digital organization, one-on-one instruction, and much, much more. 

FAQ UNIVERSITY

Where are classes held? 
Unless stated otherwise, most classes are held in the Unique University classroom within the Unique Photo Superstore (123 US Highway 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004). We also hold classes at our Philadelphia, PA location (28 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106). 

What should I bring to class? 
You're encouraged to bring your camera and a notebook and pen to most classes. Some classes will require additional equipment, so please check the class descriptions. 

Will lunch or refreshments be included? 
Lunch and refreshments are not provided for any classes under 6 hours unless noted. 

How do I register for a class? 
You can register online, in-store at the concierge, or by phone at either 973-377-6454 or 973-377-2007. Please note that you will need to provide payment information. 

Can I register at the door? 
For most classes, you're free to register at the concierge desk prior to the start of the class. Please note that there are some classes that offer "Early Bird Special" rates and others that have limited seating, so it would be in your best interest to register early for such classes. 

I wanted to register for ______ class, but it is now sold out. Is there a waiting list? 
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with the following information: your name, phone number, email address, and the class name and date. 

My question has not been addressed here. Is there someone I can contact? 
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with any additional inquiries.

Unique University Class Cancellation Policy
Classes costing less than $99 may be canceled up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. For classes costing $100 or more, advanced notice of seven days before the class is necessary for a full refund.
Requests for cancellation made after these deadlines will be awarded store credit in the amount paid for registration towards a future Unique University seminar or workshop.
Cancellations made within 24 hours of the beginning of a class will not be honored and no refund or credit will be given.
Cancellations of any class utilizing models will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the purchased price (up to $100).
Cancellations of any class that includes an admission ticket (including, but not limited to: museums, gardens, shows, exhibits, and special events or locations) may be subject to forfeiture of the admission ticket fee.
** Attention American Express cardholders: If you cancel a registration for a class costing $100 or more, there will be a 3% cancellation fee deducted from your refund or store credit.