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Are you keen on photographing animals? Planning a wildlife safari in Africa or exploring destinations like the Galapagos, the Amazon or Antarctica? Or perhaps you’d like to capture dramatic and amusing portraits of animals at your local zoo or wildlife reserve. If so, this immersive wildlife photography workshop is for you.
Led by multi-award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker Nic van Oudtshoorn ARPS, this hands-on course begins with a morning theory session at Sydney Community College, followed by a practical excursion to Taronga Zoo.
You’ll explore essential equipment including cameras, lenses, supports and lighting accessories, with a strong focus on capturing compelling wild portraits. At Taronga Zoo, you’ll put theory into practice—experimenting with point of view, framing, lighting, focus, depth of field, fill-in flash and composition in both colour and black-and-white.
Students will also learn the importance of respecting animal boundaries and minimising disturbance while capturing their personality and essence through the lens.
Schedule & Pricing
- One-day workshop: 8:30am–4:30pm
- Morning theory at Rozelle Campus, followed by carpool to Taronga Zoo
- Taronga Zoo entry fee ($49.50 online / $55 at gate) not included in course fee
Details
You will learn
- Set up your camera for wildlife portraiture using advanced settings
- Control depth of field, focus points and fill-in flash effectively
- Apply strong composition techniques for animal portraits
You will get
- Expert tuition from award-winning wildlife photographer Nic van Oudtshoorn
- Hands-on practice at Taronga Zoo
- Personalised feedback and image review session
Appropriate for
Photographers with a solid working knowledge of their camera settings, including aperture, shutter speed and focus, or those who have completed a beginner photography course.
Preparation
What to bring
- Mirrorless or DSLR camera (or fixed lens camera with zoom)
- Lenses, fully charged batteries and camera manual
- Tripod and flash (optional but recommended)
What to wear
Comfortable outdoor clothing and walking shoes
Your Teacher
Sydney Community College
38 reviewsSydney Community College is a registered charity with a voluntary Board of Directors.
The College has a mission to offer innovative continuing adult education and training programmes that support individual efforts and facilitate sustainable social change.
We do this by:
- Providing quality continuing adult education opportunities for people to build practical and theoretical skills and develop knowledge;
- Leveraging from and developing community capacity and inclusivity;
- Developing innovative affordable and accessible skills training programmes;
- Partnering with like organisations to deliver learning opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and communities;
- Partnering with all levels of government to deliver education policy objectives.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
You’re welcome to send someone in your place.
OR
- A refund can be requested 10 days before class starts. An admin fee of AU$45.00 applies.
Terms & Conditions
At Sydney Community College, we know that plans can change unexpectedly. Whether it’s a shift in your schedule, a family emergency, or just a change of heart, we want to support you in the fairest way possible.
At the same time, we’re a not-for-profit organisation that commits resources to running each class—so last-minute cancellations can significantly impact our ability to offer quality, affordable programs.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, transparent policy that balances your need for flexibility with our need to plan and deliver courses sustainably. Our cancellation policy offers two clear options, depending on when you notify us:
Cancel More Than 10 Days Before the Course Starts – You can choose to receive a full refund, minus a $45 administration fee OR a non-refundable credit note valid for 12 months for the full value you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Option 2: Cancel Within 10 Days of the Course Starting - You’ll receive a credit note valid for 12 months for 50% of the course fee you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Please note that both refund and credit options are only available before the course begins. Once the course has started—or if you decide to withdraw after it has commenced—no refunds or credits can be issued. If you need to cancel your enrolment, just email us and we’ll take care of it based on the timelines above.
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Wildlife Photography Workshop
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