SANTAGO RARE LEOPARD PROJECT, HERTS
Puma & Black Panther & more
Santago Leopards in Hertfordshire is a long standing favourite of many nature photographers. Santago's main objective was to breed from some of the world's most endangered leopards. Here you will find Clouded Leopards, Persian Leopard and Snow Leopard alongside Puma and Black Panthers.
Purpose Built Camera Cut-outs in Cages
These cats are all housed in specially constructed enclosures that allow camera lenses to be placed through purpose built cut-outs. Our photography workshop enables you to safely photograph these animals with nothing more than fresh air between your lens and the animals. They will never be further than twenty feet or so away, and will often be literally within inches of you. Long lenses are not required here at Santago.
Fantastic News - 2009 Bookings Available
Photographers on Safari would like to clarify the situation regarding the future of Santago Leopard Project for 2009. Many companies and individuals have attempted to guess the situation following the sad death of Pete James in January 2008. Various timescales for closure have appeared on the internet and in a competitor's brochures. Photographers on Safari would like to confirm that we will be running workshops at this venue in 2009. Our thanks and best wishes go to Jackie for her determination to continue with this project, thus enabling photographers to continue to capture stunning images at this much loved venue. Sadly, Santago does not have any plans to continue into 2010. It is a venue that will greatly be missed by all, and we wish Jackie all success in the future.
Tips and Techniques
Our Big Cat Workshop begins with a short tutorial, giving an insight into the techniques used for wildlife photography. Feel free, however, to ask as many questions as you like on a one to one basis throughout the day regarding these techniques. General and/or individual advice will be given each time we choose a new subject.
Photogenic natural backgrounds
We continue through the day photographing the cats in their enclosures. Shrubs and trees have been carefully placed to give pleasing backgrounds to your photos. The cats are encouraged into the most photogenic parts of the enclosures with morsels of meat. The Clouded and the Snow Leopards are everybody's favourites.
Almost as if Pictures were Taken in the Wild
Careful composition of your photographs will have your friends believing your pictures were taken in the wild. Photographers On Safari will be with you throughout the day giving you advice on what to look for when composing your shot, and how best to set your camera for each situation. There will be no excuse if you leave without some stunning Big Cat Photos.
Photograph through until Sunset
This workshop has been designed to give you the opportunity to take stunning pictures in the best possible light. We will start at a later time than usual, but we will photograph until it gets dark. This will allow you to photograph the cats as the sun sets. The very best pictures are often taken after the regular workshops have ended. Photographers On Safari want you to benefit from the wonderful golden glow on the animals as the sun sets. The cats are also fed at this time, which makes them more active.
Group Size Strictly Limited
Group numbers will be strictly limited so that everybody gets a great position.
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Click here to see more Santago Leopard Photos
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Typical Itinerary
11.45 Meet and greet + teas / coffees
12.00 Group tuition and safety briefing
12.30 to 2.30 Photograph leopards under controlled conditions with one to one tuition as required
2.30 to 3.15 Late lunch (provided)
3.15 to 5.00 Photograph leopards under controlled conditions with one to one tuition as necessary
5.00 to close Free time to revisit your favourite subjects to capture the shots you may have missed during the controlled sessions. We will stay as long as there is good light to photograph in. Until 7.30 if light is good.
Workshop Dates
it is with deep regret that we have to announce that santago Leopard Project closes permanently at the end of august 2009.
Our best wishes go to Jackie for the Future.
This superb venue will be greatly missed.
