Trip Report - Newfoundland Photo Workshop #2 - June 2019

And thats a wrap for Newfoundland in 2019. This is the last of a three workshop marathon covering the western side and eastern side of this wonderful province. Newfoundland never ceases to amaze me… it is always a lot of laughs, we meet some amazing people along our travels, and have awesome photography opportunities.

This trip offered the guests some great Atlantic Puffin and Northern Gannet photography opportunities, and some amazing golden light along the Bonavista and Trinity Bay area coastlines.

I’ve said this before, and it rang true again on this trip. “Working for Muench Workshops constantly proves that their clients come first”.

Our group was a total of 10 on this trip, 8 guests plus David Rosenthal and I leading the workshop. Space in the two vans was tight. So, in typical Muench Workshops fashion, a change on the fly was made between Andy Williams back in the office and David and I. We had a bus with a driver at our hotel the second day.

The bus ended up being the best decision we could have made. It allowed David and I to mingle and talk to the guests during our drives. We got to focus on them, and not on the road. Personally, it kept me more rested and it allowed me more time to focus on why I was there, discussing the locations and talking about photography techniques and gear.

Its now going to be our standard of travel during our workshops here in Newfoundland. An oversized bus where everyone can stretch out. The trip leaders now free to focus on the guests between the photo shoots, not watching the roads during our early morning and late night photo shoots.

The food and hospitality we received on this workshop was typical Newfoundland style - always welcoming and exceeded my expectations.

When we arrived in St. Johns and checked into our first hotel the staff had prepared welcome gifts for everyone. A snack grab bag that included some snacks, water and a nice little gift to welcome everyone.

Then there was all our meals. OMG, yummy!!! It all started with all the snacks that David and I bought to fill the vehicle. (yes, some good chocolate, cookies, to the more healthy choices… we had it all - wink)

The food goodness continued throughout the workshop. A result of returning there for many years and tryign different restaurants along this route. Every restaurant choice served home cooked style meals and had something for everyone on the menu.

Then there was the fresh caught Cod and the lobster. At one place they took the cod out of the ocean and made cod tongues along with fish and chips for us. There is nothing better than fresh caught Cod, well, there is, and thats fresh Lobster.

Lobster is a personal favorite of mine. I got to eat it twice on this trip. Once up in the Bonavista area before an awesome night with the Puffins, then again on the final night dinner in St. Johns. “When in Rome”, I always say ;-)

Our photography stops along this trip wound up being some of my best here in Eastern Newfoundland. During the workshop before this one we had some struggles seeing Puffins. Weather and seasonal conditions forced the Puffins to be farther away from their nests than usual. But one text from a friend changed that this week.

With a change on the fly, this group was given two the chance to see Puffins in flight and have Puffins standing just feet away from them at the cliffs of the Bonavista area. That is always special. To be able to put on a 70-200mm lens and lay down to get fantastic points of views of the Clowns of the sea (Puffins) is a great photo opportunity.

The weather started to warm up and we had an abundance of golden light during our sunset photoshoots along the seaside and cliff photography session. As for our bird photography opportunities, you will see below that the light was perfect. Golden, low light and sometimes giving us conditions like we were under a huge softbox… I could not have asked for better light conditions.

I did not take too many photos during this workshop. I was enjoying spending time with the guests and talking to them while they were taking their own photos. But I did manage to take a few keepers at some of my favorite locations. There are five photos posted from this trip below.

If you want to see more photos from Newfoundland, check out my gallery of images that have been taken on numerous other trips I have been on in Newfoundland. You can see that gallery by clicking here.