BEARS OF SLOVENIA
WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS ROGER BRENDHAGEN & FLORIANN WERNECKE
COUNTRY: Slovenia PHOTO TYPE Wildlife TRIP LENGTH: 5 days GROUP SIZE: 8-15 guests DATES: June 12-16 2024
Slovenia’s forests are the best place in Europe to photograph brown bears at very close range and this in a fantastic forest environment. Then getting to do it when the bear cubs are playing makes it even better.
Roger Brendhagen
Not more than little over an hour’s drive from Ljubljana in the Slovenian forests lies one of the brown bear densest places in the world. Now you have the opportunity to come here and from photograph this mighty animal from specially designed hideouts. The trip is in June, when there is the best chance of photographing the area’s bear cubs who, with a little luck, will be busy playing and having fun, which gives us the opportunity for fast-paced action shots. Our hideouts allow you to photograph in varied surroundings where a lot of time and effort has gone into finding the very right places to provide both the best light.
Nikon ambassador Roger Brendhagen and German nature photographer Florian Warnecke join us on our trip. These photographers will be with you throughout the trip and will move between our hiding places, giving you a unique opportunity for lots of photographic inspiration and angles.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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The best place in Europe to photograph brown bears.
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There are over 500 bears in the area.
-
Specially adapted hideouts for photography.
-
Many different hideouts in different environments.
-
At the best time of the year to photograph bears.
-
Cave trip by boat in the famous Cross cave (Križna Jama).
-
Learn from and develop together with three photographers.
-
Roger Brendhagen and Florian Warnecke.
-
Lectures and image editing with Roger Brendhagen.
-
Image reviews and constructive image criticism.
COUNTRY: Slovenia
PHOTO TYPE Wildlife
TRIP LENGTH: 5 days
GROUP SIZE: 8-15 guests
DATES: June 12-16 2024
Slovenia’s forests are the best place in Europe to photograph brown bears at very close range and this in a fantastic forest environment. Then getting to do it when the bear cubs are playing makes it even better.
Roger Brendhagen
Not more than little over an hour’s drive from Ljubljana in the Slovenian forests lies one of the brown bear densest places in the world. Now you have the opportunity to come here and from photograph this mighty animal from specially designed hideouts. The trip is in June, when there is the best chance of photographing the area’s bear cubs who, with a little luck, will be busy playing and having fun, which gives us the opportunity for fast-paced action shots. Our hideouts allow you to photograph in varied surroundings where a lot of time and effort has gone into finding the very right places to provide both the best light.
Nikon ambassador Roger Brendhagen and German nature photographer Florian Warnecke join us on our trip. These photographers will be with you throughout the trip and will move between our hiding places, giving you a unique opportunity for lots of photographic inspiration and angles.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
-
-
The best place in Europe to photograph brown bears.
-
There are over 500 bears in the area.
-
Specially adapted hideouts for photography.
-
Many different hideouts in different environments.
-
At the best time of the year to photograph bears.
-
Cave trip by boat in the famous Cross cave (Križna Jama).
-
Learn from and develop together with three photographers.
-
Roger Brendhagen and Florian Warnecke.
-
Lectures and image editing with Roger Brendhagen.
-
Image reviews and constructive image criticism.
-
DESTINATION & HIDES
DESTINATION & HIDES
NOTRANJSKA NATIONAL PARK
In Slovenia’s forests, not far from Ljubljana, is Notranjska National Park, one of the world’s most bear-dense areas with over 500 brown bears. In addition to its large population of bears, the area is known for its karst areas, where the limestone has withered apart. An example of this is Lake Cerknica, the largest recursive lake in the world; that is, the lake is there for about eight months after which it dries out during the summer to reappear in the fall. In the area there are also caves with underground lakes, including the world-famous Cross cave. The cave is especially famous for its 45 interconnected underground lakes with emerald-green waters, offering great photo opportunities.
HIDES
The hides we will use can accommodate between two and four people, but each person can only use one opening per person. The locations for the hideouts have been carefully selected with photographers in mind and taking into account how the light falls on the site. The photo distance to the bears varies from approx. 40 to 120 meters. The hides are equipped with bean bags, but also you can also attach a tripod.
There are also a good hides for bird photography.
TOUR ITINERARY
TOUR ITINERARY • JUNE 12-16, 2024
DAY 1 (12/6) – ARRIVAL AND EVENING PHOTOGRAPHY
Arrival in Slovenia and Ljubljana around lunchtime, where you will be met up at the airport by a chauffeur for transport towards Risnjak National Park where we will spend our days together photographing the area’s bears. After about an hour’s drive we arrive and check in at our accommodation. Here you will meet Roger Brendhagen and Florian Werneck who serve as assistant photographers and Zoom Photo Travel hosts. In the afternoon it’s time for the first photography session in the hideout. As the soft evening light descends over the forest, we look over the surroundings that spread out in front of our hideouts with excitement and anticipation and perhaps we will already have the opportunity to meet and photograph the mighty brown bear on our first evening. After the sun has set, we leave the hideout and return to our accommodation to share a welcome dinner followed by a lecture from Roger as well as photo editing. (D)
DAY 2-4 (13-15/6) – SHOOTING BROWN BEARS
We spend the days photographing brown bears from our hideouts where we have a view of a hilly forest landscape. We are in one of the most bear-dense areas in the world and it is as serene as it is exciting to sit and wait for one of the area’s ca 500 bears to appear in our viewfinder. When something suddenly starts moving among the trees and the mighty animals appear, the green surroundings of the area together with stones and fallen trees provide plenty of composition possibilities. We focus our photography sessions on the evenings, as that’s when the bears are most active and the light is at its best.
Our photographers will rotate between the hideouts and each share their unique knowledge and tips and tricks. Having access to two very prominent photographers during one and the same trip fill our days with inspiration and you learn lots of new photographic angles.
When we visit the area in June, we have the best opportunity to photograph bear cubs playing, which gives us an opportunity for fast-paced action pictures. We do this from many different hideouts, which means that you will be able to take your pictures in different environments and with many different light conditions.
When we are not photographing, we go through today’s image hoard, work with the images in Lightroom and do image reviews where you can receive constructive criticism on your pictures from Roger, all so that we can develop and take even better pictures the next time we go out into the hideouts.
Since the bears are much more active in the afternoons, we will make a visit to the nearby Križna Jama cave one morning. This world-famous karst cave offers amazing photo opportunities as we slowly glide forward on the underground lakes in our dingeys.
On our last evening together, Roger and Florian will name the “image of the trip” that will advance to the final of “image of the year 2023” (B, L, D)
DAY 5 (16/6) – JOURNEY HOME
After breakfast we leave Slovenia’s bear-rich forests and head back to the airport in Ljubljana where further transport on your own awaits. (B)
TOUR ITINERARY • JUNE 12-16 2024
DAY 1 (12/6) – ARRIVAL AND EVENING PHOTOGRAPHY
Arrival in Slovenia and Ljubljana around lunchtime, where you will be met up at the airport by a chauffeur for transport towards Risnjak National Park where we will spend our days together photographing the area’s bears. After about an hour’s drive we arrive and check in at our accommodation. Here you will meet Roger Brendhagen and Florian Werneck who serve as assistant photographers and Zoom Photo Travel hosts. In the afternoon it’s time for the first photography session in the hideout. As the soft evening light descends over the forest, we look over the surroundings that spread out in front of our hideouts with excitement and anticipation and perhaps we will already have the opportunity to meet and photograph the mighty brown bear on our first evening. After the sun has set, we leave the hideout and return to our accommodation to share a welcome dinner followed by a lecture from Roger as well as photo editing. (D)
DAY 2-4 (13-15/6) – SHOOTING BROWN BEARS
We spend the days photographing brown bears from our hideouts where we have a view of a hilly forest landscape. We are in one of the most bear-dense areas in the world and it is as serene as it is exciting to sit and wait for one of the area’s ca 500 bears to appear in our viewfinder. When something suddenly starts moving among the trees and the mighty animals appear, the green surroundings of the area together with stones and fallen trees provide plenty of composition possibilities. We focus our photography sessions on the evenings, as that’s when the bears are most active and the light is at its best.
Our photographers will rotate between the hideouts and each share their unique knowledge and tips and tricks. Having access to two very prominent photographers during one and the same trip fill our days with inspiration and you learn lots of new photographic angles.
When we visit the area in June, we have the best opportunity to photograph bear cubs playing, which gives us an opportunity for fast-paced action pictures. We do this from many different hideouts, which means that you will be able to take your pictures in different environments and with many different light conditions.
When we are not photographing, we go through today’s image hoard, work with the images in Lightroom and do image reviews where you can receive constructive criticism on your pictures from Roger, all so that we can develop and take even better pictures the next time we go out into the hideouts.
Since the bears are much more active in the afternoons, we will make a visit to the nearby Križna Jama cave one morning. This world-famous karst cave offers amazing photo opportunities as we slowly glide forward on the underground lakes in our dingeys.
On our last evening together, Roger and Florian will name the “image of the trip” that will advance to the final of “image of the year 2023” (B, L, D)
DAY 5 (16/6) – JOURNEY HOME
After breakfast we leave Slovenia’s bear-rich forests and head back to the airport in Ljubljana where further transport on your own awaits. (B)
PHOTOGRAPHERS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ROGER BRENDHAGEN
After working as a journalist for five years, Roger Brendhagen spent the past 15 years working as a full-time photographer, with over 250 travel days a year; Roger has the whole world as his workplace and he has taken photos everywhere from Mongolia to India and Africa. For 10 years he has been one of Nikon’s ambassadors and is often hired as a lecturer. Roger is a member of Norske Naturfotografer/NN. He is also highly appreciated for his workshops and photo expeditions. Roger has led photo expeditions around the world, including to Sri Lanka, Mongolia and India. During his workshops at Dovrefjell, Roger has welcomed over 700 participants over the years.
For more info see here
FLORIAN WARNECKE
Florian Warnecke, who acts as assistant photographer and Zoom host, is a very good animal, nature and landscape photographer based in Bavaria, on the border with Austria. His love of nature began as a young child and he now shares this passion through his pictures. Florian’s goal with photography is to show the beauty of a pristine environment through his images. At the same time, he wants to make people aware of the environmental challenges we face so that future generations can experience all the beauty that nature offers.
For more info see here
ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMADATION
KNAVS FARM***
PRICES, FACTS & BOOKING
PRICES, FACTS AND BOOKINGS
Price per person: £ 2 545 or USD 3 100
Included:
- Transportation according to the program.
- Accommodation as part of a double room.
- Meals according to program (indicated by B= breakfast, L=Lunch, D=dinner).
- Shooting from hideouts according to the programme.
- Transportation to and from hideouts.
- Participation from Roger Brendhagen throughout the trip.
- Various lectures and workshops with Roger Brendhagen.
- Participation of Florian Warnecke as assistant photographer and Zoom Photo Travel host.
- Local taxes.
- Travel documents and travel information.
Excluded:
- Flights to Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Single room surcharge: 210
- Costs of a personal nature, such as drinks.
- Cancellation protection/travel insurance, for more information, see our web under “other”.
TRANSPORTATION
Fly to Ljubljana by your own devices. You should be at the airport in Ljubljana no later than 12:00 on 15/6. The return journey can take place no earlier than 14.00 on 18/6.
If you want help with booking a flight or booking extra hotel nights, we are more than happy to help you with this. You are welcome to call us by phone +46 470 466 40, email us at info@zoomfotoresor.se or let us know when you book with us.
GROUP SIZE
In order for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our expert photographer, our groups are always small. On this workshop, the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8/15.
PHOTO GEAR
- Your digital camera.
- Telephoto lens preferably up to 500 mm.
- One 70-200 mm or equivalent.
- Wide angle, for example, 24-70 mm.
- A laptop with Photoshop or Lightroom.
- Extra batteries, chargers, etc.
TOUR LEADER
Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you are having the best possible experience during the workshop.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.
BOOKING
Use the online booking form below and you will receive a booking confirmation right away or you can give us a call on +46 70 180 90 99 or send an email to info@zoomphototours.com
Photo: Roger Brendhagen & Florian Wernecke
PRICE
Price per person: £ 2 545 or USD 3 100
Included:
- Transportation according to the program.
- Accommodation as part of a double room.
- Meals according to program (indicated by B= breakfast, L=Lunch, D=dinner).
- Shooting from hideouts according to the programme.
- Transportation to and from hideouts.
- Participation from Roger Brendhagen throughout the trip.
- Various lectures and workshops with Roger Brendhagen.
- Participation of Florian Warnecke as assistant photographer and Zoom Photo Travel host.
- Local taxes.
- Travel documents and travel information.
Excluded:
- Flights to Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Single room surcharge: 210
- Costs of a personal nature, such as drinks.
- Cancellation protection/travel insurance, for more information, see our web under “other”.
TRANSPORTATION
Fly to Ljubljana by your own devices. You should be at the airport in Ljubljana no later than 12:00 on 15/6. The return journey can take place no earlier than 14.00 on 18/6.
If you want help with booking a flight or booking extra hotel nights, we are more than happy to help you with this. You are welcome to call us by phone +46 470 466 40, email us at info@zoomfotoresor.se or let us know when you book with us.
GROUP SIZE
In order for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our expert photographer, our groups are always small. On this workshop, the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8/15.
PHOTO GEAR
- Your digital camera.
- Telephoto lens preferably up to 500 mm.
- One 70-200 mm or equivalent.
- Wide angle, for example, 24-70 mm.
- A laptop with Photoshop or Lightroom.
- Extra batteries, chargers, etc.
TOUR LEADER
Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you are having the best possible experience during the workshop.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.
BOOKING
Use the online booking form below and you will receive a booking confirmation right away or you can give us a call on +46 70 180 90 99 or send an email to info@zoomphototours.com
OUR NEWSLETTER
Be the first to hear about new tours, offers and travel inspiration from Zoom Phototours.
Newsletter
CONTACT
E-mail: info@zoomphototours.com
Telephone: +46 (0)470 – 466 40
Follow our photo adventures on social media.
Photo: Serkan Gunes
OUR NEWSLETTER
Be the first to hear about new tours, offers and travel inspiration from Zoom Phototours.
Newsletter
CONTACT
E-mail: info@zoomphototours.com
Phone: +46(0) 470 – 466 40
Follow our photo adventures on social media.
Foto: Hans Strand