Seminars & Workshops

Portland-Bound for the New Media Consortium Summer Conference /  by Bill Frakes

I've had the honor of working closely with the New Media Consortium, an international group of visionaries who specialize in educational technology. The concept of educational technology takes many forms and is constantly fluctuating. For me, being part of the dynamic conversations that NMC facilitates is exciting and inspiring. Larry Johnson CEO of the NMC asked me to do a keynote presentation on creativity at this year’s convention and suggested I wrap my talk around some of the work I have been doing in my native Nebraska.

I love Nebraska, it's a serene, rugged place full of surprises.  I'm spending a lot of time there this summer and fall producing films and photographs, seeing my family and friends, and enjoying being home.

For more on the NMC Summer Conference, visit http://www.nmc.org/event-manager/2014-nmc-summer-conference-keynotes/

Iceland Photo Tour /  by SARA TANNER

Join us for a 10 day tour of Iceland - the land of seals and poets.

This Photo Tour and Workshop will take place August 4-14, 2014.

We will spend as much time outside enjoying the environment as possible.  August in Iceland will give us 23 hours of golden light every day.

We will roam all over the island and spend time making photos and time-lapses of a variety of places - volcanic glaciers, black rock beaches, small fishing towns and more.

The ten-day tour is $6,000 which includes meals, lodging and intern Iceland transportation.  The tour price does not include airfare to and from Reykajavik or alcoholic beverages.

This is going to be serious fun and there will be daily chances to make incredible images.

It's a small group, and we've just secured a few more hard to find hotel rooms so we can take four more guests.

To secure your spot, please contact bill@strawhatvisuals.com.

The deadline to join the tour is June 24, 2014.

Sandhill Cranes /  by Bill Frakes

Growing up in Nebraska, I experienced nature first-hand. Life on the plains taught me to live on the land and to appreciate its natural beauty.

Nebraska's mystery and majesty have always inspired me creatively.

It's remembering those roots that keeps me fresh.

More than 500,000 sandhill cranes stop along the Platte River each spring as they make their way northward. Tom Lynn, Laura and I will be there to document their visit.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, George Archibald, one of the founders of the International Crane Foundation discussed cranes and their elegant dance. "[The cranes] have complicated and beautiful behaviors — they dance and duet and have all kinds of vocal and visual languages in ways that seem to be human-like. They are devoted to a single mate for life and rear just one or two chicks at a time. Because of this and other factors, they are also one of the most endangered groups of birds."

The plains of Nebraska are known as a vast, open space with endless skies and unbroken sight lines, the only constant noise the whistling wind but when the cranes descend on the wide flat Platte all that changes. These majestic birds create a city on the sandbars and bustling traffic in the skies.

I invite you to come to come to Nebraska in mid March to experience first-hand why so many nature enthusiasts call the sandhill crane migration one of the greatest spectacles of nature in North America.

I'll be leading a photo tour that will allow you to not only experience the migration but also to capture video and images of the phenomenon.

The tour includes entrance to the blinds, hands-on instruction from me, Tom and Laura with the cameras and support systems. There will also be an Apple certified Final Cut Trainer providing instruction.

You can learn more about the tour and secure your spot at http://strawhatvisuals.flywheelsites.com/workshops/cranes/.

Shooting at the Olympics Webinar Tuesday /  by SARA TANNER

It's not too late to get an in-depth look at what it is like to cover the Olympics. Sign up  today for Bill’s upcoming Webinar with the Manfrotto School of Xcellence. This free Webinar is October 30 at 2 p.m. (EST). You can reserve your seat online today.

In his presentation, Bill will take you through the challenges of covering such high speed and high stakes events. He will also discuss getting the shot of Olympic glory from his spot on the finish line. Learn the set-ups in this one hour Webinar, Shooting at the Olympics.

Upcoming Manfrotto Webinar /  by SARA TANNER

Want to get a in-depth look at what it is like to cover the Olympics? Then sign up for Bill's upcoming Webinar with the Manfrotto School of Xcellence. This free Webinar is October 30 at 2 p.m. (EST). You can reserve your seat online today.

In his presentation, Bill will take you through the challenges of covering such high speed and high stakes events. He will also discuss getting the shot of Olympic glory from his spot on the finish line. Learn the set-ups in this one hour Webinar, Shooting at the Olympics.