Terms & Conditions
Payment
Our standard workshop payment policy for our published prices require an initial non-refundable deposit for reservation of space and your payment balance in full 60 days prior to the workshop date. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit only.
Payment may be made by Pay Pal (please email for a money request) or bank transaction (please contact for bank details).
Confirmation
We will confirm receipt of your payment by email and/or telephone. In the event payment is not received within 14 days of the booking date, we will make a courtesy telephone call to you provided you have supplied us your telephone number. If we are unable to reach you by the phone number provided, your booked dates will be released. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have regarding our policies.
Weather
There shall be no refund for weather delay or cancellation because of weather before arrival or during the scheduled workshop. Doest Photography is not responsible for any additional costs that may be incurred by weather delays or cancellations due to weather, flight delays, or otherwise.
Health
Participants should be in generally good health. Any restrictions of a medical or dietary nature should be made known to us well before departure. We will inform the relevant supplier of your requirements, but we cannot guarantee that all requirements will be met and have no liability to you if they are not met. Vaccinations, visa procurements and all other travel or medically related arrangements are the responsibility of the participant. We advise you to check the latest advice online or consult your health practitioner.
Animal risks
Some trips will bring you into close contact with (semi) wild animals. Clients should be aware of the risks involved and accept liability. Doest Photography cannot be held responsible for any injury or incident during our trips. We use highly trained guides and safety instructions of guides or places we stay should be followed strictly.
Flexibility
We travel in small groups, which gives us the advantage to change the program if a photographic opportunity arises or if local conditions forces us to do so. Doest Photography reserves the right to make changes to itineraries, prior to departure or on location. Participants will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. No refund will be made for any unused services that are included in the tour price. In the unlikely event that the leader(s) of a Doest Photography workshop have to cancel due to ill health or for any other reason, we reserve the right to provide a substitute for the trip. This is no reason to cancel your booking. Participants should also be flexible when it comes to inconveniences caused by local conditions like roads, weather etc. Western standards cannot be guaranteed on all trips.
Trip Cancellation For Any Reason Prior To Trip Date
No refund will be provided on cancellations within 60 days of a workshop date. At our discretion we may apply a deposit credit to be used within 1 year of workshop date. Please note that price increase adjustments may apply. Do to the administrative tasks involved, advertising, book keeping, etc. there will be a €50 administrative fee invoked for switching and/or cancelling workshop(s).
Cancellations, Delays & Refunds
Please consider obtaining a travel and cancellation insurance to cover eventualities that may cause travel difficulties or losses you may incur, of which Doest Photography is not responsible. We strongly suggest a travel insurance to all our participants to cover any unseen situations occurring before or during the trip that would cause losses not covered by our policy. Doest Photography reserves the right to cancel a tour up to 8 weeks prior to departure if the minimum group size is not reached. In the unlikely event of Doest Photography cancelling a trip, all costs paid directly to Doest Photography will be refunded.
This payment and booking policy is written in simple terms. If you do not understand any part of it please inquire of us to be more specific and we will be happy to explain any part you may not understand. If you do not ask, we assume you understand our policy as we intended it.
Svalbard - Experience the arctic
Limited to only three participants!
Date: June 21 - June 27 2010
Price: €2950
Join wildlife photographer Jasper Doest on an amazing wildlife adventure to Spitzbergen (Svalbard) in the high arctic.
During this time the archipelago turns into a bird paradise with approximately 30 species of birds breeding throughout the summer, including Long-tailed duck, Arctic Skua’s, Little Auks and the only native bird, the Svalbard Ptarmigan. Besides birds, the workshop will cover all aspects of nature photography including landscapes, arctic flora and wildlife photography (including encounters with the native Svalbard Reindeer).
As all birds and mammals are not used to human encounters, most of them will only give you a glance and continue their daily routine, allowing you to make most of the photo oppertunities. Although overcast situations are most common, when the midnight sun comes through it will provide plenty of sweet warm light.
For birds and wildlife, telephotolenses from at least 200mm will be required.
Unlike many other tours to this destination, the mainfocus will not be the Polar bear. We will not tour around Svalbard on a touristic vessel, but we'll focus on a rather small, but diverse area on the main island of Spitsbergen. Jasper Doest has spend over 6 months in this area and is very familiar with the animal species and photographic oppertunities offered in this area.
We'll mainly travel on land, by car or short distances on foot. Therefore you will also need to be reasonably fit, as the terrain is quite rough. Due to the fragile environment there will only be place for three participants on this workshop, which will allow plenty of time for personal guidance on your photography.The aim of this tour is to let you experience the arctic and reflect this experience through your photographs.
Accomodation
With modern comfort in historic surroundings Spitsbergen Hotel offers a unique Svalbard experience. Situated on the "Hill" it has great views of Longyearbyen, the Lars glacier and the Longyear glacier. The hotel was originally built as accommodation/dining area for employees at Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. It was also the company’s official representational building, and its interior and architecture made it Longyearbyen’s grandest construction. Great effort has been placed in preserving its special history and it is well worth a cultural stroll along the hotel corridors and public areas where you’ll find historic photographs, old maps and newspaper clippings.
What to bring?
- Camera body and spare battery (and spare camera body)
- Lenses in the range of 20mm to 600mm can all be employed, although a simple set-up that includes a wide-angle lens and a telephoto will suffice.
- Enough films or digital storage-space.
- Tripod
- Flash
Although Svalbard’s weather is relatively mild, it still remains close to the North Pole and the average temperature in spring and summer varies between –9ºC and +5ºC. As with most islands, you could experience strong and steady wind, which will yield a wind-chill temperature between –11ºC and -25ºC. Although you could also experience days with temperatures as high as +21ºC, one should still be prepared for low temperatures by bringing enough clothes.
- Waterproof walking boots (I would prefer wellington boots as the tundra can be extremely wet in certain area’s).
- Wear layers of thin clothing topped off by a good windproof and waterproof jacket. Waterproof ski-trousers are also recommended.
- Gloves, woolen/fleece hat
- Enough fleece sweaters, thermo-underwear
Costs
The cost of this photographic workshop in the high arctic is €2950,- based on single supplements.
The price includes:
- All local transfers
- 6 nights of accomodation (including breakfast)
- Photographic tuition
- A six hour evening zodiak-tour (including drinks and snacks), if weather permitting!.
The price excludes:
- Flights to Svalbard
- Restaurant meals and drinks
For specific questions and booking information please contact me at: : Info@Doest-Photography.com
Last January I participated in a Donna Nook workshop with Jasper Doest. For me it was the second time to be there under Jaspers guidance, and once again I felt tremendously inspired by his skills and knowlegde. Jasper can make you think thouroughly about how to capture the main issue of what you're about to photograph. The experience meant a lot to me, I feel it enabled me once more to put a few steps forward in my photographic development. I can only highly recommend any nature photographer to join one of Jaspers workshops!
Franka Slothouber
My wife and I attended the Svalbard photo workshop with Jasper Doest in 2007, and had a great trip. The trip was very professionally organised and the pre trip briefing included detailed information on the clothing and equipment needed, the likely species to be photographed, and the conditions we would meet in the Arctic.
Long days were spent in the field, photographing in a variety of conditions, with Jasper teaching different ways to get great images, showing the advantages of differing viewpoints and getting the best from different lenses to make more interesting pictures.
As the numbers of people on the workshop was purposely kept small, this enabled Jasper to spend time with each person in turn, helping them improve their photographic skills whatever their previous experience.
In the evenings Jasper spent time demonstrating RAW workflow, showing the necessary stages for creating high quality images for print and for web, and sharing many useful tips in the process.
We highly recommend anyone joining Jasper for one of his trips as a great way to expand your photographic knowledge and skills.
Simon & Sue Murgatroyd
Last year I had the pleasure to participate in the Svalbard workshop offered by Jasper Doest and Bart Breet. I can honestly say that I have never had such an incredible wildlife photography experience in my life.
Besides your technical knowledge about photography you never forgot to live the experience. I have seen the quality of my pictures and post processing grow enormously and the way I experience wildlife photography will never be the same. Thanks for that guys!!!
Krijn Trimbos
Grey Seals - Live at the colony
Limited to six participants!
Date: January 14 - January 16 2011
Price: €550
Join wildlife photographer Jasper Doest to the Lincolshire coastline to photograph hundreds of Grey Seals. One of the most dramatic animal spectacles in the UK!
Every year, as autumn rolls into winter, hundreds of grey seals begin hauling themselves out onto the sandbanks in front of Brittain's East coast to give birth to their pups. Here the most important activities of the grey seal calendar are played out, giving photographers unprecedented opportunities to capture dramatic pictures of this spectacular period.
Photographing seals is all about finding the right angles. They are certainly not the easiest animals to make an interesting composition with. Spending two full days among the colony will allow you to experiment with different photography techniques and Jasper Doest will be able to give you feedback right on the spot. Also you will learn anticipating on the seals behaviour, so that you'll be able to bring home that action shot you were looking for.
What to bring?
Note that being on a North Sea beach, we will be exposed to the weather elements normal for this time of year. One should be prepared for low temperatures by bringing enough clothes.
- Camera body and spare battery (and spare camera body)
- Lenses in the range of 10mm to 600mm can all be employed, although a simple set-up that includes a wide-angle lens and a telephoto will suffice.
- Enough films or digital storage-space.
- Tripod
- Flash
- Waterproof walking boots (I would prefer wellington boots).
- Wear layers of thin clothing topped off by a good windproof and waterproof jacket. Waterproof ski-trousers are also recommended.
- Gloves, woolen/fleece hat
Costs
This workshop is open to a maximum of 6 participants and places are reserved on a first come first served basis. The price of this workshop is €550,- based on double occupancy. In case you'd prefer a single room, please contact Doest Photography.
The price includes:
- 2 nights of accomodation (including breakfast)
- Lunchpackages for 2 days
- Photographic tuition
The price excludes:
- Transport to the workshop destination
- Restaurant meals and drinks
For specific questions and booking information please contact me at: : Info@Doest-Photography.com
