Cairns-based photographer Jürgen Freund will teach a nature photography masterclass in Far North Queensland from 29 June to 6 July.
Run in conjunction with James Cook University, the week-long course will expose photographers to the flora, fauna and landscapes of the lush forests, crater lakes and extinct volcanoes of the Atherton Tablelands.
“We will be working in inspiring places, with amazing wildlife in a region famous for its diverse plant life,” Freund said. “You’re never far from a wonderful photograph.”
In 2010 Freund won the PATA Gold Award for Travel Photography with an image of marine biologist Brad Norman tagging a whale shark at Ningaloo Reef. A spectacular picture of a Minke whale’s eye won the Oceans category of Nature’s Best Magazine’s international competition. He has also placed highly in competitions including the World Press Photo Award (third, for a story on the Pamilacan whale shark hunters) and the British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year (highly commended for a picture of mating cuttlefish).
Freund (or 'Yogi', as he is widely known) works with his wife Stella Chiu-Freund. If you’ve ever admired the images in American and European travel, nature and science magazines you may already know their work.
They have also published some stunning books that aim to focus attention on valuable and fragile places. The Coral Triangle is the result of an 18-month expedition undertaken for WWF, documenting the wildlife, land and seascapes of a six million-square kilometer expanse of land and sea encompassing the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. For Sulu-Sulawesi Seas they documented some of the millions of species, from marine mammal behemoths to minute micro-organisms, that live in the eco-region encompassing the waters and islands of Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
In June they will return from another expedition to teach the nature masterclass on behalf of James Cook University. The majority of the week’s classes will be held in the field. “We will be teaching the technicalities and practicalities that will help you capture your best shots in the wild,” Freund said.
For more information go to www.jcu.edu.au/soca/JCU_085558.html or email creativearts@jcu.edu.au.
Nandroya Falls, Atherton Tableland, QLD. Photo by Jürgen Freund.
Nature photographer Jürgen Freund (pictured) will present a
week-long nature photography masterclass in the Atherton Tablelands this
winter.