BugShot Florida June 18-21th 2020!!!
• Workshop is limited to 35 participants
• Workshop begins at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18th and concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m. June 21st.
• Workshop is based out of Archbold Biological Station. Their website even has a description of various buggy habitats! Archbold Biological Station, established in 1941, is the primary division of Archbold Expeditions, a not-for-profit independent research institution in central Florida. The Station is dedicated to long-term ecological research, part of the global effort to understand, interpret and preserve the world’s natural heritage. Staff, visiting investigators, and students conduct research primarily focused on the organisms and environments of Lake Wales Ridge and adjacent central Florida. Areas of research strength are population ecology and conservation biology, emphasizing ecological changes over local and regional scales, and demographic shifts in ecologically sensitive species. Staff scientists also undertake studies in similar ecosystems regionally, most notably at the Avon Park Air Force Range and at the many state and federally protected areas on the Lake Wales Ridge – our research was fundamental in inspiring public acquisition of these sites. Our research helps guide land management decisions for regional scrub protected areas. Archbold is used heavily for education including research training for graduates and undergraduates from around the world, use by visiting college classes, extensive K-12 education, and public outreach.
Archbold Biological Station (5,193 acres) and the Archbold Reserve (3,648 acres) together comprise a 8,840-acre globally-significant preserve, located in the Florida scrub, one of the most distinctive natural habitats in the United States. Archbold provides secure access to study areas and organisms on land that is managed for scientific purposes. The Station is a series of relict sandy dunes, including xeromorphic scrubs, flatwoods and the 90-acre Lake Annie. Agricultural and natural lands lie to the west on the Archbold Reserve. Neighboring state-owned lands and private conservation easements mean that the Station lies within a protected area network totaling 16,200 acres. Fire is the prevalent ecosystem process in scrub. The Station provides experimental manipulation, through large and small-scale prescribed burning, to test hypotheses about ecological responses to fire. This region supports many of the rarest species in North America. Archbold is host to 19 federally-listed species and is regarded as critical for the long-term global viability of numerous endemic scrub species. The Archbold Collection with over 230,000 biological specimens of plant, arthropod, bird, mammal, herptile and fish is an important regional collection emphasizing species from the scrub habitats of the Station and the Lake Wales Ridge.
Archbold provides facilities and equipment in immediate proximity to these study areas; at the core of the Archbold campus are the spectacular Roebling buildings, among the best examples of the industrial vernacular in the USA. Archbold is on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the history of architecture, science and conservation and listed as a National Natural Landmark, an outstanding example of our country’s natural history, among the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership.
Join professional photographers Alex Wild, Thomas Shahan and John Abbott for a 4-day workshop exploring arthropod photography at Archbold Biological Station!
Topics include:
Macro & microphotography equipment
Composition
Lighting & flash
Working with live insects
Special techniques: focus-stacking, high-speed flash
Field sessions in forest, meadow, and aquatic habitats
Evening photo-sharing presentations
and more!
Events kick off with a Thursday (June 18th) evening welcome and will continue through mid-day on Sunday (June 21st). Registration covers participation in all workshop events, meals, and lodging at Archbold Field Station.
Lodging
All participants will be double occupancy in dorm style rooms.
Student Waiver
One student scholarship is available to cover registration fees only, you will be responsible for getting to the event. More information if you click here. Or you can contact kendra@abbottnature.com for further details.
Cancellation policy is as followsCancellation policy is as follows:-
• 8 weeks prior to event: 100% refund minus $50 cancellation fee
• 6 weeks prior to event: 50% refund minus $50 cancellation fee
• no refunds after May 21st, 2020
If you have any questions you can contact kendra@abbottnature.com
Thursday, June 18th: Hello!
5:00pm Arrive at Archbold
6:00 Welcome & Dinner
8:00 Instructors’ Top Tips
8:15 Open time (night photography, blacklighting, build diffuser) (Thomas) or
Entomology 101 (John) or Photography 101 (Alex)
Friday, June 19th: The Basics
7:00-8:00 Breakfast
8:00 Introduction to Archbold
8:30 Field Session 1: group A (Alex), group B (John), group C (Thomas)
11:00 White box (Alex)
11:30 Create your ultimate diffusion!
noon Lunch
1:00 Composition & Lighting (Thomas)
2:00 Field Session 2: group A (John), group B (Thomas), group C (Alex)
4:30 Open
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Natural History Talk: (John)
8:00 Open (night photography, blacklighting, build diffuser, sleep)
Saturday, June 20th: Special Techniques
7:00-8:00 Breakfast
8:00 Natural History Talk: (Alex)
8:30 Field Session 3: group A (Thomas), group B (Alex), group C (John)
11:00 Special Techniques: Photographing Insects in Flight (John)
noon Lunch
1:00 Post Processing and workflow (All)
2:00 Special Techniques: Photo Stacking (Thomas)
3:00 Open practice: studio, field, or meet with an instructor
5:45 Group photo!
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Natural History Talk: (Thomas)
8:00 Open (night photography, blacklighting, sleep) or Post Processing
Sunday, June 21st: Windup
7:00-8:00 Breakfast
8:00 Gadgetry and Gear discussion (John, Thomas, Alex)
9:00 Panel Discussion – topics to be determined by group interest
10:00 Open practice: studio, field, or meet with an instructor
noon Lunch
1:00 Closing comments, clean-up
BugShot + Housing at the reserve is $810
Click here to register
The fee for the workshop includes:
• Daily one-on-one and group instructions from Alex, Thomas and John.
• Daily instruction on macro photography
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on days of the workshop are included (as indicated on itinerary).
• Double occupancy hotel style housing.
The fee for the workshop does NOT include:
• Transportation to/from location
BugShot NO Housing is $680
You will get everything above but you find your own housing. There are several hotels about 10 miles from Archbold. Click here to register.
Cancellation policy is as followsCancellation policy is as follows:-
• 8 weeks prior to event: 100% refund minus $50 cancellation fee
• 6 weeks prior to event: 50% refund minus $50 cancellation fee
• no refunds after May 21st, 2020
The rooms are dorm style with two people per room, a bath/shower room is available on each floor. The rooms will be double occupancy.

Equipment Recommendations
At a minimum you will need to bring a camera and lenses capable of close-in photographs, as well as an off-camera flash. We recommend an SLR camera with a 1:1 or greater macro lens. Alternately, a set of extension tubes, bellows, or a reverse-mounted lens kit can provide suitable magnification. Point-and-shoot camera with a Raynox filter and flash mount are also acceptable. Please contact me if you have any questions about equipment. kendra@abbottnature.com
Clothing & Supplies
• Weather will be hot and humid. I would recommend breathable long pants and long sleeve shirt if you are going to be in the field.
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Water Bottle
Driving Directions from 6 Major Florida Airports
From Ft. Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport – RSW) to Archbold (approximately 70 miles)
- Take Terminal Access Road to I-75 North to State Route 80 East, Exit #141 (9 miles) to
- SR 29 North in LaBelle (25 miles)
- SR 29 North to US 27 North (15 miles)
- US 27 North to SR 70 West (20 miles)
- At intersection of SR 70 and US 27, go west on SR 70 (1.0 miles) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far)
- Turn Left (South) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right
From Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Archbold (approximately 105 miles)
Opotion 1
- On airport property, follow the signs to South Exit (State Road 417, Central Florida Greenway, toll road). You will be traveling south ~4 miles to get to 417. Turn right, heading west.
- Follow SR 417 West ~18 miles (going through 2 tolls totaling $3.50 in 2018) until 417 ends at Interstate 4.
- I-4 West (towards Tampa). Travel ~7 miles to US 27, Exit #55.
- Take US 27 South (~77 miles) to SR 70 West
- At intersection of SR 70 and US 27, turn right (West) on SR 70 (1.0 miles) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far)
- Turn Left (South) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right.
Option 2, Green Route more attractive drive, about 25 minutes/30 miles longer than Option 1
- On airport property, follow the signs to South Exit (State Road 417, Central Florida Greenway, toll road). You will be traveling south ~4 miles to get to 417. Turn right, heading west.
- Follow SR 417 West ~10 miles (going through 1 tolls totaling $1.75 in 2018) to..
- Florida’s Turnpike South, continue South on Florida’s Turnpike (~61 miles)
- Exit Turnpike at Yeehaw Junction (SR60 – exit 193) – total Turnpike toll $5.90 in 2018.
- Take a right to West SR 60 for 0.25 miles.
- Turn left (South) on US 441 go ~20 miles, passing through Fort Drum.
- Turn right (west) onto CR 68 for ~10 miles.
- At stop sign, turn right onto US 98 for ~5 miles, crossing the Kissimmee River.
- Just after crossing the river, turn left onto CR 721 and go ~9 miles till road ends.
- At stop sign turn right onto SR 70 and travel ~17 miles.
- At intersection of SR 70 and US 27, continue west on SR 70 (1.0 miles) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far)
- Turn Left (South) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right.
From Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Archbold (approximately 110 miles)
Option 1
- Exit airport property toward downtown Tampa (south). Take I-275 South for ~39 miles across the Howard Franklin Bridge, through St. Petersburg, and across the Sunshine Skyway-($1.50 toll in 2018) to…
- I-75 South, travel ~10 miles to State Road 70 East, Exit #217.
- Follow SR 70 East to Arcadia (~40 miles), continue east from Arcadia (~31 miles) to…
- Old State Road 8 (CR17) (immediately after RR tracks) on the right. (if you get to Hwy 27, you have gone too far)
- Turn right (south) on Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles; Archbold’s main entrance on right.
Option 2 (possibly more traffic, approximately 126 miles)
- Exit airport property by heading northeast on George J Bean Inbound Pkwy.
- Continue onto George J Bean Outbound Pkwy ~1.9 miles.
- Take the ramp to FL-60 E / E Spruce Street. Keep right at the fork to continue toward FL-60 E.
- Keep right at the fork, follow signs for I-275/Tampa/St Petersburg and merge onto FL-60 E.
- Take the exit onto I-275 N, then go ~5.4 miles to I-4 E.
- Take exit 45B to merge onto I-4 E toward Orlando.
- Go 26.2 miles on I-4 East to Exit 27 to the Polk Parkway North/FL-570 (toll road $1.50 in 2018).
- Travel on Polk Parkway to exit 10 (Highway 98-Bartow). At the light at the end of them exit ramp, go right on Hwy 98/FL-700/S/Bartow Rd. for ~8 miles to E Van Fleet Dr/Hwy 60 East in Bartow.
- Turn east, left, on E Van Fleet Dr. and follow signs for Hwy 60 to Lakes Wales. Travel ~15 miles to the US-27 S ramp to Avon Park …
- Turn right on US-27, going south for about ~54 miles to SR 70.
- At the intersection of SR 70 and US 27, turn right heading west on SR 70 for ~1.0 mile) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far).
- Turn left (South) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right.
From Miami International Airport (MIA) to Archbold (approximately 145 miles)
- Take State Route 836 West (East-West Expressway) (4 miles) to…
- SR 826 North (Palmetto Expressway) (8 miles) to…
- I-75 towards Naples
- Take exit 23 onto US 27 North towards South Bay (108 miles)
- At intersection of SR 70 and US 27, go west on SR 70 (1.0 miles) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far)
- Turn Left (South) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right.
From Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) (approximately 100 miles)
- Head east toward James L Turnage Blvd
- Merge onto I-95 N via ramp toward West Palm Beach. Go ~7.5 miles.
- Take exit 76 for FL-708/Blue Heron Blvd for ~.3 miles.
- Turn left at FL-708 W/W Blue Heron Blvd for ~1 mile.
- Continue onto FL-710 W/Bee Line Hwy for ~53 miles
- Turn left at FL-70 W/NE Park St for ~34 miles
- At the intersection of SR 70 and US 27, continue heading west on SR 70 for ~1.0 mile) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far).
- Turn left (south) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for 1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right.
From Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) (approximately 133 miles)
- Head south on Terminal Dr toward S Service Rd for ~0.5 mi
- Follow signs for I-595 W/I-95/Florida’s Turnpike and merge onto I-595 W. Go ~15.0 miles.
- I-595W becomes I-75N (4.9 miles)
- Take Exit 23 to merge onto FL-25 N/US-27 N toward South Bay and on toward Lake Placid traveling 108 miles.
- At the intersection of SR 70 and US 27, turn left heading west on SR 70 for ~1.0 mile) (if pass over the railroad tracks, you have gone too far).
- Turn left (south) onto Old State Road 8 (CR17) for ~1.8 miles.
- Archbold’s main entrance gate on the right.
Here is a link to the goole map location.
Below is a google map of where Archbold is in relation to Orlando, FL.









