BugShot Portal Arizona

We will spend 4 days and 3 nights at the Southwest Research Station in Portal, Arizona. The Southwestern Research Station is a year-round field station under the direction of the Science Department at the American Museum of Natural History (New York, NY). Since 1955, it has served biologists, geologists, and anthropologists interested in studying the diverse environments and biotas of the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona.

The housing at Southwest Research Station will be 2 twin beds to a room. They are hotel style rooms that come with sheets, blankets, pillows towels and soap. The bathrooms are dorm style, so all rooms will share a male or female dorm style bathroom.

If you choose no housing at checkout you will have to reserve your own housing. There are a couple hotels near Southwest Research Station - Cave Creek Ranch - 520.558.2334 and Portal Peak Lodge – 520.558.2223. All meals at the research station are still included in the price.

Getting There
Participants will arrive Thursday 26th of June 2025 around 4 pm. We will get settled in and have dinner and then have some instruction on intro to entomology or intro to photography and start black lighting. The workshop will end Sunday, June 29 around noon.

The closest place to fly into is Tucson, Arizona. Click here for detailed directions. Note GPS units will take you on dirt roads that could be dangerous when there is rain.

• Workshop is limited to 30 participants.
• Workshop is from Thur.-Sun. (June 26-29th, 2025).
• Workshop is based Southwest Research Station in Portal, Arizona.

Instructors: Adrian Smith, Alex Wild, and John Abbott. (Please note: changes in instructors may be necessary depending on workshop enrollment or other reasons).

Topics include:
• Macro & microphotography
• Insect Video with Adrian Smith
• Composition
• Lighting & flash
• Working with live insects
• Focus stacking
• High-speed flash

Field sessions will explore a variety of habitats

If you have any questions you can contact kendra@abbottnature.com

Registration fee :
• With housing and meals - $980 (Double Occupancy rooms, Dorm Style Bathrooms)
• No housing, meals ARE included - $880

The fee for the workshop includes:
• Daily one-on-one and group instruction from Adrian, Alex and John.
• Daily instruction on macro photography
• Instruction on macro video
• All meals from Thursday dinner to Sunday Lunch
• Double occupancy rooms, dorm style bathrooms (if housing option is selected).

The fee for the workshop does NOT include:
Transportation to the field station, alcohol, drinks and snacks outside of meals, souvenirs.

Cancellation policy is as follows:
– 90 days prior: 100% refund minus $50 cancellation fee
– 60 days prior: 50% refund minus $50 cancellation fee
– no refunds 30 days before workshop