Capturing Stunning Moments In Nature
Unleash your inner photographer and embark on a journey of a lifetime with Photo Bound Tours.
2023 Schedule
Pre-Festival Bird Photography Workshop
November 3-6. 2023
Join Ruth Hoyt for this pre-festival, exclusive bird photography workshop on private ranches around Edinburg, TX.
Space is limited to five participants. Special pricing for RGVBF attendees: $2,600 (this includes a $300 discount!), based on double occupancy. Add $400 for single occupancy. Includes field and classroom instruction. Rooms have been reserved for four nights for our group at Comfort Inn, 4001 Closner (Business 281) Edinburg, TX.
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
November 8-12, 2023
I hope to see you at the 30th annual birding festival in the Rio Grande Valley in Harlingen, TX. Come visit me at my trade show booth during the festival. Check out the PhotoTrack section of the RGV Birding Festival website rgvbf.org Several photo workshops and tours are scheduled.
Costa Rica
December 3-12, 2023
Ruth continues to make annual ventures into Costa Rica. Each time, she discovers new birds such as the Fiery-throated Hummingbird she photographed in December 2022. In addition, Ruth books exclusive locations to capture the Resplendent Quetzal on every trip. She is excited to share her new discoveries with interested photographers.
Cost for this tour is $5,100, double occupancy. Extra $400 for single occupancy if available. To maximize your photo experience, participation is limited to 7-8 individuals. A deposit of $1,500 is due September 30, 2023, and balance is due 30 days prior to the tour.
Tour Inclusions:
- All lodging
- Professional guide throughout the tour
- Meals (from breakfast on day #2 to lunch on day #9)
- Transfers and transportation in private vehicle
- Photography activity at all locations
- Guide fees
- Two (2) quetzal tours
- Three (3) private residences for unique opportunities
- Private location for King Vulture photo blind
- Optional multi-flash setup in one location
- Water
Tour Exclusions:
- Dinner upon arrival and final night
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Night session of bats at one location (extra fee if chosen)
- Tips to guides and drivers
- Items of personal nature
- Anything not listed in the tour inclusions
2024 Schedule
OM (Olympus) Workshops
February 1-5, 2024 and February 6-10, 2024
Join two OM photographers, Steve Ball and Ruth Hoyt, in these two new workshops aimed at helping OM System users to maximize use of their gear and all it has to offer.
Each group meets in San Antonio, TX, and is transported via van to Rockport, TX, for dinner that evening. The next morning, the groups board two private boats to photograph the endangered Whooping Cranes. After lunch in Rockport, we head to Edinburg, TX, for the next few days to shoot from the photo blinds at the Laguna Seca Ranch, a world-renowned site for bird photography.
Ruth and Steve rotate between two groups of up to five photographers each so the photographers get the individual attention they need. We also conduct evening classes before the Whooping Cranes boat session and the Laguna Seca Ranch sessions to answer any questions and let participants know what to expect to get their best results.
This is an exciting, new venture for Ruth and Steve, who strongly believe they bring a lot to the table for OM System users. If you have any questions or need additional information, please let us know.
Whooping Crane Festival
February 21-25, 2024
Join Ruth’s workshops scheduled during the festival. Find her workshops and classroom sessions at the Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas, Texas.
Laguna Seca Ranch Workshop
March 31 - April 3, 2024
Ruth Hoyt conducts this photo workshop at the place she spends most of her field time, the Laguna Seca Ranch. Space is limited to five participants. Cost: $2,900.00, based on double occupancy. Add $400 for single occupancy if available. Includes field and classroom instruction. Rooms have been reserved for four nights for our group in Edinburg, TX.
Spring migration is in full swing as birds move from their wintering grounds to their northern summer homes and many spend time on the ranches during this period. Most of the birds are fresh because they have shifted wardrobes to their finest plumage for courting and breeding. The workshop focuses on birds and other wildlife of Deep South Texas.
Costa Rica
April 6-16, 2024
Join Ruth for her spring Costa Rica tour. Each time, she discovers new birds, such as Three-wattled Bellbird and Long-tailed Manakin she photographed in April 2023. For this workshop, Ruth books exclusive, private locations to capture birds that make Costa Rica unique such as the Resplendent Quetzal. She looks forward to share her new discoveries with interested photographers.
Cost for this tour is $5,100.00, double occupancy. Extra $400.00 for single occupancy if available. To maximize your photo experience, participation is limited to 7-8 individuals. A deposit of $1,500 is due January 30, 2024, and balance is due 30 days prior to the tour.
Tour Inclusions:
- All lodging
- Professional guide throughout the tour
- Meals (from breakfast on day #2 to lunch on day #9)
- Transfers and transportation in private vehicle
- Photography activity at all locations
- Guide fees
- Two (2) quetzal tours
- Three (3) private residences for unique opportunities
- Private location for King Vulture photo blind
- Optional multi-flash setup in one location
- Water
Tour Exclusions:
- Dinner upon arrival and final night
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Night session of bats at one location (extra fee if chosen)
- Tips to guides and drivers
- Items of personal nature
- Anything not listed in the tour inclusions
Galveston FeatherFest
April 18-21, 2024
Join Ruth’s popular workshops scheduled during the festival. Find her workshops and classroom sessions at the Galveston FeatherFest link galvestonfeatherfest.com
Laguna Seca Ranch Workshop
May 23-27, 2024
Ruth Hoyt conducts this photo workshop at the place she spends most of her field time, the Laguna Seca Ranch. Space is limited to five participants. Cost: $2,900.00, based on double occupancy. Add $400 for single occupancy if available. Includes field and classroom instruction. Rooms have been reserved for four nights for our group in Edinburg, TX.
Although spring migration is coming to an end, the elusive Painted Buntings emerge to please the participants as they begin courting and nesting. Prepare to photograph all of the avian beauties as they frolic in and around the water’s edge. The workshop focuses on birds and other wildlife of Deep South Texas.
Photo Courtesy of Jaime Villarreal
Youth Nature Photography Workshop Series — The Valley Land Fund and Quinta Mazatlan
Five Saturdays During June and July 2024
The Valley Land Fund and Quinta Mazatlan have partnered, once again, to offer youth nature photography summertime workshops. Two sessions based on participants’ ages are scheduled for five Saturdays during June and July 2024. The first session is from 8am-10am for 8-12 year olds and 10:30am-12:30pm for 13-18 year olds. Advance registration is required by visiting quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com Cost is $5 per student per session.
These sessions are led by Ruth Hoyt, who excels at showing children how to capture the beauty and diversity of Rio Grande Valley nature.
Colombia
November 5-15, 2024
Led by Ruth Hoyt and local professional tour guides, Colombia is a new venture for Ruth. She books private locations to ensure her participants have optimized opportunities for great photographs. Cost is $5,400, double occupancy. Add $400, for single occupancy if available. To maximize your photographic experience, participation is limited to 7-8 individuals. A deposit of $1,500 is due July 30, 2024, and balance is due 30 days prior to the tour.
Tour Inclusions:
- Airport transfers on first and last day
- All lodging
- Professional guide throughout the tour
- Meals (from breakfast on day #2 to lunch on day #9)
- Transfers and transportation in private vehicle
- Photography activity at all locations
- Guide fees
- Water
- All applicable taxes
Tour Exclusions:
- Airfare to and from Colombia
- Dinner upon arrival and final night
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Tips to guides and drivers
- Items of personal nature
- Anything not listed in the tour inclusions
Photo Courtesy of Supreet Sahoo.
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