Gulf Coast

Join top nature photographers Mike Forsberg and Melissa Groo for an unforgettable bird photography workshop on the Gulf Coast, capturing the iconic whooping crane and other incredible wildlife.

A Bird photographer's dream

Dates: February 13-16, 2025 | Location: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Tuition: $3,995 | Deposit: $1,000

Deposit due upon registration, full tuition due 120 days before the workshop. Workshops limited to 7 participants. 

Summit’s Gulf Coast workshop is the perfect bird photography workshop, offering a rare opportunity to capture the rare whooping crane in its natural habitat. Led by renowned nature photographers Mike Forsberg and Melissa Groo, this workshop provides hands-on guidance and expert insights. Perfect for passionate bird and wildlife photographers, you’ll experience unforgettable moments in the field while honing your skills alongside industry leaders.

the iconic whooping crane

Photographing the whooping crane with Summit is an extraordinary experience that puts you face-to-face with one of the rarest and most majestic birds in the world. From the comfort of a boat, you’ll have the chance to capture these iconic cranes as they feed and interact in their natural habitat, often landing as close as 50 feet away. The intimate setting allows for stunning, detailed shots that few photographers ever get the opportunity to take. With expert guidance from world-class photographers, you’ll learn how to compose and capture these birds in a way that tells a powerful visual story, making this a once-in-a-lifetime photographic experience.

At Summit Gulf Coast You Will

Learn from World-Class Bird Photographers

Learn from World-Class Bird Photographers

Led by renowned nature photographers Melissa Groo and Mike Forsberg, this workshop offers expert instruction in bird photography, all within the supportive Summit community of industry professionals and passionate photographers.
Photograph the Rare Whooping Cranes Up Close

Photograph the Rare Whooping Cranes Up Close

Capture the rarest cranes in the world, with opportunities for intimate, close-up shots as these majestic birds may land within 50 feet of your boat—an unparalleled photographic experience.

 

 

Explore the Rich Winter Birdlife of the Gulf Coast

Explore the Rich Winter Birdlife of the Gulf Coast

In addition to whooping cranes, you'll have the chance to photograph a wide variety of winter bird species that inhabit the stunning landscapes between the salt marshes and the sea.

 

 

Meet Your Instructors

Workshop Faculty

Michael Forsberg

Workshop Faculty

Melissa Groo

Owner / Director

Chris Steppig

Workshop Faculty

Michael Forsberg

Mike is a senior fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers who has focused his career on North America’s Great Plains, its prairie wildlife, and watersheds. His work has appeared in National Geographic and Outdoor Photographer, and his books on On Ancient Wings and Great Plains – America’s Lingering Wild have been turned into documentary films for PBS. Mike is co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse Project, and currently serves as faculty with the University of Nebraska.

Workshop Faculty

Melissa Groo

Melissa is a wildlife photographer, writer, speaker, and educator. She’s a contributing editor to Audubon magazine, writes a column on wildlife photography for Outdoor Photographer magazine, and is an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. She speaks and writes extensively on issues of ethics and conservation in wildlife photography, and leads workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Melissa was Chair of the Ethics Committee for the North American Nature Photography Association from 2014-2018. Her work has been published in numerous books and magazines, such as Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, and Natural History. Melissa is represented by National Geographic Image Collection and has a long-term gallery at Audubon Greenwich in Connecticut.

Owner / Director

Chris Steppig

Chris is the owner and director of Summit Workshops. Summit was his first job out of college and nearly 20 years later, this is home.  He is in charge of all workshop operations, scheduling, logistics, faculty, social media, marketing and sponsorship. Chris has a passion for conservation, travel, and education and the workshops are a dream platform to help others reach new heights as not only photographers but as people.

Chris is an affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The iLCP is a U.S. based non-profit whose mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. This affiliation provides a tremendous opportunity to help deliver great content and also be an advisor on matters large and small.  He is also a professional advisor for Outdoor Photographer magazine.  Through collaboration and great communications with the editor of the magazine, there have been countless articles written by Summit Alumni in the magazine over the years.

Frequently asked questions

No! Summit Workshops is available to any photographer, regardless of what brand of camera you use. We often have camera gear available to borrow, free of charge, but you are not required to use that gear or any specific brand. 

Tuition includes activity fees, location fees, all instruction, planning and logistics. It does not cover hotels, travel, and most meals. 

Our Sports Workshop is for shooters of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans. We all learn from and help one another, that is what makes the Summit Community so special. 

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