A Photography one day excursion in Lake Kerkini

Lake Kerkini, an artificial lake created in 1932, is situated within the Serres Prefecture, just an hour’s distance (100 km) from Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city. Designated as a National Park under the Ramsar Convention, Lake Kerkini is one of Greece’s ten internationally significant wetlands. Today, it stands as one of the premier birding sites in Greece, home to 300 rare and protected bird species that live and breed in the area.

I am a Professional Photographer who annually captures the beauty of the Kerkini area, its landscapes, and the large population of the magnificent Dalmatian Pelican!

I specialize in leading tours at Lake Kerkini. I prefer guiding smaller groups (two, three, or max four photographers), as it allows for a more effective dynamic and provides ample one-on-one interaction with each photographer (even as a participant in a workshop, I favor smaller, more intimate groups rather than the large groups commonly organized by big photography tourism offices).

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Photos from Lake Kerkini, particularly of the majestic Dalmatian Pelican, are frequently featured in publications and major photography contests each year.

During this visit to Lake Kerkini, we’ll focus on capturing the Dalmatian Pelicans and their distinct behaviors. We’ll approach these magnificent waterbirds with respect, aiming to create unique images and deepen our appreciation for nature.

We’ll start with an early morning boat photography session, followed by an off-road trip around the lake to seek out bird photography opportunities.

I’ll be there to help you capture one-of-a-kind images, offering advice on camera settings and photography techniques.

I’ll demonstrate wildlife photography methods and settings, and I’ll be available to assist you in the field.

Trip Highlights

• Early morning boat trip photographing Dalmatian Pelicans
• Off road trip around the lake
• Excellent opportunities for a variety of photographs including portraits, close-up shots, birdscape images, and capturing Pelicans in flight
• The group will be limited to a maximum of 3 photographers, ensuring that everyone has ample time and space to capture unique images of the Dalmatian Pelicans
• Photographers of all skill levels, from entry-level to mid-level and experienced, are welcome to join
• Travel insurance for Greece
• I issue the appropriate legal receipt or invoice (applicable for professionals or companies)
• Transportation from Thessaloniki to Kerkini and the surrounding lake area is priced at 20 euros per person. We will depart at 05:30 in the morning. The journey from Thessaloniki to the boat takes approximately 1.5 hours. We need to leave early to capture the first light.
  If you prefer, you have the option to travel from Thessaloniki in your own vehicle or book accommodation to stay near the Lake area the night before. In this case, I will meet you at Lithotopos at exactly 6:30 in the morning.

Date and Price

The Workshop will take place at Lake Kerkini on December 2024 and January, February 2025. Contact me on what is the best day for you. You can take part on my four days workshop in Kerkini in January 2025, take a look here.

• Duration: 1 day
• Location: Lake Kerkini, North Greece
• Group Size: Strictly up to 3 photographers
• Price: 590 euros/per photographer (prices include tax)
• If you are a group of 2 or 3 photographers, please contact me so that I can offer you a special discount
• Deposit: 30%. To secure your spot, a deposit is required upon booking.
  Please be informed that deposits are non-refundable and the remaining balance must be paid 15 days before the trip starts. If the remaining balance is not paid in full, your spot will be forfeited. I reserve the right to cancel the trip due to unforeseen events. Should a cancellation occur, I will provide a refund if you’re unable to reschedule.

Not included in the price

• Lunch, dinner or other meals
• Drinks and coffee
• What ever is not included in the highlights
• Insurance (I recommend you have health, medical, travel and equipment insurance)
• Personal Expenses

Recommended Photo Gear

• DSLR or mirrorless
• Wide angle lens (16-24mm) for landscape shots and wide shots of pelicans
• A normal lens (24-70mm) for Pelican shots in flight
• ND filters for long exposure images
• Telephoto lens, a 70-200mm/70-300mm for close-ups and portraits
• Telephoto 150-600mm will be perfect for other birds and animals
• Macro lens optional for details of pelicans
• Laptop with a large hard drive or an external hard drive (a minimum of 1TB is recommended)
• Tripod or Monopod (or you can borrow mine)
• Please ensure you have large capacity memory cards for your camera, as you may shoot approximately 1000 to 3000 images per session, particularly as you will be using the burst high mode.

If you don’t have an item from the above list, feel free to contact me so we can arrange for you to rent it.

Recommended Clothing

Since our activities will begin early in the morning, it’s essential to bring very warm clothing.

• Waterproof warm pants
• Waterproof jacket
• Multiple thermal fleeces
• Thermal socks
• Thermal underwear
• Waterproof boots
• Hat, gloves, and scarf

You could also bring:

• Spare pair of waterproof boots in case one set gets wet
• Hand warmers
• Feet warmers

Winter in Greece can be quite severe, with temperatures often falling to 0 degrees Celsius or lower.

I recommend dressing in layers – wearing several pieces of clothing on top of one another. This way, as the day warms up, you can adjust your attire to maintain a comfortable temperature.