Wildlife Photography Workshop at Lightning Swamp Bushland

Wildlife Photography Workshop: Lightning Swamp, Noranda Hosted by ARKD After the success of our Herdsman Lake workshop, we’re heading to one of Perth’s best-kept pockets of bushland. Lightning Swamp is a 71-hectare remnant of banksia woodland, heath and seasonal wetland in Noranda. It shows what the Swan Coastal Plain looked like before the suburbs arrived, and it’s full of subjects for a wildlife photographer. What we’ll be looking for • Birds: Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos feeding in the banksias, plus waterbirds around the swamps. Bush birds uncommon in smaller reserves, like Red-capped Robin, Western Thornbill and Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, are also possible. • Frogs and smaller subjects: the wetlands support at least seven frog species. Spring wildflowers and insects are good for macro work. What you’ll learn • Finding and approaching wildlife ethically, without stressing it • Camera settings and technique for birds in bushland light • Fieldcraft: reading habitat, positioning, and patience • Composition and storytelling for conservation-focused images • Hands-on guidance from me in the field, whatever your camera Details • Date: 15/11/2026 • Time: 0800–1000 • Meeting point: Lightning Park Recreational Center Car Park • Duration: 2 hours, mostly easy walking on flat, sandy ground • Group size: limited to 20 so everyone gets one-on-one time • Skill level: beginners to intermediate welcome What to bring • Camera and any telephoto or macro lenses you have • Spare batteries and cards • Water, sun protection, and closed-toe shoes • Clean footwear, as parts of the reserve are closed because of dieback About your host I’m Dyllan, a Perth wildlife and conservation photographer and filmmaker, and the founder of ARKD. I’m working on the 101 Creatures project, photographing 101 of WA’s often-overlooked species, and I manage a camera store, so I’m happy to talk gear too. A portion of ARKD’s print and book sales supports wildlife rescue. Wildlife is unpredictable, so I can’t promise specific sightings. We’ll go where the conditions give us the best chance. If the weather is unsafe we’ll reschedule.