2024 Critterfest: Jan 20-30, 2024
2024 Blackwater: Jan 30-Feb 7, 2024

I was extremely fortunate to have been invited by a diving friend to attend my first “Critterfest” workshop in 2014. It was held at Crystal Blue Resort , Anilao, Philippines and hosted by Mike Bartick . Mike is both an excellent communicator and photographer, both above & below water with amazing innovative ideas & techniques. I was so impressed with the workshop on so many levels. Firstly , discussions and demonstrations provided by Mike were both interesting and so very informative . He demonstrated various examples of camera placement and lighting techniques . He showed a wide number of “critters” that we might encounter , what to look for and how to approach them to photograph what Mike called “the peak of the action” . The workshops were enhanced with mid- day discussions on computer use of Lightroom and conducted by his Critterfest workshop partner, Bruce Shafer. The workshops run like a fine oiled machine. This is due to the incredible staff Mike has backing him up. The dive boats, staff, guides and dive gear operation is second to none. The camera room where everyone has their own personal desk with lights & power boards are exceptional. The accommodation and meals provided are great made even better by the smiling staff. Crystal Blue even has its own commercial water business that supplies the best water to drink. The pick up from your hotel in Manila there and back is so professional and always on time. I am very happy to endorse all of Mikes workshops held at Crystal Blue and I know that I am looking forward to my sixth visit.

Mike's Macro photography workshop at Crystal Blue Resort was a game changer for me, I've turned from someone who was struggling to light up a macro subject to choosing which technique to use, taking shots with multiple techniques, and then struggling, but this time to choose which picture is better than the other, because all of them are great to choose one over the other. Also Mike is a master instructor in lighting with a snoot, his teachings and daily follow-ups transformed me from about to shoot myself in the foot to mastering the snoot, shooting with a snoot is so hard, but Mike's teaching will help you break all the obstacles you will face during the learning process. If you want to master macro photography, Mike is the MAN.