Testimonials

Presented below are a collection of testimonials from past participants,
with their last names excluded to safeguard their privacy.

Much to go through, but got back from a long road trip last night driving back from the Canadian Rockies. John Slonina who runs Slonina Nature Photography Tours reached out to me over the winter and let me know about the trip as he had an opening and I'd been looking to get back since visiting 5 years ago. John's once of the nicest guys I've met who does his homework on where to go and when, and had a great time with him guiding a small group of photographers over a week in the mountains. I first met John a few years back when I found him and his tours online and went out to Mount Rainier National Park.

Paul K

I recently participated in an incredible photography workshop in New England. Our instructors, John and Dave were not only experts in their craft but also genuinely passionate about teaching. The instructors created a welcoming and inspiring environment, making it easy for everyone, regardless of skill level, to feel comfortable and engaged. We explored a variety of techniques, from composition to lighting, and had plenty of opportunities to shoot fall foliage, waterfalls, lakes, and mountains in stunning locations. I appreciated the personalized feedback we received; it helped me grow and see my photography from a fresh perspective. The group was small and supportive. Everyone was eager to share their insights and help one another, creating a warm and collaborative environment. Accommodations and the food were excellent. Overall, this workshop exceeded my expectations! I highly recommend it to anyone looking to elevate their photography skills, regardless of their current level. I can't wait to apply what I learned and hopefully join another workshop soon!

Thank you,

Rad

I am a beginner photographer and took John’s "Fall in New England Workshop". It was an incredible experience. John and his assistant Dave gave each of us a lot of individual teaching and attention. I was impressed that the multiple areas we were at were previewed by John  to make sure that beautiful photos could be obtained. I really appreciated the enthusiasm and love of photography that John and Dave exhibited. Their energy and excitement created a fun atmosphere of learning for the entire group. I will definitely be taking more workshops with John Slonina. I highly recommend his workshops. This workshop turned out to be one of the best trips I have ever had.

Karen Kelly H

The Maine workshop was outstanding.  John and Dave helped me produce better photographs to the extent I have not found in other workshops.  It is apparent John spends significant time prior to the workshop to identify great places for sunrise, sunset and waterfall shots.  This was my second workshop with Slonina Photography and I look forward to my next workshop with them.  I’ve become a better photographer!

John H

The Alaska Bears was definitely the best photo trip I’ve ever been on…no, the best trip ever – photo or not. The weather, the bears, and the lodge team all cooperated well to offer us incredible opportunities for photos, and the lodge itself was just about perfect. If I ever save up enough money to do this again, I’ll be knocking on your door as it was truly a memory-maker, a life long dream fulfilled, and a bucket list item checked off. - Judy

I have finally gotten to editing some of my photos from our trip to Alaska. To say it exceeded all my expectation would be an understatement. I only took about 16,000 photos in 6 days of shooting. It was very different than what I had expected but in a much more positive way. We were closer to the bears than I ever imagined and the number of bears was just incredible. We had no less than 30 bears each day and on day one reached fifty! We had mommas with babies from newborn to three years, young bears, huge males, and even a couple older siblings that co-existed together. It was an amazing trip. - Barbara

Thank you Jenny and John for a Great Alaska Land & Sea Tour! I had an excellent time!! I thought the tour was amazing, outstanding, really special. When I returned home I felt like I had just returned from a trip to the moon! It was like being in a different world and I would really love to go again next year. God willing! It’s obvious John does his research! He is very knowledgeable in both wildlife and best locations to visit for taking great photos. It was great to meet you Jenny! You have a great personality for your job! You have a way of keeping everyone engaged and in the moment.

In terms of photography I felt you both supported me at different times and gave me plenty of time to ask questions. Between the two of you I always felt I had someone to ask for help. I think you both make a great team and work well together. - Mary

Jenny and John, I had a wonderful time in Alaska… once I got there. :). I thought everything about the lodge experience was great.  I had a preconceived notion of what it was going to be like and I must say it exceeded my expectations.  I was very impressed by how the owners and their staff went above and beyond to make sure their guests were comfortable.  I felt well taken care of with all those gluten-free desserts. Yum! The boat excursions were exceptionally fun and memorable. The bears (Baby Bear, Mooch, Dancing Bear, Fisher, Big Red, Chupacabra, and all those Mamas with Babies, etc.) all outdid themselves.  - Lois

John, thanks for reaching out regarding the recent Downeast Photo Tour that Ellen and I participated in with you.

I'd have to say my favorite part of the trip was the interactions with the other photographers in the group.  It was a great way to learn and share photography "stuff".  I also enjoyed shooting at that wonderful location in Corea, ME, as well as on Campobello Island.

I personally would have enjoyed a bit more bird or wildlife shooting vs scenic type shooting, especially since Ellen and I did not get to shoot puffins on either of the two days we were scheduled.

Ellen enjoyed being able to put into practice your teachings around aperture and shutter speed to fit the particular shooting situation.  Her favorite scenes were the lighthouses in beautiful early morning and end of day light.

She very much enjoyed your easy going manner and sense of humor as well.

We haven't decided on a next trip yet, but do believe we would enjoy traveling with you again.  Stay tuned!  :-)) - Jack

The Canadian Rockies was wonderful! We saw some spectacular landscapes and even managed to get shoot the Northern Lights our last night there.  Unfortunately, due to the wildfires in Jasper we weren’t able to go there but John planned alternate locations which worked out very well.  Thanks, John, for a great time!!!

Karen    

I enjoyed the tour very much. My favorite part of the trip was visiting the island and shooting the Puffins. John was attentive and fun to be around and always has a backup plan in case things don’t go according to plan. He’s also very knowledgeable of the area and has a wealth of information. - Haytham

The Great Smoky Mountains was excellent, amazing, and totally exceeded my expectations! My favorite part of the trip was coming across the mama bear with 4 cubs. I know that is something that cannot be planned—a once in a lifetime scenario, and it was incredible!! - Mary

Hello John, I just got back from your 2024 Florida birding trip. It was amazing. John works very hard to make sure to put you in front of numerous birds, gators, landscapes, etc. in order for you to capture amazing images. His knowledge of particular nesting locations is endless. Want a bald eagle nest? John knows where they are. Problems at one location? Not for John as he has numerous backup locations. Can't say enough good things. His instruction for new and seasoned photographers is great too. He gives 100% plus on the tours. If you want a tour full of shooting take one of John's tours. Fun guy to hangout with. -Andrew

I loved visiting the Rookeries in the WPB area and lunch in Everglades City! John, as always, you know your stuff and gave me good advice. - Larry

Hello John, the Florida trip was awesome!! I don't have anything negative to say all positive. From you and your team being so friendly and approachable, the places and wildlife that was seen. You put a lot of effort into fulfilling the day with great photo opportunity. The quality of the tour was exceptional, for example Marriott hotels, great restaurants and most of all the places that you took us for great photo opportunities. It was a fun time for me mixing in photography with a bit of humor. You’re a pretty cool dude!!!! -Alastair

I have jabbered all morning to my husband about what I wonderful week I had. That is something I never do. I want you know that the trip to Florida was one of my best weeks ever. That's saying a lot. I'm lucky as I have a lot of great weeks in my past. You are the consummate guide and host. Even though the weather didn't go the way you planned, you never let that get in the way of taking care of us and showing us some wonderful scenery and wildlife. 

Thank you so very much. -Cathy

I was amazed by the close access we had to observe and photograph birds and bird behaviors. Every day we had opportunities to photograph a wide variety of birds but in addition every day brought at least one birding miracle, the kind most of us only get to see once in a lifetime. For example - the mating and nesting displays, the territorial dance between blue herons, the magical arrival of the barred owl in the dusk of the Everglades right in front of us, the fight the anhinga put up to eat his cat fish, the evening feeding of the spoonbill again right in front of us, and many other examples - all were a thrill.

John worked hard to provide the very best experience possible for us all and definitely succeeded. Thank you!  -Katie

John, Jenny, I wanted to share with you how happy I am to have experienced the Slonina Winter Yellowstone tour. Totally a 5 star experience! Being able to photograph such amazing wildlife was a dream come true for me. I really appreciate your deep knowledge of Yellowstone and being able to put us in places to maximize our chances of wildlife sightings. I also really appreciated the snow coach part of the tour. I loved being able to go into the park in style and comfort. Thanks again for a great experience. I can’t say enough good things about Slonina Nature Photography!

It was truly a great experience and for me more importantly it was so nice to meet and get to know both of you on a personal level. I truly enjoyed hanging out with both of you. As I said at some point, my personal “laughs per hour” was extremely high, which at the end of the day, transcends photography and was extremely gratifying. -Dave

John was great and a lot of fun! Yellowstone was awesome. Wolf encounter was incredible. Ron and JR were outstanding on every level! He was outstanding and a lot of fun. John knew how much guidance each participant needed and adjusted perfectly to each client. -Nick

John, Thanks for everything. I have thousands of images I would have never dreamed of. Alaska is crazy good. I really liked the multiple bears, whales, and eagles we photographed. You’re the best. -Brett

Absolutely a magical week. Your attention to detail and commitment to making sure we had a good trip. -Cathy

Hi John,
Just wanted to let you know I very much enjoyed the photo tour. It was nice working with you and meeting new people with similar interests. Your hints and suggestions to improve my photos has helped me tremendously and I practice using them every chance I get. In fact, I would say this first photo tour has changed the way I will be photographing in the future. I will absolutely be booking additional tours with you, just not sure of which ones as of yet.

And here's something interesting, I went into a cafe in Laconia, NH for lunch and there on the wall at my booth was a photo of an eagle signed by you.

Thanks again for all your help. Will be booking another tour with you soon. -Tony

Alaska Bear Trip

I enjoyed the variety of the trip, the bears were numerous at every place we went. I have photographed at several locations for multiple years in Alaska and this was the best. I can see why all the famous people on nature films use this place. After 20+ photo trips to Alaska, this was the best. Will use many of the images for my book. John did a great job at suggestions. Your suggestion and observation of bear behavior was spot on. A+. I like the suggestion to change backgrounds. Each place had something unique.

I can’t believe we saw that many bears. One day I think we saw 40. Lots of mothers with cubs and two wolves.

My only complaint was editing the editing the 10K images. -Michael

Bravo. Your Alaska Trip was unbelievable. It was as great as Yellowstone and Florida, and you know how much I loved them. My only complaint is I want to go back ASAP. I hated getting on the plane. When I signed up I had high expectations and the actual result was much higher that I expected. So my favorite moments were the number of bears and cubs. I can’t believe there was no other group. ““*******” is the greatest bear area ever. I can’t believe people waste time at Lake Clark (I did 4 times). I also found the Alaska land and sea part just as incredible. I have thousands of eagles in flight and on cliffs. One of my favorite moments was at the Puffins Colony. The whales and sea otters are also amazing. Wow, Wow, Wow.

I will be putting several of the pictures on my wall and entering them in competition.

See you down the road. -Brenda

Note from John: I had to blackout the greatest bear area since it is a relatively unknown spot.

It was a great trip. Great photographing with everyone. I'm back in Florida for another work trip. Found a new beer, Swamp Ape Double IPA. I'm enjoying a couple of these beers in honor of our fine group of photographers and our intrepid leader, John Slonina. -WPPP

John,

Thank you so much for such a wonderful workshop. I learned quite a few things that I am now putting into practice. I hope to soon post some of my images on my Facebook page. Take care. -Kim

Hi John, had an amazing time in Florida seeing several species for the first time and every location was also a first for me. -Alan

Thanks for the info! I came on one of the snowy trips last year and loved it. I can't wait for the next one! -Katie

Hi John, Just edited the winter Yellowstone pictures. I am still in shock on how great they were. A+ trip -Brenda

Hi John, I was going through some old photos and remembered this wonderful day with you.

Portland Lighthouse to Nubble Lighthouse. Snowy owl in Wells. I took this photo and thought it possibly would be something you could use to advertise your Photo Tours.

Great scenes, nice companions and a helpful tour guide and mentor. Hope you like it John. I’ve sort of let my photography slip a bit because of work etc. but need to get back to it.

Happy snapping. -Bonnie

John,

Thank you again for putting so much effort into the trip and making it so enjoyable. We had a wonderful time, and have collected many excellent pictures. -Rhoda and Sherm

Alaska Land and Sea

Wow too many great things to list. I really love the incredible photo time we had with the wildlife. The eagles were incredible, I will never forgot the army of sea otters, seals, and sea lions. I love Orcas. That was the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I wish I did your Alaska Bear Trip also.

The service and assistance was great, as always and my only suggestion would be to maybe make it into a 10-week tour!

We have been on several photo tours with different companies and you are are favorite leader.b This trip was A+ from beginning to end. I took thousands of images. This was the best trip I have ever done. - Don and Sue

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

My favorite part about this trip was the small group and the instruction provided. We saw 17 bears and had great weather.

The service and assistance was excellent, outstanding, wonderful and all the above. My only suggestion would be to get a new mechanic and fix the AC. LOL.

I had a wonderful time and enjoyed that I didn't have to drive anywhere. Food was great. It was a truly wonderful experience so much so that I am doing another one with you in December. - Glen

Note from John: That was my old van. My new van, a Ford Transit, is completely different.

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

I enjoyed shooting the fog early in the morning, also streams were a lot of fun. Overall, great. The service and assistance was excellent.

My only suggestion would be to maybe spend a little more time shooting the cabins—now I'm being a little picky. Overall, you did a great job.

Great experience. Looking forward to my next trip. - Thomas

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

I enjoyed the nice group, no pressure, not too many rules, and liked wandering around. John is always available to answer a question or provide a tip when needed but is not intrusive. Perhaps participants could choose and submit in advance a topic or two about which they would like to learn more. Can't wait for my next tour - Lajuan

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

I enjoyed everything - from the people on the trip, the instructor, the instruction, the scenery and all of the wildlife. I had an amazing time. My least favorite part was that the tour had to end. The service and assistance was phenominal. Everything was great. Hotel and food was great.

My husband and I have been on many photography tours over the past few years, and the tour with John was by far the most fun and informative. We are looking forward to our next tour! - Lara

Acadia National Park

My favorite part of this trip was definitely the Puffins and catching the eagle in flight. The service and assistance provided by the trip leader(s) was excellent! I wish there was more Lightroom Time - Bruce

Hi John, Thank you for all of your hard work. Your research of the area was most evident making the photo ops many and memorable. I hope you will stay in touch and use me as a sounding board for any ideas you come up with. Kindest regards, -Tony

John I have been photographing in Florida for several years. I can’t believe how well you know each area. I got great photos of eagles, river otter, some fish, gators, osprey, flight photos, herons, egrets, black necked stilts, vultures, herons, egrets and 3 species of owls, I blew the photo of the pileated woodpecker. Landscape photography opps  were great also. I want to go back to the magic beach and shoot another sunset. -Karen

Hi John, Just a note to thank you for the great week in Acadia. You put us in the right place at the right time to get good pictures. Although some wore out as the week went on! -Clarence

John, I have already told you how much I enjoyed the trip because of you. Thanks for making my first experience with a photo tour the absolute best of times! -Dianne

John, I really enjoyed your workshop. You were able to find incredible opportunities and never gave up. I have gone over 1/3 of the pictures I took so there might be more surprises. One is a whole sequence of a mother heron regurgitating a fish. I then have a sequence of on baby heron trying to swallow it while the other looks astonished. If you want I can sent you a few more, but I am sure my fellow photographers will give you very nice pictures. Keep in touch. Hope to do something similar next year. -Ed

Acadia

My favorite part of this trip was the amount of photo opportunities and your knowledge of the area. My least favorite part was getting up early...but worth it. The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was outstanding.

My suggestions for improving future trips might be to photograph star trails or do actual time lapse photography

I appreciate your mentorship John. This trip was excellent and I have already recommended it to others - Jim

Note from John: Star Trails, Milky Way, and time lapse for night photography is now part of the tour if the moon calendar aligns and the sky is clear.

I had a great time this weekend. I was very satisfied to be able to get a critique on the shots I brought, get tips to improve my shooting, get new insight as to how to evaluate and shoot new areas. I also felt good being able to contribute in a meaningful way and see where I stood against other enthusiast photographers. I had a great time and look forward to talking more often and shooting together in the future. -Dean

Acadia National Park (Plus the Puffins)

My favorite part of the trip was the Puffin shoot. I'm not a sunrise person typically and my shots from sunrise shoots are usually not my favorites, but I did make great sunrise images. For the most part, the people on our trip were very nice, but there is always one that provides a challenge. You can't really control that though. You did your best to try to handle it.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was really great - you tried so hard to make sure everyone was happy and did what they wanted to do.

My suggestions to improve the tour for the future would be to make sure you have the cell phone numbers for everyone just in case they're late or you need to speak and you don't know which room they're in.

The rooms were very clean, neat and inexpensive. I liked Geddy's restaurant the best.

I like that you tried to find out the photography skill of each person so you could provide more or less help as needed. Most tours don't do that.

I also really like that I didn't need to drive anywhere once I got there and just got to relax in the van and chat with everyone else instead of being alone in my own car.

I've been telling people what a great time I had. I would definitively go on another trip with you when I have the time and money to do so. - Jennifer

Acadia National Park with the Puffins

I loved the Islands and all the birds there. My least favorite part was, surprisingly to me, the sunrise shoots at Cadillac Mountain. Not nearly as impressive as I had expected. Of course there was a cloudless sky, so that was a big part of it.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was excellent.

This was my fifth trip with you, and one of the best. I'd say only Yellowstone so far was better.

've spent all week going through my pictures (and not done yet). The trip couldn't have been better. - Tricia

Hi John, I can't tell you what a wonderful time I had on our weekend. It was amazing, and I thoroughly loved hanging with all of you. I didn't get the honor of seeing a Bobcat but I did see a woodchuck! Everything was first rate. I appreciate all the individual attention you gave us, your expert advice, kindness, friendship, and fun -- not to mention the huge effort you spent getting us to see moose. Hope you had a good time with the bears!!

Thanks, everyone. Like John said in his blog, I feel like I made some great new friends.

All the best, -Chris

Acadia National Park with the Puffins

My favorite part of this trip were the Puffins! A suggestion would be to maybe allow more sharing between photographers. But we could have done that on our own. The restaurants were very good. Great job on the trip, loved it - Matt

Down East Maine

I loved the puffin trips, the early morning sunrise with the lighthouse and the last day early morning shoot on the beach. OMG, the puffin trips were just amazing!! LOVED my room! I had the starfish room with the private balcony, I LOVED the window being open at night. I loved sitting on the balcony. I thought the room was fantastic! I loved this area of Maine, it was just so charming and beautiful and different from where I live. I'm really happy with the photos that I've had time to work with on Lightroom, I'm having a lot of fun with them. Overall, I'm very pleased with my shots, I'm getting better!

Fun!! Good group, good pictures, good leader! I'll be back for more! -Betty

Downeast Photo Tour

My favorite part was photographing the Puffins and the West Quoddy Lighthouse. My least favorite part was having to finish the tour.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was good. It's hard to get to everyone and spend time with them, but John was there when you needed him.

I hoped for star photoshoots. I know that depends on sky conditions, but maybe if there was a way to focus on that and one less sunrise or sunset?

Hotel was good. Clean and even scenic. Good choice. - Harvey

Note from John: I agree we now try to incorporate some night photography when conditions are right.

My trip to the Great North Woods with John was incredible! Because of his expert knowledge of the area, we had opportunities to photograph many animals - moose, osprey, loons, deer, fox and grouse, among others. We also spent considerable time photographing waterfalls, flowers and gorgeous landscapes. John made sure that each participant got all the individual attention necessary, and the instruction was geared to our varying skill levels. Finally, I understand histograms and the fine nuances of exposure. He was more than generous with his knowledge and could not do enough during the workshop with anything the group requested. We were also treated to a slideshow of his extraordinary bear photography. This included not only entertaining stories, but also expert tips on wildlife techniques.

The weekend turned out to be so much more than I had expected. The accommodations were excellent; the pristine area is stunning beyond description; and I felt like I made new friends. I will be watching John’s website and definitely signing up for another workshop.

Thanks, John! This was an experience I’ll remember forever, and I love the photos I brought home. -Christine

Down East Photo Tour

I loved the ride to photograph the puffins! The service and assistance provided by trip leader was very good.

I really enjoyed the trip, learned a lot and had a great time! thank you. - Mary

Hi John,

I have finally sorted through the 6,000+ pictures that I took on our Bear Trip. I ended up with over 650 really good shots- pretty amazing since I am such an amateur.

I want to thank you for making this such a memorable trip. Your patience and expertise really made the difference and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone who loves bears and has a decent camera. I have done alot of interesting things - safari, llama trekking, skydiving, etc etc and have to say this was truly one of my favorites!

Again, thank you for making this such a wonderful experience! -Peggy

The trip was fantastic -- a once in a lifetime thing, especially when you consider all the mythology about bears. Coincidentally, this item appeared a few day ago in the local paper: Thanks for contact info and the name of that park. I am picking up the hard drive with my restored data on it today. I hope to be able to pick up where I left off going through my Florida photos. I am still culling bear photos, but I did select 33 photos that I have almost finished, and expect to be able to create a Smugmug gallery tonight. So expect a link with real bear trip results shortly. -Stan

Thanks again for a great week in SW FLA last week. Arrived home in one piece with all my camera gear. Deleted over 2000 photos but still have about 1500 to work with.

I've identified most of the birds but not all. -Brian

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons:

Everything was great! The geyser sunrise/sunset were extraordinary, and I found Lamar/wolf culture photography fascinating. John was excellent, and I appreciated the willingness to provide instruction and suggestions, One of the best photo workshops I have taken. Hotels were adequate. -Dimitri

Note from John: On this trip I made a few changes. Hotels are now excellent and the plan has less hotel changes.

Teton/Yellowstone was an excellent trip. The day we saw the elk in the river and the big horn rams. Final day on the way to the airport, the bull moose. Food was great, Lodging was fine -Gary

Note from John:  We now have all new hotels.

Alaska Aurora

John, you are the best!

I am sure you are up to your ears getting ready for the next year but I was cleaning up bookmarks and found my link to your site. That trip to Alaska was the best. I wanted to thank you for one of the best memories and a great experience. I know you are the primary on that tour and you and John are a great team but your experience and personality are the key to making these tours a great experience. -Chris

Alaska Aurora

Without a doubt, my favorite part of the trip was going out every night photographing the Aurora. It is why I signed up for it! My least favorite part was photographing the birch trees. The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was exceptional.

A suggestion would be to have a session where each participant submits 3-5 of there images, processed or unprocessed, and you review/critique the images in a classroom setting. Participants will learn from one another. The other option would have each participant show their processing workflow on an image of their choice. Another valuable learning experience for attendees.

This was a trip of a lifetime - met expectations and more. A lot of fun. John, your sense of humor cracks me up! Great comradery - Tara

I had a fun trip. I just wanted to let you know as we discussed I have attended several photo workshops with multiple instructors and I feel you were the best. I use many of the techniques you taught me. I will be signing up for many workshops in the future. I also wanted to thank you for the laughs. We had a fun group and you are really funny. You humor is keep the group going and we got some great photos. I will continue working on the night photography tips you gave me. I also bought that Nikon Lens you recommended.  -Sandy

Hey Stranger Just wanted to let you know I entered 5 photos from our trip and won 3 ribbons. I plan on entering more in some photo contests. You make it look so easy. I am definitely on the right track. Thanks for you help with using the Histogram. It has improved my photography dramatically. Good luck in Yellowstone. I have been to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons several times and it is the coolest place I have ever been. I hope to join you there next year. -Josh

Hi John!

It was a great trip in all ways! You were a superior guide, teacher, and friend! I'm still processing but will send you some photos soon. I will hand out your brochures at our camera club meeting on Thurs. I've entered 4 photos from the FL trip in competition that night - I'll let you know how it turns out. It is a great marketing tool for yu to do this follow-up letter. The only thing I could think of to improve the trip would be to let everyone know basics like "Sanibel is a beach setting so wear beach shoes and short pants." I was prepared with the right stuff - I just didn't recognize names of places to wear the right stuff.

I miss our group. Libby and I will be going in Apr-May to Louisiana and then Wendy and I will be going in Sept to Denali.

Hope to see you again someday. Missing the way you said "Shock Valley". -BRM

I had a wonderful time learning so much. I cannot believe the impact of just a few days of instruction has had on my photos. You can tell the difference from my photos on day 1 to day 3.  -Jessica  

John,

We enjoyed the NH trip despite the rain and bad weather. We met some very nice people and appreciate all your eagerness and help locating some of the best spots for photography.

Best wishes, -Lalita   

John,

It was great seeing you in Minnesota. The bears put on quite the show. I took a total of 15,138 pictures. Have only gone through the first two days at the refuge.Really enjoyed the time with you and the others I have posted some of the pictures from the first two days on the NorthWest Tennessee Photography Clubs web site (nwtpc.org). Again, really enjoyed the opportunity to shoo the bears. Thanks fore all you did. -Richard

I took the Florida Wildlife Tour in 2012. John's photo tours are carefully planned, but flexible because John is relentless in pursuing photo opportunities for participants. Wildlife can be fickle, light can be fickle, and weather can be fickle, so John is a master of adopting to circumstances. The result for me was a wealth of great photos." -Stan

Hi John,

I’ve been busy with work, activity in two camera clubs and a Lions club. We had a nature competition last night at Stony Brook and I entered a couple of images from our Yellowstone trip, the fox and the wolf. The fox scored a 14 and the wolf scored 12. I am happy with these scores because the other class A competition images were amazing and I am proud to rank with the best of them. Several people asked me about my trip to Yellowstone when they saw my images. I talked with several people about your tours and recommended you to those who expressed interest. Someone brought in some of your one-page trip listings for the upcoming year and they got some attention. -Tony

Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed the Acadia workshop and everyone's company. We learned a lot and took some pretty good photos (at least we think so!). John, it was exciting to learn from a real pro photographer, to see you in action behind the camera, and to see shots through your eyes. Thanks for an excellent experience.  Enjoy,  -Jim and Susan

Bravo on a great workshop. I really enjoyed it. I'll send you an email later this week but I love this eagle pic. Not bad for my first eagle photo. I got home about 4 pm and hit the wall. -Richard

Hi John,

Just wanted to send a note to tell you how much I enjoyed the tour. You worked tirelessly to get us in the right spots. I learned so much and have come back with some amazing images that I would not have had prior to my new found knowledge! We had a great group and hope to keep in touch with everyone.  -Vanessa N

 My trip to the Great North Woods with John was incredible! Because of his expert knowledge of the area, we had opportunities to photograph many animals - moose, osprey, loons, deer, fox and grouse, among others. We also spent considerable time photographing waterfalls, flowers and gorgeous landscapes. John made sure that each participant got all the individual attention necessary, and the instruction was geared to our varying skill levels. Finally, I understand histograms and the fine nuances of exposure. He was more than generous with his knowledge and could not do enough during the workshop with anything the group requested. We were also treated to a slideshow of his extraordinary bear photography. This included not only entertaining stories, but also expert tips on wildlife techniques.

The weekend turned out to be so much more than I had expected. The accommodations were excellent; the pristine area is stunning beyond description; and I felt like I made new friends. I will be watching John’s website and definitely signing up for another workshop.

Thanks, John! This was an experience I’ll remember forever, and I love the photos I brought home.

Thanks for a fun trip to Northern NH to look for moose. You helped us make the best of the photographic opportunities we had, and your tireless efforts to help each of us individually, and as a group, made you the best of the many workshop leaders my wife and I have had. By far. You clearly were there for us, and not vice versa like so many others.  Well done.  -Keith

I just want to give a shout out to John Slonina of Slonina Photography! This was my 1st overnight photo tour and I had a blast on top of learning so much! John is truly one of the kindest people I've ever met and your sense of humor is so appreciated! Looking forward to future tours! Sad my adventure is over (for now). -Heather

Hi John,

As you promised, I’m very happy with many of the photographs from the trip. Up until that trip, I’d had very little experience with ‘nature landscapes’, so your suggestions and assistance were extremely helpful. It still amazes me how some of the best shots were in the worst weather conditions and how much better they appeared on the computer screen than my expectations from the viewfinder. Some of my friends have been duly impressed—can’t ask for much better than that!! I look forward to getting caught up with posting on your website.

Will stay in touch. Best of wishes to you.  -Richard

Thank you John for a wonderful workshop!  I had a great time!  I too share the same excitement and enthusiasm of the group.  It was great meeting everyone!

It was a wonderful workshop and the the Puffins were the highlight of the adventure for me.

Take good care and I hope to see you all on another photo workshop down the road.

 All the best. -Allison

John, this was a phenomenal trip for me and one I really hope to repeat. I average probably four workshops a year and the Acadia trip is, by far, the best one I have attended. 

As far as our group, you were great fun and I enjoyed your company very much. I hope your pictures came out as well as some of mine did. 

Hope all of you are happy and well.

Best, -Debbie

Thanks, John, for another really great trip!  The puffins were tremendous.  The group was tremendous! -Kathleen

We had a great time! John is very informative and points out all things you should take into account to get a good picture at the moment.

Fantastic! -Solinka

Thank you John for the helpful instructions and hints looking forward to attending more. -Helen

Excellent time. John is a great teacher. He points out things and suggests techniques that I wouldn't be thinking off. Great person to learn from. -Brian 

Aurora in Alaska

I suppose my favorite part of the trip was when we all stood underneath the dancing aurora that very active night. It was mind-blowing, and I'll never forget it...ever. But I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed every day and night of the trip, thanks to all the careful planning done by John S. and John C.

I would have liked to have stayed longer at the ice festival, given how we didn't wind up going out to shoot aurora that night.

I can't say enough about how wonderfully I was treated as a client, from start to finish. I don't know who else would have cared as much to ensure that everyone had the right gear to stay warm. I've been on trips where it's "every man for himself." By week's end, I felt more confident about my basic technical skills and richer in knowledge regarding night photography in general. I deeply appreciate the time and attention that both John S. and John C. afforded me, especially when I felt as if I was screwing up. This is what a great photography trip is all about. Not only are John S. and John C. pros through and through, they are kind and caring human beings who make others around them feel at ease and important.

I would have loved to have had the participants' contact information before my arrival, since some of us were already at the hotel for a day or two and could have gotten together earlier--maybe even to shoot somewhere for a day or to share a taxi from the airport. The only other comment I have is that, on occasion, there was conflicting information about what we were to do or where we were to meet. Nothing major, but a bit of confusion would ensue during those times.

The hotel was great, and my room was clean and comfortable. I wouldn't change a thing. I loved the trip!

I'm so glad that I typed "photography workshop March 19" into Google and landed on John S.'s website. I had no idea I'd have so much fun and make so many friends. I consider myself fortunate to have both Johns as leaders--two extremely knowledgeable, talented, passionate photographers from whom I've learned so much. It was a privilege to have their guidance. I stepped out of my comfort zone--in more ways than one--and was rewarded for it with pictures that will last me a lifetime. What more can anyone ask for? I look forward to signing up for another trip! - Mary

Northern Lights/Alaska

My favorite part of this trip was learning how to photograph the Northern Lights and then experiencing them first hand. What an incredible experience!

My least favorite part was overheating due to the multitude of layers of clothing at the fist ice carving place.

The leaders were terrific. I've taken a multitude of different photo tours and this was far and beyond the best. I highly recommend Slonina photography and will continue taking more tours with John in the future.

I would recommend that you pay for the group internet rate at Chena Hot Springs in advance and then just add that cost to our trip. Everyone wants access to the internet and it would be more convenient.

The lodging was great at both locations. The food was fine and I appreciate your trying to take us to local restaurants in Fairbanks rather than always eating at the hotel.

Thanks for your willingness to teach us rather than just escorting us to the locations. I learned a lot! Five-Stars! -Rick

Note from John: Great idea for internet fees on Chena.

Alaska Northern Lights tour

My favorite part of this trip was seeing the lights on an active night. I also enjoyed the dogsled ride. The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was excellent. I was pleased that I got to fulfill my bucket list. - Donna

Great Smoky Mountains

My favorite part was a tie between capturing the mom and 4 cubs in the field and that AMAZING sunset on the mountain that we were able to shoot.

New van is nice but again, need audio for the rear seating area. I probably would not have bothered to take pictures in the morning fog and I have a couple that are my favorites now because you showed me how to take the shot to get the best out of it.

thought the lodging was nice. I have been on 3 trips with you and this was by far my favorite. I have people asking for copies of my sunset. -Celeste

Note from John: I am adding a speaker system. Even though there is 6 just people in a 12 passenger van it is extremely hard to hear anything in the back row or even the back of the van. I will have the new speaker system in 2020. I am also going to buy a portable system for when I rent vans on the west coast.

Hi John,

I just wanted to thank you again for such a great trip to the Cape. We had such a wonderful time, and the group
was a lot of fun. My favorite part, I think, was the night photography. It was magical!

Thank you. -Libby

Trip Name: Cape Cod - May 2017

Name: Mary

What was your favorite part of this trip?: by far the last night...Highland Lighthouse, Truro, with the stars. I apologize I was cranky in the beginning as I was not getting it (shots) but once I got the hang of it, I loved it. Very exciting and a great way to end the trip!

What was your least favorite part?: nothing really...I really tried to go with the flow and enjoyed it all...great time! Sad it's over.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: excellent...I must say John, on a personal note. I was very pleased with your kindness and thoughtfulness with assisting *** on the tour.

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: not really, I think you do a good job to describe the expectations of each photoshoot which helps to learn/teach in the field.

The hotel was good, I would stay again. The only thing I would say is the walls were very thin, could hear the next room very easily.

Any additional comments you would like to add? : another really fun trip, learned a lot...thank you. I am looking forward to Acadia in the fall....

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: really enjoyed it, had a great time, good group. feel like I learned a lot and very happy with my photos!

Trip Name: Cape cod

Name: Kathy

What was your favorite part of this trip?: sunrise at the fishing harbor even though it was windy and the night shoot

What was your least favorite part?: I have to say the whale watch though it was very exciting because it was my first time. I don't have the lens to really get a good shot.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: The restaurants were very good this trip! Your comments and help were excellent as always!

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?:

Any additional comments you would like to add? : Let's figure out a couple of places around here for good night shoots.

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: Very different scenery. Not the grand vistas of the mountains or Acadia. Made me stretch my imagination.

Trip Name: ACADIA NATIONAL PARK TRIP

Name: Don

What was your favorite part of this trip?: The Puffin shoot

What was your least favorite part?: Sunrise was way too early!

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: Exceptional!

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: Evaluation of some individual ima

Any additional comments you would like to add? :

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?:

Trip Name: Acadia June

Name: Peggy

What was your favorite part of this trip?: Machias Seal Island, Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain

What was your least favorite part?: Bass Island Lighthouse.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: Excellent ... you did a great job and are fun to be with. I feel that I learned new things and I did get some great photos!

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: No, it was good. You can't control the weather. If we had not been able to do Seal Island it would have been a huge disappointment but not in anyone's control.

The hotel was Excellent ... I would stay in their again if I came back to Bar Harbor. Reasonable, spotless and unusually good breakfast.

The last restaurant overlooking the water was my favorite. All were OK no complaints.

Any additional comments you would like to add? : We had a nice, pleasant group and that makes all the difference.

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: It was a great trip, I'm happy with my photos, and have been working on them ever since. I will put at least a few up at that Flickr site. I'm setting up a Zenfolio website for all my photos and will share the URL when it is ready.

Trip Name: Acadia

Name: Karla

What was your favorite part of this trip?: photographing the puffins and sharing meals with the group.

What was your least favorite part?: nothing

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: helpful

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?:

The hotel was excellent and very comfortable.

Any additional comments you would like to add? :

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: good

Trip Name: Acadia

Name: Martha

What was your favorite part of this trip?: Such a great getaway and chance to see and photograph such a wonderful place where I had never been before, in spite of having lived in New England all my life. I particularly like the fact that you have the van and we didn't have to carpool around. Sunrises and sunsets.

What was your least favorite part?: OK, you asked - getting up so early every day. But I know that nobody would hold the sunrise until later just for us night owls!!!

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: Very good. Slide show was inspiring, and I really appreciated your pointing out good shots and things to think about while taking them.

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: Can't think of anything right now.

The hotel was Very good. I was pleasantly surprised. Dinners all excellent. Breakfast just so so.

Any additional comments you would like to add? : After this trip I've decided to become friends with my tripod instead of letting it sit in a corner gathering dust!

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: Excellent. Had a great time with a congenial group and came home with lots of pictures.

Trip Name: New England Fall Colors 2017

Name: Lloyd

What was your favorite part of this trip?: Being taken to the best possible locations. John did his best to scout the area before we arrived. I also enjoyed his presentation and suggestions to try new things. I had not worked with silhouettes before and I was able to get some good shots.

What was your least favorite part?: Long mid-day drives. Maybe it would be better to use some of that time looking at images already taken and get suggestions about how to improve.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: John was gracious and considerate of the diverse needs in the group. He made several super suggestions for other locations for after the workshop.

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: Make time to review images and get feedback.

Any additional comments you would like to add? : More color?

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: I would gladly do it again.

Trip Name: Acadia National Park Fall Foliage

Name: Peter

What was your favorite part of this trip?: the entire trip was very good

What was your least favorite part?: n/a

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: exceptional

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?:

The hotel was pretty comfortable, clean and spacious, exceptional restaurants

Any additional comments you would like to add? :

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: would definitely do it again or any other trip by John

Trip Name: Acadia National Park Fall Foliage

Name: Mary

What was your favorite part of this trip?: I would say Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain

What was your least favorite part?: I don't think I had a least favorite, enjoyed the entire experience

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: excellent as always!

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: not really, the time in the field asking questions, bouncing things off others in the group works well.

Any additional comments you would like to add? : I enjoyed the entire trip and hope to join you again in the future!

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: Excellent, had a great time!

Trip Name: Acadia

Name: Charlotte

What was your favorite part of this trip?: learning to stay after sunset happens for the great shots and instructions and getting out shooting

What was your least favorite part?: that the group took a long time to warm up- not your fault

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: excellant

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: have a rack in the back of the van to organize everything

Any additional comments you would like to add? : none well done. thank you so much charlotte

Trip Name: New England Peak Fall Foliage

Name: Larry

What was your favorite part of this trip?: Tapping into John's knowledge for shooting and assistance.

What was your least favorite part?: The weather, which could not be helped. Mother nature is mother nature.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: great, as always.

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: Maybe a general map of the area we will be shooting in? No specific shooting locations, of course, as that is totally dependent on the weather and other conditions.

The Hotel was very nice. And the room in Gorham was spacious.

New Englanders don't know how to make REAL chili!

Any additional comments you would like to add? :

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: It didn't quite live up to what I was expecting, but this was not John's fault (weather). But I did have a good time and will go on another shoot with John

Trip Name: Smokies

Name: Raquel

What was your favorite part of this trip?: All the river shoots

What was your least favorite part?: All the driving to locations. But having your van is a very good idea.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: Pretty good

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?: Limit the choices. If you see shots just stop. Some members of the group are not vocal.

The food was good. Callahan’s and was my favorite. But I was happy with all my meals.

Any additional comments you would like to add? :

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: It was my 1st Smokies trip and I enjoyed it. I definitely need to go back.

Trip Name: Yellowstone Spring Tour

Name: Phyllis

What was your favorite part of this trip?: Seeing the animals, Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher's Landing

What was your least favorite part?: Not being able to stop at all the places on the way for more landscape shots, but I know we really couldn't.

The service and assistance provided by trip leader(s) was: Very good!

Do you have any suggestions that will improve future trips?:

Any additional comments you would like to add? :

What is your overall evaluation (summary) of trip?: Very good instruction, attention, information and places.

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