Photo Workshops 

 

A couple of years ago Johnna and I attended a two day photo work shop in Blanding Utah , sponsored by the Edge of the Cedars Museum. The workshop covered best practices for taking photographs of rock art as well as a tour of rock art locations around Bluff Utah. The workshop was fun and we have wanted to do something similar ever since. In August, when we started to plan a fall trip, it seemed like a good idea to have a combination drive around trip, like we normally do, and a photo workshop to improve our photography. The logical place to start looking for workshops was on the internet so I Googled for photo workshops in September and October. I found a link to Rocky Mountain Reflections Photography and they offered a three day Rocky Mountain National Park photo workshop in September. We signed up and, the cost wasn't outrageous at $390.00 each, .

 

Friday evening, Sept. 18th we had our initial meeting with workshop instructors and other participants. The field trips would be on Saturday and Sunday, on location at 6: AM. In the first meeting, we went over the photo equipment we were expected to have and discussed the general itinerary. We finished around 9:30 PM and Johnna and I went back to the trailer for some sleep. I would roll out of the sack by 4:30 AM to make coffee, and take care of Sheila; you know feed her, walk her and load up the truck with our gear so we could be on road by 5:15 to make it to Bear Lake by 6:00.

 

We had no idea what level of instruction to expect. Including Johnna and I, there were eight participants. Depending on everyone's level of photographic knowledge and experience, this many students could spread the instructors time pretty thin. As it turned out, none of us were rank beginners; we all had a basic understanding of photography. And the two instructors, Andy Cook and his assistant, where there to refine our technique without to much hand holding.

 

So, how did it go?

 

If you're ever in the mood for a photo workshop, sign on to one offered by Rocky Mountain Reflections Photography. All of our questions were answered promptly and in language we could understand. By Sunday afternoon we were better photographers and had a good time learning new techniques. We weren't treated like amateurs so we didn't shy away from asking questions.

 

Saturday around 9:00 AM, after the crack of dawn photo shoot at bear lake, we went Elk hunting until 10:30 AM, didn't find any, broke for a 45 minute lunch and then learned some Photoshop utnil 3:00 PM. Andy Cook is very knowledgeable and, although we don't use Photoshop, we picked up some tips that will apply to the programs we use.

 

From 3:00 PM until dark we Elk hunted. Found a herd and spent at least two hours watching and photographing them, along with a hundred or so other tourists. The main hazard in the park is tourists. The tendency is to pull over to the side of the road every time an Elk herd is spotted. After a few minutes cars are lined up on both sides of the narrow road, causing a choke point. People jump from their cars, camera in hand and run every which way trying to get a glimpse of the Elk. There are several designated areas for viewing but, of course, Elk can't read and the lead cow does what she wants anyway. Park rangers come along from time to time and move people along but, if the herd stays put, more tourists show up with cameras, causing more congestion.

 

Thinking of cameras. The film industry lost a big source of income with the introduction of digital cameras. When I used a 35mm film camera, I would come home from a trip with two dozen or more rolls of film to be processed. So far, on this trip I've taken over 1,700 shots; that's 47 rolls at 36-exposures each. I don't bother to count shots now, like I did with 35mm but I still would have taken a couple of rolls just on the Elk. Many professional photographers resisted switching to digital until they realized the advantages -- take as many shots as you want, instant processing, take numerous shots to get the best exposure and composition and do you're own post processing in programs like Photoshop. Post processing in imaging programs is one of the biggest advantages. Very few photographers ever developed there own film. They found a film processor they could trust and let them do the work. Ansel Adams was notorious for his dark room technique; but few photographers have the time or talent to recreate shots in the darkroom like he did. With imaging software, each photographer can be there own darkroom wizard. Although, not always with the best results.

 

We spotted this big guy, I called him Arnold, laying in the brush watching over his cows.

Part of his herd.

Getting a cool drink from the river.

His cows came to the river to drink but after a while he moved them back into the meadow. Can't let them have too much freedom doncha ya know.

A really big set of antlers. Somewhere I read a rack this size would weigh about 25 pounds.

Of all the shots I took, this is my favorite. I wouldn't want to fool with this old boys cows. Elk are big powerful animals.

 

Speaking of cows Arnold didn't let this one stray far from the herd. I'm pretty sure cows moved away from the herd to get his attention and keep him from getting to complacent.

 

Testing the air. There was a another bull in the tree line and Arnold went over to check him out. Apparently the other bull had second thoughts about a possible challenge and moved on. Arnold's on his way back to his cows and herding duties.

 

Cars line up on both sides of the road for about a third of a mile. Three park rangers were on hand to direct the mob and keep them away from the elk, who seem oblivious to the whole scene.

 

At dusk Johnna and I took off for Estes Park. There were still a lot of cars lined up along the road and I didn't want to get caught in a mini traffic jam. The excitement was  over any way; the herd was milling around getting ready to move back into the trees for the night.

 

We did panoramas Sunday morning at Sprague lake and later a meadow surrounded by mountains. The elk were scarce in the morning so we ended the photo workshop around noon.

 

A reduced panorama of Sprague Lake . Not as impressive as the full 3300 pixel version.

Andy Cook explaining how he would make a panorama of this scene. Include everything from over there to there, pick up the road and not too much sky.

 

We liked the photo shoot, except for the early wake up calls. Johnna and I do a lot of sight seeing and museum hopping, which gets a bit stale; this trip is a change of pace that we'll probably repeat.