September 2007 Volume 31, Issue 9
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Mile High Wildlife Photography Club September 2007 Volume 31, Issue 9 Fall for Different Colors Text and photos by Frank Weston I doubt that there is a nature foliage that turn red, orange or yellow as photographer that doesn’t make some effort the days shorten. Many of these parks are to shoot the autumn aspen in Colorado. located within an easy drive of Denver Naturally, we all have our favorite spots suitable for day trips. Others may require an where the “aspen are the most spectacular overnight stay, which is actually the best anywhere in the state!” Most of return to way to catch the evening light and then those favorite places every year. But sunrise the next morning. sometimes we feel the need for something different, a new perspective, something we Day Trips haven’t photographed before, a challenge, something to get those creative juices Castlewood Canyon State Park offers flowing beautiful again, Gambel Oak allowing us forests and to see mountain things mahogany anew. So against the this year, backdrop of be daring. vertical Go sandstone someplace and volcanic you haven’t ash cliffs. been Located just before, south of photograph Denver near some fall Franktown, colors that this is a very you may easy day trip. not have photograph Cheyenne ed, shoot Mountain something Yampa River State Park State Park, other than Colorado’s autumn aspen. newest park, sits at the base of Cheyenne There are a number of Colorado State Mountain southwest of Colorado Springs. A Parks where the autumn aura can be mosaic of grassland and Gambel oak exceptional. Some will provide the classic highlight the transition from plains to golden aspen, while others offer different mountain peaks. 1 Mile High Wildlife Photography Club Vol. 31, No. 9 Overnight Trips Eldorado State Park is tucked into a narrow canyon south of Boulder. Riparian Rifle Falls State Park is a little gem communities are dominated by plains and located north of Rifle. The triple falls narrowleaf cottonwood, Rocky Mountain provide moisture to sustain lush vegetation maple, boxelder, chokecherry and dominated by boxelder and alder with American plum offset by towering cliffs and dense wetland vegetation at the cliff base. rocky spires. Steamboat Lake State Park is a Golden Gate Canyon State Park is perennial favorite for fall colors. A forest of only thirty miles from Denver, offering lush aspen meadows against the setting of snow-capped peaks. lodgepole and aspen offer a nice color contrast. In the meadows around the lake, willows provide their autumn hues. Sylvan Lake State Park is a classic west slope mountain park. Located southwest of Eagle, it offers the classic Mueller State Park provides beautiful aspen/montane conifer forests on the upper views of meadows and aspen groves set slopes. Along the creeks, willows and against the backdrop of Pikes Peak. narrow-leaf cottonwood offer their own Mountain mahogany dot the conifer forests unique autumn hues. of the parks western slopes. Vega State Park sits high up on Grand Roxborough State Park is well known Mesa, east of Grand Junction. It presents a to most photographers for its stunning red dense aspen forest on the high slopes to rock formations. Add to that the autumn the west with Gambel oak, serviceberry and reds of dense forests of Gambel oak, chokecherry coloring the eastern shores. mountain mahogany, buckbrush and it provides an easily accessible locale for a Yampa River State Park offers some of quick after-work shoot. the best cottonwood groves on the west slope. The park stretches along 134 miles of the Yampa River covering broad flat valleys through dramatic, narrow, vertical- cliffed canyons. 2 Mile High Wildlife Photography Club Vol. 31, No. 9 2nd Judy Deist Red Dragon (Dragon At The Last Meeting … Fly) Scenic (3) Russ Burden Cannon Beach …a lively discussion on the Sunset possibility/advisability of procuring judges from outside the club for competitions such Open (3) Reb Babcock Technicolor Bear as the recent TWE exhibit and Nature’s Dance Best occupied a goodly portion of the business part of the evening’s agenda. Our guest for the evening was outdoor and From TWE… nature specialist Don Mammoser who presented a digital slide show on his An email from TWE praises MHWPC for the favorite shooting locations from around the Wildlife Babies. world-- from Lyons, Colorado to the lions of Africa. Mammoser also autographed copies The photo club has given us yet another of his recently released book “ Wildflowers quality show that opened Wednesday in the of Colorado Field Guide ”. His next book Community Gallery called Wildlife Babies. The 24 colorful images skillfully capture all “Photographers Guide to the Colorado sorts of wonderful animal antics. Four more of Rockies: Where to find perfect shots and our bronze sculptures on the same theme will how to take them ” is scheduled for an be added just after Boa Ball. The show runs October 1 release. through Nov 11. August Competition Results Braggin’ Rights Judge: Chuck Winter This is a disappointing first. There are no braggin’ rights this month. Slides st Wildlife (6)- 1 Fi Rust Northern Flicker Male Upcoming Programs at Nest Hole September- Gary Haines (a former member) 2nd Fi Rust Black-tailed who runs the Grizzly Creek photo gallery in Prairie Dog Mom & Baby Georgetown will offer a show of his recent images. Scenic (6) 1st Mary Paetow Deer Creek Falls 2nd Rita Summers Namib Desert Scenic Club Field Trips HOM Wildlife (3) Fi Rust Tree Swallow on Listed below are tentative dates for club field Nest Box trips. Open (1) Nick Burden Lone Gernaium • The next field trip is the wild horse photo shoot in South Dakota, September 22 nd . Prints There are two openings left. Non-members are welcome to fill these last two positions.. Wildlife (5) 1 st Russ Burden Learning to Leap Contact Charlie Summers. (Mtn. Goat) 3 Mile High Wildlife Photography Club Vol. 31, No. 9 going. When I went to Africa digital support Hospitality for September Meeting gear weighed as much as my film used to. The laptop case is 25 pounds itself and then with all the other electrical stuff I easily had a 40 pound Snacks : Brenda Fletcher photo pack with camera and lenses. Drinks : Judy Deist I don’t mind, though. There’s nothing I miss in film. With digital I can do anything and shoot a lot more. Plus I can try things instead of conserving film. I like the ease of sharing. I can Getting to Know You… come out of the field, go to the Super 8, or wherever, download my shots into the laptop Chris Loffredo and have immediate, instant gratification. 1. What drew you to nature/wildlife 5. What do you think is in the future for photography? When? Camera Club? I turned to nature The last year or two have been a transition for photography about 15 the club from film to digital. With the rate of years ago. I always advancements in the technology coming so enjoyed nature and the fast, I think, as a club, we can help share ideas outdoors but had been and learn from each other’s stories. I know that doing photography in an every time I travel and every time somebody urban setting. Finally I opens Photo Shop I learn something I didn’t put the two desires know before. Helping people take better together and sort of got pictures, sharing locations, and learning the hooked. technology aspect of modern photography are more important then ever before. 2. What format/equipment do you use? Why? 6. What do you do when you’re not behind All digital. I was a 35mm film shooter but went the camera? (i.e., occupation or other digital within the past year. My film equipment is avocations). up for sale, and I even got my dad into digital. My job as a corporate accountant pays the bills. Now all our 35mm equipment is up on Ebay. I have a 10-year-old son who is into sports, so a My digital equipment is Canon, of course. I had lot of my energies go there. I play golf and am Canon in 35mm format so now I can use the studying tae kwon do. My son has a black belt same lenses for the new stuff. in tae kwon do and I’m about half-way there myself. 3. Where’s your favorite shot spot(s)? For far away it has to be Africa. You know you can go into a zoo and get a shot of a wild Fi Rust animal, but in Africa in a week you can shoot 40 different things. You never know what is around 1. What drew you to nature/wildlife the next corner, behind the next tree. State- photography? When? side, it’s gotta be Bosque Del Apache. It is one I’ve almost always had of most fabulous spots in the winter. It’s such a camera in my hands, an awesome experience to watch 10,000 birds my grandmother gave lift off in front of you. me my first Brownie when I was very little. I 4. Other than your camera, what piece of loved horses growing equipment would you return home to get if up and was always you’d forgotten it? (i.e., your most import photographing horses. piece of field equipment). Then when I moved My battery charger, because of all the digital from California to gear you have to carry electrical stuff to keep it Florida in 1990, I 4 Mile High Wildlife Photography Club Vol.