Just catching up on email. I would be interested in a group trip too, depending on how far away it is. I am a coast person. Kristen Ocean Springs On 4/24/12, Robert Smith <rsmithent@xxxxxxx> wrote: > > Looks like folks are busy (as usual). I think we'll just have to pick a > date & go with it. The folks that can show up can do so, the rest can gri > their teeth in envy at the great pix and camaraderie... > > And as we get going, we can plan shoots further out so that more of us can > attend. We just need to be careful not to get dejected when only 3 or 4 > folks show up for the first shoot or two... I'll have to get back to MS to > check my calendar (& my wife's) to know when I am available... Robert > > Robert Smith > > 336-339-3497 > > rsmithent@xxxxxxx > > www.photobiologist.com > > > > Subject: [missbirdphotos] Re: A Group Suggestion > From: jcliburn@xxxxxxxxx > Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:09:21 -0500 > To: missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Great idea. Most Saturday or Sunday mornings and evenings are fine with me. > May 12 is the exception: I'm traveling to Portland OR that day. > > Jay > Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 24, 2012, at 11:00, "Dance, Gayla" <dancegf@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Oh, dear. That’s graduation for us. You know, when we sit outside with > solar panels on our heads. gayla From: missbirdphotos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:missbirdphotos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of djohns110@xxxxxxx > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 10:50 AM > To: missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [missbirdphotos] Re: [missbirdphotos] Re: A Group Suggestion May 12 > is the only open Saturday I have open until June 16. > > Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T----- Reply message ----- > From: "Frank Hensley" <dr_frank_hensley@xxxxxxxxx> > To: "missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: [missbirdphotos] Re: A Group Suggestion > Date: Tue, Apr 24, 2012 9:49 am Danny and Everyone, I love this idea! In > fact, field trips specifically for photography were part of the original > motivation for starting this group. I agree that schedules and distances > will always be limiting factors. It seems that several of our small group > are Jackson/Vicksburg area people, and several are coastal, so those two > regions might make sense for field trips. I know that Gayla and I are both > ending our spring semesters and thus likely to have more schedule > flexibility soon. I was going to suggest a field trip once I get through > grading final exams. Perhaps a Trace/Jackson/Vicksburg area outing would be > a good start. I'd suggest LeFleur's Bluff, or Pearl River WMA. Birding > starts before sunrise but photography certainly doesn't, so we could begin > later. I also have access to private land owned by my employer, just south > of Clinton. It has 3 ponds and some low-quality woods, but is really > marginal as a bird photography site. It does have the advantage of few other > humans... One other factor is that the Trace is closed north of Clinton > which might make some roadside areas low traffic areas right now... I'm > guessing that a Saturday morning or evening would be a good choice. Anyone > up for May 12 or May 19? -Frank From: "djohns110@xxxxxxx" > <djohns110@xxxxxxx> > To: missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:24 AM > Subject: [missbirdphotos] A Group Suggestion Hi Everyone, Several years ago, > I was a member of Mississippi Outdoor Photographers, a small, tightly knit, > often spontaneous group of area Wildlife and Nature Photographers based in > Jackson. > Due to a bone-crushing work schedule with increased responsiblities, I > wasn't able to make many meetings and I haven't kept up with many of the > members. However, I've been told that the group has pretty much disbanded. > Much of what I learned and experienced with respect to nature and wildlife > photography, I learned from this group. The discussions, field trips and > simple interaction during meetings was invaluable. We had several members > who are prominent in the area of wildlife and nature photography, and they > were always willing to share techniques and provide their insight and help > with tough technical issues and questions that other less experienced > members would raise. > As I've read the posts from many of the list members, it occurred to me that > we could all benefit in some respect from a group gathering, possibly a > field trip of sorts, to a local Wildlife Management Area or National > Wildlife Refuge to do some shooting. I've also found that photographers > that like to shoot birds, also like to shoot anything to do with nature. > Having personally attended photography field trips to the Muesum of Natural > Science and LeFleur's Bluff Park, I believe such a trip would benefit the > group. In every instance, I learned as much from other photographers as I > was able to contribute to others. > On a personal note, I've photographed birds at St. Catherine's Creek NWR > (Natchez, MS), Black Bayou NWR (Monroe, LA), Tensas River NWR (Tallulah, > LA), Grand Gulf Military Park (Port Gibson, MS), Vicksburg Military Park > (Vicksburg, MS), Mahannah WMA (Redwood, MS) as well as several spots along > the Natchez Trace between Clinton and Port Gibson. I've found each location > to have unique shooting opportunities. I would also like to shoot in other > areas for some species that I currently don't have in my portfolio, and I > would suspect that some of you would like to experience shooting in other > areas. > So, having said all of this, I'd like to suggest to the group that we > consider some field trips. They don't have to be extravagant or huge > productions. A simple gathering where we can shoot would work for most > purposes. Even if we don't want to try a field trip, we should consider > periodically getting together to share notes, techniques, experiences and so > forth. While I like the list immensely, there's nothing like meeting other > photographers and shooting together, whether we're shooting birds or > shooting the bull. > I'd be interested in what y'all think. It may be difficult to work out the > arrangements due to everyone's personal schedules. I know that due to a > very demanding work schedule, I won't be available to attend any type of > gathering for another month or so, but after that, I should be able to find > some time to attend. > I'll be eager to see if there's any interest in this idea. > Danny Johnson > Vicksburg, MS