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