Location:      Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center

                        1895 Fall River Road, Estes Park, Colorado

Time:   Saturday        6:30PM-9:30PM

            Sunday            6:30AM-6:30PM                   

Course Description: With over 200 species of visual ornamentation, the wildflowers of Rocky Mtn. Nat’l Park add a rainbow of color and reflect with elegance and charm the Park’s wonderful biodiversity.  How to capture these jewels of the mountains and meadows with a variety of highly creative photographic approaches will be the artistic objective of the class.  Equipment selection, lighting, depth of field and effective shutter speeds are the science component.  Professional classroom and field instruction plus a helpful critique of your past images will provide participants with an opportunity to gain and enjoy a much higher level of photographic proficiency.

Course Level:  II

Short-distance walks throughout the day on primarily level terrain (possible sites include Moraine and Horseshoe Park along with sites along Trail Ridge Road)

Brief Instructor Biography (additional information available at www.rmna.org): Perry Conway has been a full-time professional nature photographer and naturalists for over 30 years.  His work has appeared in every major nature magazine published in N. America, including a feature article in National Wildlife Magazine on alpine flowers. 

Instructor’s Website:   www.perryconway.com

Expectations:  Professional conduct will be expected from participants at all times.  Individual ideas will be respected.  Except during course breaks, cellular phones, pagers, and personal entertainment devices are strictly prohibited in the classroom and during field sessions.

Car-pooling:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars courses utilize car-pooling to limit vehicles traveling into the Park.  Car-pooling makes it easier to keep the group together, reduces transit time, and allows courses greater access because fewer parking spaces are required at destinations.  In addition, it provides an opportunity for participants to discuss course material in small groups during transit.  Typically, a few participants from each course volunteer the use of their vehicles for car-pooling to course locations.

Tentative Course Schedule:

   Saturday

6:30 PM-9:30 PM          Introductions and useful information on wildflower photography

   Sunday

            6:30 AM                       Into field for morning shoot

           10:30 AM                      Photo critique at Field Seminars Center

           12:00 PM                       Lunch 

            1:30 PM                        Continue critique of images.

            3:30 PM                        Final field shoot and instructional session

            6:30 PM                        Depart

What to Bring:

§         Sack lunch, snacks, energy bars, and Water                          

§         5-7 of your images (digital) to participate in the critique session

§         4 gigs of memory for digital camera

§         Adjustable 35mm or medium format camera

§         Lenses: Wide angle lens 35mm or less

o        24-200mm

o        close-up lens, extension tubes or close-up filters

§         Camera bag and/or daypack

Remember to Bring the 10 Essentials:

Rocky Mountain National Park recommends that hikers always carry the 10 essentials in their daypacks.

     Raingear                                     Map and compass                       Flashlight or headlamp

     Sunglasses and sunscreen            Candles                                      Matches or other fire starter

     Pocketknife                                 First-aid kit                                 Extra layers of clothing

     Sack lunch, snacks, and water                                                     

Note:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars recommends that participants for all courses dress in layers and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking boots/shoes.  Participants should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions.

Teacher Recertification Credit:

Most seminars are eligible for teacher recertification credit through the Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).  The fee is $25.00 per seminar (.5 unit) or $25.00 per series of threaded seminars (1.0 - 3.0 units).   A list of threaded seminars can be found online at www.rmna.org.  Participants must enroll in all seminars of a threaded series in order to qualify for the $25.00 multi-unit fee. Please be prepared to pay for this credit with a check, made payable to BOCES, on the first day of a seminar or on the final day of a threaded series of seminars.