NEWSLETTER
May 31 , 2007
Wow, what a spring. Laura and I are still recovering from all the workshops that went out in April and early May. There were 7 of them in just 4 weeks! Results were overall very good, and we are seeing some pretty incredible images from you folks. If you recently attended one of these workshops and would like to have your photos considered for brochure and website use, please have a look at the guidelines here:
http://www.friendsofazhighways.com/faq.htm#submit2
WORKSHOPS OUTSIDE OF ARIZONA
Most of our photography workshops in Arizona this year are already sold out, a testament to the interest you all have in the wonderful scenery and locations found in our great state. We have a few trips out of state, though, that you might be interested in and that still have spaces open.
Set for July 17-21, our "Olympic Peninsula" workshop will be a breathtaking exploration of a location rich and diverse in photographic opportunities. That workshop takes place in the lavender-covered fields, lush rain forests and along the rugged coastline of Washington State.
http://www.friendsofazhighways.com/workshops/07OlympicPen.htm
Another workshop takes place near Ouray, Colorado from September 20-24, during what we hope will be the height of fall color. At that time of year, the staggering beauty of the Sneffels and San Juan mountains is framed in a wide array of colors, as aspens turn from green, to yellow and orange, and finally vibrant red.
http://www.friendsofazhighways.com/workshops/07COFallColor.htm
Or you can join us in Montana next January 20-26 for "Yellowstone in Winter," letting us transport you by snowcoach through one of America's premier National Parks. Bison, wolves, coyotes, bald eagles and idyllic landscapes of geysers and frozen waterfalls await you there.
http://www.friendsofazhighways.com/workshops/08Yellowstone.htm
Please let us know if you have any questions about these workshops.
ONLINE SURVEY
We value your feedback on workshop matters, and besides getting your feedback after the workshops conclude, we will also drop in from time to time with online surveys. The inaugural survey is now posted, and its main subject is how you learn as a photographer. It has just nine questions, and there is plenty of space to write free-form answers. Please voice your opinions by following this link:
http://www.friendsofazhighways.com/questionnaire_may_2007.htm
SHARING "RAW" PHOTOS DURING WORKSHOP CRITIQUES
While we do our best to stay up-to-date with technology, we can't possibly have all softwares loaded on our laptops for viewing proprietary RAW images. We hope to purchase Adobe Lightroom soon to help with the image sharing process, but for now if you intend to shoot in RAW and still take part in the critiques you MUST have a way of converting your files to JPEG. Ideally you will communicate with your escort ahead of the workshop and bring your own laptop to make the necessary file conversions. Or if you intend to shoot in RAW you can bring an extra media card or two and then shoot in RAW+JPEG.
Not all of our escorts are gearheads or digital gurus, so we need your help in making the photo sharing process as easy as possible for all concerned. If you have a Mac instead of a PC computer it is also helpful for us to know that in advance so we can try to anticipate your particular needs.
VIEWING "RAW" FILES
A program one of our volunteers told us about for viewing RAW files is "Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP." As the title suggests, it lets XP users open up RAW files in a handy interface. I've been using it the last week or so to quickly see if my RAW files are in focus and delete photos that aren't, then I use my proprietary software or Photoshop to adjust the remaining files. We hope to load this software on our field laptops, also.
The link to download this viewer is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/raw.mspx
STUDENT WEBSITES
Scott Hillmann would like to share some of his Death Valley photos with you from earlier this spring. You can start off with his very fine black and white images, but don't forget to look at his color images, also:
http://web.mac.com/scotthillmann/iWeb/Site/Death%20Valley%20Black%20and%20White.html
TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE
So far this year we have had numerous last-minute cancellations, mainly due to health concerns, unexpected surgeries, family and work-related issues. Many have been within one week of the trip's departure. We sympathize with each and every person who calls, but must strictly adhere to our cancellation policy.
Emergencies do come up at the last minute, which is why we always recommend participants purchase trip cancellation insurance. Forms from Travelex (http://www.travelex-insurance.com) are included in all the confirmation packets we send out, but there are other companies that can serve your needs, as well. Please consider this valuable insurance to ward against the unexpected.
The normal cost for a 5-day trip for someone in average health seems to be about $150, as far as we can tell. Here are a couple of websites where you can compare rates and types of coverage:
http://www.insuremytrip.com/
http://www.quotetravelinsurance.com/index.pl
We hope this information has been helpful to you, and look forward to your survey responses!
Robyn Noll
Director
Friends of Arizona Highways / Arizona Highways Photo Workshops
2039 W. Lewis Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone: toll-free (888) 790-7042
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