NEWSLETTER
February 29 , 2008
SPECIAL WILDFLOWER ISSUE
It looks like all the rain we got in Arizona this year has started to set the desert to bloom. Some areas, especially in the southern part of the state, are already displaying vibrant fields of lupine and Mexican gold poppies. Areas near the Peralta and Apache Trails should have more poppies up in a week or two, and it should be a great year for peppergrass, blue dick, scorpion weed and bladderpod. Hopefully lupines and owl clover start showing up soon, too. Poppies are everywhere, but right now can be in isolated stands that are hard to get to. In a week or two they should be in many more outstanding and easily accessible locations. Whether along hillsides, on the banks of desert washes, embraced by Palo Verdes or protected by cholla and saguaro thorns, you'll be amazed at the variety and color the Arizona desert has to offer.
WILDFLOWER WORKSHOPS
We've designed a number of one-day wildflower workshops to take you to see some of the best flowers near Phoenix. The March 8th workshop to Picacho Peak is sold out but there is still space available on the March 9th workshop at that location. There's a Civil War reenactment at a different part of the park that weekend that will not impact our photography, and it may even be interesting to some of you.
Workshops on March 15, 16 and 23 are planned, with prime locations for shooting to be determined closer to the event dates. Our photographers, through their work with Arizona Highways, have sought these flowers out for many years and know where some of the most verdant spots will be. They'll be scouting your workshop location in the few days before the workshop begins to give you the best possible experience. Locations we are considering include: Lake Pleasant, Eagletail Mountains, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Peralta Trail, Picketpost Mountain and more.
Workshops are limited to 12 students each, and the cost is $180. Each has a classroom teaching element, lunch and fieldwork included. To register, please visit here and select your preferred date:
http://www.friendsofazhighways.com/calendar.htm
Workshops will fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
FLOWERS OF JOSHUA TREE, CA
Joshua Tree National Park in California has good flowers out now, and should be a terrific place to shoot in the next few weeks. We would love to put a March 15-16 workshop on the schedule to go to Joshua Tree, but wanted to get your feedback on who might be interested in attending. Based on who responds we can then potentially custom-craft a workshop that meets your expectations.
Please email me at RNoll@azdot.gov if you might be interested in such a workshop. And to see some terrific photos from that location from one of our very talented volunteers, please visit Dean Hueber's website:
http://www.pbase.com/deanhueber/joshua_tree_journeys
PHOTOGRAPHING FLOWERS - GEAR SUGGESTIONS
Whether you're going on one of our workshops or are out photographing them on your own, you may want to take along the following:
Water
Hat
Sunscreen
Long Pants
Sturdy Hiking Boots
Tweezers for picking out cactus thorns from clothes or shoes
Light jacket in case of breeze
Kneeling Mat (this can be found at a gardening shop) or Knee Pads
To help you get more professional looking photos we recommend the following:
Macro lens to get tight shots of blooms
Wide angle lens for wide vistas
Lens cleaner/dust wipes
Diffuser
Reflector to bounce light into the flowers
Polarizer Filter
Graduated Neutral Density Filter
A tripod with legs that extend flat, or one with a reversible post so you can get low to the ground
Cable release
A black or colorful sweatshirt to possibly use as a background behind individual flowers
An item called a Plamp, which will hold the blooms in place if it is windy:
http://www.tripodhead.com/products/plamp-main.cfm
When you're out there, remember that sometimes the best flower photos can only be had by sitting or even laying on the ground. Don't forget a pad to kneel on, and be sure to share your favorite photos with us sometime soon.
Kind regards,
Robyn Noll
Executive Director
Friends of Arizona Highways / Arizona Highways Photo Workshops
2039 W. Lewis Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
602-712-2004 or toll-free 1-888-790-7042
|
