Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

For any on the Critique list who are attending the Badlands Rendesvous, here the latest..and probably last update before we start to gather at the Badlands.

Update:
Most arrivals expected on may 11, 12, and 13.

Weather
expected to be in the 60s to low 70s, great for being out and around hiking and photographing.

Full moon on the night of May 14, but accuweather predicts a cloudy sky. Never fear: the nights of the 12th, 13th, and 15th are expected to be clear and the almost full moon should provide great opportunities for moonlight scenics of the Badlands!

I'll be arriving late on Sunday, the 11th. I drive a white Ford Escape with yellow tennis balls on the antenna. so I can be identified by other hoggers , so flag me down if you want directions or just a chat. When I'm outside the car I'm the 6'4" 300 pounder clipping along with gear on my back and two forearm crutches. It might not be a good idea to get in my way...the result wouldn't be pretty....and y'might need to help me up!

For those who wish to meet up at the noon hour on Tuesday, the 12 th and Wednesday, the 13th (when the sun is high and the light is flat) and want a mid-day respite to eat your packed lunch and to chat with other Hoggers (and to hear yours truly give a brief talk on exposure of RAW image data for maximum image quality*) I've reserved the Fire Hall in Interior for mid-day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

*I'm sure you've all heard the rave reviews that talk received at the N4C (North Central Camera Cub Council) meeting at Springbrook State Park in Iowa at the end of April" /;-)

Hope to see you there,
Dave Graham

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Did a little looking around in google earth I think the firehall should be easy to find if it is the one on A street. :) I am looking forward to hearing your presentation.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

And yet a further update:

If you are camping there should be several nights when no shelter is needed.
Dont forget a wee flashlight ( with red bulb if possible) for nightime camera adjustments!

While we are in the BL the almost-full to full moon will be rising roughly from the ESE and setting in the WSW, so your best bet for early moonlit scenes wil be viewed facing the WNW and for pre-moonset pre-dawn scenes view the scenes facing the ENE. Better bring a compass, because if the moon goes behind clouds for a while you'll want to know the direction of its light to be ready when it comes out again! It is best to scout out the scenes you really want to get by moonlight during mid-day when the sunlight is flat and the daylight terrain is least interesting.

oh yeah...with nightime temps in the low 60s or lower, there's no worry about rattlers, except the odd lost one that might want to crawl into a warm sleeping bag.*

if you should see a snake - even a rattler - or lizard while there, they can be great subjects for photos if the weather...and they ...are cool,and sluggish. Be careful not to hit them on the road; if it's cool; they are on the road, especially paved ones, to gain warmth and can't move fast and out-slither a car.

I love the raptors so am familiar with the ones you might see in the Badlands and may have a chance to photograph:
American Kestrel -smallest American falcon...pointed wings, " kileee...kileee" , often hovers.
merlin / pigeon hawk- another small falcon ...dusty tan to dusy blue-gray
harrier / marsh hawk (obvious white patch on top of rump)
prairie falcon ( dark " armpits" and slender, pointed wings in flight)
peregrine falcon, less common and larger than prairie facon
red-tailed hawk
ferruginous hawk...more eagle-like than Buteo-like in build, flight, and behavior
golden eagle. don't approach if on nest
Bald eagle... " " " " "
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Cooper's hawk - Short, rounded wings, long tail...mostly in wooded draws
Sharp-shinned hawk - Smaller, otherwise like Cooper's
Goshawk ( unlikely to rare)
burrowing owl...check out these at prairie dog towns.
Great horned owl
saw-whet owl
screech owl
barn owl
frumious bandersnatch...(not reported in Badlands since Lewis Carroll's last visit and unconfirmed sighting thereof)

I'll let you know as more helpful snippets occur to me.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Don't forget to do some "street photography" while you are all together. I want pictures of my US friends, a story of your trip.

I do wish I could be with you all!

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

Sounds like a really great time will be had and some truly good friends to be made. The group will grow next year when pictures of this trip a being posted. It certainly did with our Swamp Shoot group. I wish you all much fun.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

hey,,...tell us about your "Swamp Shoot" group!

Dave

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

The first year 6 (I think) of us UHH'ers met in Everglades

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

The first year 6 (I think) of us UHH'ers met in Everglades City and the next year I think there were 10 met in Chukolosky (sp). Two of our members are very familiar with the Everglades and acted as our guides and planners. We took about a million photographs and did some serious talking after dark along with some fine meals. No diets allowed. We are planning for Swamp Shoot III next February when the birds are at their best. We are not all from Florida I might add and some traveled great distances for the fun. Hope you Badlands UHH'ers have as much fun as we had. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Nightski

Hi Dave,
Thanks for posting this. I do have a question. You may have already mentioned this, but how much are the vehicle entrance fees? It probably says somewhere on this 12 page PDF of park information. But if you know?

http://www.sharetheexperience.org

Also, there is a photo contest every year held by the National Park Service. It's my understanding that you can submit as many photographs as you like from any National Park. It's free to enter, and there is quite a prize for the winner. Here is a link to that website if you would like to check it out. You do have to create an account there to participate.

http://www.sharetheexperience.org

Now, I would like to give everyone a reminder that all threads started in the Critique Section must be for the purpose of asking for critique on a photograph. Dave asked for special permission to post this as many of the people that said they were coming were also participating in the Critique section. Thanks so much for asking me first, Dave. :-)

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

And remember, if you are 65 or older, or are handicapped, you qualify for free admission to ALL National Parks and Monuments.

Such a deal !!!!!!

Dave

Nightski

Maybe you could come one year during the Sturgis Rally, Graham. We could all get Street Photogin' lessons from you ... or get our bum's kicked ... LOL

http://blog.delamomotorsports.com/2013/08/sturgis-2013-august-5th-10th.html

10MPlayer Loc: California

Heh!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

There are several in our camera club in East River who make the yearly pilgrimage to Sturgis for Rally street photography...with incredible results thanks in no small part to the...extroverted ...nature of many of the participants!

Dave

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

If you get these free admission placards, remember that they are two parts. A placard to hang on your rear view mirror and a card, like the size of a credit card, to carry with you. Entry gate people will want to see both. I just found this out the hard way last Saturday.