Prairie Dancer Photography Workshop

with Noppadol Paothong

A Five-Day Grassland Grouse Photography Workshop

(Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19, 2019)

 

Itinerary

Shooting schedules can be altered to effectively meet the photographic desires of the group and adapt to changeable weather conditions.

(All times are Central Daylight Savings time.)

Monday, April 15

 

  • 3 p.m. Check-in at the Switzer Ranch/Calamus Outfitters Lodge
  • 3:30 – 5 p.m. Meet and Greet: A chance to get to know each other. Kent Skaggs, the general manager of Switzer Ranch and Calamus Outfitters will give a brief description of the history of the ranch, and I will discuss the workshop. Also, I will present a naturalist history of prairie grouse, explaining grouse behaviors and what you can expect when we go into the field. This information will be critical to the success of your trip. I firmly believe you make better photos when you understand your subjects.
  • 6 – 7 p.m. Dinner with the group at the Calamus Outfitter Lodge
  • Evening on your own to prepare, so you are ready for the early morning departure next day

Tuesday, April 16

 

  • 5:30 a.m. sharp! Sunrise photo shoot of sharp-taield grouse in blind
  • 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast with the group at the lodge after field outing
  • 9 – 9:30 a.m. Download images from morning shooting
  • 9:30 – 11 a.m. Morning discussion & critique. Each participant will provide three images from the morning shoot. This will give you a chance to build on successes and learn from mistakes.
  • 11:30 – 2 p.m. Lunch on your own (A list of area restaurants available) & break
  • 2 – 4 p.m. Afternoon Lecture: “Photo Techniques: Understanding exposure, perspective, and light”
  • 4 – 6 p.m. Sandhill Habitat Ecotour – Guided jeep tour on the ranch highlighting the complex bio-diversity of the Sandhills and the bird species found here
  • 6 – 7 p.m. Dinner with the group at the Calamus Outfitter Lodge
  • Evening: Explore on your own

Wednesday, April 17

 

  • 5:30 a.m. sharp! Sunrise photo shoot of sharp-tailed grouse in blind 
  • 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast with the group at the lodge after field outing
  • 9 – 9:30 a.m. Download images from morning shooting
  • 9:30 – 11 a.m. Morning discussion & critique. Each participant will provide three images from the morning shoot.
  • 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own (list of area restaurants available)
  • 2:30 – 4 p.m. Afternoon lecture: “Creativity in Nature Photography – The Art of Seeing” “Photoediting & other tips in Adobe Lightroom”
  • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner with the group at the Calamus Outfitter Lodge
  • Evening field session: Promptly after dinner, we will travel to an ideal location to explore wildlife and embrace the vast prairie for an evening landscape. Part 1 of the “Creativity in Nature Photography”: Learning to think outside the box. Learn to shoot landscapes by using strong foregrounds and how to use this technique with what we’ve learned so far.

Thursday, April 18

 

  • 5 a.m. sharp! (note earlier start time) Sunrise photo shoot of prairie-chicken in blind 
  • 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast with the group at the lodge after field outing
  • 9 – 9:30 a.m. Download images from morning shooting
  • 9:30 – 11 a.m. Morning discussion & critique. Each participant will provide three images from the morning shoot.
  • 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch on your own & Break
  • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Afternoon lecture and critique. Each participant will choose the three best images in the workshop. 
  • 4 – 5:30 p.m. Break
  • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner with the group at the Calamus Outfitter Lodge
  • Last evening together: Travel to an ideal location to explore wildlife and embrace the vast prairie for an evening landscape. Part 2 of the “Creativity in Nature Photography”: Learning to think outside the box. Learn to shoot landscapes by using strong foregrounds and how to use this technique with what we’ve learned so far.

Friday, April 19

 

  • 5 a.m. sharp! Sunrise photo shoot of prairie-chicken in blind 
  • 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast with the group at the lodge after field outing
  • – 9:30 a.m. Download images from morning shooting
  • 9:30 – 11 a.m. Lecture and critique, final remarks, workshop feedback
  • 11:30 a.m. Workshop concludes
  • 12:30 p.m. Lodge checkout