April Meetup-Tomorrow!!!!!

We are meeting at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs tomorrow, Sunday, April 22 at 9am. We will be able to check out the area with some of our local members while enjoying good company! A few of you were interested in critiques, so feel free to bring a print or your own laptop. You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and any topics of conversation you wish!
Below in the thread, Bob provided a map to the park. We are meeting at the Spring Canyon South Picnic Area near the Trading Post.
I look forward to seeing you there!

I'm game for a critique and/or BS session. No idea on where though.

I like Joshuas idea. If you want to do something in the Colorado Springs area, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

I could go for a critique session... and some storytelling. Sounds like fun! I work on saturdays so Sunday is better for me if possible.

I'm in! Something near the south end of the Metro area would be good but I don't mind traveling. Storytelling and BS sounds good. Not sure about critique...I'm a sensitive New Age kind of guy and my feelins get hurt easily.

I spent this morning at the Butterfly Pavillion and asked about any photo events. They have a "Tripod Photography" day once per month, on Saturday monrings from 7:45 to 9 AM, before they open to the public. Reservations are required. The next one is scheduled April 14th. Just wondering if this would be of interest to the group? Of course, anyone can sign up on their own.

Here are the dates for the remainder of 2012:
April 14
May 12
June 9
July 21
Aug 11
Sept 8
Oct 13
Nov 10
Dec 8

FYI monopods are allowed at any time.

Bill, I just went on their homepage and not sure if we could do this with the early arrival but they offer a $2.00 discount if we get 10 or more. We have to sign up and pay as a group. I think it would be $6.50 per person...otherwise $8.50 if we can't get the discount or at least 10 to sign up. Whatcha think Anne?

I think that is a possibility, if anyone else is interested? Bob was checking into doing something at garden of the gods on April 22 for a picnic, as well. Folks, what would you like? We can do the butterfly pavilion with a late breakfast after or a picnic in the springs. Thoughts?

Anne, you should have a couple of e-mails from me regarding the Garden of the Gods.
As for the Butterfly Pavilion, I'd rather do it on a Photography day so we can use tripods. However, as Jack pointed out, it may be too late to book the 14th since they only have a certain amount of slots and they fill up fast.

I have found that using a handheld camera with an IS lens, ~300mm, with fill flash (attached to a small flash arm), usually with a 12mm ext tube is an optimum way to shoot butterflies either in the BP or other aviaries and in the wild. It offers increased composition speed and flexibility, whereas a tripod hinders both considerably. You will get a larger quantity and variety of photos guaranteed!

Tomorrow I'll call the Butterfly Pavilion and see how many spaces are available and what we can do about a group. I don't think we need to do one or the other event...how about both? The 14th could be a morning shoot with a late breakfast afterwards and the 22nd we can do a meet & greet at GOG for those down south.

Of the possible dates listed in the other thread for a Butterfly pavilion event, May 5th works for me.
I like the idea of a critique/BS session, so I'm also in favor of two events.

I might have some interest Anne, but cannot do weekend of April 7th or May 5th. April 22nd works though.

I am also thinking of posting this info on the Macro and Flora forums as well to see if there is additional interest. We can do as many dates as we have interest for!

April 22nd works best for me.

Hello Anne,
Thanks for your organizational efforts on this forum.

Regarding the Butterfly Pavillion I am up for any of the next few Saturdays depending on the timing. Do you have any starting / ending times?

Thanks,

Jim

oops... just noticed Bill posted the time is from 7:45 to 9:00. Works for me.

Jim

For the butterfly pavilion, the day would be Saturday the 21st; is that what you mean Bill and Kurt? Or are you saying you are interested in GOG on Sunday the 22nd?

Yes, I meant the 21st at the Butterfly Pavillion

This Saturday, April 7 works for me.

I'm planning a pretty extensive spring/early summer trip so my time for suburban homeowner chores I have to do before tha ttrip is limited. I can probably make Garden of the Gods but will pass on the Butterflies. I'll keep checking to see what's up.

All,
Anne has asked me to lead up the Garden of the Gods event.There was some interest expressed for a "critique/B.S." type of thing, to include possible discussing the upcoming wildflower season, etc.
I was planning on holding this in one of the picnic grounds at the park, which is also a short hike to a couple of good photo view points, for those who haven't shot in the park, or haven't explored all of it's many trails. The anticipated date for this would be the 22nd, starting around 9am.
So, if you're interested in an informal get together, please voice your opinion here.

Thanks!

I could probably make the GoG meetup on the 22nd. Sounds like fun.

GoG on the 22nd works for me.

I'm good for GoG on the 22nd.

The group event will be at 9am on the 22nd at the Spring Canyon South Picnic Area, which is on the south side of the park nearest the Trading Post and Balanced Rock. See map here: http://www.springsgov.com/units/parksrec/maps/pdfmaps/gogs-pg1.pdf . There is plenty of parking right at the picnic area. Since Picnic areas cannot be reserved, there is a SLIGHT chance we may find it already occupied, but it's not very likely.
I'll bring a small pop up shelter for some shade to look at laptop screens. There is no AC power there, so make sure your batteries are charged.

If I missed anything, let me know!

I think I will be able to make it Sunday - I will perhaps be in Colorado Springs on Saturday afternoon and staay overnight with my family there to meet up with you all on Sunday.

I plan on being at the GOG meet on Sunday, April 22.

Anyone planning a sunrise excursion on Sunday?

Sure, what do you have in mind fpr sunrise ?

I didn't have anything specific in mind, just prospecting. Castlewood Canyon comes to mind, It's a bit of extra driving but maybe Paint Mines. Push comes to shove, sunrise at the Garden would be okay then head into Manitou or Colorado City for coffee and maybe breakfast. Any thoughts?

I'm going to try to make this.

For those needing directions to the park: Get off of I-25 at the Garden of the Gods Rd exit (146), go west for about 2.5 miles, turn left on 30th Street and enter the park directly opposite from the Visitors Center. Then travel through the park to get to the picnic area (see map here: http://www.springsgov.com/units/parksrec/maps/pdfmaps/gogs-pg1.pdf.
To bypass traveling through the park, get off I-25 at the Cimarron Street/US 24 West (141) and go west for about 3 miles until the Manitou Ave/Business 24 exit. Turn right at the bottom of the ramp, then an immediate right at the traffic light (Garden of the Gods Place) , then a right on El Paso Blvd, then a left on Garden Dr, into the park. Go past Balanced Rock, the look for the picnic area on the left just past the Trading Post.

See you there!

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Garden of the Gods yesterday for our little critique/BS session/information exchange and short hike. It was good to see everyone, and some GREAT information was exchanged. I know there were some photos taken both before and after the visit (and a group photo or two during), and hope everyone got good results.

Thanks Bob for leading the short hike. Enjoyed meeting all of you Sunday, have a great week ahead.

I appreciate all the organizational details handled by Bob and Anne. Thanks.
The sun canopy for the picnic table was a wonderful idea !

Sunrise at GOG and sunset at the Paint Mines made for a great (18 hour) day of photography.