Special Event at Cosumnes River Preserve:
Guided Photography Walk to the Oak Savannah, April 23, 2022, starting at 8AM sharp.
Come to Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) for a three to four-hour guided walk focusing on photographing the Preserve magnificent Valley oaks. This walk requires about 4-5 miles of walking with your camera gear, including lenses and tripod. You may also be getting on your hands and knees to experiment with tree composition or get up-close to an outstanding mushroom.
Be prepared for a long morning. There is no potable water available, so bring enough water for the morning, and snacks or lunch. Wear appropriate clothes in layers as the morning may be very cool, but the sun on the savannah can get hot by late morning. Long pants and high socks are necessary to hinder ticks and protect against scratchy tall grasses. Supportive shoes are a must for walking on uneven surfaces and for carrying camera gear for many hours. Hats and sunscreen are critical for anyone worried about sunburn in April, whether a sunny or cloudy day.
Camera gear to bring: camera, various lenses for landscape (wide angle zoom, medium zoom, up to 200-300mm). Long lenses for bird photography are not necessary and very heavy to carry for 4 hours. Tripods are a must (Per Ansel Adams: “Use a tripod for only those photographs you wish to keep.”)
The photographic discussions will focus on “seeing” photo opportunities we find on the Savannah, including the use of light, subject shape, texture, and color to artistically capture the Preserve. Topics to be covered will be direction of light, color vs monochrome, horizontal vs vertical, use of leading lines and depth of field in compositions. Camera functionality to be discussed include the use of histogram to confirm proper exposure and using aperture to change depth of field. Due to the wide variety of cameras, the CRP guide cannot be expected to know how to make changes to camera settings, so participants should be familiar with their cameras and/or bring their camera manuals.
There is a limit of 10 participants, who must register using the link below. Wearing a mask is optional, but be cognizant of others who may immunocompromised. If you register for this special walk and then decide not to attend, please cancel your reservation so people on the waiting list can register.
Meet at 8:00AM on the Visitor Center deck.