Good Ponca Elk Viewing for Weekend near Ponca

Elk Remain in Ponca fields for now over a week. They show up mornings and evenings. This is a mature herd with a herd bull and many satellite bulls. The river remains up, some are floating from Ponca. Weather is to turn cooler Saturday and Sunday, this will only make elk viewing better.  The NPS Old Mill Tours continue 10 to 1 all weekend down by the Mill Pond. Friday and Saturday is the Ponce Elk Education Center's Color fest from 10 to 4:30 each day. I will be doing free workshops on elk photography at 2PM each day. Please call the center to register, seating is limited. Color Fest Brochure is below the map. 

Free Wildlife Photography Workshop During Color Fest

This year I will resume doing free wildlife photography workshops at Color Fest on the 17th and 18th of October. This year the topic will be about how to think like a wildlife photographer. This workshop will cover the thought process a wildlife photographer uses to figure out how to photograph a certain species. Elk will be used to illustrate the thought process of working with any species.  This free workshop should be useful to everyone who wants to take better wildlife photos. I will illustrate the talk with pictures and mind maps. There will be a powerpoint that eventually will be posted online. We need to manage demand for this free 2PM workshop, so if you plan to attend, please call the Ponca Elk Education Center ASAP to reserve your seat at (870) 861-2432. If the class  
gets too large I will do a second session. Be sure to leave your phone number so 
we can contact you if necessary about an overflow session. 

Dogwood Photography Tips

There are lots of ways to interpret dogwood trees and their blooms. Your imagination is the limit really. Here are some random thoughts on what you might do to step out from the ordinary dogwood photo.  Remember these white blooms are prone to over-exposure and the loss of all texture. I like to underexpose, then bring back the brightness in post-processing. 

Ordinary but Photographed in Cutting Evening Light

Isolate Single Blooms for Impact

Why Not Bottom Shots? 

Explore Backlight, Bokeh, & Natural Frames

Free Photo Workshops at Color Fest Oct 26 & 27

I will be doing my free elk photography workshops both scheduled days at 2pm at the Ponca Elk Education Center even if the Color Fest art show is rained out.

So if you want to attend the workshop, but you are unsure about weather, go ahead and come. If it turns out to be rainy, elk photography and viewing will still be very good. Elk love rain as long as it is not thunderstorms.

Know this, weather forecasts around here are lousy. Not sure why, but my guess is that it is the mountains and the way fronts flow around them. Forecasts even 2 days ahead cannot be depended on around here.

Hope to see you there. Please call ahead and reserve your seat at 870-861-2432 so we can plan.

Free Elk Photography Workshop at Color Fest October 26 & 27

I will be doing a free elk photography workshop at Color Fest at 2 PM each day of October 26th and 27th. You should call the Ponca Elk Education Center and reserve your seat at 870-861-2432.

This workshop will be every bit as useful as any you would pay for. I like to teach, and I do share secrets of how I get elk photos that often are "wall hangers". The reason I get them is my approach, composition, elk location strategies, and understanding of elk movements.

Boxley Beast, RIP Old Buddy

One of my participants last year said "you told us everything, nobody expected that". Well you can expect that. You will get the benefit of my 7 year obsession about elk photography.

The truth is I care as much about you getting a great photo as I do about getting my own. There are basic strategies to kicking your photography "up a notch" and you will learn them at this workshop.

I like to interact with my attendees. For a period of my life I was a professional trainer for one of the big 6 training companies so speaking and teaching is second nature for me. Your questions on anything about wildlife photography will be welcome.

If it interests anyone, I will do a follow-on section on post processing -- what to do after you get the picture of your elk. My emphasis will be on workflow I like a lot. This is not an advertisement though, it is about methods and issues and solutions. I don't do teasers and play bait-and-switch games.

If there are enough attendees, I may have to schedule a second session each day. I need you to sign up so we can manage demand. This workshop draws from a few states, so sign up early.

See you there. Bring your camera, you might need it to understand settings and so on, but nothing is set in stone. I will adapt my workshop to fit those who attend.

10/27/11 Rain & Cold Cause Elk Return

Great news. The return of cold (and wet) weather has stimulated the elk herds to return to a more normal pattern. This weekend should be good elk viewing. Fall color has also hit another gear and is at absolute peak now.

I will be doing my free photography workshops at the elk center regardless of weather conditions, or if the Color Fest is called off because of weather. Color Fest will be going on unless the weather makes an unexpected turn for the worst.                      

Elk map below.

2011 Color Fest Friday and Saturday at the Elk Education Center -- Free Photo Workshops

No visit to the Boxley Valley in Ponca area is complete without visiting the award-winning Ponca elk education Center. The center features displays and hands-on demonstrations of various aspects of wildlife in the Buffalo River region. It has a very complete gift shop that includes nature guides, free posters, and publications from the AGFC. Staff at the Center provide information about area elk and wildlife viewing opportunities. Call 870-861-2432 for information and the latest information on elk and wildlife watching opportunities.

Even Elk Visit the Education Center for Guidance

Each October Ponca Elk Education Center holds its annual Color Fest scheduled to coincide with peak fall color. This year the Color Fest will be held on October 28 and 29th from 10 AM to 4:30 PM each day. There will be live demonstrations by area artists as well as a small art fair. I will be there with my wife Mandy selling photography, Christmas cards, and postcards.

Each day at 2PM I will be conducting a free photography workshop in the downstairs conference room at the center. This informal workshop focuses on elk photography and other photographic opportunities in the Boxley Valley area. Plenty of time is provided for questions and answers after the workshop -- bring your questions. I look forward to meeting you and talking about photography and elk in our area. This year I will show many different photos and discuss what I had to do to get them. I will also discuss wildlife photo composition. Call 870-861-2432 to reserve your spot. If there are enough attendees, I will schedule a second session following the first. 

Ponca elk education Center is located just north of the intersection of highways 43 and 74 in Ponca. There is ample parking, picnic tables and a pavilion, and restrooms inside the facility. The Elk Education Center is a short drive from the primary wildlife viewing areas in Boxley Valley.