Charlotte Photography Meetup Group

Raptor Center Private CPMG "Photo Wild" Shoot

Dec '09 6 Sun 9:00 AM

Location: Carolina Raptor Center

6000 Sample Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078

How to find us
"WIll meet in office at 9:00am. If you arrive after the 9:30 start of the shoot, be sure to pay at the office then join us!"

Estimated attendance: 20 people attended.
4.509 (9 ratings)
Who organized?
Ted

I have worked out a very special private "Photo Wild" event for us. During each of the two 1hr sessions, they will bring out 6 different owls and place them in their natural habitat just for us to photograph. That's an opportunity to photography 12 owls over two hours!

Time will be 900-1130am including 30mins to get everyone paid and ready before starting the two-hour shoot at 930. Cost is $30/person (includes entry to park) for the two hour session with a max of 25 people. For those who haven't been following the discussions - we started out with a rate of $25-$35/person depending on number of people. We landed on $30/person.

C'mon out!
Ted

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Talk about this Meetup

Posted Dec 5, 2009 10:40 PM

Ted

Basic Member

The trick as I see it will be combining all these pieces of advice: high shutter (how high?), f/10 aperture from 10ft distance (for my focal length of 135mm) to get an 8" DOF. Using an ISO of likely 200 unless other setting is needed to achieve other goals above. We shall see!
Posted Dec 5, 2009 2:50 PM

Ted

Basic Member

Ok it's all confirmed. I got a rate of $30/person. They have confirmed 6 handlers to bring out 6 owls/birds at a time as planned. One minor change - please be at the office to pay at 9am. This will allow 30mins to get everyone paid and ready to start at 930. See you there!
Posted Dec 5, 2009 10:51 AM

Ted

Basic Member

Don - thanks for the advice -- I am still in that special place where I need all I can get -- and who wants that frustration of going to a great thing like this and coming home to a bunch of bad photos! I had to look up burst and see it means continuous shooting - good call on that as well. Thanks
Posted Dec 4, 2009 6:42 PM

Don Bumgarner

Basic Member

I have photographed the birds at the Carolina Raptor Center many times and I have a few suggestions. Bring a long lens if you have one so you can get close ups without disturbing the bird. Set your program to sports or use a high shutter speed and shoot burst because birds make quick movements that can ruin a good shot. Dress warmly and bring a monopod or tripod if you have one. We can also offer The Raptor Center a limited copyright to our best shots to use for marketing and fund raisers.
Posted Dec 4, 2009 6:18 PM

Ted

Basic Member

They said $35/person for 12 people (what we had at time I spoke with them) or $25/person for 25 people (the max). Since we are already at 21 I am guessing they will go with lower rate. I will be talking to them Sat and doing final confirmation --- will post again then!
Posted Dec 4, 2009 5:52 PM

Cindy Cooley

Pro Member

Ted, Is it going to be $25 or $35?
Posted Dec 4, 2009 5:38 PM

Ted

Basic Member

MIKE T - This event was originally Sat and we were simply going in to shoot like anyone else would. The event has been MOVED to Sunday AND changed to a special private event. As a result, there is NO event at Raptor Sat AM, but you could still go then and do the same thing since it was just us showing up and shooting like anyone could at any time.
Posted Dec 4, 2009 5:35 PM

Ted

Basic Member

Lindsay - includes entry. Jeff, thanks - corrected (was 10am when it was on Sat). 930-1130 and meet at office between 915 and 930. They will have 6 owls out at a time.
Posted Dec 4, 2009 4:47 PM

Jeff

Event says meet in office at 10, other says it's 9:30-11:30. Which is the right time?
Posted Dec 4, 2009 4:09 PM

Lindsay

Pro Member

Does the $25 or $35 fee include entry? Or is it on top of the entry fee?
Posted Dec 4, 2009 4:05 PM

Lindsay

Pro Member

If they're bringing the birds out like PhotoWild!, then you can get pretty close to the birds, like 5 feet away, sometimes closer depending on the bird and how many photographers are shooting at a time. They will have at least two birds out at a time so the photographers can split up between which birds they are shooting.
Posted Dec 3, 2009 10:19 PM

Ted

Basic Member

It wont be viewing ring - they will be placing the owls in their natural habitats for photos - whatever that means :) But I think it's safe to say it will be a 15ft-ish type situation.
Posted Dec 3, 2009 7:52 PM

Richard D

Basic Member

If its in the viewing ring, the posts are about 10ft away. Maybe more if you're at an angle for better light. They may also perch the birds on their arms and bring them closer.
Posted Dec 3, 2009 5:52 PM

Ted

Basic Member

I don't know Eamon, but I do know last time I was there and they had owls out for a general public thing I was probably 15ft away. Can't imagine it being much worse but not sure. I am bringing my 28-135mm
Posted Dec 3, 2009 3:30 PM

Eamon

Basic Member

Do you know how far away from the Owls we will be? I have a 70-210 zoom on a D50, will that be long enough?
Posted Dec 3, 2009 7:25 AM

Ted

Basic Member

Guys and Gals, we need a commitment asap on this event. If we do not get 25 people, the cost is $35/person. Give this some serious consideration ASAP -- they need confirmation from me on number of people to staff volunteers - thanks!
Posted Dec 2, 2009 8:09 PM

Ted

Basic Member

Good news all! I just worked out a great sitch with the Raptor Center - we will be doing a mini "Photo Wild" which is a public event where they have 80 photographers come and shoot. This one is a 2hr private Photo Wild just for us. Each of the 2 hrs they will bring out 6 diff owls and put them in their natural environment (no shooting with people in background). We will bump attendance max to 25 and cost is $25/person to Raptor Center.
Posted Dec 1, 2009 9:20 PM

Cindy Cooley

Pro Member

Geez...can't you squeeze in 1 more............:)
Posted Dec 1, 2009 12:52 PM

Ted

Basic Member

Karen, will do - I know what the forecast looks like which is why I made comment about rain date. I will make a call as early as possible. Thanks!
Posted Dec 1, 2009 11:07 AM

Karen Carnahan

Basic Member

Ted, give us plenty of notice for Saturday or Sunday, I'm coming from Rock Hill, SC, looks like showers on Saturday according to the weather forecast as of 12/1 http://www.weather.com/outl...

Who attended?

20 attendees
- Ted
  
  Basic Member
  
  “ chilly but well done! ”
- Jim Pierson
  
  Pro Member
  
  “ Excellent meetup. Staff were very friendly and made sure we got good photos of all the birds. Boy, was it C-O-L-D! ”
- Jim Young
  
  Pro Member
  
  “ I had a great time. Got some nice images. ”
- Leigh Black
  
  Basic Member
  
  “ It worked out very nicely with this size group and no public access. Everyone was courteous and respectful of the other photographers. The birds were placed in close range and it made for easy shooting. I had a great time, although it was VERY cold. ”
- William Dixon
  
  Basic Member
  
  “ It was a great photographer to bird ratio. There were about 4 birds out at a time so photographers could return if one bird was very popular. The volunteer staff worked very hard to place the birds in photogenic locations. The only caveat was there were no bald eagles or peregrine falcons being shown. Otherwide it was a first class event! ”
- Jeff
  
  “ Great that this was able to be organized for a great price. I didn't get to really talk to anyone as we were all focused on shooting. ”
- Don Bumgarner
  
  Basic Member
  
  “ If it had been a little warmer and an Eagle was available for the shoot it would have been 5 stars. That said you couldn't ask for a better photo op. The handlers were wonderful and went out of their way to give us great shots. The birds were incredibly beautiful and seemed to pose for us at times. The photographers were were courteous, friendly and eager to answer questions. I had a wonderful time and would like to thank everyone who made this possible. ”
- Eamon
  
  Basic Member
- Mike
  
  Basic Member
- ken
  
  Basic Member
- Murray Platts
  
  Basic Member
- Chris
  
  Pro Member
- Calvin Dixon
  
  Pro Member
- Herschel
  
  Basic Member
- Egle
  
  Basic Member
- Myra Brizendine-Wilson
  
  Pro Member
- Lindsay
  
  Pro Member
- Erin Haig
  
  Basic Member
- Richard D
  
  Basic Member
- Tom Forrest
  
  Basic Member

Charlotte, NC 35.19-80.83 28201US

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(117 comments)

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