Calgary/Edmonton/Red Deer & Southern Alberta POTN Meet?

[BearLeeAlive]

Is anyone bringing a monopod or tripod with them at the zoo?
I always bring one or the other. The monopod is nice to aleviate the strain on my arms when I have your camera trained something, waiting for that right moment. I use the tripod if I know I will be shooting a bunch in the tropicals, either flowers or butterflies, the the monopod is a nice aid there too.

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Nice gear holder Elfie. :)

I'll have to lug it all on my Lowepro Computreker AW. Suits me well for now anyways.

I'll probably join you at trying to get a good picture of the wolves. I actually had a personal request from a friend. Stated she would love a picture of a wolf if I can get a good one. Pretty sure I can manage it if the wolves are willing to cooperate. :)

[BearLeeAlive]

I have a whole bunch of nice shots of the wolves. Early in the day is the best time to view them, they are more active then.

[Ross McT.]

I found a very good piece of equipment at Costco in Lethbridge. It is a Columbia cooler, soft sides, holding 60 cans of beer, on wheels and a retractable handle.


Well I liked where that was going... JK.

I'll bring my monopod... it works good at keeping all the pregnant women and strollers at bey also. :razz:

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Thanks for the tip Jim. :)

[elfieh]

The countdown is on - only 4 more days!!!

Elfie

[scraps]

Are there any firmed up plans for the rest of the weekend, other than the zoo? Saturday morning is still out for me, hopefully Saturday afternoon, Sunday for sure.

Jim, do you have some contact info you can PM me so I can get ahold of you all and find out where you are?

[BearLeeAlive]

Evan,

I will PM the info to everyone later today or tomorrow with names and contact numbers, as well as a bit more info.

Is everyone (or most) up to having a BBQ? I would need to know the approximate number of folk, significant others, etc. As mentioned, I will keep it simple as both my wife and myself are quite busy these days, but would still be glad to do this.

The usernames of those that got back to me are:

BearLeeAlive
Geoff_Shawcross
Danny Cyanide
scraps
elfieh
davidm_86
Ross McT.
boomer1959

[boomer1959]

Evan,

I will PM the info to everyone later today or tomorrow with names and contact numbers, as well as a bit more info.

Is everyone (or most) up to having a BBQ? I would need to know the approximate number of folk, significant others, etc. As mentioned, I will keep it simple as both my wife and myself are quite busy these days, but would still be glad to do this.

The usernames of those that got back to me are:

BearLeeAlive Geoff_Shawcross Danny Cyanide scraps elfieh davidm_86 Ross McT. boomer1959


My son and I would be into that. What should we bring?

[BearLeeAlive]

My son and I would be into that. What should we bring?
Not really sure, my wife has volunteered to make a couple salads. Some of the stuff I will just buy to make it easy. My thoughts were to do burgers and chicken breasts plus all the fixin's.

Anyone have any allergies or food preferences?

Folk may want to throw in a lawn chair, most of ours are out of town right now. My grill should handle the cooking and I have a firepit.

[elfieh]

Jim,
My husband and I would love to come to the BBQ! Thanks to you and your wife for all the efforts! Just let us know how we can contribute.

Jim and Elfie:)

[Geoff_Shawcross]

BBQ sounds like a good idea. It would just be me coming to it though, as my wife has to stay home and work.

If there is anything I can bring, just name it and I'll see what I can do.

[elfieh]

Countdown - only TWO more days!!!

Have a wonderful day!:)

Elfie

[BearLeeAlive]

Less than a day, so much work to get done so I can get the weekend off. Weather still looks fantastic, bring your shorts and sunscreen. :)

I will show up at the main gates of the zoo around 8:00 or so. As long as folk are there by 8:30 we will have time to get acquainted before the gates open at 9:00.

See you all then. :)

[scraps]

Hope you all had a great time, sorry I didn't end up making it. I was held up with work and didn't get home unti llate Saturday. Then I had a brain fart on Sunday, I got up and started doing work around the house, then at about 11:00 I realized that I had missed the trip to Kananaskis.

At any rate, I hope you all had a great time and can't wait to see some samples.

Thanks to everyone, especially Jim, for organizing the event, and hopefully I can make thenext one.

[BearLeeAlive]

Hey Evan,

Too bad you could not make it, we had a great time. It was a wonderful cross section of really great folk on our outings. We will definitely do it again some time.

I hope to have some time late today to process some of the shots to share. Last night I was a tad burned out from all the sun I got on my shaved head. ;)

[elfieh]

Hey guys,
We just got home around 5 p.m. today - had a good trip and took more pictures driving thru the prairies!
Thanks to Jim and Lisa for a wonderful dinner and trip to Zoo, Bird sanctuary and Kananaskis Country! Jim (my sherper - j/k) and I had a wonderful time!!!

I will post some pictures later!

Greetings from Southern Alberta!

Elfie

[Steff]

Ditto! That was a great weekend! I'll post some shots when I get to processing them! Don't worry Evan, we all had such a great time that I'm sure there will be a "Part Deux" sometime soon!

[boomer1959]

Thanks Jim,
The kid and I had a great time. Every minute of it. We hit a wicked storm on the way home so we didn't get anymore shots. Here is my first post and I think you will all know where it was taken.:D :D :D

[BearLeeAlive]

Great minds think alike Dave, that fellow is the first and only shot I have processed so far. ;)
I will post it once I get it uploaded. Musta got 50 shots of him. :)

[BearLeeAlive]

Our group photo in K-country

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/159696382-L.jpg

Bighorn as Spray Lakes

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/159696334-L.jpg

Add keeping with the Bighorn theme, from the zoo
Big Daddy and Son

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/159698673-L.jpg

[elfieh]

Hi guys,
Here are some of my photos -

#1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7511_c.jpg

#2


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7543_c.jpg

#3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7589_c.jpg

#4
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7618_c.jpg

#5
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7800_c.jpg

[elfieh]

Here are some more...

#6
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7706_c.jpg

#7
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7728_c.jpg

[BearLeeAlive]

Elfie, that has to be the nicest shot of a Starling's butt I have ever seen. ;)

Good job on all those shots, it will be some time tomorrow before I get any more processed.

[elfieh]

Thanks Jim - lol for the butt comment!

Here are a couple of my Kananaskis shots...
#8
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_6066_c.jpg

#9
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_6060_c.jpg

[Steff]

Well, here are a few of my favorites from day 1:

1
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/zoo/falcon-1-web.jpg


2
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/zoo/burrowing-owl-1-web.jpg


3
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/zoo/lynx-1-web.jpg


4
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/zoo/hippo-web.jpg


5
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/zoo/ottor-1-web.jpg


6
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/zoo/goose-1-web.jpg

Saty tuned for Uber Kananaskis Glory!

[elfieh]

Very nice Steff!! You got great shots!

Elfie

[boomer1959]

Great shots everyone:D
Here is a few more of mine.

[boomer1959]

1 more

[elfieh]

Dave, very nice - love the first one - great stuff!!!:)

Elfie

[BearLeeAlive]

Nice Dave, I like the magpie, they are hard to get a good picture of.

[Steff]

Great Stuff Dave!

Thanks Elfieh! I'm pretty impressed by how well the 70-200 2.8 takes that 2X convertor!

Steff

[elfieh]

Hi guys,
Here are some more...

#1 (100-400)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7832_c.jpg

#2 (300 + 2X)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7624.jpg

#3 (300 + 2X)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7587_c.jpg

#4 (American Avocet - shot on the way home) (100-400)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_7957_c.jpg

Elfie

[BearLeeAlive]

Nice detail in the hippo shot Elfie. The BIF shot is neat too. Keep 'em coming. :)

[jack lumber]

Shucks I missed this meet (work got in the way).
Great shots look foward to seeing some more.

[boomer1959]

Here is a couple more. I'll bet you guys didn't get a shot of the second one;) :lol:

[BearLeeAlive]

LOL Dave, is that Devin? He sure looks cuddly in that shot. ;) :lol:

[boomer1959]

He can be a bit of a bear sometimes:lol:

[elfieh]

Shucks I missed this meet (work got in the way).
Great shots look foward to seeing some more.

Hi jack lumber!
You missed a good meet - we had a great time!
I am sure there will be another one...hope you can come then!

You have some nice shots on your website!

Elfie

[Steff]

Here's a couple of mine from Kananaskis:

1
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/Landscapes/lake-and-log-web.jpg


2http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m165/Danny_Cyanide/Landscapes/lake-and-driftwood-web.jpg



Steff

[elfieh]

Steff, those photos from K-country are absolutely beautiful! The color, sharpness, composition - first class!!!

Elfie:)

[elfieh]

Here are some more from K-country.

Elfie

#1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_6617.jpg

#2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_6613.jpg

#3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_6104.jpg

#4 (American Avocet)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/elfieh/IMG_8000_c.jpg

[Ross McT.]

My Zoo shots...

[Ross McT.]

My bird sanctuary shots...

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Wow!! Great shots every one. :)

Well, now that my internet conection is up and running again, I can post a few photos as soon as I get them edited. I had a blast on this get together, and hopefully we can do it again.

And thanks again Jim for the great hospitality at the BBQ saturday night.

[elfieh]

Ross, very nice shots! Love that butterfly and the little blue bird! Great!!!

Elfie:)

[Steff]

Thanks again Elfieh,

If you want to check out some that I took on my vacation last week, I've posted a fewe here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=328471

Steff

[elfieh]

Thanks again Elfieh,

If you want to check out some that I took on my vacation last week, I've posted a fewe here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=328471

Steff

Steff, I left a message on the vacation thread...

Elfie

[boomer1959]

Wow lots more great shots you guys. Keep them comming:D
Here are some more of mine.

[BearLeeAlive]

Great birds Dave.

I am finally getting around to doing some processing from the weekend, not sure if I will have anything up tonight or not though.

[elfieh]

Excellent shots Dave, wow!!!
Great detail - especially in the duck!

Elfie:)

[BearLeeAlive]

Here are a some from the zoo

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160637287-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160640007-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160641998-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160641013-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160643750-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160643434-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160644572-L.jpg

[BearLeeAlive]

And the only 2 worth processing from the bird sanctuary, that high sun put too many hot spots in most.

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160644750-L.jpg

http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/photos/160645070-L.jpg

[elfieh]

Great shots Jim!! I love the deer one - wonderful capture!!!
Also the little duck is very nice!

Elfie:)

[BearLeeAlive]

Thanks Elfie, he sure is a cute fella for sure.

[notsotechie]

Well I'm Glad you all had a great time. Maybe next time I'll join up.
Can't promise anything. Might be going to SAIT in the fall.
so a pretty busy scheuld this year.
Great work Guys and Gal

[elfieh]

Welcome notsotechie to the Alberta POTN group!
Maybe you can make it next time - it was a lot of fun!:)

Elfie

Well I'm Glad you all had a great time. Maybe next time I'll join up.
Can't promise anything. Might be going to SAIT in the fall.
so a pretty busy scheuld this year.
Great work Guys and Gal

[boomer1959]

2 more, Devin took the 2nd. one and it's pretty good:D

[BearLeeAlive]

Nice shots Dave, Devin did great with that one.

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Now I'm jealous.....hehehe. I chased that little varment around for a good while. He never did sit still long enough for me to focus in on him close enough. I swear he was teasing me. ;)

None the less, great shot of the chipmunk. :)

[elfieh]

Hi Dave,
Great shots - the little duck and Devin's.
I was trying to get one too - Geoff - but did not happen.
Devin did great!!!

Elfie

[boomer1959]

From the Zoo:D

[BearLeeAlive]

Gorgeous shot of that ram Dave.

[cherrymartini]

Great shots everyone! It sounds like everyone had a lot of fun. :)

[BearLeeAlive]

Great shots everyone! It sounds like everyone had a lot of fun. :)
Firstly, welcome to POTN, there is lots of great info to learn from lots of great forum members.

It sure was fun on our meet, lots of great folk came out. Next time you might want to join in on the fun. I see by your YYC location that you live at the Calgary airport. ;) :lol:

[cherrymartini]

Firstly, welcome to POTN, there is lots of great info to learn from lots of great forum members.

It sure was fun on our meet, lots of great folk came out. Next time you might want to join in on the fun. I see by your YYC location that you live at the Calgary airport. ;) :lol:

Ha ha thanks, well I wish I lived at the airport, maybe it would get me on a plane more often! :lol:
I've been reading much more than posting (obviously) but there are a lot of cool people on here with a lot of talent, and there is a lot to learn!

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Well, I finally got around to finishing the last bit of editing on my pictures from this wonderful trip and posted them good ones on my website (see link below my signature). But to show-off a few, here ya go! :)


http://shawcross.smugmug.com/photos/172025321-L.jpg


http://shawcross.smugmug.com/photos/171863252-L.jpg


I'm especially proud of this great horned owl photo, as it is tack sharp!

http://shawcross.smugmug.com/photos/171864414-L.jpg


Hope ya like them as much as I've enjoyed seeing al of yours. I really hope we all get a chance to do this again in the future. I had a blast, and it was well worth the sunburn! Haha! :)

[BearLeeAlive]

Great shots Geoff
Hope ya like them as much as I've enjoyed seeing al of yours. I really hope we all get a chance to do this again in the future. I had a blast, and it was well worth the sunburn! Haha! :)
:lol: I lost parts of the top of my head from not wearing a hat on our Saturday excursion. Got a wee bit too much sun on it, but it was worth it. I too had a great time, and look forward to the next outing.

[elfieh]

Hi Geoff!
You have some beautiful pictures on your web site! I love those macro shots - butterfly and flowers! Your landscape shots are also very well done!
It was a lot of fun!
We have to do that again - that's for sure!:)

Elfie

[FeXL]

So, when & where is the 2008 version?

[BearLeeAlive]

So, when & where is the 2008 version?
This coming Saturday. :D
Just kidding of course, but I have been thinking about it too.
Are you in Calgary, or near by?

Click here to discuss a meet this year.

Spring 2008 Southern Alberta POTN MEET (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=5096632#post5096632)