September Field Trip – Small Animal Photo Shoot  – Saturday, Sept 18th

I believe a good mix of subject matter & location are vital for amateur photographers for optimal level exposure using their photographic skills. Up to this point, the use of macro or 'extreme' close-up images have not been the main course of our field trip line-up. With our upcoming September club field trip, we have an opportunity to use & practice macro images shooting in the form of 'small animal' photo shoot with Dennis Sheridan coming from Morro Bay at Rocky Nook Park here in Santa Barbara.

Our September field trip will be on Saturday, Sept. 18th  from 9:00 am ending close to 12:00 noon at Rocky Nook Park. Mr. Sheridan will bring an assortment of reptiles, snakes, amphibians, insects & lizards to the park to be photograph in a 'natural' like setting amongst  the rocks, trees & landscapes found at Rocky Nook Park. This is a repeat of field trips we have had in the past and I would like to have a greater participation of club members wishing to photograph small animals in a close-up environment.

      Leopard Gecko                                                                                                  © Robby Guevara - 2009

A small fee of $10.00 is being asked to cover Dennis Sheridan's cost of transport, storage and set-up of these animals from Morro Bay to Santa Barbara. (*) -  This has been a popular subject for camera club members in the past and I'm certain that many current and those newer club members may find interesting as well.

Animals from last year's field trip included: Corn Snake, a Yellow Anaconda snake, Blue-Tongued Skink, Leopard Gecko, Desert Hairy Scorpion, Mexican Fireleg Tarantula, Giant African Millipede, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach and Luna Moth were but a sample of the animals that were displayed for us.

      African Millipede                                                                                              © Robby Guevara - 2009

Dennis Sheridan will also show examples of world-wide insects, amphibians and arachnids and their unique place in nature. Perhaps, he may be incline to have members do a bit of 'hands-on' to admire and handle with care of course during this photo session.
Biography: Dennis Sheridan has served on the Natural History Association Board of Directors, and he was the first president of the NHA Docents. Dennis is a professional photographer and entomologist who has traveled worldwide and is published in many journals and textbooks. A native Californian, he was born in San Mateo and raised in Arcadia. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1973 with a degree in biology, specialty entomology. Dennis moved to Morro Bay in 1974 and began a career in photography, concentrating on native wildlife, as well as fungi, lichens, insects, wildflowers and California scenery.

So, please join us for our upcoming September field trip at Rocky Nook Park with Dennis Sheridan, 'The Animal Wrangler'.  Please e-mail me if you wish to participate in this field trip. The fee will be collected by me before or on the day of this field trip at the park. Please sign-up by Tuesday, September 14th.  I wish to acknowledge the assistance of Stuart Wilson in helping me arrange this field trip. 

NOTE: (*) I wanted to book this field trip to Morro Bay to also explore that area, but perhaps we can schedule this for 2011 and head up north to San Luis Obispo.

Robby Guevara / Field Trip Director