NECCC 2011

The annual New England Council of Camera Clubs (NECCC) conference was held in Amherst, MA from July 15^th to 17^th. This gathering of photographers, vendors and nationally-known speakers draws over 1,000 participants each year. There’s a slew of talks on such diverse topics as photojournalism, portraiture and nature photography, with hands-on teaching programs and model shoots throughout the weekend. This year’s event was capped off by a chance to photograph a hot air balloon rise Saturday evening.

Mark Bowie represented API at our trade show booth. He has spoken at the conference several times and had the chance to re-visit friends and colleagues, and introduce new attendees to the Adirondacks and API’s workshop and tour offerings.

The conference is always a great weekend of photography, education, inspiration and camaraderie with fellow shooters. If you’re interested in attending next year’s conference, check out the NECCC’s website, www.neccc.org, for information. We’ll see you there!

Our 1st Adirondack Canoe Photo Tour!

The inaugural Adirondack Canoe Photo Tour immersed participants in some of the most incredible and diverse Adirondack beauty. API instructor Mark Bowie and Adirondack guide Griz Caudle led the group to several interconnected waters in the most saturated area of the Adirondack Park — the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest and St Regis Canoe Wilderness. We photographed mists rising from Floodwood Pond, gardens of white water lilies on Fish Creek, pitcher plants and sundew on floating mats of boreal bog, and a dramatic sunrise over Follensby Clear Pond. We photographed a loon dancing on the water, a days-old loon chick riding the waves alongside her mother, fluff-ball mallard ducklings scrambling over a log, and other ducks jumping off a high rock into the water. A beaver surprised one of us near his lodge. An osprey wheeled overhead. This area produces magical moments every day, which makes for creative images and an authentic Adirondack experience. Its intrigue captivated our paddlers.

We plan to return to this area next year, visiting more special waters and scenic hot spots. If you’d like to experience the backwoods beauty of the Adirondacks by boat, side-by-side with a noted photographer and famed guide, consider joining us.

High Peaks Adventure with McGowan/DiGiacomo

photo by John DiGiacomo

Guest instructor Don McGowan, assisted by API staff member John DiGiacomo, led an excellent group of photographers on API’s first early-summer, week-long workshop in the Park’s High Peaks region. Based out of the Historic Northwoods Inn in Lake Placid, this energetic group were treated to a plethora of photographic opportunities including mountain vistas, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, ponds, bogs (complete with beavers  and Great Blue Herons), early summer wild flowers, water lilies, ferns, farmland and much more. Many of the participants commented on how the number and variety of photographic opportunities far exceeded their expectations for this time of year.

Don and John share the API staff philosophy of not photographing while teaching, affording participants more one-on-one instruction, focusing on their individual needs and goals. Group and individual field instruction included the creative use of wide angle, macro and tilt-shift lenses, and also the steps necessary to create successful panoramic and HDR images. The group also spent several hours, spread out over the week, participating in interactive critique sessions that were well received.

Most importantly the group frequented many of John’s favorite coffee houses including Wake Up Call in Keene and Bean-To-Coffee in Saranac Lake. Communal dinners were had at a different restaurant each evening allowing participants time to better get to know one another.

Adirondack Songbirds Workshop

I want to thank all participants for attending the Adirondack Songbirds workshop. We had a great group! They photographed many beautiful species of warblers; including one which I had never previously seen. Additional avian subjects included Vireos, Sparrows (Song and White-throated), Cedar Waxwings, Chickadees, Nuthatches and more.

The Woods Inn went out of their way to accommodate our varied meal times and the food was incredible as usual. A wonderful time was had by all.

Eric Dresser at Adirondack Museum

API staff member and internationally-published wildlife photographer Eric Dresser will be appearing at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York on July 16th and 17th. There will be two presentations each day of his program Northern Tranquility: Tactics of the Wildlife Photographer.

This is the first program being produced as part of our partnership with the museum. Don't forget, if you are a member of the museum you are eligible for a discount on API programs!

For more details on Eric's program click here.