The Conservation Summit

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Introduction

Photography at the Summit and the International League of Conservation Photographers partner for spring Photography at the Summit.

James Balog wrote an article for American Photo magazine earlier this year, "How Photography Can Help Save the Planet."  Conservationists have used great photography to illustrate and educate since the days of William Henry Jackson and Careton Watkins.  Today, great photographers such as Balog, Nick Nichols and Tom Mangelsen to name just a few, carry the same torch.

Thus, we are combining our spring Photography at the Summit workshop with the International League of Conservation Photographers, who will be holding their third business and educational meeting prior to the workshop in Jackson Hole.  This prestigious group - headed by Cristina Mittermeier -has, in its short life, banded together an amazing group of the world's leading nature bears and wildlife photographers along with conservationists everywhere.  Headquartered in the offices of Conservation International, the leading organization for conservation issues worldwide, the group has already embarked on projects designed to raise awareness about conservation issues everywhere.

What does this mean for Photography at the Summit? The ILCP will hold their third business and education meeting prior to the Summit, this will enable ILCP attendees to also attend the Summit workshop at the end of their meetings on Sunday, May 18. The Summit will continue to provide instruction, inspiration and networking for attendees just as in the past, with a new concentration on conservation.  In addition, the evening lecture series will also include top environmentalists discussing conservation issues and showcasing their work.  Scheduled at this time for the workshop faculty include Bill Allen, former editor-in-chief of Nationl Geograpic; Kathy Moran, National Geographic senior editor of natural history; David Doubilet, famed underwater photographer; Tom Mangelsen, founder of Images of Nature and the Cougar Fund; Jack Dykinga, National Geographic contributor and former Pulitzer Prize winner; and David Schonauer, editor in chief of American Photo magazine who recently devoted an entire issue to photography as a catalyst for conservation awareness.  Please check the Faculty link below for a complete listing of instructors.

The ILCP meeting to be held in advance of the Summit Workshop will enable attendees to those sessions to also attend the workshop. Participants in the workshop are encouraged to arrive a day early and observe the ILCP business meetings if they wish to do so. Additionally some ILCP members will stay on as additional faculty and attendees for the week.

Summary

It's called a Summit because you can't reach any higher, and you can't get to a better workshop embracing digital photography in both editorial and nature/wildlife photography. This is a workshop where solid and practical instruction is combined with artistry, originality and creativity.oxbow The spectatular Grand Tetons are the perfect setting for rekindling your enthusiasm for great photography. The networking that goes on with faculty and other participants is unequalled, and the faculty members are the best in America in their fields. Not only is there formal instruction and individual counseling, but each evening ends with a unique time to socialize with faculty, staff and other attendees.

A faculty of the nation's top photographers from varying specialties will spend a week with a limited number of participants exploring the endless possibilities of digital photography. In addition to world-class instructors, the best technical consultants and trainers in North America will join Nikon staff experts to help attendees learn the latest digital techniques.

Details

With 10-15 instructors and staff onsite, and attendance that is capped at 60, each student can be assured a low student-to-instructor ratio and ample personalized attention. The combined knowledge of the faculty is outstanding and attendees have a chance to get not one or two opinions on their work, but a dozen points of view from a cross-section of the industry that you won't find anywhere else.

Expect ample time for shooting in the field, one-on-one and group technical instruction, peer review of images you shoot during the week, portfolio reviews and career counseling. Be sure to also check the Daily Sessions page for a description of a typical day at the workshop.

Daily shooting and critiques can lead to a finished photo essay, or just a collection of photos for your portfolio by weeks end. Nikon will have digital cameras to loan on a 24-hour basis as well as a variety of lenses, with Lexar providing memory cards for the group. Apple will provide workstations for attendee use and indepth instruction on their leading photographic workflow tool, Aperture. Epson will provide printers for use during the week and we'll cover best practices for getting the most out of your digital printer. Individual appointments with instructors for portfolio reviews and career counseling are encouraged. The week begins with a welcoming reception and ends with a farewell dinner, courtesy of our sponsors. This workshop is best suited for professional and advanced-amateur photographers who are looking to take their photography and careers to the next level.

We ask that you bring all of the equipment with which you normally shoot, especially Nikon users, as you will be able to use the large consignment of Nikon cameras and lenses in conjunction with your own. Photographers that currently use other brands of cameras are free to use your own equipment. We ask that you bring your own laptop if you have one available to you and please let us know at the time of registration if you will be bringing a laptop.

We've begun updating our PDFs for the 2008 workshop and should have the remainder posted shortly, please take a look at the information available at the bottom of the page for more about the workshop experience. Please call 1-800-745-3211 with further questions, one of our associates would be happy to describe the workshop at length. We will continue to post updated information concerning workshop

Place

Jackson, WY

Date

Sunday May 18th to Friday May 23rd, 2008. Plan on arriving on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, and departing Saturday morning following the workshop. Attendees of the workshop are invited to sit in as a guest and observe the ILCP Business meetings at the museum on May 17th. If you are interested in doing so, you may wish to arrive in Jackson on Friday May 16th. Space still available!

Faculty

Click Here

Host Site

National Museum of Wildlife Art

Host Hotel

Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson, WY. Please call 800-443-6139 and mention Photography at the Summit to book a special package price, including workshop tuition, six nights lodging and resort fees, of $3210 per person (single occupancy) or $2619 per person (double occupancy). If you would like to take advantage of this lodging/tuition package price, you must register for the workshop directly through Spring Creek Ranch, but feel free to call our offices with workshop specific questions at any time.

If you need additional lodging options, please contact Jackson Hole Central Reservations (800-443-6931 x3020) for availability at other properties in town. Most workshop sessions are held at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, just north of town, so you may choose any of the hotels in the town of Jackson that fit your budget. All will be roughly equidistant to the workshop classes.

Travel

You may fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) or drive in from the surrounding area. In the case that flights into Jackson are fully booked, Idaho Falls is the next nearest airport (about 2 hours by car), followed by Salt Lake City (about 5 hours by car). If you fly into the area, we recommend renting a car for the duration of the week as transportation is not provided and many of the best shooting areas are a decent drive from the museum and town.

Tuition

$1950.00; includes the welcoming reception on Sunday evening, daily continental breakfast at the museum, instruction, evening presentations, and the farewell dinner on Friday night. Please budget for lodging, car rental, and meals and you will need to reserve your own travel, lodging and car rentals. Please call our offices at 800-745-3211 to register with a $300 deposit, fully refundable until February 18th.After that time, if you need to cancel for any reason, your deposit is non-refundable, but can be applied to a future workshop of your choosing. Remaining tuition is due two months prior to the start of the workshop, so we will invoice you for the remaining amount just prior to that time. Note: We will not automatically charge your card for the remainder of the tuition if you pay your initial deposit by credit card.

If you would like to take advantage of this lodging/tuition package price mentioned above, you must register for the workshop directly through Spring Creek Ranch, but feel free to call our offices with workshop specific questions at any time. Spring Creek Ranch will handle both the deposits and full package payments directly for those taking advantage of the package.

Space still available!

A tuition discount of 10% is offered for full-time students and educators, workshop alumni, and members of our partnering organizations, AUPN, NPS, NPPA, NANPA and ASMP. Discount may not be applied in conjunction with Spring Creek Ranch lodging and tuition package, as the tuition portion is already discounted as part of the total price. Additional discounts are available for ILCP members.

The Workshop Registration form can be mailed or faxed to our offices. Please don't hesitate to call or email with any additional questions and you may also register over the phone if you would prefer.
Phone: 1-800-745-3211 Local/International: 1-303-295-7770 Email: info@richclarkson.com

Workshop Information and Packets

Workshop Student Packet updated for 2008 (most recent updated 5/14/2008) PDF 1.9MB

Workshop Schedule updated for 2008 (most recent updated 5/14/2008) PDF 490KB

ILCP Open Weekend Meeting Schedule (most recent updated 5/16/2008) PDF 200KB

Additional RAVE Information updated for 2008 (most recent updated 5/14/2008) PDF 200KB

RAVE Area Background Information (prepared by Peter Aengst of the Wilderness Society) PDF 200KB

Directions to Spring Creek Ranch for final dinner.

Directions to Museum for daily sessions and evening presentations: 2.5 miles north of the town square in Jackson, on the west side of Highway 89 on the butte overlooking the National Elk Refuge.

National Museum of Wildlife Art
2820 Rungius Road
Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83001

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the online packet. Acrobat Reader is available as a free download from the Adobe website. Click Here.)

Other Helpful Links

Spring Creek Ranch: www.springcreekranch.com
National Museum of Wildlife Art: www.wildlifeart.org
Directions to National Museum of Wildlife Art: www.wildlifeart.org/Info/GeneralInformation.cfm
Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce: www.jacksonholechamber.com
International League of Conservation Photographers: www.ilcp.com
See examples of previous attendees' recent work at the workshops: www.digitalrailroad.net/summit

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the online packet. Acrobat Reader is available as a free download from the Adobe website. Click Here.)

 

 
Photos clockwise from top left: © Bob Smith, Summit Series of Workshops, Rob Sinclair, Donna Beeman, Cal McKitrick, Tim and Barbara Scully  
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