RMOWP’s 2019 conference in Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, Colorado is now just a memory – well, a memory and probably a lot of photos. Those pesky elk were everywhere, along with moose, bighorn sheep, pika, and marmots. About 40 people came to Estes Park, most braving the trip up above timberline to over 12,000-feet elevation on Trail Ridge Road. The promised great sunset turned out to be a dud, but the tour was still fun with ample photo opportunities. Early risers also went back into the park for sunrise at Sprague Lake.
There were several writing workshops with RMOWP’s own Mary Taylor Young, who literally wrote the book on the park (Rocky Mountain National Park, The First 100 Years), and gave us a presentation on the park’s history. Fred Lord, a longtime photography instructor, presented a program on photographing the park.
The always entertaining and informative Hortons each led workshops. Bill’s subject was “Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gew Gaws: Gear to Make You a Better Writer or Photographer.” Kit gave us details on how to improve our websites to sell our photos and writing with “Get Found and Noticed – A Website Workshop.” Handouts on both of the Horton’s workshops will soon be available through www.rmowp.org.
RMOWPers once again dug into their pockets, bidding on items large and small, silly and serious, generating a final tally of $6,782! Special thanks to Beto and Clare Gutierrez for once again donating a several-day-stay at their Santa Clara Ranch in southern Texas — a photographer’s dream, with photo blinds at strategic locations to facilitate getting incredible shots of wildlife, both four-footed and winged.
As usual, we also had the writers’ forum, photo critique, presentation of all contest entries, the showcase of selected members’ photography, and finally the awards banquet and presentations.