Category: Outings

Have fun with photography with our monthly photo challenge. Subjects and guidelines are explained below. This is open to anyone interested in exploring their creative vision. Remember to be careful and safe when out and about, especially in our changeable Texas weather. Above, Barber’s Book Store by Tyler Nicole.

Due date       Subject

JAN 14           Barber’s Book Store, 901 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth (interior)

FEB 18           Fort Worth Stock Show Midway Area Outdoors (Jan. 13 thru Feb. 4)

MAR 18         The Best Hat Store, 2739 N. Main, Fort Worth (Interior)

APR 15           Flatiron Building, 1000 Houston at 9^th St., Fort Worth (Exterior; black and white.)

MAY 13         Lake Weatherford Boardwalk, 1299 W. Lake Dr., Weatherford, TX

JUN 17           U.S. Postal Service Building, 251 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth; interior or exterior

JUL 15            Main Street Bridge over Trinity River, 1400 N. Henderson St., Fort Worth

AUG 12          In the Kitchen – A kitchen or a kitchen object (Interior)

SEP 16           T & P Rail Station, 221 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth (Interior or Exterior)

OCT 14          Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus East, 245 E. Belknap St., Fort Worth (Exterior)

NOV 18         Sunset or Sunrise shot at the Lake Worth Mosque Point Shelter, 8375 Cahoba Dr., Fort Worth (Exterior)

Guidelines

The Photo Challenge will be separate from monthly member competition and will not have scores or awards; it’s for fun, sharing ideas and learning how other members view the same subjects. Here’s how it works:

• Each month has an assigned subject.
• Photos must be taken after Dec. 20, 2022.
• Members may enter up to three images each month.
• The images will be shown following the monthly workshop and posted as a group on Facebook as an album and perhaps on our website.
• The images will be displayed in no particular order and the photographer’s name will be announced. Questions and positive comments are welcome as the image is shown. We want to enjoy the range of creativity of our members.

Submission of Images

• Rename your images using your first and last name with a space in between; put a number 2 after your name if entering a second image, and a number 3 if submitting a third image
• No need to remove metadata.
• Re-size your images to 1920 pixels wide and 1280 pixels high
• Email them to submit.photochal@gmail.com on or before the due date with a subject line of “FWCC Photo Challenge Submission.”

• 7 – 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023 lasting as long as one likes.
• Caravanning isn’t planned for this event as some participants will want to arrive at sunrise.
• HNWR is 1 hour-40 minutes from downtown Fort Worth near Sherman. It is recommended to arrive near daybreak to take advantage of the early light.
• A map of the Refuge may be obtained here. The red dotted lines in the map indicate the automobile tour route. Wildlife Drive, leading from Meadow Pond Trail north to the Visitor Center, is the most traveled and provides excellent viewing opportunities for ducks, egrets, gulls, pelicans, visiting snow geese and raptors. One may also drive out around the pads via Oil Field Road.
• Directions to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge may be found via this Google maps link. The route chosen takes one to the south entrance of the Refuge to Wildlife Drive.
• A suggestion: Take advantage of your car. It’s a portable blind and allows one to keep warm while shooting on cold winter days.
• Above, Refuge snow geese by Charles Morris.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to enjoy the thrill of thousands of migrating snow geese during the winter. The Dec. 27 census by the Refuge tallied over 6,000 mostly along Wildlife Drive. Please drive slowly. Pull over to the side of the road for your photographs.

There are a few trails for hiking. Check the Refuge map listed above. Barn owls, barred owls, great horned owls, as well as harrier hawks can be seen. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the two resident bald eagles. They like to perch on top of the utility poles near the oil pad sites. Last but not least, many species of songbirds can be observed. The last tally of red-winged blackbirds in December was over 450.

This is an all day outing with no time constraints. Breakfast can be found at various restaurants on the drive up to Hagerman. McDonald’s in Gainesville is located on California Street on the right side of I-35. There is another McDonald’s on Hwy. 82 in Whitesboro. The Rib Crib in Gainesville is a good place for lunch if you like BBQ. It’s on the west side of I-35 south of the Hwy. 82 crossing.

The Club asks participants to observe COVID precautions suitable for their circumstances.

• March 1-6, 2023
• Big Bend National Park
• Big Bend is an 8-10 hour drive from Fort Worth
• Lodging of all types is limited; make reservations ASAP

Photograph starry skies, desert vistas and early spring bluebonnets in the Big Bend region of Texas. This outing will include three photo opportunities with time determined by Photo Pills or similar app.

• March 2: Sunrise at Santa Elena Canyon; photo above, by Roy O’Rear
• March 3: Sunset at Sotol Vista Overlook
• March 4: Morning views and lunch at Chisos Mountains Lodge area (Location may change since the lodge is expected to close for remodeling sometime in 2023.)

Participants may otherwise explore photo locations, hiking and dining of their choosing.

The park is one of the most re-visited parks in the national parks system. Visitors are attracted by the vast skies, desert and mountain ecology and wildlife. The area has limited options for lodging, camping and RVs, so reservations must be made well in advance.

If you have not traveled to Big Bend or have not explored West Texas, you’ll need to research locations and activities. Please be aware that you should heed all warnings about distance, weather, road conditions and hydration. The desert is spectacular, but unforgiving.

Many club members are regular visitors to the 800,000 acre national park and their images from the area often win awards. Ask members for suggestions at a monthly club meeting; find more information:

• Big Bend National Park/National Park Service; PDF park guide
• Big Bend Ranch State Park
• Texas Department of Transportation Travel Guide and Map
• Things to Do in West Texas
• Big Bend Natural History Association (guides, memoirs, history)
• Big Bend Photography