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Great Sand Hills Photography Tour (Saskatchewan, Canada)

Dates: September 28-30, 2007.

Cost: $310 per person includes 2 nights accommodation (based on double occupancy), steak barbecue on Saturday evening and tour fee. Participants are responsible for their own meals and transportation.

Single room price: $375

About the photo tour

The photo tour is less structured than a workshop, and there will be no formal lectures or tutorials. Our intent for the tour is to bring together keen photographers to explore this special region of Saskatchewan. As well, we want to share some of our favorite spots in the Sand Hills area and we also hope to learn from one another in an informal and relaxed shooting atmosphere. Branimir will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Trip itinerary and daily schedule are flexible, allowing us to adapt to environmental conditions and the interest of the group. We will have various spots pre-scouted and we can decide as a group which spots we prefer to visit based on the light and weather.

Friday, 28. September
- check in and gather at 4:30 p.m. at the Four L Motel in Leader for orientation meeting.
- leave for evening photography. We will visit South Saskatchewan River valley south of Empress, an area with some of the most spectacular views in southern Saskatchewan.
- return to Leader and late supper (7:30-8 p.m.).

Saturday, 29. September
- we will wake before sunrise, grab a quick snack, and head out to the open sand dunes south of Sceptre. Photography from sunrise until late morning, head back to town for brunch and a much deserved rest.
- meet again at 2 p.m. and leave to location south of Lancer. We can make a short stop and visit the town of Sceptre which features large outdoor murals and an interesting local museum.
- steak barbecue supper at a local ranch (a separate meal can be prepared for participants with specific food requirements). Evening photography on location, return to Leader after sunset (8:30-9 p.m.)

Sunday, 30. September
- leave before sunrise. Photography location selection will depend on the weather and light conditions and interest of participants.
- return to motel and check out by late morning.
- wrap-up brunch, closing remarks and depart by noon.

Location

The Great Sand Hills is the largest remaining area of contiguous native prairie in Saskatchewan. The area covers about 1,900 square kilometres (750 sq. miles) of sand dunes, rolling grasslands, saline lakes, cotton wood groves and aspen bluffs. Individual sand dunes may rise more than 15 metres (50 feet) above the surrounding prairie, second in Canada only to the Athabasca Sand Dunes in northern Saskatchewan.

The Sand Hills have been identified as one of five Natural Areas of Canadian Significance in Saskatchewan. In 2005 the Province of Saskatchewan established the Great Sand Hills Representative Area Ecological Reserve and protected 336 square kilometres (36,585 hectares) under the Ecological Reserves Act. We will visit and photograph several areas within the Ecological Reserve. We expect to encounter pronghorn antelopes, different species of birds of prey and a large number of deer along the way.
Resources:

•  Landscapes of interest around Leader
•  www.virtualsask.com
•  gallery of images from the Great Sand Hills

Accommodation

We will stay at the Four L Motel in Leader, Saskatchewan (see the area map here). Leader is a thriving community of over 1,000 situated along the South Saskatchewan River. It is one of the sunniest places in North America, with 2350 hours of sunshine. Tourism is seen by local officials as a growth opportunity, and amenities such as an outdoor swimming pool and a golf course entice visitors.

Clothing and photography equipment

Enthusiasm, good cheer, and love for photography are the most important items to bring with you. As far as camera gear is concerned, bring what you own. You will be able to create great photos with the equipment you already have. Digital cameras are welcome and encouraged. A laptop computer will be available for backing up your images on CDs in case you run out of memory space. Please note: this is a courtesy offer - be aware that backups will not happen if they interfere with the trip leader's sleep time. Binoculars for wildlife viewing are optional.

Your registration package will contain a more detailed itinerary and a list of recommended gear. Make sure that your footwear is well broken in and that it feels comfortable. Be prepared to hike 1-2 kilometres at a time in hot, dry conditions, sometimes through deep sand which could become tiring. Bring a personal water bottle, thermos of coffee or tea for morning shoot, and snacks (Leader has a well supplied grocery store in case you run out). The instructor's vehicle will always have water, juice, and pop available.

Registration

To ensure personal attention and limit the impact on a fragile ecosystem, the size of the group is limited to a maximum of six participants. Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis, so please register now to reserve your space.

See a sample of images from the Great Sand Hills

Read articles on photography tips and techniques

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