Perhaps it was the cow moose, posing with her calf at the edge of a clump of willows. Maybe it was the sheer beauty of the lakes and high country, framed by stark peaks in the clear mountain air. Possibly, it was the dusty charge of a dozen horses, racing for the open prairie out of corrals at a local ranch, or the quiet cowboy, working with his gelding, or the ancient petroglyphs etched by ancient “spirit people” into the rocks above Ring Lake in Torrey Valley.
It could even have been that guest speaker’s spell-binding account of his journey solo skiing to the South Pole, or the flint-knapping demonstration provided by a local artist, the nostalgic stories recounted by one of the area’s early residents, or the amazing Yellowstone Park photographic images displayed by another guest speaker. Any one of these moments, or more, could have been what made the biggest impression on the dozen photographers who gathered at the Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp on August 8 – 14, 2021 to attend the first “Wind River Photographer’s Retreat.” The seed of conservation was planted in the hearts of each of us.
Hosted by the National Bighorn Sheep Center, this new and unique nature photography workshop was organized and implemented by Sandy Zelasko, a professional photographer with more than 30 years experience as an instructor, public speaker, and hands-on workshop leader, and Bill Sincavage, a Dubois-area freelance nature and wildlife photographer who shared that dream of hosting a workshop that could celebrate the area’s wildlife, landscapes, and historic past.
Photographers who attended the workshop came from Pennsylvania, California,
Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota, Arizona, and Wyoming. While some had years of high-level photographic experience, others were learning the basics of improving their skills, and this workshop provided ample opportunities for all to learn and enjoy the wild wonders of the Wind River Wyoming country and the local Dubois-area citizens and culture.
The workshop itinerary provided five days of thoughtfully-scheduled events that included a mix of photo shoot opportunities in a wide variety of outdoor settings, interspersed with presentations by guest speakers who shared stories about local history and information about area wildlife and conservation issues. Threaded throughout the workshop was the theme of the National Bighorn Sheep Center, to “INSPIRE – EDUCATE – CONSERVE.”
Based on feedback from participants during the final hours of the workshop, this first Wind River Photographers Retreat was a success from all aspects. The food and accommodations at the Whiskey River Conservation Camp were amazing. People were inspired by the vistas, the speakers, and the adventures they experienced throughout the week. The efforts by Sandy and Bill to provide broad brush tips and ideas that might help all photographers improve their images, while also being available to assist individual participants with specific needs, defined the workshop as one designed to meet the needs of all levels of photo enthusiasts.
For more information on center, their programs or the upcoming 2021 Bighorn Bash, Whiskey on Wildlife , contact The National Bighorn Sheep Center, (307) 455-3429, info@bighorn.org, or www.bighorn.org.
