2nd Annual Joshua Tree Gathering - Feb 27 - Mar 1, 2009

What Is This Anyway?

What is the Joshua Tree Gathering you ask?  It's a weekend of photography, phun and phellowship.  It's an opportunity to get away for a weekend in our closest National Park - Joshua Tree.  It's a chance to get in a little camping.  You get the opportunity to photograph some of the wonderful sites in Joshua Tree.  And you get to shoot the breeze with like minded people over a pot luck dinner and campfire Saturday night.  What could be better?

Who Should Attend?

Well, photographers of all kinds and skill levels.  What if you're a painter you ask?  Hey, it's all about capturing the beauty of this special place no matter what the medium.  Do you have to be an accomplished fine art photographer or painter?  Not at all.  Just bring your camera no matter how humble or noble, or paints, or whatever.  And your creative eye and spirit. 

Check This Out!

This weekend we have an 18% moon that sets around 9:00.  And at least one person will bring her telescope.  So we'll not only be exercising our creative muscles during the day but being amazed by the glories of the night sky in the evening as can only be done in the desert.  And if you have a telescope, please bring it.  Two are better than one, three are better than two, four are better... I think you get the idea.

Where Will We Meet

Our base of operations will be in Jumbo Rock Campground.  I'll try to get there early on Friday and get a campsite in or near site 20.  That site is literally in the shade of the marvelous Juniper tree pictured above.  You can camp anywhere in Jumbo Rock but the closer to site 20 the better.

Now campsites are first come, first served.  So when I get to camp I'll post a notice on the bulletin board at the entrance to the camp letting you know where I am.  But there's a trick.  Notices like this need to be posted on the BACK of the bulletin board.  So you'll need to get out of your vehicle and check behind it.

If you don't go for the camping part but still want to enjoy the weekend there is lodging in nearby Twentynine Palms.  Places I recommend are (in decreasing order of expense) the Twentynine Palms Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Gardens Inn and Suites, El Ranch Dolores (a funky 50's motor lodge - honest, it's cool) and, my personal favorite, the fabulous Motel 6 (bring your own blow dryer).

Schedule

Friday, February 27 - Get together in my campsite.  Bring snacks.  We'll talk about the weekend and get some ideas for Saturday shooting.

Saturday, February 28 - Morning:  Form up in groups or strike out as individuals to explore the high and low deserts of Joshua Tree.  The Desert Dawn Shooters will surely be active in at least several locations, greeting the sun with the appropriate clicking sound of shutters being released.

Saturday, February 28 - Evening:  After shooting sunset we'll converge on my campsite in Jumbo Rock (check the BACK of the bulletin board) for a sumptuous pot luck dinner.  Everyone should bring a dish to server 8.  The definition of a dish is appetizers, salads, entrees, and deserts.  We'll really trust to luck here so be creative and show off a little.  Or a lot.  Everyone should also bring their own drinks and camp chairs.  We'll also have a campfire and enjoy the good conversation that surely follows a good meal.

Sunday, March 1 - Morning:  Another Desert Dawn Shooters opportunity.  You'll have an opportunity to catch that other spot you wanted to shoot for sunrise.  I'm sure people will be congregating in my campsite for some sort of morning eats (bring your own).  We can chat some more, share ideas and experiences.  The rest of the day is yours to do with what you wish.

Check the schedule on the BACK of the Jumbo Rock Campground bulletin board for more specifics.