EVENT: Houston Group Shoot at Mercer July 23

[tjavery]

Howdy all!

The next meet-up and group shooting event in Houston will be at Mercer Arboretum. The details:

• Date: Saturday, July 23, 2005
• Time: 8am to ??? (whenever you feel like leaving)
• Info: http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/general.htm
• Meet in the main parking lot (P1, see map: http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/maplegend.htm) at 8am. At about 8:15am, we'll then wander into the arboretum and gardens to shoot.

Mercer is open to amateur photographers, and is a great place to shoot nature & macro subjects. Bring all your lenses, close-up stuff (e.g. extension tubes), and a TRIPOD! Mercer is also open to commercial photogs, but you have to obtain permission prior to shooting. Any photo to be used for commercial reasons must be approved by them first.

We'll most likely have to spread out a little bit to avoid bunching up and restricting flow on the walking paths. Just be mindful of other visitors and allow them to get around you! :-)

Hope to see all of you there! We had a great time at the last shooting event (downtown Houston at night) and shot many spectacular photos.

[janetg]

sounds great...i was there a couple of weeks ago and while this picture was ps'd...its my favorite i think

[JKH]

Sounds like a plan to me TJ. Unless something else wrecks my plans I'll be there.

John

[mattchow]

doh, i'll be in austin at a car show.

[PhotoSpidy]

well, just talked to Glen on the phone (he's in New Orleans), and we will be there unless something comes up on that day

gee.... now i must go buy a 50mm lens for myself cause i know he isnt going to want to share.... :shock: damn, i hate being forced to shop!! :twisted:

[NeoteriX]

Wow -- I was there a little over a week ago. Beautiful place. Really. Yeah, it seems that a good amount of pro photogs go there, esp for wedding stuff -- I saw at least two.

I wish I took more photos there, but I got one nasty mosquito bite.

[dlee]

While all photographers are welcomed at Mercer, recently signs have been posted requesting Pros and Amatures to register. There are clipboards with sign-in sheets for each group just inside the main office. You are asked to review the rules before beginning your shoot. Seems some photographers have been posing their subjects in the middle of the flower beds. blocking access to other visitors, and other inappropriate or inconsiderate acts.

It is a great place for photography and I hope to see you there.

[PhotoSpidy]

Glen was there for work, they seem to think he has a second home there.. where-as he hates going over there. (in his line of work he finds all the idiots available :shock: ) plus he knows that when he goes, he's there for the week and he also hates not coming home at night.... so he rarely has anything good to say about it lol he goes to his lap top and downoads his call and when he starts cussing like the sailor he used to be, i know where hes going lol

[Roamingtexan]

Hi TJ, this will be my first TPF Houston event. I'll be marking all my calendars to make sure I don't forget.

RT

[darktiger]

Would go, but I have this wedding extravanganza thing to go too.... :(

[Steelsun]

I am tentativly going to be there. All depends on some of these weird clients that seem to be calling this week (so far I may have to schedule a 2 day surveillance in Tyler, drive to Anahuac to serve papers, and too many other piddling things.)

[Xposure Photo]

:oops: I am guilty as charge, I had a couple in the middle of the Bambo shoots field..it was fun, but I got cought :roll:

If I make it out there it will be after 3pm, I will try to wear my TPF T-Shirt, you guys should wear yours so we know who is who, I may even bring a couple to take shots of arround in there since I am more of a people shooter.

[tjavery]

Just a quick tip to all that are planning to attend- it will be hot and humid Saturday morning. Your lenses will definitely fog up when you take them out of an A/C'd environment. It will be best to let them acclimate to the outside air slowly, and do this long before the shoot begins.

You can put your camera bag in the trunk of your car for the drive to Mercer, for example. That might allow your lenses and bodies to heat up to the ambient temp. outside.

If your lenses fog up, it really sucks. I've had some experience with this lately, and I've found that it takes 30-45 min. for a fogged-up lens to clear.

[ck713]

Wish I could be there but i'll be golfing :) I'm looking forward to seeing the shots!

[tjavery]

Just an update on the weather: tomorrow's forcast shows 30% chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon. So, the morning should (hopefully) be sunny. I would suspect that if it does rain on us tomorrow morning, just hold on and wait a bit- the shower will probably pass.