The pronghorn or antelope fawn has got to be among the most beautiful and endearing creatures on our planet – giving a whole new meaning to the word adorable. Each year beginning in mid to late May, the high plains become a grasslands cradle where these gorgeous little tykes can be seen peeking through the grass, scampering along as they try to keep up with their mother or playing with siblings & other fawns – but usually only in fleeting glimpses and at a distance. Well, here’s your chance to slip into the world of these pronghorn young for awhile and come away with some images that can only be had with such a visit.
Join photographer Dick Kettlewell for this two-day, one-on-one seminar as he takes you on a tour beginning at dawn through the Custer State Park grasslands. Drawing on fourteen years experience of photographing all aspects of the pronghorn life, Kettlewell will guide you into position to photograph some of the more intimate moments in the lives of these fascinating creatures. Using tips that have enabled him to capture acclaimed and widely published images of the pronghorn fawn’s life, you can begin a portfolio of your own dedicated to this unique animal that exists no where else on our planet except the North American prairies.
Click here for Photos and More from this Workshop!
Location - Lame Johnny Ranch sits at the edge of the southeastern Black Hills about 40 miles south of Rapid City, SD with boundaries common to South Dakota's Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park.
Dates - This workshop is a two-day seminar designed for the intermediate to professional level and must remain a one-on-one ratio. The workshop is offered on a Tuesday-Wednesday or Saturday-Sunday schedule from June thru July 2012.
- Saturday, June 9 – Sunday, June 10, 2012
- Tuesday, June 12 – Wednesday, June 13, 2012
- Saturday, June 16 – Sunday, June 17, 2012
- Tuesday, June 19 – Wednesday, June 20, 2012
- Saturday, June 23 – Sunday, June 24, 2012
- Tuesday, June 26 – Wednesday, June 27, 2012
- Saturday, June 30 – Sunday, July 1, 2012
- Tuesday, July 3 – Wednesday, July 4, 2012
- Saturday, July 7 – Sunday, July 8, 2012
- Tuesday, July 10 – Wednesday, July 11, 2012
- Saturday, July 14 – Sunday, July 15, 2012
If registering online, please specify a primary and alternate set of dates you are interested in below, and we will confirm availability upon your registration. You may also call Nicole at (813) 956-8702 to register and confirm dates.
Photography Skill Level - Intermediate to Pro
Activity Level - This workshop may involve some extensive hiking which could be strenuous at times. Sturdy hiking boots are strongly advised along with a light jacket that can be shed and easily carried as the morning warms up. No Shorts. Sunscreen and insect repellant are also advised, especially later in the day.
Recommended Equipment - A professional single-lens reflex digital or film camera with at least a 400mm lens(a 300mm lens with a 1.4 extender also works). Also, you should bring either a tripod or unipod, keeping in mind that the tripod should be one that you can carry on long hikes across rolling and rugged prairie terrain.
Price - $500 for the two-day workshop. Price does not include lodging, gratuities, meals, or transportation to and from the ranch. We will provide certain refreshments such as water, coffee, soft drinks, etc.
Class Size - The maximum number of participants for each date is one – no exceptions! This restriction is due to the amount of space available in the blind.
About Your Instructor - Dick Kettlewell has been a professional photographer for 28 years, having worked both as a photojournalist and a nature photographer while earning numerous awards.
As a photojournalist he spent many years on daily newspaper staffs including the Albuquerque Journal and the Rapid City Journal during which he was primarily a sports photographer, covering sporting events from high school level to professional. He has also completed various contract and freelance assignments over the years for numerous major newspapers including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.
While with the Rapid City Journal, he produced a photo column for that paper's outdoor page entitled "Spring Creek Chronicles" which featured images and stories about the region's wildlife and landscapes. This column was also the recipient of many journalistic awards for both photography and writing.
In addition to publishing his images in other well known publications such as the Smithsonian Magazine, the Discovery Magazine, the Natural History Magazine, etc.; Kettlewell has also published two books about the wildlife and landscapes of the region entitled Black Hills Impressions and South Dakota Wildlife Impressions. Both are produced by Far Country Press and are available in major book stores such as Borders and on the Amazon network.
Itinerary -We meet at the Lame Johnny Ranch on Lame Johnny Rd. just outside Custer State Park. We will work until about 9:30-10:00 when the light usually becomes harsh and brake until mid-afternoon – around 3:30-4:00 – and then will work until sundown.
