Rebekah, Here's a simple rundown from what I remember. We got there Friday after 12:00 noon, it was raining... The folks at the entrance were kind enough to let us onto the mountain and we drove to the top. There is a weather station at the top and you can check it online. It's cold on the mountain. At 2:30 or 3 PM, we went back down to the entrance and a meadow off to one side (east?). There was a registration tent with folks passing out credentials.
We drove back up the mountain 2.5 miles or so to the picnic area. This is where all campers are and the pdml are located. After a short visit, we went to town to check into a hotel and got some dinner. We returned in time for Don's welcome presentation at the museum/theater/cafe building. It was still raining... Afterwords, we drove off the mountain and down into town to sleep. (We stopped for a short time at the picnic area to visit with the pdml folks, but had to leave before the gates to the mountain are locked for the night. Bad/Good idea as there was a great deal of fun to be had that night, but little sleep! ) We returned the next morning to shoot pictures. There are lots of scenic vistas - think 50mm or wide angle? The animals in the enclosures are another good photo opportunity - think a longer lens, maybe 200mm? Flowers and fauna are also great subjects - a macro or anything with close focus is good to bring. By Saturday afternoon you'll want to pick 3 good pictures to submit to the contest. Somebody will help you burn them to a cd if you don't bring a laptop. All this happens in the cafe area and it's not a bad place to crash after a day outside. There is a dinner at the cafe/museum/theater for all participants followed by the Saturday night presentations. Same deal for us going down the mountain, visiting the campers, and returning to town. Sunday morning we returned to the mountain. (Many campers tooked a bit tired & bedraggled, perhaps too much fun on Saturday night.) For an extra $8-10, there is a breakfast (think carbo loading) followed by presentations. By 11 AM or so, Mark and Doug start showing the best submissions to the contest and the winners. They try to wrap things up by Noon and get folks headed for home. We stayed for some lunch and talk to list members then headed out to the Smokeys around 2:30. Hope this helps, Bob S. On Mon, Apr 28, 2008 at 7:12 PM, Cory Waters <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Rebekah wrote: > > Well guys, > > > > this year will be my first year at GFM. (yeah!) > > > Hizaaaah! > > So, if anyone would kindly take the time.... > > > What do I bring? > Camera gear you'll use or want to show off. Everything from long johns > and heated socks to shorts and sun screen. Seriously. Rain gear too. > If you don't have good rain gear, buy some it WILL rain. Extra clothes > because you'll get wet. Hiking boots. Tripod. Bunny ears, etc. > > What do I leave behind? > Stuff that you won't use, I guess. Do not leave behind your rain gear > (see the pattern here?). When you see what all I bring, you'll laugh. > > When should I arrive? > The "Staff" sometimes arrive on Wednesday night. Some PDML folks who > are camping (myself included) usually arrive Thursday . Mark climbs the > mountain and camps up there Thursday night (spooooky). The bulk of the > "contestants" arrive Friday afternoon. > > Where do I go to find you guys? > The picnic ground about halfway up the mountain on the right. Look for > the bathroom and you'll be right there with us :) > > Should I bring food? > There is a dinner included in your entry. We traditionally ear > breakfast at the restaurant one day. Don has traditionally made lunch > on Saturday but it's easy to miss if you're out shooting or editing your > work. If there is something you have to eat or drink, bring it. If > you're a coffee snob for instance, bring your own. There's usually some > food around at PDML central. We've had pot-luck on Thursday night > too... It just depends. We *may* plan a meal or two but who knows? > > What kind of food? > Um... so yeah, whatever. If you have a specialty that everybody > loves... bring it. Bring snacks and soft drinks... not everybody drinks > beer (Oh the horror!) > > How much camping gear do I need? > As much as you need to be comfy. There will be camping gear around but > since you're driving, I'd bring your normal camping kit (I assume here > that you camp). If you don't camp...Bring good warm sleeping gear, some > way to fix whatever you plan to eat. > > What are you packing in your camera bag and what do you suggest? > I think I'm just going to bring the K10 and the lenses I know I'll use. > Nobody is much interested in my old Super Program and MX anymore. > > Should I bring a laptop? > Yes. Can I use it? > Basically, can anyone tell a first-timer how GFM goes, what to bring,and > what to expect, and where to go? > > Thanks....I'm so excited!! > > > Thanks for posting, now I'm excited too! > > rg2 > > > > > > Cory > PDML West > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
