Spring Photo Meet-up with Tamron

Rum River Regional Trail // Anoka, MN

April 6, 2024

Join National Camera and Tamron Sales Rep Mike Pazandak for a Spring Photo Meet-up at the Rum River Regional Trail in Anoka, MN on Saturday, April 6th at 10 am. This free event is aimed at photographers of any experience level with interchangeable lens cameras.

The Rum River Regional Trail runs through the city of Anoka, starting at Akin Riverside Park and heading north into the Anoka Nature Preserve. When you arrive, we’ll gather as a group at the Gathering Place Bandshell at Akin Riverside Park before setting out to explore the area. After our initial meetup, you’ll have the freedom to explore the area independently or stick around with the experts for more guided, personalized advice. Whatever you need, we’re here to help! 

During the walk, we will also spend some time experimenting with long exposure techniques to capture the flow of moving water at the dam. Make sure to check out our long exposure tips and “be prepared” section below for more info!

EVENT SCHEDULE

• 10:00-10:15 am // Check-in + Loaner Gear
• 10:15-11:45 am // Photo Walk
• 11:45-12:00 pm // Wrap-up + Return Gear

BE PREPARED

What to expect:

We will walk the trail between the Gathering Place Bandshell and Riverfront Memorial Park, totaling approximately one mile round trip. As this event will be held outdoors, rain or shine, we recommend dressing comfortably and appropriately for the weather. 

What to bring:

Make sure to pack your camera bag or backpack with essential gear: your camera, lenses, a fully charged battery, an additional battery for backup, memory cards, and a lens cloth for cleaning. Consider bringing extra gear like a tripod, remote shutter release, CPL filter, ND filter for the long exposure portion of the photo walk, and a rain sleeve to protect your equipment in case of unexpected weather. 

Loaner gear:

Tamron will offer a select variety of loaner lenses for you to try out during the photo walk. National Camera will also be providing a limited number of tripods, CPL, and ND filters for those who wish to experiment with long exposures but do not have their own equipment.  All loaner gear is first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive during the check-in window if you plan to borrow any gear. 

Please note: You must present a valid photo ID to check out Tamron lenses and NCE loaner gear.

LONG EXPOSURE TIPS

• Composition: Pay attention to composition, including foreground elements like rocks or foliage, to add depth and interest to your image.
• Shutter Speed: For flowing water, longer shutter speeds (usually several seconds or more) create a smooth and silky appearance, emphasizing the motion of the water. Adjust the shutter speed based on the speed and intensity of the water flow.
• Stability/Minimize Shake: Use a sturdy tripod to keep your camera steady during the long exposure, ensuring sharpness in your final image. Pressing the camera’s shutter button manually can introduce slight camera shake, even when using a tripod. A remote shutter release allows you to trigger the shutter without physically touching the camera, thus minimizing the risk of camera shake and ensuring sharper images.
• Neutral Density (ND) Filters: ND filters reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing you to use longer shutter speeds even in bright conditions. This is particularly useful for achieving longer exposures during daylight hours without overexposing the image. 
• Circular Polarizer (CPL) Filters: CPL filters reduce reflections and enhance color saturation in your image. While CPL filters are commonly used in situations with strong, direct sunlight to reduce reflections and enhance colors, they can still be beneficial even on overcast days.

REGISTRATION

This event is free and does not require registration.

LOCATION ADDRESS

Rum River Regional Trail
The Gathering Place Bandshell
1721 River Ave, Anoka, MN 55303

For more information about Rum River Regional Trail, click here.

 If you have any questions about this or any other event, please email us at classes@natcam.com. We will do our best to get back to you within 1-2 business days.