Symposium explores nature photography

Images for Conservation Fund (ICF) and Texas Agrilife Extension, in conjunction with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, present Nature Photography Symposium: Ranch Nature Photography for Fun and Profit March 29 in Kingsville. The symposium is designed to educate both amateur and professional photographers as well as landowners on the details involved in developing dynamic settings on private land for optimal photography.

ICF is a Texas-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of a sustainable, self-funded wildlife conservation industry based upon nature photography tourism. This new industry will establish exciting nature photography destinations while simultaneously generating significant income for the private landowners who lease them. To raise public awareness of these opportunities for both landowners and photographers, ICF has created the Pro-Tour of Nature Photography and a number of supporting events.

The day-long symposium on Saturday will follow the photo contest launch party Friday night, which will team pre-selected landowners from the Coastal Bend with professional photographers. The Launch Party will kick off the month-long 2008 Pro-Tour of Nature Photography: Coastal Bend of Texas competition to run April 1-30 in a 19-county region along the middle Texas coast. Both the launch party and symposium are open to the public.

The symposium will begin with a morning session that both the landowners and photographers will attend to learn about the industry of photo tourism. Following a networking lunch, the afternoon session will target the two groups separately.

The symposium will be held 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. March 29 at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Student Union Building. Admission is $75 and includes lunch. The launch party will begin at 6:30 p.m. March 28 at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Center at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Admission is $60 and includes dinner. For more information or to register for the events please visit the ICF Web site.