I'm leaving tomorrow for Laredo Texas to compete in the 3rd "Images for Conservation Fund", Pro Tour of Nature Photography Contest. This is the world's richest photo contest with $180,000 in total prize money. The contest places 20 top professional nature & wildlife photographer on 20 participating private land holdings for the entire month of April. I have no idea what ranch I''ll be photographing on until Saturday night when by drawing I will find out. One of the contest rules is that you have never photographed on the ranch before. In essence all the photographers are going in blind. The ranches and private landholdings that are in the contest have to meet certain requirements to be eligible including size, a minimum of 1000 continuous acres, and some wildlife conservation activity taking place on the ranch.



I have competed in all the previous contests. The first in 2006 was held in the "Hill Country" of Texas around San Antonio. I photographed on the beautiful Knibbe Ranch and finished 2nd in the contest. The 2008 contest was held in the "Coastal Bend" region of Texas near Corpus Christi. I drew the Mustang Ranch in Duval County. I again finished in 2nd in a very close contest between 1st and 2nd place. Three very qualified individuals will judge the photographs with absolutely no way of knowing who took the images. Each image can score a maximum of 30 points and total points for the portfolio determines the winner. They also pay an extra $500 prize for the top 20 images in each category. In the 2008 contest I had 18 images in the top 100.



During the month long contest you are required to obtain a portfolio of 75 images filling the 5 required categories. The categories are Birds, Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians, Insects and arachnids, Scenics and Plants. You can have anywhere from 10-20 images per category but only 2 of any one species. This makes it a very challenging endeavor having to produce more than 2 excellent images per day. None of the wildlife is conditioned to humans as you might find in a National Park making the photographers naturalists skills as important as photography skills. It's a grueling event both mentally and physically. I photograph day and night with little sleep. I've been working out extensively since the last contest to be ready for this one. You really need the physical endurance to keep pushing and working hard the entire month.



During the contest I'll be utilizing a full array of cameras, lenses and accessories. For this years contest I'll be using the full frame Canon Eos 5dmk2, the 1.3 crop Canon 1dmk4, and the 1.6 crop Canon 7d. I've used a similar array of cameras in the previous contests and feel that it works out very well. I'll be carrying lenses from my 16-35mm F2.8L all the way up to a Canon EF800mmF5.6L with little or no gaps in focal length in between. I'll be using multiple flashes, remote triggers and many other accessories to help me capture the images I need. My GMC Yukon XL will be fully loaded for my drive to Texas.

I will most likely be far to busy to blog for the next month and I have no idea whether I'll even have Internet access on the ranch I'll be on. In 2006 I did in 2008 I didn't but I will give a report as soon as possible upon my return. Go here To see more information on the Images for Conservation Fund and the Pro Tour.

I've started a nature photography blog that emphasizes the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. I''ll discuss nature photography in this incredible region along with some camera gear talk and photo adventures I take. Please stop by often. at http://drobertfranz.blogspot.com/.

When visiting Cody Wyoming please stop by my Photo Gallery at 1236 Sheridan Ave. I have a nice selection of framed prints, matted prints and notecards available for purchase.

An individualized day of instruction in the field in outstanding areas within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Grand Teton National Park and the Bighorn Basin.

January 29 - February 5, 2011 (3 spaces remaining)
Winter is a magical time in Yellowstone, the worlds first national park. The boiling hot pools, steaming geysers, dense concentrations of wildlife, a little fog to add mood, and the lack of crowds make this, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary times of year to visit.

May 29-June 5, 2010 (Only 3 spots left)
Spring in the worlds first and perhaps finest national park is a time of excitement. New life may be found everywhere in Yellowstone National Park. Bison, elk, and moose calves and antelope and deer fawns are proudly displayed by their mothers in lush green meadows filled with wildflowers. The grizzly and black bears are very visible this time of year and will be our primary objective. This combined with a variety of nesting birds will afford us hours of endless photo opportunities during this exciting tour.

June 19-June 26 , 2010
Wild mustangs invoke the spirit of the old west. The Bighorn Basin of northwest Wyoming is prime wild mustang habitat. We will concentrate our effort in 2 different wild horse management areas (HMA), McCullough Peaks , and the Pryor Mountain National Wild Horse Range. In addition, the basin is a scenic photographers delight with stunning mountain backdrops, colorful badlands, and rugged canyons. A photographer could spend a lifetime in the Bighorn Basin and never explore all there is to see.

July 3-9, 2010,
See bears in their native and un-stressed environment doing what bears do naturally, with no other people but our group and guides!

Sept 25th – Oct 3th, 2010
Timed to hit the peak of the fall colors. The valleys are filled with colorful cottonwoods and the hillsides are covered with golden aspens making this a landscape photographers paradise! In Yellowstone wildlife will be putting on an imprressive display as they prepare for winter.

Dec.12-16, 2010
December is the mating season for the bighorn sheep. Rival rams fight for dominance and the right to breed. The battles are one the most spectacular sights in the natural world and we have timed our trip to be on location during the peak of the season!