In line with our upcoming Birds Competition in May, Tom Jordan will be leading a field trip to Lake Casitas near Ventura on April 18, 2026.

We will be leaving very early to get to the lake for morning light and bird action. Only Tom and Kathy signed up, so we will be carpooling at 4:30 a.m., not from Lowe's.  If you want to meet up with us later, just call when you get to Lake Casitas Recreational Area, and we can tell you where we are. Please let us know early, so we will look for your call.

We will photograph near the lake shore, and near the eagle nest. A variety of shore birds, egrets, herons, small birds, and birds of prey frequent the area, as well as various mammals. The eagles do have one hatchling. 

Carpooling is recommended. 

You will need: Camera, a long lens (the longest you have), a chair, jacket for possible cool temps, sunscreen, water and snacks, extra battery/memory card.

We will stay for a few hours, and then head down into Ventura for lunch at Andria's Seafood (Yum!).

Please sign up by commenting in the comment section below the article. Make sure you are signed in and click on the article header for the comment section to appear.

Lancaster Photography Association is going to have a field trip to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens on March 14, 2026.

With 120 acres of stunning themed gardens, historic architecture, art collections, and seasonal blooms, this location offers endless creative opportunities for photographers of all skill levels. 

Time: Meet at 10:00 at the Entrance.

Address: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108

Cost: Tickets are $34.00, Seniors (65+) $28.00. Click here to purchase your ticket on their website as reservations are required.

Bring: Camera, wide angle and macro lens recommended, extra batteries and memory cards. Don't forget water, hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes. You may bring a tripod for photos on the grounds (no blocking pathways). 

We will eat lunch there.

The botanical gardens include a Japanese Garden, Desert Garden, Rose Garden, and Chinese Garden. 

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. for a day of creativity, learning, and inspiration!

SIGN UP BY COMMENTING IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW (Sign in, click on the header of this article to bring up comment section).

 

Lancaster Photography Association will be going on a field trip to the Palm Desert area from Thursday, February 19, 2026 to Saturday, February 21, 2026. Please comment at the end of the article to sign up for the field trip.

Kathy Newman will be leading us for the three days. The planned activities will include:

• Thursday 3:00 p.m. - Hotel check-in; 3:30 - Meet at designated location to drive to Borrego Springs to see various Ricardo Breceda sculptures before sunset. Night photography and light painting at 2-3 sculptures.
• Friday - Morning - Meet to caravan to Salvation Mountain, Slab City, Sonny Bono Wildlife Preserve, Later Afternoon-evening - Bombay Beach sunset and night photography.
• Saturday - Morning - Living Desert Zoo - Head home.

There will be a variety of photography opportunities, including wildlife, night photography, lightpainting, zoo, and landmarks. You will need a wide-angle lens for night photography, long lens for the Sonny Bono WIldlife Preserve, and a medium zoom lens for the zoo and other activities. Also a remote trigger or intervalometer and a tripod for night photography.

Bring a chair for sitting, a hat, sunscreen, extra water and snacks.

We are looking at hotels in Indio due to room prices - Options are: Days Inn by Wyndham Indio - $146/night, Motel 5 Indio $117/night, Rodeway Inn near Coachella - $108/night, Budget Inn Motel Indio $64/night. These hotels are all fairly close to each other in Indio.

If you have any questions, call Kathy at 661.317.1884 or email her at kc_newman2001@yahoo.com

Sign up in the comments (log-in, click on article title to access comments at bottom, sign up)

On January 24, 2026, Lancaster Photography Association is excited to head down to the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve to do some early morning bird photography.  It is known to be a great birding location, especially in the early morning. This field trip will help you practice bird-in-flight techniques, long-lens composition, autofocus tracking and burst shooting, and working with changing light and backgrounds. You are welcome to photograph at your own pace, explore different trails or shoot alongside fellow members for shared learning and inspiration.

Suzanne LeRoy has volunteered to be our guide.

Place/Time: We will meet in the parking lot closest to the basin (it has restrooms) at 6:30 a.m. and then head out to find some great bird photography. We are hoping for some beautiful sunrise mist to enhance the photos. 

Directions: 14 South, 5 South, 405 South to Burbank Blvd, turn right. Turn right on Woodley, Follow sign to Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve (See map)

What to bring:

•     Jacket (it will be in the low 40s) and comfortable walking shoes
•     Wide lens and long lens (for environmental and close-up bird shots)
•     Tripod (helpful for low light and heavy lenses)
•     Extra batteries and memory cards (if needed)
•     Practice with auto-tracking focus mode and back-button focus for the best images

Please sign up in the comments section below (you have to be logged in and click on the article title to get to the comments section at the bottom).

    

On Saturday, December 6, 2025, Lancaster Photography Association will practice our Architecture photography skills with a field trip to Caltech in Pasadena. It is known for its blend of historic Mediterranean Revival buildings, modern scientific facilities, and beautifully manicured courtyards. There are elegant arches and colonnades, reflecting pools, courtyards, and fountains, geometric facades and bold contemporary forms all available on the Caltech campus. 

You will be able to sharpen your architectural photography skills - from capturing grand exteriors to discovering subtle architectural details. Make sure to look for light and shadow, vanishing points, patterns, and compelling angles highlighting form and structure.

We also hope to have time before sunset to go to the Colorado Street Bridge area after Caltech. Then we will grab some dinner and head home. 

The theme for our next competition in January is Architecture, so this will give you some great options!

Bring: Your camera and wide-angle lens. A polarizer will help manage reflections. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, and bring a hat, sunscreen, and water.

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Place: Meet on Del Mar Boulevard at the Neuroscience Research Building (corner of Wilson Ave and Del Mar Blvd)

Parking: Grant Park (232 South Michigan Street - street parking, with bathrooms available) or North Wilson Parking structure at 341 S. WIlson Ave, Pasadena, CA - Free on weekends.

Please sign up for the field trip by commenting below (you will need to click on the article header for the Comment section to appear)

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, LPA will gather in the Sequoia National Forest to go fishing for airplanes. (Fishing, not catching). We will be sitting on a hillside, amongst the bushes and boulders, as aircraft MIGHT come through the canyon at low levels and high speeds (500 feet, 500 knots). We could get traffic from Edwards AFB, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Air National Guard planes from Fresno, Nellis AFB or other places. Planes we MIGHT see could include F35s, T38s, F/18s, F15s, odd and assorted helicopters, perhaps some surprises or unicorns. (Cargo planes, bombers, F117s COULD come through, again....nothing is ever guaranteed)

We will depart the Sierra Gateway Market (13432 Sierra Way, Kernville, CA 93238) at 8:00 A.M. Get there early to grab snacks, drinks, use the restroom, get gas, etc. We will caravan about 14 miles to the turnoff, then head one mile up a very well-maintained dirt road (easily passable with a passenger car) to where we'll park. It's about a 300 foot walk to where we will sit to watch the planes. It's not a strenuous hike, but it is in between the bushes, and you want to watch for rocks, stumps, and other tripping hazards. It's an easy walk.

Things you need to know:

• There is NO SCHEDULE for the flights. We are NOT guaranteed any traffic, and we do NOT know when or if anything is coming.
• We are on the side of a hill. There are NO facilities. There are pit-style toilets a mile away at a campground.
• There is no cell signal.
• Things to bring:
  • Camera with the longest lens you have. I shoot with a 180-600 mm.
    • Empty/extra memory cards
    • Full/extra batteries
  • Folding, camping-style chair
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Scanner (optional) - sometimes we get warning, sometimes we don't
  • Patience. We can go an hour or two between passes. (Did I mention there's no set schedule, nor guarantee that we'll see anything?)

The planes can come through anywhere from sunrise to sunset. My goal is to be in location and set up by 9AM. We usually stay until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Remember, we have a 3(ish) hour drive home. Some may choose to stay in Kernville the night before or after the trip. There are decent motels, restaurants, stores in town.

Hit me with Questions - Andrew (805)512-2277

SIGN UP BY COMMENTING ON THIS ARTICLE - Log in on the website. Click on the Article Title. Comment at bottom.

On Sunday, October 5, 2025, we will be having a field trip down to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach for their Photographers' Night.

YOU MUST GET A TICKET AHEAD OF TIME! They do sell out. Cost: $44.95  CLICK HERE FOR LINK.

We will be able to be there from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. They will open the doors at 6:00 p.m. and start with an Introductory Workshop with tips, tricks, and guidelines for the night. There will be vendors like Tuttle Cameras where you can rent and test new equipment. A coffee cart will offer drinks and snacks for purchase during the early evening.

You will be allowed to bring a tripod or monopod, flashes, soft boxes, and strobes, but lighting restrictions must be observed based on exhibit/animal needs. You may bring screens to block off reflections or to control lighting. All photos taken will be for personal use only. 

Bring a camera, wide lens (24-70) with a large aperture (to let in the most light), a flash or constant light if you like. A rubber hood to reduce reflections is a great option!

The Aquarium has a photo contest you can enter after the event.

Sign up for the field trip by commenting below (click on article title at top and make sure you are signed in to be able to comment)

THE FIELD TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LPA will be going on a field trip to Alabama Hills from September 11 (evening) through September 13 (morning), 2025. You are invited to join us at the Alabama Hills to do some Night Photography at Boot Arch and Mobius Arch rock formations. 

We will meet at 5:00 p.m. September 11th at Mt. Whitney Restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we will carpool up to the Arches to take some night images.

We will be shooting from about 7:30 p.m. to about 1:00 a.m.

The next morning after breakfast (9 a.m.) we will be heading up to the Whitney Portal trailhead to photograph the beautiful waterfalls. 

It will be cooler up there at 8,000 feet. Bring a lunch or eat at the Whitney Portal Store. After lunch, we will explore the area for more interesting images or head back to your hotel room for a rest. We will meet again at 5:00 Friday evening for dinner and then head back to the Arches for more night photography. 

Bring a hat, sunscreen, dimmable white flashlight, plenty of water, a tripod and remote trigger for some great night-time photography! Bring a neutral density filter to capture smooth waterfall photos at the waterfall.

Saturday morning, you will be free to head home or explore other close-by landmarks, such as Manzinar or Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery.

Hotel Recommendation: Dow Villa in Lone Pine. There is a variety of hotels available, 

Call Steve at (720)436-9094 or Kathy (661)317-1884 for more information.