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Day Camp Weekend Recap - A Two-for-One Field Report

Writer's picture: Russell GravesRussell Graves

This past weekend was a big weekend here at Hackberry Farm.  Friday night, we had our firefly workshop, and on Saturday, we hosted another group for the Night Photography workshop, where we used the full moon as a light source for some engaging photography.


With these camps, we flip the schedule.  Instead of starting in the morning and working all day, we start at 4 pm and prepare to work into the night.  We begin with introductions and classroom instruction and then transition into supper.  Depending on the evening, the food ranges from homemade burgers with sausage and garden-grown, grilled onions as an appetizer, and hickory-smoked ribs with all the fixins.  We take pride in the culinary offerings at Hackberry Farm, and it's our wish to make the food as memorable as the photo and educational experiences.


A Hackberry Farm Photo School Field Report
Rt. 1 - Fireflies along the county road

We hosted a group of experienced photographers on Friday night for the event.  After spending a bit of time with introductions, going over camera settings, and some post-processing tips, the sun sank low, and we headed to the field.  As the sun sets on Hackberry Farm, the fireflies emerge.  At first, they are in the trees along the creek.  That's the area that gets the darkest first.  As the edge of the fields darken, the fireflies emerge.  Dozens of the tiny insects flash at any given second, and the sheer number of them is a little overwhelming.  However, they concentrate on specific areas of habitat that suit them the best, so it's easy to find and photograph them.


The show starts around 9:30 p.m. and is over by 11:30 p.m. Fireflies are temperature-sensitive, and their time on the wing is a frenzy of finding a mate and breeding the next generation of the iconic insect.


A Hackberry Farm Photo School Field Report
John Deere Green

Saturday night was a delight as well.  We went out and watched the fireflies for a bit because now is the peak of firefly season on the farm, and they are always a must-see.  We began our photography as the moon came up over the southeastern horizon.  While it was daylight, we'd already gone over the camera settings, so everyone was ready to go.  Moonlight photography is different from night sky photography.  We don't take pictures of the moon.  Instead, we use the moon as a light source, and it is a unique light source indeed.


A Hackberry Farm Photo School Field Report
Big Dipper Windmill

Taking pictures under moonlight gives the subject a surreal, warm glow. Therefore, we spend our time refining the length of the exposure and moving from subject to subject. Moonlight and firefly photography is a lesson in quality over quantity. The setups and processes are slow, so it takes a while to make good, intriguing photos. In the end, it's all worth losing sleep and staying up late to see what goes on when the sun goes down.


A Hackberry Farm Photo School Field Report
The Cemetery

A Hackberry Farm Photo School Field Report
Fireflies under the Moonlight

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We still have a couple of dates left in our Spring 2024 Day Camp Schedule.  If you want to see what's left, be sure to check out our schedule HERE


If you're looking for a private camp for you and a few of your friends (a minimum of three), be sure to send me a note from the CONTACT page.




A Hackberry Farm Photo School Field Report
Paw paw's corn crib


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