March Meeting: Part 1: “Flower Photography for Fun and Education” and Part 2: “iNaturalist Basics: An Introduction”

On March 4, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., HLBWS will be joined by Dr. Marvin Bloomquist and Ms. Sheryl Smith-Rodgers for a two-part presentation..

In Part 1, Marvin will share techniques and strategies for taking good photos of plants. Participants will learn about some resources for identifying the flowers and plants in the environment. Marvin will wrap up with a series of photographs that showcase Texas plants and wildflowers, the majority of which were taken at his ranch near Kingsland.

In Part 2, Sheryl will demonstrate how to document observations of species in the natural environment during her presentation, “iNaturalist Basics: An Introduction.” This tool is available both online and as a downloadable application for mobile devices. iNaturalist helps to answer the age-old question of “What is that wildflower?” in real time.

Marvin Bloomquist is a native Austinite, a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas and a charter member of the Highland Lakes Master Naturalists. He serves as the photographer for the Highland Lakes Master Naturalist Land Management Assistance Program (LMAP).

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers resides in Blanco and is a long-time journalist and photographer. Her work has been published in numerous magazines, including Texas Parks & Wildlife, among many others. She has been a Texas Master Naturalist since 2012 and keeps a blog, “Window on a Texas Wildscape.”

Part 1 will provide tips for photographing wildflowers.

Dr. Marvin Bloomquist

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers