Please note that there are no more openings for Friday night camping in advance of the event and while there is still plenty of availability for people to attend the events during the daytime on Saturday there is now limited availability for camping on Saturday night. There is a new sign up form below that reflects the current logistics. The old form is no longer valid. IF YOU ALREADY SIGNED UP BEFORE, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP AGAIN. (everyone that has already signed up to prior to 12/20/2019 is confirmed for their reservation) Saturday night camping spots will be assigned on a first come, first served basis and will be dependent on site logistics for the remaining sites. With respect to Saturday night camping, completing the form below will be only be considered to be a request for camping accommodations, not a confirmation. Your request will be considered and based on site logistics you will receive an email response by January 13th with details regarding the status of your request. You must use a valid email address when filling out the form so that you can be contacted regarding the status of your request.

Please read everything below carefully to know what we are doing, how we are doing it, what the rules are, and what to expect:

Tampa Bay Camera Club is hosting another Photo Camp event It will be a fun time to enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow photographers while camping in the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest. The event will take place January 25-26, 2020. The location is the Tillis Hill Recreation Area. We have a block of 6 campsites reserved for the event. Each campsite has water, electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring. The campground has multiple restrooms with shower facilities. There are a limited number of tents and hammocks that can deployed per site and a limited number of vehicles and people allowed per site so it is important that you fill out the form below accurately so that our organizers can calculate the logistics as the event fills up.

We have lots of activities planned for attendees. This is the currently planned itinerary however be aware that any of it is subject to change at any time up until and during the event. Please try to arrive no later than 9:00 on Saturday morning to join in, earlier is better. For early arrivals there will be a morning photo hike in the forest area surrounding the campsite. At 10:30 anyone who is interested can carpool to the area where a group of limestone caves and sinks exists in the forest for exploration and photography. We will return at 1:00 and TBCC will host a lunch for attendees in the campsite. All food and drinks will be provided by the club. Donations of cash, snacks and/or additional drinks will be appreciated however. Please bring your own food if you have special dietary needs. After lunch there will time for campers to set up their camping gear on the campsites or explore the forest on their own for a while. At 4:00 Jim will give an educational presentation about night sky photography to help prepare any interested attendees for night photography on Saturday night. After the presentation everyone can gather at our central campfire for a potluck dinner. Everyone that is staying for dinner should bring a food item to share with the group. TBCC will provide paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils for the pot luck dinner. There will be options to cook food on the fire or on camp stoves. After dinner Jim will lead any interested attendees in a night photography event. The event is scheduled to coincide with the dark of the moon for optimum photography conditions provided that clouds don’t interfere. For the remainder of the night we will enjoy time at the campfire as late as anyone wants to stay up. Sunday morning everyone will pack equipment and leave by checkout time (1:00 pm).

Getting there: The correct location is 9231 South Trail 13, Inverness, FL 34452

GPS Coordinates: 82º 24.882’ W 28º 43.700’ N

Do not use any other address that you may find online. Make absolutely certain that you plan to access the site via Stage Coach Rd. and Trail 13. If you have a map or GPS directions that tell you otherwise do not follow them. Trail 13 is the main route and it is a maintained gravel/shell road. There are some ruts and holes but any vehicle can traverse it fairly easily. You are at your own risk if you attempt to drive through the forest on any other route without a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle. Travel north on Trail 13 from Stage Coach Rd. When you reach the paved fork in the road, take the right fork and drive up the hill to the site.

There is a limit of 2 vehicles per campsite. The first 12 vehicles that arrive will be allowed to park on our reserved campsites. Any vehicles arriving after that will be required to park in the day use parking field at the top of the hill on the right just before the campsite entrance gate. Please note that there is a $2 fee to park there each day. Cash envelopes and dashboard receipts are located in the iron ranger located at the day use parking entrance.

There is a limit to the number of people and tents per site. This means that some campers may be expected to be sharing sleeping accommodations with others. We will have to work out the specific details on the fly depending on how many tents get brought and how many people each tent will sleep. There are some options for setting up hammocks on our sites independently from any tents. If you have a camping hammock be sure to bring it as it may help. Jim will sleep in a hammock and will have an extra hammock available as well. Jim will also be providing a tent for others to make use of (sleeps 3 comfortably or 4 people who don’t mind being cozy).

What to bring:

Sleeping bag, blanket, pillow, towel, etc

Folding camp chair or stool

Camera equipment including tripod if you plan on doing night photography

Flashlight or headlamp. Must have red light option if you plan doing night photography

Food to share at the potluck campfire dinner

Personal snacks and drinks

Firewood for your own campfire if desired. TBCC will provide for the group campfire

Attendees are expected to familiarize themselves with and abide by the rules of the State Forest and the recreation area while attending. Information may be found at the following link. Please be aware that the rules of the State Forest allow leashed pets however pets are prohibited within the boundaries of the recreation area itself.

https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Recreation/Fees-and-Information#rules

January – Patterns. Create an interesting composition that features  one or more repetitive patterns.

February – Symmetry. Show symmetry in your composition.

March – My Pet, My Friend. Highlight the interaction and relationships between people and their pets.

April – The Unknown. Present an image that engages the viewer in a mystery.

May – Into the Distance. Show an interesting scene that is composed with a visually distinct vanishing point.

June – Odd Couples. Present an image with non-complementary subject elements.

July – Home Town Pride. Submit an image that showcases something special that residents would be proud of as a representation of their community.

August – Abstract. Present an interesting image that is not immediately recognizable to the viewer as depicting a particular object or scene.

September – Framed.  Compose a scene in which all or some of the important subject matter is seen through another element of the composition.

October – Superstition. Create imagery that represents the concepts, elements, or practice related to a superstitious belief.

November – Window Shopping. Make creative use of windows in a composition.