Discussion about entry: Oregon Photo Safaris: Photography Training Oregon Geotourism
This is discussion about Oregon Photo Safaris: Photography Training Oregon Geotourism.
This is discussion about Oregon Photo Safaris: Photography Training Oregon Geotourism.
Comments
JC2046,
Thank you for the kind words. We work very hard to educate. It's nice to hear that our entry, web site and video were concise and informational. That means we did our job educating you about what we do.
Thanks for your comment!
Dwon Guvenir
Owner/Instructor/Guide
www.OregonPhotoSafaris.com
In response to:
"Perhaps they could be more open to all different ways of capturing images such as painting, videotaping, etc,..."
"Oregon Painting Safaris" just didn't have the right ring to it. :-)
Thanks for the comments! Please keep them coming!
Dwon Guvenir
Oregon Photo Safaris
Owner/Instructor/Guide
The video is interesting, professionally edited and filmed, and more importantly, informative. It even talks about the definition of geotourism, which allows readers to digest the concept a little bit more earlier before reading the whole entry. The title and the concept of this entry are also fascinating, as photography is incorporated into the geotourism challenge. It does stand out, as most other entries are focusing on efficient use of power, food, resources, etc, whereas this theme is unique, strong, precise and concise. The target is also clear; Oregon! It is not trying to reach other parts, yet, so the entry is good at focusing on one state first, then another in the future. The information about its current partnership with the Oregon State Parks Trust is also making the readers buy into the entry more, as we know what sort of work is being done now and in the future. The unique tourist experience documented with crystal clear details. Again, this certainly helps provide a sense of what you have been doing to the city as well as the area that you are focusing on, Oregon. It has also done a great job by mentioning who it is willing to partner with, and this little detail makes the entry stand out, because many other entries have forgotten to do so. In addition, you teach via showing the pictures of the effect or making the photographers to shoot the impact rather than talking them through, which makes the learning experience interactive and useful, because students are committed to what they are doing and would understand more about the impact through the pictures than through pure lectures. Another specific point for managing barriers; lack of marketing budget, which leads to ‘lack of audience’. This barrier point is very specific and it should generate some attention from other relevant organizations that can help you with that.
This entry is the most specific entry that I have seen so far, so the improvement for this entry is very little (maybe make the entry longer?), as it has professional website, concept, mission statement, etc. All the things are very concise and precise listed on the entry, which makes the entry enjoyable for tired readers like me.
Oregon Photo Safaris is definitely as innovative as they come. The safari is an incredibly unique method of introducing geotourism to a large population in a destination not known especially for Safaris. The information provided on this project is unmatched. As a child I can remember playing Oregon Trail in my Elementary School Classrooms and outside of Portland, there isn’t much more I know about the state. Oregon Photo Safaris really brings that childhood memory to life, though without the horse and buggy and rationing of food. On a more serious note, this project combines the beautiful elements of photography with the excitement of exploration, while proving to be enormously educational on many levels.
If anything I agree with jc2046 when I say there’s very little wrong with this entry. I would like to note that I would not make the entry longer, but focus on less repetitive information. You’ve got a great organization on your hands, and I can only hope that this leads others to make such endeavors in their own backyards.
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"WE must be the change WE wish to see in the world"
I really like this idea and this entry. The idea is both interesting and creative. Growing up in Washington I have an appreciation for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and I think Oregon Photo Safaris has done a wonderful job of sharing and showcasing its beauty without harming it.
The entry was clear and to the point. I appreciate how simple it was. It gives the reader a good understanding of the goals and what the program entails. I think it's great that educating guests about ecology is one of the goals but I would like to hear more about how specifically that's done. Also I would like to hear in more detail about how the local Oregonians are involved and how they contribute or support Oregon Photo Safaris. Overall I'm very impressed with what I read, what a great thing to do. I wish Washington had something like this.
I really like this idea and this entry. The idea is both interesting and creative. Growing up in Washington I have an appreciation for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and I think Oregon Photo Safaris has done a wonderful job of sharing and showcasing its beauty without harming it.
The entry was clear and to the point. I appreciate how simple it was. It gives the reader a good understanding of the goals and what the program entails. I think it's great that educating guests about ecology is one of the goals but I would like to hear more about how specifically that's done. Also I would like to hear in more detail about how the local Oregonians are involved and how they contribute or support Oregon Photo Safaris. Overall I'm very impressed with what I read, what a great thing to do. I wish Washington had something like this.
I really like this idea and this entry. The idea is both interesting and creative. Growing up in Washington I have an appreciation for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and I think Oregon Photo Safaris has done a wonderful job of sharing and showcasing its beauty without harming it.
The entry was clear and to the point. I appreciate how simple it was. It gives the reader a good understanding of the goals and what the program entails. I think it's great that educating guests about ecology is one of the goals but I would like to hear more about how specifically that's done. Also I would like to hear in more detail about how the local Oregonians are involved and how they contribute or support Oregon Photo Safaris. Overall I'm very impressed with what I read, what a great thing to do. I wish Washington had something like this.
I really like this idea and this entry. The idea is both interesting and creative. Growing up in Washington I have an appreciation for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and I think Oregon Photo Safaris has done a wonderful job of sharing and showcasing its beauty without harming it.
The entry was clear and to the point. I appreciate how simple it was. It gives the reader a good understanding of the goals and what the program entails. I think it's great that educating guests about ecology is one of the goals but I would like to hear more about how specifically that's done. Also I would like to hear in more detail about how the local Oregonians are involved and how they contribute or support Oregon Photo Safaris. Overall I'm very impressed with what I read, what a great thing to do. I wish Washington had something like this.
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Heather Quinn
An interesting idea to promote geotourism. For someone who loves photography, this entry was particularly interesting. This innovation offers a very specific tourism concept and promotes the beauty, history, culture, and environment of a unique destination. Not only does the concept focus on the natural beauty of the region, but the import components of the area such as stores, restaurants, and hotels. I fully agree that photography is a great way to encourage stewardship of a destination. Visitors would learn to appreciate and preserve the natural beauty that they capture with their cameras. Generally, photographers look more in depth into things than regular visitors, so underlying aspects Also, tourists would be educated, not only by the photography classes, but through what they are taking pictures of. The photo tours not only promote the destination, but bring increased financial resources to the area. This innovation is a creative approach to tourism. The entry was very well done and the photos on their website were beautiful. The video was very useful, and explained what geotourism was and how their innovation promotes it. Great concept. Good entry.
I really think this is a very innovative idea. It brings people who are interested in photography and the other things mentioned like history, culture, and ecology, while ultimately giving back to Oregon's state Parks. This is not your ordinary photography class, but truly an educational experience. The best part about this whole thing is that these people are students, and they can leave the class and teach others about the practices and things they've learned in your classes. The entry is very informative and straight to the point. The video also allows the viewer to get a better understanding about what the program is all about. The idea of franchising your organization I'm sure is a difficult one. I do think it is important that if you choose to franchise it that you somehow ensure that everyone is able to keep the same exact values you have, so that the program does not lose its focus. I am very impressed with this idea!
This is a very concrete entry that is both detail-oriented and concise. I appreciated how you differentiated OFS from other photo safaris, once again pointing out your unique service. You also do a very thorough job explaining your partnerships.
In order to make this application stronger, I would recommend revising the entry to check for grammatical and punctuation errors. Additionally, I would recommend making your main points clearer by reconstructing your sentences to tailor to your ideas. Also, in the areas of the application in which your answers overlap, I would suggest deciding which response does a better job answering the question and deleting the response from other sections. For example, while “Ghost Towns of the Oregon Trail” serves as a worthy example of a unique experience, the application would be stronger if another example was introduced to both explain more about OFS and to better directly answer the question.
A suggestion that I have for your Geotourism efforts, in regards to marketing, involves using resources that you already have. It is safe to assume that you have many amazing photographs that have been taken on your safaris. Submitting these photographs to contests, posting them on websites, and finding other ways of making them available for the public all of over the country and world to view would be a wonderful marketing effort. While the creation and upkeep of a website can be costly, asking your partners to post photographs on their sites is a free and easy way to show people how amazing Oregon is as well as the experience you will have on a photo safari.
This is a very detailed organizational plan that seems like it can have a lot of success. There is definitely a market for people interested in the Old West. The concept of adding photography instruction is quite innovative as well. The tours described appear to be very focused on maintaining and preserving the natural environment of Oregon. Partnering with Oregon’s state, regional, and local tourism boards is a wise decision; such partnerships can help you maximize your visitor turnouts and learn new methods of attracting tourists. The video on your entry was useful as well. I am curious to learn if your program attracts more Oregonians or more visitors from farther out of town. One potential idea for you is to vary your programs based on level of photography experience, so each traveler can experience the program at his or her own pace. I am a fan of this idea, and I hope to one day be able to visit Oregon and take one of your tours!
I enjoyed watching the clip of the Oregon Photo Safaris. It was very informational and made me want to do the program. It is not only eco-friendly but also promotes and supports the state of Oregon. One of the negative parts I thought about the organization was that is only geared to photography - which is a special interest. Perhaps they could be more open to all different ways of capturing images such as painting, videotaping, etc,... I noticed when I was reading over the entry that the organization did not list the quantitive degrees of success that they have had. I think that this shows the true character of the organization that they care more about educating their students and their future success than the amount of money they receive.
Oregon Photo Safaris is a great company that is clearly dedicated to the environment in Oregon. By bringing people to Oregon, visitors get a feeling for the “wild wild west” while capturing beautiful scenery through the lenses of their cameras. I think this is a great way to expose people to the environment in Oregon and gives them a chance to create long lasting memories without doing harm to the environment. In fact it is helpful to the environment because they donate money to the Oregon State Parks Trust in order to help them preserve their state parks. However this is only a good travel option for adults who really love the outdoors, care about the environment, and want to sharpen their photography skills through one of the available workshops, not really an option for an eco-friendly family trip.
On July 1, 2009 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. If possible, please take the time to respond to some of the provocative questions and issues that were raised by the judges. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team.
“Great entry! I liked the innovation around photography and the impact it provides. I could see that it was a groundbreaking innovation for that state’s geotourism initiatives.”
“Education through people's passion for photography is innovative. While there was great local impact, I would like to know more about this project’s social impact. I would also like to see improvement of their online platform considering this project is about photography and education through images.”
- Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” Judges: National Geographic Society, United Nations Foundation, Tribe Wanted, The Green Belt Movement, Lonely Planet, Southwest Forestry University.