Visiting the valley of the Bosque del Apache in southern New Mexico is like traveling back in time, when the Rio Grande River was wild and untamed and Paleo-Indians lived here more than 10,000 years ago hunting mammoth and bison. When Spanish colonists first settled in the valley, they sought to control the river with dams and irrigation ditches to protect their crops from the annual floods. The river was reduced to a waterway that looked more like a shallow stream. No longer was the floodplain inundated every year, creating marshes with habitats and food sources for the migratory birds that relied on this resting place long before humans were in North America. Later, the area became known as Bosque del Apache, or the woods of the Apache, named for the tribe that inhabited the valley and canyons of southern New Mexico into the late 19^th  century.

 Then, during 1939, the federal government designated the valley as Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and the work was started to restore the Rio Grande and the surrounding environment to its natural beauty and an important resource for birds, mammals and many other creatures of the high desert. The Chupadera and San Pascual mountains flank the 57,331-acre refuge. The marshlands and cottonwood and willow trees are returning, and once again attracting thousands of migratory birds, including geese, sandhill cranes, hawks, eagles, herons, grebes, coots and many others.

 Not only has the Bosque del Apache been reclaimed and preserved for the wildlife, but also for bird lovers and photographers who are passionate about improving their general photography skills as well capturing excellent nature and wildlife images. The special high-desert light, especially at dawn and dusk, adds a unique compositional element to all the photos shot here.

Although birdlife is the primary subject matter of the Bosque del Apache, it also presents a sublime landscape of grasslands, foothills, wetlands, and mountains. The light of this land paints the surrounding landscape in bright colors as well as subdued desert hues and casts deep shadows, creating remarkable and dramatic contrasts. The sky is high and wide and often presents its own spectacular vistas of clouds accented by incredible sunrises and sunsets.

 November to February is when the Bosque del Apache is filled with huge populations of migratory birds, which is why Frank Comisar, famed nature and wildlife photographer and founder of Scenic Aperture, leads a small group of photographers into the region every year during December. 

The Scenic Aperture Photography Workshop for 2014 is scheduled December 4–7, when the birds are still to be seen and photographed in great numbers, but the number of casual visitors have been reduced considerably. The workshop will be limited to just 8 photographers, but they will experience a long weekend of early morning and late afternoon shooting treks into the Bosque complemented by digital darkroom sessions.

Frank has photographed in and around the Bosque del Apache for many years and knows the exact – and often little known – camera positions that will allow you to capture the beauty and behaviors of the birdlife as well as the compelling landscapes of the high desert.

 Scenic Aperture’s 2014 Bosque del Apache Photography Workshop is a truly outstanding opportunity to unleash your vision and evolve as a more skillful photographer. For complete details, please visit http://scenicaperture.com/bosque-del-apache-photography-workshop/.

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