Nature Photography with Gordon Dietzman

Programming Cost:  $30/person for the Saturday morning event. Start registration by clicking the RSVP link; After you submit a registration, we will send you an invoice for payment (which can be paid online or by check).

Location: on-site at “Iowisota”, 2472 IA-26, Lansing, Iowa.

What to expect for the event: The session will be indoors, in the “gathering room” of Iowisota. Three topics will be covered:  technical aspects of good photography, artistic aspects of good photography, and processing photographs. Coffee/tea and morning snacks will be provided. Workshop participants are welcome to stay into the afternoon for a guided hike on-site with the hosts and presenter to see nature and talk about applying our new photography skills (no additional cost).

If you want to stay to hike but need lunch: The hosts will have a sandwich bar, chips, and cookies available. Cost for lunch is by donation. You’re also welcome to BYO lunch.

Overnight “B&B” stay:  Additional $150/person (own bedroom) for two nights or $200/room for two nights for multiple family members in the same room. Breakfasts are included. Lodging taxes will be added.

-- Stay in one of our 6 guest bedrooms, with all the modern amenities. (See the accommodations tab of the website for information on all the rooms).

-- Saturday and Sunday breakfast provided. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate available throughout the day.

-- There are multiple options for dinner on Saturday night or any other meals you might need: BYO to warm in the full kitchen, local restaurants, or pre-packaged frozen meals to purchase from the hosts.

What to expect from an overnight stay: The setting of Iowisota includes nearly 200 acres of private forest and many trails to hike and explore. The sleeping rooms are a delightful blend of historic, rustic, and modern. The “gathering room” with its stone fireplace, expansive windows, and comfortable seating provides a place to hang out and chat with the hosts and other guests.

About the speaker/guest expert: Gordon Dietzman’s life has centered around the conservation of wildlife. He grew up enjoying the wild on a dairy farm in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin, then graduated from UW-Green Bay with an emphasis in environmental interpretation. Professional life included over a decade of work on education efforts at the International Crane Foundation near Baraboo, WI, and nearly 12 years of nature interpretation at the NPS Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. At the NPS, he interpreted the fascinating natural and human history of the Mississippi River in the field and in the park's two visitor centers. Gordon has photographed nature for 40 years throughout North America and Southeast Asia, and in his own backyard.

About your hosts: Linda and Dennis Haugen both recently retired from careers as forest health specialists with the US Forest Service. Linda grew up on the Iowisota property, moving here with her parents in 1968. Dennis and Linda built the new residence/retreat center and moved back to northeast Iowa in 2023. They have a wealth of knowledge about natural resources in general, and about the Iowisota property specifically.

How to sign up and pay: Registration is limited to 20 participants. On-site accommodation is limited. Click the link for registration, and then fill out the registration form. This will hold your space. Once you have completed the form, we will email you an invoice that you can pay by check, credit card, or PayPal.