About

Welcome to the CNPA Upstate Region. We cover Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union counties.

We are a group of amateur and professional nature photographers in the northwest area of South Carolina.

Our goals are to:

Our region contains the two highest mountains, four big lakes, Jocassee Gorge, most of the waterfalls in the state, the State Botanical Gardens as well as other private and public gardens. We are the foothills to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the area where Deliverance was filmed.

If you are into photographing wildlife, this is the region to come to. Our area contains black bears, whitetail deer, coyotes, turkeys, wild hogs, and more. Migratory birds include: mourning dove, marsh hens, rails, woodcock, common snipe, common moorhens, purple gallinules, ducks, mergansers, sea ducks, coots, blue & snow geese, Canada geese and hawks and a few eagles. Also in the early spring you can photograph Loons on Lake Jocassee before they migrate.

Outings

Each month we conduct a photo shoot to various places in and around our Region. On one outing, we may photograph waterfalls and wild flowers. On another we may photograph landscapes, birds and other nature interests.

If you're not a member, join us.

Whether you are a novice or a highly experienced nature photographer, we would welcome you to join us. For the beginner, this is a great forum for you to learn and develop your nature photography skills. For the seasoned photographer, this is a great setting to share your knowledge and experiences with people who would truly be interested as well as be a place for you to perhaps learn some new things.

Regional Coordinators

Mike Smale, Mark Hoyle and Bob Spalding

To contact the coordinators, please email upstate-coordinator@cnpa.org or use the corresponding form on the contact us page.