2021 Death Valley National Park/Alabama Hills

At first glance in Death Valley, one might look around and think “there is nothing to shoot,” which is farthest from the truth. Here one finds magnificent sand dunes, pastel-colored rocks, and salt formations on the valley floor. The creosote bushes, plants that survive the harshest summertime conditions in the dunes, glow in the infrared light. Best of all, we will be out very early in the morning to take advantage of the full moonlight illuminating the landscape.

For three-and-one-half-days, we will photograph several locations at both sunrise and sunset, as the same subject is unique in the light given at the time of the day in Death Valley National Park. Some highlights of the park we will be photographing are Zabriskie Point, the Mesquite Dunes, Badwater Basin, and other historic mining sites which will provide us with interesting foreground material to tell the story of the past.

The full moon will be setting in the west over the Panamint Range shortly after sunrise during the workshop and we will be sure to capture it from different park locations. We will also have the opportunity to photograph the rising moon over the Amargosa Range of mountains as they are front lit by the setting sun.

On Friday after a morning shoot, breakfast, and check out, we will drive to our base in Lone Pine to explore the Alabama Hills (moonrise in the evenings and moonset in the early mornings over the Sierra Nevada). The workshop will end in Lone Pine at noon on Sun January 31. From Lone Pine, it is approximately 3-and-a-half-hour drive back to Las Vegas.

From using the right gear, to capture and processing, this is a unique opportunity to learn how to create amazing black-and-white images.

At this workshop,

• You will be placed in the best locations to maximize the infrared light under existing conditions.
• You will receive individual help in the field to ensure a successful capture. Every day there will be hands-on experience in the classroom for processing your images while learning how to manage workflow.
•  Finally, you will have the opportunity to use a Kolari Vision “loaner” infrared lens filter to make infrared images at no charge to you (for your converted-to-infrared camera or visible light/color camera.

Fee: $1495/person (hotel, meals, and travel not included)
Location 1: Stovepipe Wells Lodging (inside Death Valley NP), CA [3 nights] Location 2: Quality Inn, 1920 S Main St (State Route 395), Lone Pine CA [2 nights] Start: Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 1:00pm (Stovepipe Wells)
Moving Day: Friday, January 29, 2021 after morning shoot, breakfast, check-out; drive to Lone Pine
End: Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 12noon (Lone Pine)

Included in fee: location instruction, minimum of two 4-hour processing sessions in hotel meeting room, Death Valley National Park usage permit, Bureau of Land Management usage permit

Not included in fee: all transportation, all meals, lodging, Death Valley National Park entrance fee

Skills Required: Thorough working knowledge of your camera from capture histogram to using Live-View if you have a mirrored camera; confident beginner using Adobe ACR/LR and layers in Adobe Photoshop; must bring your laptop to the classroom.

A detailed information package with hotel room reservation instructions, airport, gear suggestions, software requirements, itinerary, expected seasonal weather conditions, payment and cancellation policies, and signature required waiver of liability will be sent upon registration.

Non-photographer spouses/partners are welcome at no extra charge; however, classroom time is reserved only for registered participants.

It is your responsibility to read and thoroughly understand the policies regarding payment and cancellation as stated here.

Maximum of seven workshop participants. Reserve your spot now!

To request a detailed information package for this workshop, please complete the form below.
Thank you!