Get creative with light painting under moonlit puzzles of granite boulders and the groves of twisting Joshua trees. The Mojave Desert has a rich history steeped in gold rush ghost towns and these relics of the wild west are the perfect place to tell a story with light and imagination!
Light up the Night with Jess Santos and Ryan Oswald on this Night Photography Workshop. This workshop was meticulously designed to expand on the traditional night photography techniques of light painting, star trails, moonscapes, twilight scenes and of course the Milky Way. These dates were specifically chosen to teach you our tips and tricks in combining enchanted moonscapes and the stars, thus creating powerful night images. You will also learn how to use moonlight to your advantage to capture dazzling night sky imagery that tells a story.
This workshop is a little different...
Every attendee will have their own self-contained room on wheels! We are securing overland rigs (or similar) for this adventure because having the freedom to base camp near our locations allows us more photography time.
Together we will take you on a backcountry journey that will leave you with wild photographs and wild experiences. Many of the photography locations in this workshop are hidden amongst a vast system of backcountry trails in the Mojave Desert and there is no better way to explore than outfitted with your very own overlanding rig.
Pack in your camera, your sleeping bag your favorite pillow... leave the rest up to us! Even cooking, breakfast and dinner are provided on this workshop in true camping style.
(Please see adventure inclusions below for more info and/or send us a message)
TRIP DATES
TBA 2025
TRIBE SIZE
Limited to a small group size of 10 students with 2 instructors to ensure that everyone receives our attention and to keep compositional possibilities uncluttered
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
All experience levels are welcome
HIKING REQUIREMENTS
This workshop will require moderate hiking (no more than 2 miles) through rocky or sandy terrain
ITINERARY
Pre-Workshop Zoom Classroom Session
Prior to the start of the workshop, we will hold a zoom classroom session. We will show examples of images from the locations we will be visiting so you know what to expect and how to best compose images using advanced techniques, focus blending and other tips and tricks to make for the best composition. We only get to visit each place once and we want you to be fully prepared so you can get the best images possible while in these iconic places.
Day 1
Private Photography Tour of and Ancient Cave System.
Sunset and blue hour shoot amongst volcanic peaks.
We will stay to play with light at night.
Day 2
Mid-Morning we venture into the lava tube to capture light rays.
Capturing scenes, from sunset well into the night at an old mining camp.
Day 3
Our sunrise location is quite literally a desert garden, full of Joshua trees and staghorn cholla.
Once settled in at camp we capture the night at another ghost town.
Day 4
We pack up camp and move to our next location, an old west ranch. We will photograph sunset and well into night at this photographer's playground. Really get creative with light painting.
Day 5
Our last morning we will get creative with granite boulders and Joshua trees in the pastel colors of a desert sunrise.
Optional Group breakfast before we head back to reality.
* We will be chasing conditions and constantly monitoring the weather. The itinerary may change based on what conditions are during the workshop.
Post-Workshop Zoom Classroom Session
Instead of sacrificing locations, we will hold our classroom time until after the workshop. Since this workshop is focused on seeing the best and most iconic places The Mojave Preserve has to offer, we chose to prioritize locations over classroom sessions during our time together. Following the workshop, we will hold a live online classroom session answering any questions you may have.
UNDERGROUND ADVENTURES
Watch your head! This workshop features not one, but two underground locations. We kick off the workshop with an entirely different experience. Our first location is a private photography tour of Mitchell Caverns in the foothills of the Mojave Desert.
WHY IS THIS SO SPECIAL?
We are the first and only photography company to currently offer this experience. You the adventurer get to travel into a completely different world and really put your creative light painting skills to the test.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Planning your shoots
Scouting and evaluating conditions
Composing an image to grab the viewers attention
Composing an image with a person in frame to show scale tell a story
Utilizing apps for more efficient planning
Choosing the right lens and filters for the job
How to shoot with plan or vision or editing
Capturing your image
How to capture intimate details and abstract images
Histogram - how to read for perfectly exposed images
Exposure control - how to use ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed in different scenarios
Bracketing, Perspective Blending and Focus Stacking
Long Exposure - how to capture blue hour
Bringing the image to life
Lightroom and Photoshop - learn our post-processing workflow
Luminosity Masks
Dodging and Burning
Blue-hour Blends
Understanding layers and masks
Finishing touches using clone stamp and removing distractions
Creating Orton glows and painting with light
Build Social Media Presence - how to maximize engagement
MEET THE TEAM
Jess Santos
Jess calls the desert her home and first love, but she is a wanderer at heart and is constantly on the road to the next adventure.
Her photography is driven by a desire to share the stories of these wild places and her experience through her imagery. She spends sleepless nights chasing the vibrant colors of desert landscapes and the distant glow of the Milky Way.
She is very proud to belong to the Sony Alpha Imaging Collective as a Sony Alpha Brand Ambassador and an official B&H Creator. As well as Slik Tripods, Cokin Filters and F-Stop Camera Bags.
Ryan Oswald
Ryan is a full time travel photographer & digital artist based out of St. Louis, MO, but is constantly on the move. He is often on the road for months at a time exploring the back roads and capturing iconic views.
His love for the outdoors and endless wanderlust has fueled his obsession for photography. Pursuing his passion has led to traveling extensively all across the globe and teaching photography workshops. Whether it’s chasing that perfect light or the Milky Way, Ryan is in his happy place as long as a camera is in hand!
Our goal is to leave you confident, motivated and passionate about photography with a new set of ideas and perspective! We will teach simple and actionable techniques to scout out incredible compositions and the process of how to approach and execute unique photos in any environment or conditions. The classroom portion of this adventure will teach you combination of Lightroom and Photoshop workflows and methods that allow you to create some powerful images we decided to keep the group small and intimate, thus allowing us to focus and give you much more access to the 3 instructors and 1-on-1 attention. Instructors will be with the group providing thoughts and real time critique as the light changes from sunset to the enchanting night skies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Breakfast & Dinner Included
Leave the cooking up to us, breakfast and dinner are provided on this workshop in true camping style
Nearest Major Airport
Las Vegas
Meeting Location
Campground near our first location - 2 Hour drive from Las Vegas Airport
4x4 High Clearance Vehicle is REQUIRED
These are backcountry roads, this means a High Clearance Vehicle with 4 Wheel Drive is REQUIRED. We are helping attendees source capable and equipped vehicles if they do not own their own, please contact us if you need assistance in securing a capable vehicle. No previous dirt road driving experience required.
Rental fees are NOT included in the tuition cost of the workshop and can range from $199 - $300 per day.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
Transportation
Flights and car transportation are not included.
We are helping attendees source capable and equipped vehicles if they do not own their own.
If you would like help finding a suitable vehicle, please let us know.
Lunch/Snacks
We will be providing breakfast and dinner, but you will be responsible for your own lunches and snacks.
Travel Insurance
With any trip/adventure, it is recommended you have travel insurance, especially for medical emergencies.
Cost: $2,899
Deposit: $900 to reserve your spot
Space is limited and filling up quickly on a first come, first serve basis. With two photography instructors present for the duration of the workshop, you will have plenty of opportunity for 1-on-1 instruction to improve the skills you feel you need to work on!
Join Our Tribe and Invest in Your Passion!
* Please read the workshop F.A.Q. section to learn more about cancellation policies or if you have any other questions.