Adventure with Jess & Ryan into the otherworldly landscapes of Utah's remote badlands. We will be exploring some of the darkest skies in the lower 48!
Along the way, we'll discover epic views filled with textured canyons and uniquely shaped buttes. We both love getting off of the beaten path and exploring the lesser known parts of the wild west and that’s what this workshop is all about!
Focusing on astrophotography, we help you refine your skills and teach you our advanced night photography techniques. Then we take you into the digital darkroom to learn the processing of your images from start to finish. More than that we value the experience of adventuring in the outdoors and will encourage you to enjoy staring up at the stars with us while wandering the dirt roads of these alien landscapes đŸ‘½
This workshop is astrophotography based so we have kept the itinerary flexible to be able to chase clear skies at night and light during daylight hours. If it rains or conditions prove unsafe to venture out we will work on post processing, image critiques and in classroom sessions, there's always so much to learn both in field and in the classroom!
TRIP DATES
TBA, 2023
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 3 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
Our workshop begins at 2:00pm with a meet & greet and to discuss our agenda for the week. After a short break, we will grab our gear and head out to our first location, which is full of magnificent rock formations that look like they are straight from a Dr. Seuss book. After an amazing sunset, blue hour and Milky Way, we will head back for a little rest before getting up early for sunrise.
Day 2
We willl start our day early with a sunrise at an iconic Utah location. Watching the canyon transform while golden morning light filters in is a magical landscape to capture! After an amazing morning of shooting, we will take a short break before heading into the digital darkroom to learn the processing of your images from start to finish.
After class, we will pack our camera gear and adventure out to some of the most magnificent rock formations in all of the Badlands for some sunset, blue hour and Milky Way fun.
Day 3
We’ll start our day early with a sunrise full of mud cracks and mesas. This will be a fantastic opportunity for focal blending and capturing amazing images full of texture. Afterwards, we’ll head back for a quick break and lunch, followed by our last classroom session.
This class will be focused on answering any specific editing questions and is tailored to improving your specific editing needs and goals. After class, we’ll round up our camera gear for our last sunset/twilight shoot.
Day 4
Our last day will start off early with one last sunrise together. After shooting, we will head back and wrap up our amazing week over breakfast to answer any final questions and say our goodbyes.
Optional Add-On Day 1 & 2
There is no better way to start the workshop than with a private helicopter ride! We’ll kick off this add-on with a view from above and an experience you’ll never forget. Take a ride in a helicopter and see the Utah badlands like you’ve never seen before! Capture unique, jaw dropping images from the sky and open your eyes to a brand new perspective.
We want all students to experience the Utah landscape from above in the best light possible. Since seats are limited in the helicopter and there is only so much good light in the day (as we all know all too well), we will need two days to make sure everyone gets the best experience possible. You will have a free day during your non-flying day. We have recommendations for sunrise and sunset locations, but you are welcome to spend the day how you would like.
Optional Add-On Day 3
The Badlands in Utah are full of a variety of unique and awe inspiring landscapes. Our last location of the add-on is a little pocket tucked away that feels like you’ve been transported to Mars and it doesn't disappoint! You’ll find yourself amongst colorful hills stacked as far as the eye can see.
This is an amazing opportunity for more aerial photography, so make sure to pack your drones. Shooting these cotton candy hills from above isn’t the only way to capture their beauty. Break out the telephoto and place a person on a hill to tell a story and show scale. The possibilities are really limitless here, so let the creativity fly!
* 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
We will hold some of our classroom time until after the workshop. Since this photo workshop is focused on seeing the best and most iconic places the Utah Badlands has to offer, we chose to prioritize locations over classroom sessions during our time together. Following the workshop, we will hold live online classroom sessions answering any questions you may have. These will also be screen recorded for you to be able to finish your images at your leisure.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION AVAILABLE
Badlands Helicopter Ride & A Trip to Mars
TBD, 2024
(PRICE TBA)
Take to the skies in a private badlands helicopter tour over these desolate landscapes. You will have the opportunity to capture unique photographs high above the Badlands of Utah.
Then we take you deep into the heart of the desert to photograph the colorful blue hills of Utah's backcountry from an aerial adventure (see last image in carousel above). This hidden location is perfect for photography not only from the ground, but from a drone as well, so don't leave you drone at home!
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
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
All Lodging Accommodations
We have reserved lodging for the duration of the workshop and each person will have their own designated room.
All Photo Instruction
From the field to the computer, we will cover it all. We will teach you techniques to capture better images and our unique workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Portfolio Feedback
Personalized feedback from both instructors. We will review your top images and give honest feedback on how to improve in camera shots and personalized editing tips.
MEET THE TEAM
Jess Santos
She 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 weather 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 2 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
Nearest Major Airport
Salt Lake City
Moab Airport is much smaller, but much closer
Meeting Location
Central Utah
4 hour drive from Salt Lake City Airport
1.5 hour drive from Moab Airport
High Clearance Vehicle is REQUIRED
These are backcountry roads, this means a High Clearance Vehicle is REQUIRED (4x4 recommended, but not required). Please contact us if you need assistance in securing a capable vehicle. No previous dirt road driving experience required.
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.
Meals/Snacks
Meals will often be on the go as we chase light, you will be responsible for your own food.
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 three 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.