Total workshop fee: $5,395, which includes the workshop fee and 6 nights of accommodations in Stovepipe Wells. A $2,500 deposit reserves your spot. See text below for terms and conditions.
Download the workshop PDF for a complete description of the workshop, including an itinerary, lodging info, what to bring, and more.
Total workshop fee: $5,395, which includes five days of field and classroom instruction, and six nights of accommodations at the Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel. A $2,500 deposit secures your spot.
Download the workshop PDF for a complete description of the workshop, including gear suggestions, how to get to Death Valley, and more.
Death Valley is a landscape photographer’s dream location, and it is a place full of surprises. Its 3.3 million acres are filled with mountain-sized sand dunes, colorful canyons, volcanic craters, otherworldly badlands, ghost mines, salt flats below sea level, and peaks over 11,000 feet.
I can still remember my first time in Death Valley. After exploring and photographing for a week I felt I’d just scratched the surface. Now after many trips back, I still feel the same way—and it has become one of my favorite places to lead a workshop.
In this small 10-person workshop—with me and my good friend Rick LePage as your guides—you’ll explore and photograph the largest national park in the continental US, while learning to expand your creative vision and better use your camera equipment.
Death Valley locations
Our classroom and lodging will be at Stovepipe Wells, near Mesquite Sand Dunes in the heart of Death Valley. Stovepipe Wells is two-and-a-half hours from Las Vegas and rooms are reserved at the Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel for the class. There we’ll hone our photography knowledge and review, discuss and critique images.
Outside of class time, we’ll ride in El Jefe, my 12-passenger Mercedes Sprinter van, to dawn, sunset and night shoots at a slew of amazing locations, including Badwater Basin, Mesquite Dunes, Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, Golden Canyon and Artist’s Palette. I’ll demonstrate basic photography principles alongside advanced techniques like panoramic mergers, focus-stacking, star-photography and time-lapse photography. We will also have an opportunity for at least one early morning Milky Way shoot for those interested.
Tentative course schedule
This is a proposed guide to our Death Valley adventure, and is subject to change based on weather and group interest at the time we’re in the park. We’ll do our best to have student image reviews and photo critiques, as well as some class time for post-processing demos, instruction and Q&A. In the field, we’ll demonstrate advanced techniques like panoramic mergers, focus stacking and night-sky photography.
While we will be in the field for sunrise and sunset shoots, as well as the optional Milky Way shoot, there will be plenty of time in the middle of the days for dining, group discussions and rest. (We have the auditorium Monday, and Wednesday-Friday for group work.)
Day 1: Monday, March 15
- We’ll meet and greet at the Stovepipe Wells Auditorium, where we’ll show some photos from the region, go over any changes to the workshop schedule, talk about the weather forecast, and answer any questions you might have about the week.
- Initial image presentation from the group
- Scouting expedition in the park, with sunset shoot in Mesquite Dunes
Day 2: Tuesday, March 16
- Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
- Field discussions – panoramas, HDR, focus stacking.
- Sunset shoot at Badwater and Devils Golf Course
Day 3: Wednesday, March 17
- Sunrise shoot Mesquite Dunes
- Day 1 & 2 image reviews
- Milky Way scout location & field prep
Day 4: Thursday, March 18
Early morning (3 am) Milky Way shoot Day 3 image reviews Sunset shoot at Dante’s View
Day 5: Friday, March 19
- Sunrise TBD class choice location
- Day 4 image reviews
- Open editing session and Q&A
- Scouting & sunset shoot at Artist Palette
Fees and Payment Terms
The Death Valley workshop is $5,395, which includes the workshop fee and six nights of single-occupancy accommodations (check in Sunday, check out Saturday) at the Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel. Participants can secure a place with a $2,000 deposit. An invoice for the remaining balance will be sent approximately 90 days prior to the workshop. The balance must be paid in full 60 days prior to the workshop to hold your place.
All workshop payments are fully refundable less a 10% fee up to 60 days prior to the first day of the workshop. If you cancel anywhere from 59 to 30 days prior to the workshop, we will make every effort to find a replacement. If we can fill your spot, 90% of your workshop fee will be refunded; if we cannot find a replacement, we will refund 50% of your workshop fee. Any cancellation within 30 days is non-refundable.
We do expect that all workshop participants will have read, and acknowledge and understand, our Workshop Code of Conduct.
Download the workshop PDF for a complete description of the workshop, including gear suggestions, how to get to Death Valley, and more.
