American Southwest Photography Workshop
The great American Southwest is legendary, with a rich history and tales of romance and adventures like few other locations on earth. Some of us have only seen its remarkable terrain in the movies, or maybe you've been lucky to vacation in S.W. tourist areas and seen some of the amazing vistas in the nearby National Parks...but, there is so much more out there than people realize!
Have you ever wanted to get off the beaten path and see some of the most unique, rare and historic areas that legends have been made of? Have you wanted to do more than see the beauty from a distance, and instead, actually capture where these ancient peoples have walked and lived? You'll experience all this and more as we venture out into the deep red canyons of beautiful Utah and camp out under the stars! That's right, we'll spend two of our nights together camped in prime locations specially selected to maximize your experience in the Southwest. And if night photography is your thing, there is no more beautiful a place for night photography than the Desert Southwest. You will be guided and instructed to these remote and exclusive locations not only for great photography but also to learn about the mysteries of the Anasazi people.
Approximately 1100 years ago, the Colorado Plateau, also known as the Four Corners region, was inhabited by the Anasazi people who grew vast crops and built complex communities into the canyon walls. What happened to the Anasazi is shrouded in mystery, yet many of their dwellings and rock art still remain, and some in such pristine condition that you can almost feel the presence of those who made their lives there.
This extreme workshop focuses on the history and exploration of some of the most pristine photographic Anasazi ruins, landscapes, petroglyphs, and pictographs of the southwest. Many of these locations are far off any paved roads and are not found on any maps. We will travel by 4-wheel drive, then when the road ends, we'll hike into the canyons to explore and photograph some of these amazing locations. The sights and scenery you will see will stay in your memory for life! We'll return to camp each day for a camp-cooked meal and camaraderie by the campfire!
Join us as we go beyond the typical tourist experience and venture off-road and into the past for an extreme adventure you will not soon forget!
Equipment To Bring (No filters are needed for this workshop)
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DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
Required: You'll want, and need, the full power and creative control of a Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera to get the most out of your learning experience on this workshop. We teach all brands and models of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and more!
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Lens
A wide angle lens starting at 16-18mm. (If you have a crop sensor you need 16-18mm equivalency. If you're unsure what this means please email us!)
We recommend a 70-200 or 100-400.
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Tripod
Required: Stability is everything in Photography! Using a sturdy tripod will help improve your compositions and get sharper images. A tripod also helps you have both hands free to focus (pun intended!) on learning and getting "the shot"!
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Shutter Release/Remote
Optional: A shutter release allows you to take a photo without touching the camera. This helps ensure a sharp photo and is very important for long exposures in dark areas, or at night. They are affordable and a great tool to have in your camera bag!
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Buying Guide:
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Buying Guide:
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Buying Guide:
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- Polarizer (Optional): Even though a Polarizing filter is optional, we highly recommend them as they help give the clarity and color of your photos that extra "pop". Just like sunglasses, a polarizer will bring out the very best in your photos!
- Extra Memory. Ideally you should have at least four memory cards of 16gb or greater.
- Extra Memory. Ideally you should have at least four memory cards of 16gb or greater.
- Extra battery + your charger. Long exposure night photography will consume more power than you may be used to.
- Filters. Optional but if you have them, bring them. A polarizer and graduated neutral density filter is a great tool to have along just in case.
- Your laptop with Photoshop/ Lightroom installed if you would like to participate in our post processing session. A good camera backpack. if you are bringing your laptop and would like to back-up your cards, be sure to bring a memory card reader and an external hard drive.
- Ability to hike 3-4 miles, over the course of a day, on uneven surfaces. Some areas require short scrambles up and down rock surfaces.
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 Need Gear? Visit BorrowLenses for a special package designed specifically for Aperture Academy students for this workshop.
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Workshop Price and Deposit
The workshop fee is $1,795. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:
- 100% refundable: 150 days (five months) or greater
- No refund within 150 days or less of the start date
- Seats are transferrable
What is/isn't included?
The workshop/tour price includes:
- Professional photography instruction
- Meals during camping
- Post Processing session
The workshop/tour price DOES NOT include:
- Transportation
- Alcoholic beverages
- Instructor gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Lodging
Past Workshops
Behind the Scenes:
Paul R. Said...
Wow, what an experience!! I signed up looking for an extreme adventure and the workshop checked all the boxes plus some. We always arrived in time for the best light and had the sites and locations to ourselves to shoot. My photographs show the benefit of Mike’s knowledge and guidance.
On this workshop it’s the journey AND the destination. I’d go again in a second!!
