Death Valley Winter Workshop
February 28 - March 5, 2010
Zabriskie Point, Artist Palette, Mesquite Sand Dunes, Ubehebe Crater, Lost Burro Mine, Racetrack, Badwater, Devil's Golf Course, Golden Canyon and Mosaic Canyon
Overview
We invite you to explore the magic light and geology of Death Valley. This workshop provides a great opportunity to develop your personal style, enhance your creativity, refine your photographic vision and improve your technical proficiency as we explore the enchantment of Death Valley's subtle colors, brilliant sunsets, canyons, sand dunes, abandoned mines and the strange worlds of the Racetrack, Badwater and the Devil's Golf Course.
We visit some of the most popular destinations in Death Valley, however what makes this workshop unique is we also visit locations that are rarely photographed.
We visit some of the most popular destinations in Death Valley, however what makes this workshop unique is we also visit locations that are rarely photographed.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Sunday: Meet at Stovepipe Wells at 4:00 p.m, please arrive promptly, for orientation and our first lecture. Then meet for an informal dinner in Stovepipe Wells., at 6:30 p.m.
Day 2 - Monday: We leave early for our sunrise shoot of Zabriskie Point and Twenty Mule Team Canyon. Then return to Furnace Creek for breakfast and break. At 11:00 a.m. meet at Stovepipe Wells for our second lecture followed by a break for lunch. After lunch we leave for our afternoon and sunset shoots at Artist Pallete.
Day 3 - Tuesday: We leave early for our sunrise shoot at Mesquite Sand Dunes, then return to Stovepipe Wells for breakfast and break. After the break we leave for our full day of shooting at Ubehebe Crater, Tea Kettle Junction, Lost Burro Mine and ending the day at the Racetrack.
Day 4 - Wednesday: We leave early for our sunrise shooting at Badwater and the Devil’s Golf Course, then head to Furnace Creek for breakfast and return to Stovepipe Wells for a break. At 11:00 a.m. meet at Stovepipe Wells for our third lecture followed by a break for lunch. After lunch we leave for our afternoon and evening shoot hiking in Golden Canyon.
Day 5 - Thursday: We leave for our sunrise hike and shooting at Mosiac Canyon, then return to Stovepipe Wells for breakfast and break. At 11:00 a.m. meet at Stovepipe Wells as we begin our Print Review of participants' work, followed by a break for lunch. After lunch we head west and explore Charcoal Kiln and the west side of Death Valley and Aguereberry Point for our sunset shoot, followed by dinner in Stovepipe Wells.
Day 6 - Friday: We begin our last day with a sunrise shoot at the Mesquite Sand Dunes, with morning light illuminating the dunes and mountains in the background. We then return to Stovepipe Wells for a farewell breakfast and departure by 11:00 a.m.
Day 2 - Monday: We leave early for our sunrise shoot of Zabriskie Point and Twenty Mule Team Canyon. Then return to Furnace Creek for breakfast and break. At 11:00 a.m. meet at Stovepipe Wells for our second lecture followed by a break for lunch. After lunch we leave for our afternoon and sunset shoots at Artist Pallete.
Day 3 - Tuesday: We leave early for our sunrise shoot at Mesquite Sand Dunes, then return to Stovepipe Wells for breakfast and break. After the break we leave for our full day of shooting at Ubehebe Crater, Tea Kettle Junction, Lost Burro Mine and ending the day at the Racetrack.
Day 4 - Wednesday: We leave early for our sunrise shooting at Badwater and the Devil’s Golf Course, then head to Furnace Creek for breakfast and return to Stovepipe Wells for a break. At 11:00 a.m. meet at Stovepipe Wells for our third lecture followed by a break for lunch. After lunch we leave for our afternoon and evening shoot hiking in Golden Canyon.
Day 5 - Thursday: We leave for our sunrise hike and shooting at Mosiac Canyon, then return to Stovepipe Wells for breakfast and break. At 11:00 a.m. meet at Stovepipe Wells as we begin our Print Review of participants' work, followed by a break for lunch. After lunch we head west and explore Charcoal Kiln and the west side of Death Valley and Aguereberry Point for our sunset shoot, followed by dinner in Stovepipe Wells.
Day 6 - Friday: We begin our last day with a sunrise shoot at the Mesquite Sand Dunes, with morning light illuminating the dunes and mountains in the background. We then return to Stovepipe Wells for a farewell breakfast and departure by 11:00 a.m.
Lectures & Print Review
Our workshops emphasize field work, however we feature a balance of field work, classroom-based sessions, critical review of your work as well as ample time to answer your questions. This workshop features classroom instruction and reviewing workshop participant's images.
Day 1: 4:00-6:00 p.m. Tools - mastering your system. This session presents techniques to make sure you capture the best possible image in the field, maximizing the potential of your digital camera and lens system.
Day 2: 11:00-1:00 p.m. Art - taking your photography to art. We explore the intersection of aesthetics, art and technology and help you refine your composition skills.
Day 4: 11:00-1:00 p.m. Craft I - workflow and presentation of your work. Developing a repeatable system, or workflow, is the key to digital image processing and getting the best print or display of your work.
Day 5: 11:00-1:00 p.m. Review - what makes a great photograph? During this session we review and comment on your work. Please bring 3 prints of your 'best' work for evaluation, critical review and sharing with the group.
Day 1: 4:00-6:00 p.m. Tools - mastering your system. This session presents techniques to make sure you capture the best possible image in the field, maximizing the potential of your digital camera and lens system.
Day 2: 11:00-1:00 p.m. Art - taking your photography to art. We explore the intersection of aesthetics, art and technology and help you refine your composition skills.
Day 4: 11:00-1:00 p.m. Craft I - workflow and presentation of your work. Developing a repeatable system, or workflow, is the key to digital image processing and getting the best print or display of your work.
Day 5: 11:00-1:00 p.m. Review - what makes a great photograph? During this session we review and comment on your work. Please bring 3 prints of your 'best' work for evaluation, critical review and sharing with the group.
Experience & Equipment
The workshop is open to all photographers with any experience level from beginner to advanced, using any camera brand or type, digital or film. Your instructors are well versed in the use of Canon, Hasselblad, Leica and Nikon systems as well as point and shoot, digital single lens reflex, rangefinder, medium format and sheet film based view cameras (i.e., 4x5).
This workshop is targeted at photographers working in digital capture and using a personal computer and software such as Apple iPhoto, Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop.
We recommend a digital SLR with interchangeable lenses (with either a full-frame or cropped sensor), a sturdy tripod and ball-type head, a shutter-cable release, and at least two lenses: a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens (or a zoom lens capable of wide angle to telephoto range). Check out our equipment recommendations to learn more about our suggestions.
Some workshop participants have previously even used their iPhone as their primary camera on the workshop! Your equipment should never be a limitation for expressing yourself through photography. Well crafted, compelling and emotional artistic images can be captured with virtually any equipment.
This workshop is targeted at photographers working in digital capture and using a personal computer and software such as Apple iPhoto, Apple Aperture, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop.
We recommend a digital SLR with interchangeable lenses (with either a full-frame or cropped sensor), a sturdy tripod and ball-type head, a shutter-cable release, and at least two lenses: a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens (or a zoom lens capable of wide angle to telephoto range). Check out our equipment recommendations to learn more about our suggestions.
Some workshop participants have previously even used their iPhone as their primary camera on the workshop! Your equipment should never be a limitation for expressing yourself through photography. Well crafted, compelling and emotional artistic images can be captured with virtually any equipment.
What To Bring & The Weather
The weather in Death Valley in late February and early March is crisp but mild. We've experienced deep blue clear skies without a single cloud or dark grey and stormy with dramatic cloud formations (the latter usually makes for better pictures!). Temperatures around Death Valley during the day range from 73F to 80F. At night it can range from 46F to 53F. The chance of rain is historically about 1%. We will be working at elevations from 4,000 feet to slightly below sea level. The temperatures can drop 10F to 20F as we climb in elevation.
The key is to be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures, bring layers and an outer layer suitable for rain. Hiking boots are the best choice for footwear. Bring plenty of water and snacks during our location shooting. Consult our gear checklist to learn what we recommend that you bring.
The key is to be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures, bring layers and an outer layer suitable for rain. Hiking boots are the best choice for footwear. Bring plenty of water and snacks during our location shooting. Consult our gear checklist to learn what we recommend that you bring.
Lodging, Meals & Transportation
Workshop participants are responsible for their own lodging, meals and transportation. There are very few lodging choices in Death Valley, we will use Stovepipe Wells as our base camp. Camping is also available in StovePipe Wells. We will often eat meals together, however you are free to join us or eat independently.
A vehicle with high ground clearance and 4WD is required for this workshop. Car pooling is recommended during our outings and is a great way to get to know your fellow workshop participants, share your passion for photography and learn new points of view. Workshop participants are responsible for any fees for parking, park entrance and park usage.
A vehicle with high ground clearance and 4WD is required for this workshop. Car pooling is recommended during our outings and is a great way to get to know your fellow workshop participants, share your passion for photography and learn new points of view. Workshop participants are responsible for any fees for parking, park entrance and park usage.
Instructors
The workshop will be led by veteran photographers Glenn Edens, Norine Cepernich and John Bassetto. There will be a maximum 4 to 1 student to instructor ratio to insure you have the time, attention and individual assistance you need to learn and practice concepts.
Our top priority during the workshop is to help you shoot. While we may bring camera equipment for demonstration purposes, your instructors do not shoot during the workshop.
Our top priority during the workshop is to help you shoot. While we may bring camera equipment for demonstration purposes, your instructors do not shoot during the workshop.
Cost & Fees
The cost of this workshop is $1,295.00. The workshop is limited to 12 participants.
A detailed agenda, overview maps and locations of meeting places will be sent to you via electronic mail about one week prior to the start of the workshop. A confirmation email, verifying your participation in the workshop, is sent to you within two days after receipt of payment.
To sign up simply follow the instructions on our Workshop Store and please read the Terms, Conditions & Limitation of Liability information.
A detailed agenda, overview maps and locations of meeting places will be sent to you via electronic mail about one week prior to the start of the workshop. A confirmation email, verifying your participation in the workshop, is sent to you within two days after receipt of payment.
To sign up simply follow the instructions on our Workshop Store and please read the Terms, Conditions & Limitation of Liability information.
Terms, Conditions & Limitation of Liability
Our goal is to provide you with an educational, enjoyable and high quality photographic workshop experience. As a workshop participant you will need to understand, agree to, sign and date a Limitation of Liability form.