$1,150
This Photography Workshop is being offered in association with the Los Angeles Center for Photography.
$1,150
The Yosemite in Autumn Photography Workshop is being offered in association with the Los Angeles Center for Photography.
Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park, a place that embodies the raw beauty and mystique of the desert. With its twisted Joshua trees, rugged rock formations, and breathtaking sunsets, Joshua Tree is a haven for landscape photographers and nature enthusiasts alike. People visit this unique park to immerse themselves in its otherworldly landscapes, find solitude in the vast expanse, and capture moments of pure natural wonder.
This workshop is designed to help photographers of all levels capture the extraordinary beauty and unique landscapes of Joshua Tree. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, this Joshua Tree Photography Workshop will take you on a visual journey through this epic destination, allowing you to capture its magic and create stunning images that will leave a lasting impression.
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery as you learn essential techniques such as composition, exposure, and post-processing. Whether seeking to refine your skills or just starting, this workshop offers a supportive and inspiring environment for photographers of all backgrounds. With hands-on instruction and personalized feedback, you’ll leave with a stunning collection of images that capture the unique spirit of Joshua Tree National Park.
Take advantage of this opportunity to elevate your photography and create lasting memories in one of nature’s most awe-inspiring landscapes.
Wednesday, September 25th – we’ll meet @ 3 PM for an orientation session followed by a group dinner:
Thursday, September 26th – our first full day in the field will start with sunrise near the Jumbo Rocks Campground area. In addition to Skull Rock, there are many other unique and rugged jumbo rock formations, Joshua Trees, and hiking trails in this area of the park. After lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon photographing the Cholla Cactus Garden and the Ocotillo Patch. For those interested in night photography, we’ll conclude our day with sunset at the Rock & Tree formation.
Friday, September 27th – we’ll start our second full day with sunrise at Arch Rock followed by a short hike to Heart Rock – both of these attractions sit in the midst of another landscape full of rugged and unique jumbo rock formations. We’ll spend the remainder of the morning at Hall of Horror – this area of the park features Joshua Tree groves, cacti, and large rock formations which attract rock climbers. After lunch, we’ll spend the remainder of the day and sunset at Hidden Valley – this area of the park includes the Hidden Valley Trail Loop and a wide-open area full of Joshua Trees, desert, and interesting rock formations.
Saturday, September 28th
The majority of our days will start early, before sunrise. After a quick cup of coffee or tea, we’ll be off to get into position at a location in the best light of the day with breakfast in the field in order to maximize our shooting time.
More important than just getting you to some of the best and most remote locations at the best times of the day, this landscape photography workshop will teach you how to visualize an image, how to plan your shoot, how to capture your image in the field, and how to bring your image to life using a variety of post-production techniques.
In the Field:
We’ll learn how to scout and visualize a scene, compose a ground/sky/sea landscape to show scale and tell a story, how to manage complex highlight and shadow scenes, how and when to use filters, how to plan your images for a blended blue hour composite, how to focus your camera at night to capture pin sharp stars and foreground, and how to use apps like PhotoPills to plan a shoot. We’ll also use techniques such as dynamic bracketing and exposure blending, focus stacking and focal length blending, neutral density filters, and stacking for noise reduction.
In the Classroom:
We’ll spend time developing your post-production workflow – learning when Lightroom is enough and when you need to move your work into Photoshop. We’ll learn how to use techniques such as luminosity masks to create and solve contrast, color, and blending issues; how to blend multiple images together in Photoshop to create blue hour blends, focal length blends, and exposure blends; how to use start stacking to create pin sharp starry night skies; how to create Orton glows and sharpen your final image; and how to use apps like ProPanel to increase your efficiency.
You’ll benefit from hours of capture time in the field with an instructor by your side, and classroom instruction as you learn new techniques and strategies for creating dynamic images.
What’s Included in Your Tuition:
- 2 full-day and 2 half-day training days
- All applicable permit fees inside Joshua Tree National Park
- Workshop course materials
- In-the-field photographic training
- Online prep & orientation classes prior to the workshop
- Post-production classes and techniques during the workshop
- Online post-production classes after the workshop
What’s Not Included in Your Tuition:
- Transportation to/from your home to Basecamp
- Lodging
- Ground transportation during the workshop
- Your National Park Pass for entry to Joshua Tree National Park
- Meals
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Personal expenses, gratuities, and anything not listed as included
Please see our How to Prepare For Your Workshop page for guidelines on workshop prep, gear, and packing. Approximately 90 days before your workshop, you will be sent a PDF with more specific instructions.
