Big Bend National Park Under Night Skies

June 3 – 9, 2024

Big Bend National Park is known for its ancient limestone and volcanic rock formations, but did you know it has one of the darkest skies in the country. Explore one of the most fascinating Southwest landscapes, where the Rio Grande River flows through deep canyons and meanders through the desert terrain. We will also head high into the Chisos Mountains, where black bears, bighorn sheep, and deer are often spotted in this photogenic setting. We will photograph old, abandoned buildings and make our way through ghost towns and graveyards. With June being one of the warmest months of the year at Big Bend, it is the perfect time to be in the desert under the stars, with an average low temperature of 73 degrees. We will spend the warmest part of the day in a comfortable, air-conditioned meeting room behind our laptops, learning Muench’s specialized technique of processing our night photographs. It is one of the most comprehensive night workshops we offer.

The Milky Way will be first and foremost on the Big Bend agenda. Of course, we will photograph the sunset to take advantage of the big Texas skies and dramatic landscape. You will learn astrophotography and how to properly create images in low light—your night sky and landscape will look amazing! For the seasoned photographer who wants to take their night skills to the next level or the advanced beginner who wants to dive a little bit deeper into nightscapes, you will find this workshop a perfect fit.

We will have resort accommodations, tasty cuisine, and a coffee shop with amazing lattes just steps from our processing den in the wild-west setting of the Lajitas Golf Resort. It will be a week full of learning, adventure, and photography.

Muench Workshops is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.

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Location

Texas, USA

money
Tuition

$5,995

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Dates

June 3 – 9, 2024

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Availability

Sold Out
Limited to 8 Guests

Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.

June 2, 2024: Big Bend is in a remote corner of Texas. We recommend flying into the closest airport in Midland and spending this night at the Comfort Inn & Suites. The tuition does not cover this night. Also, you will need to rent a vehicle to make the 4-hour drive south to Lajitas Golf Resort, where the workshop begins. We will help arrange ride-sharing for those who are interested.

June 3, 2024: Your instructors will meet everyone in the hotel lobby in Lajitas, Texas at 3:00 p.m. After an orientation and early dinner, we’ll head out for our first sunset shoot along the river. We will then move to a new location for blue hour and stay out until astronomical twilight is over and the Galactic Center is visible before 10:00 p.m. We will make our way back to Lajitas around midnight.

June 4, 2024: We will sleep and wake for a hearty breakfast, an image review, and our first editing session. You’ll have some downtime before eating an early dinner, then out again for the sunset shoot near the hotel. After sunset, we will again shoot a blue hour and head to our next night location.

June 5, 2024: We’ll head to breakfast and process the images we photographed the previous nights. We’ll have a little downtime before an early dinner and again head out to one of our favorite locations in the State Park. There is much to photograph here, not only at sunset but also at blue hour. We will then move a short distance to a fantastic location for our Milky Way shoot.

June 6, 2024: After breakfast, we will have a short image review, then check out of the hotel and head to the Chisos Lodge in Big Bend National Park. We will have an early dinner at the Chisos Lodge before photographing the incredible landscape using longer focal lengths at sunset into the blue hour. We’ll have a short break before heading out to our new location to photograph the Milky Way high in the Chisos Mountains.

June 7, 2024: We’ll wake and head out early to photograph sunrise as we head out of the Chisos. We’ll make our way down to Terlingua for a large breakfast. We’ll then check into the Lajitas Golf Resort, where we will have an image review while we’re waiting for check-in. (We will attempt to have an early check-in.) After processing, we’ll have a break before an early dinner. Once again, we’ll head out to a special place in the State Park to photograph until midnight.

June 8, 2024: After a good night’s rest, we will meet for breakfast. Shortly after breakfast, we will again have a processing session followed by an image review. We will take a short break before dinner and head to the National Park for sunset, Blue Hour, and Milky Way.

June 9, 2024: We will eat breakfast after a well-deserved rest. We will have our final image review and say our goodbyes.

Gallery

Fitness

Moderate: You are able to handle short walks to shooting locations with some uneven and rocky surfaces, sometimes in the dark.

Flights

Arrive Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF), Midland, Texas anytime on June 2, 2024. Flights out can be made after 6:00 PM on June 9, 2024. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.

What to Bring

Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.

What’s Included

  • Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,200 supplement.
  • All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
  • All permits and park fees.
  • All transportation during the workshop.
  • Many hours of basic and advanced Lightroom instruction.
  • Multiple image reviews and post-processing sessions.
  • Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
  • Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!

Not Included

  • Travel to and from Lajitas Golf Resort.
  • Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
  • Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
  • Items of a personal nature.
  • Alcoholic Beverages.
  • Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
  • Anything else specifically not listed as included.
  • Single rooming available for $1,200 supplement.

Payment Terms

  • Your deposit of $2,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
  • The balance is due not later than February 1, 2024.
  • All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.

Testimonials

“Wayne is a superb photographer and a superb teacher. One does not necessarily lead to the other, but he is most definitely both. He was generous with his praise and his critical feedback, both much appreciated. ”

— David Clark, New Mexico Land of Enchantment '17

“The post processing sessions - and there were many - were overall, the best I have ever had. The gift of confidence this instruction provided is priceless. ”

— Chandra Sen, Big Bend '22

Cyber Monday Sale!

$750 Off Any Workshop

Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.

Cyber Monday Sale!

$750 Off Any Workshop

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Hours
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Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.