Sand Dunes, Desert Mountain Landscapes, Salt Pan, and More

December 5 – 10, 2024

Death Valley is a truly unique National Park. It features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America and is surrounded by mountains that rise to over 11,000 feet. Covering about 3,000 square miles, it’s larger than Yellowstone, yet most photography workshops barely scratch the surface of what this park has to offer.

This workshop is a unique opportunity to visit and photograph the best of Death Valley in the best light. Our hotel provides immediate access to some of the best places in the park, like Zabriskie Point and Golden Canyon, the salt polygons of Badwater Basin, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, and more. We’ll venture down to Ibex Dunes, the impressive dune formation at the southern end of the park, which is far less crowded due to its remoteness. We’ll have our image critiques and post-processing lessons at the hotel—but we won’t stop shooting! We’ll be focusing on composition, and we’ll take advantage of our time in the classroom and the field to teach composition from pre-visualization to capture and finally to post-processing the final image.

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

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Location

California, USA

money
Tuition

$5,495

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Dates

December 5 – 10, 2024

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Availability

Open for Registration
Limited to 8 Guests

Itinerary

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

December 5, 2024: Arrive in Las Vegas before 10:00 AM this day. We recommend staying overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas the night before. This hotel night is not included in the tuition.

We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas at 11:00 AM, stopping for lunch. If the weather allows, we’ll make our way into the park, via a wild and fascinating way, through Titus Canyon. After checking into the hotel, we’ll head for sunset at Zabriskie Point.

December 6, 2024: Up early for sunrise at Badwater, followed by a hot breakfast. That afternoon, we’ll have our first image review session before heading to sunset at Mesquite Dunes, followed by dinner.

December 7, 2024: Sunrise shoot at 20 Mule Team Canyon, followed by breakfast and a break with time to collect your images for our image review and Lightroom session, during which lunch will be served. Sunset at Cottonball Basin, followed by dinner.

December 8, 2024: Sunrise shoot back at Zabriskie Point, followed by breakfast and a drive out to Ibex Dunes after lunch. We’ll arrive during the afternoon and spend time exploring and photographing the beautiful shapes of these dunes. After a sunset shoot, we’ll enjoy a packed dinner before returning to our hotel.

December 9, 2024: Sunrise shoot on the Mesquite Dunes, followed by a hot breakfast. We’ll have our last image review session and then head to Dante’s View for a sunset shoot. Dinner will end this day.

December 10, 2024: Sunrise shoot at Cottonball Basin, then breakfast, and our final image review. We’ll be on our way to Las Vegas by 11:00 AM, in time for flights anytime after 2:00 PM.

Gallery

Fitness

Moderate: You must be able to hike on uneven ground and on sand dunes for two miles or more.

Flights

Arrive McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada before 10 AM on December 5, 2024. Flights out can be made after 2:00 PM on December 10, 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 $1,000 supplement.
  • All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
  • All permits and park fees.
  • All transportation during the workshop.
  • Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
  • Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
  • Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!

Not Included

  • Travel to and from Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • 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 $1,000 supplement.

Payment Terms

  • Your deposit of $2,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
  • The balance is due not later than August 1, 2024.
  • All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.

Testimonials

“Dave was always available for advice or how to questions, even when he had multiple people clamoring for his attention. ”

— Roman Barniak, Canadian Rockies Assiniboine '19

“I certainly couldn't have done this on my own. And other workshops may cost less but require carpooling or have lesser pros, or both. ”

— Linda Alschuler, Death Valley '19

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.