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Death Valley
At a Glance
Location
California, USA
Tuition
$5,995
Dates
March 2 – 6, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 8 Guests
Collections
- Short Escape
- US National Parks and Wilderness
Death Valley Photography Workshop
Sand Dunes, Desert Mountain Landscapes, Salt Pan, and More
March 2 – 6, 2027
- Immersive desert photography focused on light, form, and atmosphere
- Hands-on guidance to refine technique, vision, and artistic intention
- Create a powerful portfolio with 1:1 feedback in iconic landscapes
Dawn in Death Valley National Park reveals one of California’s most distinctive desert landscapes, where soft pinks and golds sweep across badlands, sand dunes, and vast salt flats. In this corner of the American Southwest, subtle shifts in light transform familiar forms, from the cracked polygons of Badwater Basin to the sculpted curves of the Ibex Dunes, making it an ideal setting for Death Valley photography focused on simplicity, contrast, and texture. Sunrise at Zabriskie Point, the narrow canyons of 20 Mule Team Canyon, and the Joshua tree silhouettes of Lee Flat all offer the kind of clean lines and graphic shapes that define strong desert imagery. Whether you’re refining long-exposure technique, exploring minimalist compositions, or chasing low-angle light across ridgelines, this Death Valley photo workshop gives you the time and guidance to work intentionally with tone, form, and changing desert atmosphere.
Learning is continuous throughout this workshop with hands-on instruction on techniques like long exposures, focus stacking, exposure bracketing, long-lens landscapes, and more. We’ll work with you in the field to help you understand how light shapes form and in the classroom to develop clean, expressive post-processing that emphasizes tone and texture. Our signature image reviews (with proprietary software) offer personalized feedback and clear next steps, helping you grow as a photographer.
By the end of the week, you’ll have a portfolio that captures the stark beauty and scale of Death Valley and the confidence to handle challenging light, dynamic weather, and minimalist compositions anywhere you shoot.
This is a workshop about more than photographing the desert, it’s about learning to see with intention, patience, and precision.
Your Pros
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
March 2, 2027: Las Vegas Meetup, Death Valley Arrival, Sunset Photography
We’ll meet in Las Vegas at 11:00 AM for introductions, then drive to Death Valley, stopping for lunch and photography. After check-in at our hotel, we’ll head out to capture sunset light in one of many possible locations.
March 3, 2027: Badwater Basin Sunrise, Salt Formations and Evening Dunes Photography Workshop
Up early for sunrise to shoot the stunning salt formations at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the park and all of North America! The weather conditions can drastically alter this landscape. The salt can form into fascinating geometric patterns as it dries, or if there’s been enough rain, the basin can fill with water, providing excellent opportunities to shoot the reflections. After breakfast, you’ll have time to gather photos for our first image review and instruction. We’ll have lunch while we work through your images, discussing composition, technique, and post-processing in detail. Sunset will be at Mesquite Dunes, another iconic location in Death Valley. The dunes are set against majestic mountain backdrops. The ripples and edges of the dunes offer a multitude of compositions. As the sun sets, through the blue hour, and into the night, the character of the dunes is ever-changing. Depending on the conditions, we may shoot the dunes under the moonlight as it highlights the ripples with the stars above.
March 4, 2027: Early Canyon Sunrise, Joshua Tree Forest Exploration, Star Wars Canyon Visit
Sunrise at 20 Mule Team Canyon. While similar to Golden Canyon, 20 Mule Team has a quality all its own, and the best time to photograph it is definitely as the soft light changes just before sunrise. The quiet beauty of this canyon is captivating.
After breakfast and some downtime, we’ll pack lunch and head for the Joshua Tree Forest of Saline Valley. Along the way, we may stop for mud cracks in Panamint Valley. We’ll also make a quick stop at Father Crowley point, where you may be able to witness a military test flight in “Star Wars Canyon.” But the highlight of the day will be the Joshua trees. This large stand of Joshua Trees offers abundant photographic opportunities. We’ll stay here through sunset and then back to the hotel for dinner.
March 5, 2027: Mesquite Dunes Morning Light, Remote Ibex Dunes Sunset Adventure
This morning, we’ll visit the Mesquite Dunes for early light before breakfast. Then we’ll get a packed lunch and head down to Ibex Dunes at the far southeast corner of the park. These dunes are much more remote and less traveled than Mesquite Dunes and have a very different character. After sunset, we’ll drive back up for a late supper.
March 6, 2027: Final Sunrise Mud Cracks and Artist’s Palette, Return to Las Vegas
On our final morning, we will photograph mud cracks on the valley floor as the sun rises and then—while the light is still soft—the stunning colors in the rock formations of Artist’s Palette. After breakfast and checkout, we will drive back to Las Vegas for flights out anytime after 2:00 PM.
Fitness
Moderate: You must be able to hike up to two miles over uneven ground or sand dunes with moderate elevation gain.
Flights
Arrive at McCarran International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada before 10:00 AM on March 2, 2027. Flights out can be made after 2:00 pm on March 6, 2027. 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 $900 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- 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.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- 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 $900 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $3,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
- The balance is due not later than October 1, 2026.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll learn long exposures, focus stacking, how to read and use the histogram in the field, reading and better understanding light and what that light does to the landscape, as well as how to capture long-lens landscapes. The workshop also covers understanding light and form in the field and developing clean, expressive post-processing techniques that emphasize tone and texture. How to read and get a better understanding of light and what that light does to the landscape.
Yes, this workshop is refundable. Cancellations more than 150 days before the start date receive a full refund. Between 150 and 91 days, you get a refund of payments exceeding 50% of tuition, and between 90 and 61 days, a refund of payments exceeding 75% of tuition. No refunds are given within 60 days, but if we fill your space, you'll receive a 100% refund of payments made. All refunds are issued by the same payment method and are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee.
The maximum group size for the Death Valley workshop is 8 participants, ensuring personalized attention and instruction from the two professional photographers leading the trip.
A moderate fitness level is required, as you'll need to hike up to two miles over uneven ground or sand dunes with moderate elevation gain.
You'll have the chance to capture stunning desert landscapes, including the salt formations at Badwater Basin, the ripples and edges of Mesquite Dunes, and the unique Joshua trees of Saline Valley. The workshop focuses on minimalist compositions and the changing desert atmosphere. We will look for smaller intimate scenes when possible, also we will take advantage of low soft light photographing colorful badlands at locations like Artist's Palette and 20 Mule Canyon.
Yes, double occupancy lodging, all meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop are included. Single accommodations are available for an additional $900 supplement.
Transportation during the workshop is included, but you'll need to arrive at McCarran International Airport before 10:00 AM on March 2, 2027, and flights out should be after 2:00 PM on March 6, 2027.
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