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Drone Photography in the Southwest
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At a Glance
Location
Utah
Tuition
$8,995
Dates
October 31 – November 6, 2026
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 5 Guests
Collections
- US National Parks and Wilderness
Drone Photography in the Southwest Photography Workshop
Drone Photography in Southeast Utah
October 31 – November 6, 2026
- Fly over iconic landscapes like the San Juan River
- Visit two distinct locations with diverse scenery
- Capture abstract scenes from the air
Morning light skims the canyon rims of southeastern Utah, carving long shadows across buttes, meanders, and slickrock basins. From above, rivers become graphite lines, terraces stack like contour drawings, and mineral stains bloom into painterly patterns. This is a landscape built for drone photography: graphic from any height, endlessly variable with changing sun angles, and rich in textures that only reveal themselves from the air.
Long ago, southeastern Utah lay beneath shifting seas, dunes, and rivers that stacked sandstone, siltstone, and limestone in vivid layers. As the Colorado Plateau uplifted, the San Juan and Colorado rivers cut deep canyons, exposing cross-bedded desert sands and ancient shorelines. From above, these processes read as clean lines, folds, and textures — an ideal natural canvas for drone photography.
Throughout the workshop, we combine real-time coaching with focused practice in drone safety and flying, precision gimbal control, aerial compositions, and more. You’ll leave with stronger photographic instincts and long-lasting skills in technique and post-processing that’ll improve your photography well beyond the workshop. Expect a supportive pace that lets you experiment, troubleshoot, and push beyond “pretty from above” into images with clear intent.
You’ll return with a body of aerial work—elegant lines, layered forms, and graphic studies that feel both abstract and place-specific—and the confidence to plan, fly, and edit drone photographs with precision on future aerial shoots.
Your Pro
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
October 31, 2026: Arrive in Durango, Scenic Drive to Bluff, First Drone Flight
Arrive in to Durango Colorado by 11:00 AM. We will meet you and begin our 3 hours drive to Bluff Utah. After checking in to our hotel we will head out for our first late light flight. Dinner and a good sleep.
November 1, 2026: Sunrise Drone Photography, Image Review, Capturing Canyon Colors
We’ll start early to capture the blue hour as the sun rises over the canyon country and stay out photographing as long as the light is good. After a warm breakfast, we’ll meet for our first image review to make sure everything is working properly and you are getting the most out of your drone photography. We will be busy all afternoon and into the evening capturing amazing abstracts and canyon colors as well as low light and shadows. Dinner and a warm shower before a good night’s sleep.
November 2, 2026: Exploring Bluff’s Surrounding Canyons, Continuous Aerial Photography
On this second full day in the Bluff region, we have many great locations to visit. The small town is surrounded by canyons and geological features. We’ll spend just enough time to eat and charge our batteries throughout the day, but our main purpose will be to fly and photograph.
November 3, 2026: Morning Shoot, Drive to Hanksville, Discover New Landscapes
After an early morning shoot, we’ll get a good breakfast before packing up and driving North to Hanksville. The drive is scenic with a few possible stops for flights on the way, based on conditions. After arriving in Hanksville, we’ll spend just enough time settling in before heading out to see more amazing landscapes to fly over.
November 4, 2026: Drone Over Factory Butte, Image Review, Capture Badlands Colors
Hanksville is also surrounded by scenic landscapes, including the badlands surrounding Factory Butte. At this time of year, Cottonwoods should be in full color, offering a contrasting color to the grey-blue colors of the badlands. We’ll spend another couple of hours reviewing images to find compositions that worked, recommend techniques to improve your existing work, or assist you in capturing more images of a similar style.
We’ll head out to another unique region to capture graphic and colorful scenes of the badlands.
November 5, 2026: Mastering Drone Photography in Hanksville, Final Full Day of Shooting
By this time in the trip, you’ll understand how addictive drone photography can be. We’ll take full advantage of good weather and make sure you get all the options to capture a plethora of quality images and unusual compositions in this area. Our battery charger should be in full swing for many days now, allowing you to continue flying as long as you want. Our final dinner and another hot shower before our last early morning shoot on the following morning.
November 6, 2026: Sunrise Descent over Southeastern Utah, Return Journey to Durango
Another early sunrise morning to fly over the Southeastern Utah deserts. We’ll enjoy our final hot breakfast together before our drive back to Durango. We’ll make sure you arrive by 3:00 PM to catch any departing flights by as early as 5:00 PM.
Fitness
Moderate: Short walks on uneven ground
Flights
Arrive at Durango–La Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, Colorado before 11:00 AM on October 31, 2026. Flights out can be made after 5:00 PM on November 6, 2026. 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 $1,400 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.
- Multiple image reviews and post-processing sessions.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from Matt Payne.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Durango, Colorado.
- 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 $1,400 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $3,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $3,000 is due by April 1, 2026.
- The balance is due not later than July 1, 2026.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
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