Olympic National Park
July 22 – 28, 2026
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Images of the Ancients
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At a Glance
Location
Utah, USA
Tuition
$8,495
Dates
October 1 – 7, 2026
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 6 Guests
Collections
- Signature Collection
- US National Parks and Wilderness
Images of the Ancients Photography Workshop
Ancestral Puebloan Cliff Dwellings and Rock Art
October 1 – 7, 2026
- Explore the cultural and natural landscapes of the Bears Ears region
- Among North America's best-preserved dwellings and pictographs
- Trip accompanied by Navajo guides for meaningful interpretation
In the high desert of southeastern Utah, sandstone canyons hold a story. Juniper and piñon cling to rimrock, cottonwoods line the washes, and at bends in the stone, you find dwellings, pictographs, and petroglyphs that speak across millennia. Here we will find some of the most well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan sites in North America, many of which can still be photographed in their original settings.
This is a small group workshop focused on access, respect, and time on location. With capable 4×4 vehicles, we get to remote trailheads, then walk up to two miles with camera and tripod to carefully selected vantage points that honor site sensitivity.
Morning light reveals texture in the cliff faces, blue hour lifts subtle colors from desert varnish, and night brings a sky bright enough to frame ancient walls against the stars. Wide lenses open up the space under overhangs, long lenses isolate marks and masonry, and considered angles keep footprints and modern traces out of the frame. Along the way, we balance big desert landscapes with quiet studies of line, light, and man-made form.
Cultural stewardship guides everything we do. We collaborate with the Bears Ears Partnership, offering an interpretive presentation that highlights the region’s history and preservation efforts. A local Navajo guide joins us as we photograph dwellings, pictographs, and petroglyphs, and offers cultural context and guidance on how to photograph respectfully. We follow “visit with respect” principles, photograph only from approved areas, and leave each place as we found it.
Throughout the workshop, we combine real-time coaching with focused practice in ultra-wide angle and near/far composition, focus stacking, exposure bracketing, storytelling, and more. You’ll leave with stronger photographic instincts and long-lasting skills in composition, camera technique, and post-processing that will improve your photography beyond the workshop.
Ten percent of all proceeds will go to the Bears Ears Partnership for their preservation and education efforts in this incredible landscape.
You’ll return with a cohesive body of work that feels authentic and honest, and with a better understanding of how to photograph archaeological sites with care.
Your Pros
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
October 1, 2026: Journey from Durango to Bluff, Introduction at Bears Ears
Arrive in Durango, Colorado. You will be driven to Bluff, Utah. Once settled into our hotel, we will head to the Bears Ears Partnership headquarters to talk about what to expect, how to approach, and photograph some of the sensitive areas we will be visiting. Dinner in Bluff!
October 2, 2026: First Light Photography at San Juan River, Evening Mesa Hike
We will photograph our first dwelling along the San Juan River in the warmth of first light. After this shoot, we will drive a short distance to visit a fantastic panel of petroglyphs and photograph Moki steps along the river. Afterward, we will have our first image review, ensuring you can adjust your techniques in the field before the rest of the workshop. We will eat an early dinner and head out for a long hike to an incredible dwelling at the top of a mesa.
October 3, 2026: Explore Cedar Mesa Ruins, Sunset and Stars at Muley Point
After breakfast, we will head off to a ruin in a different region of Cedar Mesa. We will hike deep into a canyon and arrive at the ruin at around 11:00 a.m. This is the best time to photograph this ruin when the bounce light fills the walls with a warm glow. We’ll head back to Bluff for an image review and an early dinner. We’ll leave to capture sunset light and blue hour from Muley Point and Moki Dugway. We’ll finish the day with a milky way shoot in Valley of the Gods.
October 4, 2026: Jeep Adventure in Comb Ridge, Discover Hidden Pictographs
After breakfast, we will take a jeep ride and a short hike to photograph an amazing ruin in the Comb Ridge area. Our Navajo guide will be with us to discuss the people that inhabited the area. He’ll give us his interpretation of the pictographs and petroglyphs near the dwelling at the end of this cottonwood-lined canyon. We will then make our way back to Bluff. We will pack a lunch and head out to a little-known area full of picturesque granaries, shelters, pictographs, and petroglyphs.
October 5, 2026: Morning Canyon Dwelling Shoot, Night Sky Photography at Cedar Mesa
After breakfast, we will again find ourselves deep in a canyon, driving the jeeps along a windy two-track road that will lead us to a short hike to another dwelling that’s best photographed in the late morning light. This will be another location where we can photograph in reflective light. Then we’ll head back to Bluff for lunch and a lesson on post-processing night images.
This afternoon we’ll head out to another magnificent dwelling. We will eat dinner out in the field and head to one of the best-preserved dwellings in Cedar Mesa. We will photograph it in the late afternoon light and stick around to capture it with the Milky Way high in the sky above it.
October 6, 2026: Flexible Day for Revisiting or Exploring New Dwellings
This will be a day to revisit a specific dwelling, or explore another new location.
October 7, 2026: Final Image Review, Return Trip to Durango
After a hardy, well-deserved breakfast, we will have an image review and reflect on the photographs that we’ve captured. We will check out of the hotel and make our way back to Durango, Colorado.
Backcountry hiking
The journey to the dwellings is an exciting adventure that takes you off the beaten path and into the heart of the canyon. While the terrain is more rugged than a flat trail, the challenges along the way only add to the sense of accomplishment. As you navigate the canyon slopes, you'll encounter fascinating sandstone ledges, rocks to climb over, and stretches of sandy ground. Some sections may feel steep or slippery, but rest assured, you won't be alone. The group will travel together, supporting each other as we tackle each obstacle.
There may be times when we'll ask you to hand your camera pack to one of our guides so you can focus on the more challenging sections. Lighter loads make it easier to maneuver across the angled sandstone slabs and through the willows, ensuring everyone stays safe and enjoys the journey. The teamwork you'll experience along the way will be one of the highlights of the trip, and the reward at the end will be more than worth the effort!
Fitness
Challenging: Up to 2 mile hikes in steep locations with soft sand and rocky terrain.
Flights
Arrive Durango–La Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, Colorado before 11:00 AM on October 1, 2026. Flights out can be made after 2:00 PM on October 7, 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 $1,200 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.
- English-speaking local guide throughout 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 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.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
- Travel Medical (required).
- 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 $3,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $3,000 is due by March 1, 2026.
- The balance is due not later than June 1, 2026.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
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