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New Mexico Hummingbirds
At a Glance
Location
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Tuition
$4,995
Dates
July 26 – 29, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 7 Guests
Collections
- Short Escape
- US National Parks and Wilderness
New Mexico Hummingbirds Photography Workshop
Hummingbirds sipping from native blooms in the Mesilla Valley
July 26 – 29, 2027
- Hummingbirds on native wildflowers, natural light & clean backgrounds
- Optional lesson with high-speed flash and black studio backdrops
- 4:1 guest-to-Pro ratio for hands-on guidance and feedback
Chase the glittering speedsters of the Chihuahuan Desert around Las Cruces, New Mexico. This workshop focuses on freezing motion and revealing iridescent colour using natural light. With the Organ Mountains as a dramatic backdrop, we’ll work with native blooms and thoughtfully placed feeders to create clean, natural backgrounds. Expect practical lessons on autofocus, shutter speeds, lighting, and composition (plus our signature image reviews during the midday heat). You’ll leave with a portfolio of crisp hummingbird portraits and dynamic flight shots.
Why Las Cruces? Hummingbirds use the spring-fed oasis at the bottom of the Organ Mountains as a dependable desert pit-stop on their north–south journeys. The shaded canyons and reliable water create a rare microhabitat where the Chihuahuan Desert meets cooler foothills — offering shelter from wind, abundant nectar, and easy access to water in one compact area.
Over 260 plant species are recorded along the Dripping Springs trails, which is precisely why the hummingbirds concentrate here. Our timing is spot-on, too: in southern New Mexico, numbers swell from late July into early autumn as migrants like Rufous—alongside local Black-chinned and passing Broad-tailed and Calliope—track bloom cycles after the monsoon rains. Nearby gardens burst with desert willow, penstemons, and sages, whose tubular flowers align perfectly with peak migration.
Your Pros
Additional Pro TBD
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
July 26, 2027: Airport Pickup, Evening Hummingbird Photography
Arrive at El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas before 10:00 AM today. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
We’ll collect you from the airport or your airport hotel for the one-hour drive north to Las Cruces. After checking into our hotel and having lunch, we’ll head into the Organ Mountains for our first evening hummingbird session.
July 27, 2027: Hummingbird Photo Techniques
We’ll depart pre-dawn to be in position as first light hits the Organ Mountains. Expect peak hummingbird activity at native wildflowers; we’ll refine tracking autofocus, work with both fast and slow shutter speeds, and use diffusers to tame glare on shimmering, iridescent color. After a late-morning break, we’ll hold a midday image review. Around 3:30 pm, we’ll head back out as temperatures ease and winds drop, targeting side-lit and backlit opportunities through golden hour.
July 28, 2027: High-Speed Flash or Natural Light Photography
Today, choose between an optional high-speed flash session — using a controlled, low-power, multi-speedlight set-up to create clean black backdrops and razor-sharp wing detail — or continue in natural light. The rhythm mirrors day two: on location at first light, a midday image review, then back out around 3:30 pm for golden hour through sunset.
July 29, 2027: Morning Image Review Session
After breakfast and before departure, we’ll run an extended, hands-on image review until midday, covering curating a final set, fine-tuning color and specular highlights for iridescence, comparing natural-light and flash edits, sharpening delicate plumage, and cleaning backgrounds.
Flights out can be made after 2:00 PM on July 29, 2027.
Fitness
Easy: Must be able to enter/exit a full-size SUV and walk up to 300 feet (90 metres) on level but uneven gravel paths. Expect extended periods seated on camp-style chairs.
Flights
Arrive at El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas before 10:00 AM on July 26, 2027. Flights out can be made after 2:00 PM on July 29, 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 $395 supplement.
- Scheduled airport transfers.
- 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 El Paso, Texas.
- 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 $395 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $2,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- The balance is due not later than March 1, 2027.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll learn how to freeze motion and capture the iridescent colors of hummingbirds using natural light. The workshop covers autofocus techniques, working with various shutter speeds, and using diffusers to manage lighting. You'll also have the option to practice high-speed flash photography and high/low key images.
Yes, this workshop is refundable. Cancellations made more than 150 days before the start date receive a full refund. Between 150–91 days, you'll get a refund of payments exceeding 50% of tuition, and between 90–61 days, a refund of payments exceeding 75% of tuition. No refunds are given within 60 days unless we fill your space, in which case you receive a 100% refund. All refunds are issued by the same payment method and are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee.
The workshop has a maximum capacity of 7 participants, ensuring personalized attention and guidance from the two professional photographers leading the trip.
It's recommended to bring a camera with fast autofocus capabilities and lenses suitable for wildlife photography, such as a telephoto lens for capturing hummingbirds in flight. A tripod will be useful.
The workshop is rated as easy in terms of physical demands. You'll need to be able to enter and exit a full-size SUV and walk up to 300 feet on level but uneven gravel paths. Expect to spend extended periods seated on camp-style chairs while photographing.
You'll have the opportunity to photograph a variety of hummingbird species, including Rufous, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, and Calliope hummingbirds. The area is rich with native blooms that attract these birds, providing excellent photography opportunities.
It's advised to arrive at El Paso International Airport (ELP) before 10:00 AM on July 26, 2027, to ensure you don't miss any part of the workshop. Given the possibility of air travel delays, consider arriving a day early.
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