Photograph Utah's Remote Wilderness in Capitol Reef National Park and the San Rafael Swell

October 2 – 10, 2024

Photograph Cathedral Valley in the remote regions of Capitol Reef National Park. Learn to capture stunning landscape images in low light.

You will study the art of composition with the pros assisting at each new location, all accessible from our fully outfitted camp. Learn the art of post-processing your files in Lightroom and Photoshop in our private meeting rooms at our hotel in Torrey, where we spend more time visiting the more accessible and dramatic views of Capitol Reef. Then we pack up and travel north to visit another wild location tucked away in the four-wheel drive access-only regions of the San Rafael Swell.

Our fully outfitted camp will change locations to this region of towering sandstone bluffs, juniper and piñon forests, and native American rock art. Friendly hotel accommodations, fully-outfitted camping, and unique wild locations will create a week full of adventure and photography.

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

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Location

Utah, USA

money
Tuition

$8,495

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Dates

October 2 – 10, 2024

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Availability

Sold Out
Limited to 8 Guests

Itinerary

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

October 2, 2024: Fly into Grand Junction by 3:00 PM and take the hotel shuttle. Our hotel is very close to the airport. Check in, unpack and meet the group at the hotel’s private meeting space at 5:00 PM. A presentation by the pros will prepare you for the adventure ahead, followed by dinner.

October 3, 2024: After breakfast, we’ll pack up and begin our drive to our Cathedral Valley camp, located a few hours away. The drive is scenic, and we’ll stop at some more spectacular locations along the way. Upon reaching camp, everyone will settle into their tents and have snacks before heading out on our first shoot. After a sunset shoot, we’ll have a hearty warm meal in camp before our night photography begins. Depending on the weather, we’ll head out to photograph the cathedrals in low light with the stars above.

October 4, 2024: We’ll have a full day in and around the cathedrals and surrounding wilderness. We’ll explore regions to the north to photograph more towering cathedrals that offer different vistas and old historic cabins. Our camp staff will prepare hot breakfast and dinner and supply plenty of ingredients for a sack lunch to enjoy while we’re exploring.

October 5, 2024: After an early start photographing the low light at dawn on one of many nearby locations, we’ll have a warm breakfast, coffee, or tea and pack up to drive into Torrey to our hotel. The drive is very scenic, and we’ll plan on stopping along the way to view rock art, narrow sandstone canyons, and buttes within the Capitol Reef National Park.

We plan on checking in to our hotel in the afternoon and reviewing our images from the previous days. Depending on the conditions, we may photograph the sunset from one of the more popular locations within the park.

October 6, 2024: We’ll have a warm breakfast and begin reviewing images in our private meeting space. This will also be a great time to learn post-processing skills, such as how to assemble scenes with multiple files to be focus-stacked. Depending on the conditions, we’ll take a break and head out to hike up to Hickman Bridge or another landscape scene in Capitol Reef National Park.

October 7, 2024: Today we drive north to the San Rafael Swell through some of the most scenic parts of the outback of Utah. On our way to camp, we’ll go through sandstone buttes, piñon forests, and deep canyons. We will stop for photography on the way. Once we arrive at our camp location, everyone will settle back into their tents and get a snack, and we’ll then have enough time to visit one of the local features for sunset.

October 8, 2024: We’ll start early to capture the dawn light near the camp, followed by a warm breakfast. We will spend the day visiting sandstone arches and rock art sights and photographing unusual landscapes in a remote part of the San Rafael Swell, including an old ranching cabin.

October 9, 2024: After an early sunrise shoot and hot breakfast, everyone will pack up and begin our drive back to civilization. The drive to Grand Junction will only take a couple of hours, allowing us to check in to our hotel, where we can begin reviewing our recently captured images. After our last dinner, we will still have time to review photos before a good night’s sleep.

October 10, 2024: Breakfast and our final image review from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Flights home can be made anytime after 12:00 PM.

Life in Camp

During this workshop, you will be camping for four of the eight nights in our fully outfitted wilderness camp. Each person will be in a large tent (large enough to stand up in) shared with another guest. Everyone is provided with a cot, thick comfortable pad, and sleeping bag, and some lighting is provided inside the tents.

A separate dining tent with tables for eating will be available for everyone at all hours. Plenty of cool or hot water is available at all times, along with snacks, including fresh fruits. The outfitters are trained in wilderness cooking and wilderness first aid. Sanitary hand washing stations are set up for use.

Gallery

Fitness

Moderate: Walks of up to two miles with elevation gain, sometimes on uneven or sandy ground.

Flights

Arrive Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado before 3:00 PM on October 2, 2024. Flights out can be made after 12:00 PM on October 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 $700 supplement. (Hotels only)
  • All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
  • All permits and park fees.
  • Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
  • Guided camping with custom meals and comfortable tents.
  • Camp bedding: cot, sheet and sleeping bag
  • 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 Grand Junction, Colorado.
  • 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 and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
  • Anything else specifically not listed as included.
  • Single rooming available for $700 supplement. (Hotels only)

Payment Terms

  • Your deposit of $3,495 will hold your space in this workshop.
  • Further payment of $3,000 is due by March 1, 2024.
  • The balance is due not later than June 1, 2024.
  • All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.

Testimonials

“Wayne and Kevin were phenomenal and I learned a ton! Very excited with the images I took and the new techniques I learned. Far surpassed my expectations! ”

— Brian Hicks, Wild Utah Night Skies '21

“I just finished up an amazing photography workshop with Muench Workshop. The lead photographers Wayne Suggs and Kevin Lisota were amazing in their guidance to composition in the field and setting as needed. The classroom time for preparing for our landscape, astrophotography and our post editing education was top notch. I encourage you to check them out and all the wonderful workshops that Muench Workshops offers. ”

— Frances Kuelz, Wild Utah Night Skies '21

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
Minutes
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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.