• Aerial view of rugged Anza-Borrego Desert landscape with winding dry riverbed during soft sunlight.
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March 19-23‚ 2028 - Filling Fast!

Workshops Dates:

$2,995
$2,995
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  • Experience Level

    Beginner to Advanced 

    This workshop is designed for photographers of all skill levels. You'll receive personalized guidance to build on your strengths and overcome weaknesses. Expect to be challenged and grow, regardless of your starting point.

  • Fitness Level

    Easy

    Involves short hikes (up to 1 mile round trip) on uneven desert terrain. Expect brief sections of basic, easy scrambling in narrow canyons, using hands for balance over small obstacles. Requires stable footing and reasonable mobility.

    More Info 

  • Creative Focus

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    Field sessions explore badlands, textures, slot canyons, and plant life. Classroom covers desert composition (grand/intimate), light, potential B&W, and the'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology in Lightroom.

  • Group Size

    Limited to 8 Guests

    We keep our group sizes small to ensure the individual attention you deserve.

  • Location

    Borrego Springs, California

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    San Diego, California (SAN)

    Check Flights 

Description

Explore California's vast Anza-Borrego State Park and develop your eye for composition amidst its rugged beauty. We guide you to craft compelling images reflecting your experience, focusing on the sculptural badlands, rock textures, intimate light within a unique slot canyon, backlit cholla, and desert flora patterns.

While timed for potential peak wildflower season, a significant bloom is unpredictable and not guaranteed. Our primary focus is learning to creatively interpret the park's diverse geology and resilient life, ensuring a rewarding experience regardless of flower conditions.

Learn David's 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology – a novel Lightroom system using midtone contrast and targeted adjustments for natural results, empowering you to craft images aligned with your vision. Slow down, connect with the desert, and push your creative boundaries. Note: High-clearance vehicle recommended; carpooling required.

Meet Your Creative Guides

  • David Kingham

    David is an accomplished professional photographer renowned for his evocative nature imagery. His work showcases intimate landscapes, stunning nightscapes, and masterful black-and-white photography. As the founder of Exploring Exposure, David is dedicated to mentoring aspiring photographers, helping them refine their skills and develop their artistic vision.

    View David's Portfolio 

  • Jennifer Renwick

    Jennifer is a professional photographer renowned for her captivating abstract and small scene imagery. With a keen eye for detail, she uncovers the hidden stories within grand landscapes. Jennifer is passionate about helping fellow photographers discover their unique style and guiding them to express their vision through meaningful projects.

    View Jennifer's Portfolio 

Visual Inspiration

Workshop Highlights & Creative Focus:

  • Develop Desert Vision: Learn to see beyond the surface, interpreting Anza-Borrego's unique character – badlands, washes, flora details.
  • Composition Mastery: Craft compelling images from grand vistas to intimate abstracts, focusing on texture, form, and light.
  • Wildflower Potential: Timed for the best chance of desert blooms, but focused on the enduring landscape regardless.
  • Master the Rethink Workflow: Learn the 'Rethink Landscape' Lightroom methodology for authentic, nuanced desert image development.
  • Slot Canyon Access: Explore and photograph the unique interior of a permitted slot canyon.
  • Personalized Guidance: Receive tailored instruction (4:1 ratio) to overcome hurdles and achieve creative breakthroughs.

Logistics:

  • Lodging: Group block secured at a Borrego Springs hotel ($200/night+tax). Classroom sessions held here. Book directly using info provided upon registration.
  • Transportation: Participants responsible for transport to/from Borrego Springs. Carpooling is required during the workshop (max 3 vehicles). Instructors coordinate this (2 spots available in instructor vehicle). High-clearance vehicle (SUV ideal) strongly recommended for accessing some locations. Please inform us of your vehicle type.

Itinerary

Preparation: Upon registration, a comprehensive itinerary will be sent to you, ensuring all the details are at your fingertips to help you plan your travel arrangements seamlessly.

Day 1: Arrival, Orientation & Seeing the Desert Landscape

  • Meet at 5:00 PM at the hotel (Borrego Springs) for introductions and workshop orientation.
  • Attend the Evening Session presentation on interpreting Anza-Borrego's landscape (composition, light, subjects).
  • Join the optional group dinner nearby for informal conversation.

Days 2-4: Field Exploration, Image Development & Refining Your Vision

  • Participate in the Early Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise - mid-morning) exploring badlands, desert gardens, potential flower areas. Focus on observation and personal composition.
  • Midday Flexibility: Usually includes a brunch/lunch break. On one day, this period features a dedicated Slot Canyon Field Session, exploring its unique light and forms.
  • Attend the Afternoon Image Review session for constructive group critique.
  • Learn the Rethink Landscape processing methodology in the Afternoon Lightroom Session, focusing on desert image techniques (contrast, texture, color, masking) with guided practice.
  • Head out for the Evening Field Session, working through sunset and blue hour light.

Day 5: Final Field Session & Workshop Conclusion

  • Engage in the final Early Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise - mid-morning) to apply learned concepts.
  • Take a break for check-out and a meal (on own).
  • Join the concluding Midday Session for final image review, feedback, and discussion on continued creative growth.
  • Workshop concludes around 1:00 PM.

What's Included:

  • Expert Instruction & Guidance: Field guidance and classroom instruction from David Kingham & Jennifer Renwick (4:1 ratio).
  • Small Group Environment: Max 8 participants for personalized attention.
  • Image Development & Critique: Classroom sessions on "Rethink" processing and group critiques.
  • Collaborative Workshop Zine: A curated 8x8 keepsake featuring participant images, delivered post-workshop.

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: To/from Borrego Springs, CA. Carpooling is required during the workshop (max 3 vehicles); high-clearance vehicle strongly recommended.
  • Lodging: In Borrego Springs (Group rate block available).
  • Meals: All meals are the responsibility of the participant.
  • Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended.
  • Personal Items: Camera gear, clothing, hiking essentials, reusable water bottle, etc.
Stack of Death Valley Intimate Landscapes 2024 zine workshops with textured desert landscape cover on wooden surface

Your Commemorative Zine

As part of your Exploring Exposure experience, we create a custom-designed 8×8 Zine featuring images from you and your fellow participants. It’s a tangible way to remember the time spent together and the landscapes you explored.

The process also encourages you to revisit your work, refine your edits, and select the images that feel most meaningful to you. About a month after the experience, you’ll share your selections with us. We take care of the curation, layout, and printing, and send you a finished piece that reflects the group’s collective experience.

It’s one more way we support your creative process, even after the trip is over.

Our Teaching Philosophy

Our goal is to help you develop your own creative voice through thoughtful, personalized guidance. We meet you where you are and work with you to build on your strengths, whether in the field or during group sessions.

Throughout the experience, we’re fully focused on your growth. We often work alongside you to demonstrate how we approach a scene or solve a problem, but our priority is always your progress, not our own photography.

We provide regular, constructive feedback in a supportive way, helping you refine your compositions, strengthen your ideas, and bring your images to completion. With small group sizes, we’re able to give each participant the attention they need without being overbearing.

Participants come in at different stages, and that’s part of what makes these experiences valuable. No matter your level, our aim is to help you see more clearly, think more intentionally, and continue growing long after the trip is over.

Above all, we strive to create an experience that is engaging, supportive, and genuinely enjoyable. We care deeply about the people we work with and the creative growth that happens along the way.

Safety First

Your safety is our utmost priority, especially when exploring remote locations. As certified Wilderness First Responders, David and Jennifer are prepared to handle any situation, big or small. We also carry satellite communication devices to ensure we can request rescue assistance if needed in areas without cellular coverage.

Responsible

As proud members of Nature First Photography, we are committed to responsible nature photography practices. We abide by and promote the seven principles of this movement to our clients, encouraging them to join us in preserving the natural world we capture through our lenses.

Join Nature First

Legal Compliance

At Exploring Exposure, we operate with the highest level of integrity. We obtain all necessary permits, carry comprehensive liability insurance, and acquire any required certifications to ensure our workshops are conducted legally and ethically.

For this workshop Exploring Exposure operates under a Special Use Permit with the California State Parks Department. We are also an equal opportunity service provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are spouses/partners welcome?

We're sorry, but partners may only come on field excursions if they pay full price for a seat on the workshop.

Will I have cell service during the workshop?

In many remote areas we visit, cell service and Wi-Fi can be extremely limited or non-existent during field excursions. Expect potential periods of being offline. Service is typically available at our accommodation, but cannot be guaranteed everywhere. We carry a satellite communication device for emergency use.

Will weather cancel the workshop?

Often, dramatic weather provides the best photographic opportunities! We prioritize participant safety, but the workshop will proceed in most weather conditions. Locations or schedules might be adjusted if conditions pose a significant safety risk (e.g., hazardous roads, extreme events). We encourage embracing the elements! Please note that no refunds or rescheduling are offered based on weather circumstances.

Do the instructors photograph during workshops?

Our commitment is first and foremost to your learning and creative exploration. While you might see us create some images during our time in the field, it's always with an educational purpose in mind. We might photograph to:

  • Walk you through how we evaluate and compose a scene, sharing the excitement and challenges together.
  • Demonstrate a specific technique (like focus stacking, long exposure, or ICM).
  • Make images during our field sessions that reflect the specific locations and conditions you're experiencing. This provides highly relevant examples for demonstrating the Rethink processing workflow, directly applicable to the images you're creating on the trip.

Engaging in the creative process alongside you can be instructive and helps foster a shared experience and connection within the group. However, this never takes precedence over providing personalized attention and ensuring you have the support you need to develop your vision. Our focus remains squarely on you.

Detailed Fitness Requirements & Terrain

This workshop involves exploring varied desert terrain, primarily on short walks from our vehicles, potentially including narrow slot canyons.

  • Hiking Distances: Expect short walks, generally no more than 1 mile round trip, to explore specific features. This may include venturing into badlands formations, desert washes, areas with unique textures and plants, and potentially navigating through short sections of narrow slot canyons. Most shooting locations will be relatively close to where we park.
  • Terrain: While the distances are short, the terrain itself can be uneven and varied. You may be walking on loose sand (which can require more effort than firm ground), packed dirt, potentially stepping over rocks, and navigating uneven wash bottoms. Within slot canyons, the ground can be rocky or sandy, and the passages may become quite narrow in places, requiring careful foot placement and maneuvering. Formal trails are often absent in the specific locations we explore. Good balance and sturdy footing are beneficial.
  • Environmental Factors: Be prepared for sun exposure and potential heat, even outside of peak summer. Staying hydrated is critical.

How to Get There

Here are the steps to get from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Borrego Springs, California:

Driving Directions

  1. Exit the Airport: After picking up your luggage, exit the airport and head east on North Harbor Drive.
  2. Take I-8 East: Merge onto I-8 East and continue for about 80 miles.
  3. Take Exit 89 for S-22 East: Take exit 89 for S-22 East (also known as the Borrego Salton Seaway) towards Borrego Springs.
  4. Drive to Borrego Springs: Continue on S-22 East for approximately 50 miles. This scenic drive will take you through the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and into the town of Borrego Springs.

Estimated Driving Time and Distance

  • Total Distance: Approximately 120 miles
  • Estimated Driving Time: 2 hours 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

Cancellation Policy

We put a great deal of care into planning small, personalized workshop experiences. Because group sizes are limited and logistics begin well in advance, we must adhere to the following cancellation policy. We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance to protect your investment in case of unforeseen circumstances.

  • Initial Payment: An initial payment (applied toward the total workshop fee) is required to secure your spot.
  • Cancellation More Than 90 Days Out: If you cancel more than 90 days before the workshop start date, your initial payment will be refunded minus a 5% processing fee.
  • Cancellation Between 60 and 90 Days Out: If you cancel fewer than 90 days but more than 60 days before the workshop start date, your initial payment becomes non-refundable. However, if we are able to fill your spot, we will refund your initial payment minus a 5% processing fee.
  • Final Balance Payment: The remaining balance will be automatically charged to the card used for your initial payment 60 days prior to the workshop start date. We will send a reminder a few days in advance. Please ensure your payment information is up to date. If you need to use a different card, contact us before the 60-day deadline.
  • Cancellation Within 60 Days (After Final Payment): If you cancel fewer than 60 days before the workshop start date, all payments made are non-refundable. However, if we are able to fill your spot, we will refund your payments minus a 5% processing fee. While we will make a reasonable effort to fill the space, this cannot be guaranteed, especially close to the start date.
  • Alternative Option: Store Credit for a Future Workshop: If your plans change, we’ll always do our best to help. In many cases, if we’re able to fill your spot, we can offer a store credit toward a future workshop so you don’t lose the value of your investment. Availability depends on timing and demand.
  • Process & Policy Understanding: All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email or mail. This policy applies regardless of the reason for cancellation, including illness, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
  • Trip Insurance (Strongly Recommended): To protect against unexpected events—such as personal emergencies, illness, or travel delays—we strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation and interruption insurance. To find the right coverage for your situation, we suggest using a reputable comparison site such as Squaremouth or InsureMyTrip, where you can review plans from multiple providers side by side. We have no affiliation with these companies, so please review coverage carefully to ensure it meets your needs.
  • Workshop Cancellation by Exploring Exposure: We reserve the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances (such as leader illness or park closures). If this occurs, you will be offered the option to transfer to a future workshop or receive a full refund of all payments made to Exploring Exposure. We are not responsible for additional expenses such as airfare, lodging, or rental vehicles. Trip insurance may help cover these costs.

Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out, we are happy to help!

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