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October 3-6‚ 2027 - Sold Out!

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Workshop Dates

$3,295
$3,295
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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 to Moderate

    Features relatively short hikes, but the significant factor is high elevation (often above 9,000 feet). Even mild exertion can feel strenuous and cause shortness of breath more quickly than at lower altitudes. Participants should be prepared for the effects of altitude and comfortable walking on mountain trails which may be uneven or muddy.

    More Info 

  • Creative Focus

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    Field sessions focus on autumn landscapes, from grand mountain scenes to intimate studies within the aspens. Classroom instruction covers composition, field techniques, and the Rethink Landscape methodology to help you craft natural, expressive images.

  • Group Size

    Limited to 8 Guests

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

  • Location

    Crested Butte, Colorado

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    Gunnison (GUC), Montrose (MTJ), or Denver (DEN)

    Check Flights 

Description

Immerse yourself in the rich transition of Crested Butte as autumn settles into the high country. Known for its iconic aspen groves and sweeping mountain views, this workshop goes beyond the obvious, guiding you to develop your creative vision within a quieter, more nuanced landscape.

Drawing on our extensive experience in the area, we’ll help you interpret the scene—from intimate studies of color, texture, and light within the aspens to more expansive compositions of peaks, valleys, and changing weather. Our focus is on slowing down, observing with intention, and creating images that feel personal, rather than chasing familiar compositions.

Field sessions are balanced with classroom critique and learning David's 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology. This novel Lightroom system uses midtone contrast and targeted adjustments for natural results, empowering you to craft images aligned with your vision.

Join us to experience Crested Butte in a different light, deepen your connection to the landscape, and push your creative boundaries in this inspiring autumn setting. 

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:

  • Beyond the Blooms: Develop your vision amidst peak wildflower season, focusing on creative compositions from grand scenes to intimate details.
  • Mastering Mountain Light: Learn techniques for floral landscapes, wide-angle to macro, harnessing dynamic alpine light.
  • Refine with Rethink: Learn the 'Rethink Landscape' Lightroom workflow to naturally enhance colors, tones, and textures in your images.
  • Expert Jeep Access: Benefit from included transportation in instructor-driven Jeeps to remote, high-elevation meadows and basins, maximizing field time away from crowds.
  • Personalized High-Altitude Guidance: Receive tailored instruction (3:1 ratio) on composition and technique in a challenging but rewarding environment.
  • Peak Season Access (July): Experience Crested Butte's renowned wildflowers and access high mountain passes typically open this time of year.

Logistics:

  • Lodging: Group block secured at a Mt. Crested Butte hotel. Book directly using info provided upon registration.
  • Transportation: Transportation during the workshop is included via instructor-driven Jeeps. Participants responsible for transport to/from Crested Butte. No personal 4x4 needed during the workshop.
  • Altitude Acclimatization Crucial: Arrive at least one day early to acclimatize to high elevation (town ~8,900 ft, field locations 9,000-12,000+ ft). This is vital for comfort and participation. Stay hydrated.
  • Road Exposure: Be aware that accessing locations involves travel on potentially exposed mountain roads. Comfort with heights is necessary

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 & Sunset Exploration

  • Meet at 2:00 PM in Crested Butte for introductions, orientation, and a discussion on photographing the alpine landscape
  • Afternoon classroom session (~2:00 PM - 4:00 PM) focused on seeing and composing with intention.
  • Early group dinner (~4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) at a local restaurant.
  • Evening field session (~6:15 PM onwards) to photograph sunset light on peaks and aspen landscapes.

Day 2: Full Day in the Field

  • Depart pre-dawn for the early morning field session, focusing on first light in the mountains.
  • Midday break (~10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) in town for rest and meals (on your own).
  • Afternoon field session (~12:00 PM – 4:00 PM), exploring a variety of locations and subjects.
  • Evening field session (~4:00 PM onwards) for sunset and twilight conditions.

Day 3: Exploring Variety & Creative Focus

  • Early morning field session (pre-dawn departure) with a focus on unique light and quieter scenes.
  • Late morning session exploring complementary subjects such as forests, textures, and intimate details.
  • Midday break (~10:30 AM – 1:00 PM) for rest and lunch (on your own).
  • Afternoon field session (~1:00 PM – 4:00 PM), incorporating lakes, reflections, and varied terrain.
  • Final evening field session (~4:00 PM onwards) for sunset and changing light.

Day 4: Final Morning & Image Critique

  • Early morning field session (pre-dawn departure) for sunrise.
  • Breakfast break (~8:00 AM – 9:00 AM) in town (on your own).
  • Morning image critique session (~9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), offering thoughtful feedback on your work.
  • Workshop concludes around 12:00 PM.

What's Included:

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

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: Carpooling is required
  • Lodging: In Mt. Crested Butte (Group rate block available).
  • Meals: All meals are the responsibility of the participant.
  • Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended.
  • Personal Items: Camera gear, clothing suitable for variable mountain weather (layers!), reusable water bottle, etc.
Stack of Death Valley Intimate Landscapes 2024 zine workshops with textured desert landscape cover on wooden surface

Your Commemorative Workshop Zine

As a special part of your Exploring Exposure workshop, we create a unique, tangible keepsake: a custom-designed 8x8 Zine featuring images from you and your fellow participants. It’s a beautiful way to remember the shared adventure and the landscapes explored.

More than that, the process encourages you to mindfully review your work, finalize your processing, and select your most meaningful images for inclusion. About a month after the workshop, you’ll share your selections with us. We then handle the curation, layout, and printing, sending you this beautiful collective memory to hold onto. It’s one more way we support your creative journey, even after the workshop ends.

Our Teaching Philosophy

At our workshops, we are dedicated to helping you discover and develop your unique creative style through personalized training tailored to your skill level and photographic interests. Our goal is to provide you with a rigorous learning experience, both in the field and the classroom, to elevate your photography to new heights.

Your growth and satisfaction are our top priorities. We put your interests first, focusing solely on your learning experience. Throughout the workshop, we will take photographs alongside you to demonstrate how we approach a scene, share techniques, and foster a sense of camaraderie within the group. However, we will never leave you to pursue our own photographic endeavors. Our attention will always remain on you and your progress.

We regularly check in with each participant to provide helpful feedback and advice on your work, without being overbearing. Our biggest goal is to see you succeed and learn, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.

We recognize that each participant joins our workshops at different stages of their photographic development. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced photographer, we are here to guide and assist you. We firmly believe that there is always room for growth and improvement in photography, and we are committed to helping you refine your skills and find your unique creative vision.

Above all, we strive to create a fun, engaging, and rewarding experience for you. Our small group sizes allow us to build strong connections with our clients, fostering a sense of community and belonging. We are driven by our love for photography and find immense joy in witnessing our participants' growth and artistic development.

Join us on this exciting journey of photographic discovery, and let us help you unlock your full creative potential.

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 on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. We are also an equal opportunity service provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are spouses/partners welcome?

Our workshops are designed as immersive group learning experiences. Participation in all activities, including field excursions and instructional sessions, requires full registration and payment of the workshop fee. Therefore, spouses or partners who wish to join must register as participants.

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

Moderate (Primarily due to Altitude and Exposure)

  • Hiking: Short walks (<1-2 miles RT) from vehicles on potentially uneven/muddy mountain trails or meadows. Hiking difficulty itself is low.
  • Primary Challenge - Altitude: Significant time spent above 11,000 ft. Acclimatization is crucial. Not recommended if highly susceptible to altitude sickness.
  • Fitness Expectation: Comfort walking short distances at very high altitude. Prepare for variable mountain weather (layers essential). Contact us if concerned about altitude.

How to Get There

Fly into:

  • Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC): ~45-minute drive. Closest option, limited flights.
  • Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ): ~1.5 to 2-hour drive. More flight options than GUC.
  • Denver International Airport (DEN): ~4.5 to 5-hour drive. Most flight options, longest drive.
  • Rental car needed to reach Crested Butte from the airport.

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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