• Death Valley Intimate Dune Soft Zig
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December 5-10‚ 2027 - 3 Spots Available

Workshop Dates

$3,495
$3,495
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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

    Involves hikes generally up to 2 miles round trip across varied desert terrain (uneven ground, gravel washes, sand, rocks), frequently requiring navigation without established trails. Requires stable footing and comfort walking on natural, sometimes loose surfaces.

    More Info 

  • Creative Focus

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    Our days blend sunrise/sunset field sessions exploring desert textures and intimate compositions with valuable classroom instruction. We'll delve into techniques for seeing abstractly, focus stacking for depth, and utilizing the Rethink Lightroom methodology to bring your vision to life.

  • Group Size

    Limited to 8 Guests

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

  • Location

    Furnace Creek, California

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)

    Check Flights 

Description

Death Valley's scale is immense, but its true magic often lies in the details. This workshop dives deep into the art of intimate landscape photography, guiding you to discover the intricate beauty hidden within the vast desert.

We'll focus on slowing down, sharpening your observation, and finding compelling compositions in subtle textures, patterns, and forms – the delicate tracery on salt flats, the geometry of cracked mud, the interplay of light on rock and sand. Our goal is to help you move beyond the obvious vistas and craft powerful images that reflect a personal connection to these smaller scenes.

Through dedicated field sessions, classroom discussions, and image reviews, you'll learn techniques for effective intimate composition. You'll also master our 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology in Lightroom – a system designed to enhance texture and nuance, giving you the control to create natural, evocative images that match your vision.

Join us to refine your way of seeing, push your creative boundaries, and translate Death Valley's quiet beauty into your own distinct photographic voice.

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:

  • See Beyond the Obvious: Develop your eye for finding compelling intimate compositions and abstract patterns in the desert environment.
  • Master Slow Observation: Learn to connect deeply with the landscape by focusing on subtle details, textures, and light often overlooked.
  • Refine Your Composition: Explore techniques specifically suited for isolating subjects, simplifying scenes, and using light effectively for intimate work.
  • Unlock Your Desert Images: Learn the 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology to enhance texture, manage desert light, and achieve natural, nuanced results in Lightroom.
  • Experiment & Grow: Be encouraged to try different approaches (lenses, B&W, ICM) to push your creative boundaries.
  • Personalized Guidance: Benefit from focused attention and tailored feedback from two instructors in a small group setting (max 8).
  • Develop Your Unique Voice: Gain skills and confidence to translate the quiet beauty of intimate landscapes into your own distinct style.

Logistics:

  • Lodging: We have secured a block of rooms at The Ranch at Death Valley (part of The Oasis at Death Valley) with a special group rate of $209/night (plus tax). This central location within the park provides comfortable accommodations and convenient access to many excellent areas for intimate landscape photography. Detailed booking information will be provided upon registration.
  • Transportation: Participants are responsible for their own transportation to/from Death Valley (The Ranch) and during the workshop. A standard passenger vehicle is sufficient for reaching all planned locations, as we will focus on areas accessible via paved or well-maintained gravel roads. Carpooling is encouraged for field outings.

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 & Desert Vision

  • 4:00 PM: Meet at the hotel (Furnace Creek) for introductions & workshop orientation.
  • Evening Session: Classroom presentation on seeing intimate/abstract desert landscapes & working with light.
  • Group Dinner: Optional group meal at a local restaurant.

Days 2-5: Daily Rhythm - Explore, Refine, Process

  • Early Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise - mid-morning): Photographing intimate landscapes and patterns in prime morning light (e.g., badlands, salt flats, playas). Focus on observation and composition.
  • Midday: Brunch/Lunch break.
  • Afternoon Classroom Session: Group image reviews followed by Rethink Landscape processing instruction in Lightroom (desert-specific techniques, guided practice).
  • Late Afternoon Field Session: Return to the field for shooting intimate scenes and abstracts in the soft, late-day light until sunset.
  • Evening: Dinner on your own. Optional evening classroom for more review, Q&A, or deeper dives into techniques.

Day 6: Final Field Session & Conclusion

  • Early Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise - ~10:00 AM): Final opportunity to practice finding and creating intimate desert images.
  • Mid-morning: Return to Furnace Creek for check-out / break.
  • Concluding Session (~11:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Final image review, wrap-up discussion, and thoughts on continued creative growth.
  • ~1:00 PM: Workshop concludes.

What's Included:

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

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: To/from Death Valley and during the workshop. Carpooling encouraged for daily field locations.
  • Lodging: (Group rate block available).
  • Meals: All meals are the responsibility of the participant.
  • Death Valley National Park Entrance Fee: Or valid park pass.
  • Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended.
  • Personal Items: Camera gear, desert-appropriate clothing (layers!), 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 Commercial Use Authorization through Death Valley National Park. 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

Physical Activity Level & Terrain: Easy to Moderate

This workshop balances easily accessible roadside locations with short hikes required to reach unique photographic opportunities within Death Valley's diverse landscapes.

  • Mix of Activities: We will utilize a combination of shooting near parking areas and undertaking short hikes to access canyons and dunes.
  • Hiking Distances: Hikes will typically be short, generally 1 to 2 miles at a time.
  • Terrain: Be prepared for varied and often uneven terrain. We will be walking directly on canyon floors, which may consist of gravel, rocks, and uneven surfaces without established trails. Hikes towards sand dune areas primarily involve walking over mostly level ground, potentially including sections of rocky terrain requiring careful navigation. The final approach, perhaps the last 1/8 mile or so, will involve walking on the dunes themselves, which can be physically tiring despite the short distance on sand.
  • Fitness Expectation: Participants should be comfortable walking 1-2 miles at a time over uneven, potentially loose or rocky terrain, including canyon floors and the approach to dunes. Good balance is essential for navigating this ground safely while carrying gear. You should also be capable of carrying your camera equipment for several hours, including during hikes. Be prepared for the unique exertion of walking on sand for the final portion of the dune approach.

How to Get There

  • We recommend flying to Las Vegas, from there it is a 2 hour drive to Furnace Creek.
  • We recommend using Google Flights to find the best option for where you are coming from.

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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