• Death Valley Cottonballs
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$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 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

    Field sessions explore grand/intimate desert scenes. Classroom covers composition, desert light, focus stacking, and the'Rethink Landscape' processing methodologyin Lightroom.

  • 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

Explore Death Valley's landscape of profound contrasts and subtle beauty. This workshop guides you beyond grand scenics to develop a personal, interpretive approach to photographing this unique desert.

Our focus is refining your creative vision. We encourage slowing down, deep observation, and finding compositions—grand or intimate—that resonate with you. Learn techniques for wide-angle power and compelling intimate details, translating your experience into unique images with guidance from two leaders offering distinct perspectives.

Field exploration is balanced with focused learning, including image reviews and comprehensive instruction on David's 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology. This novel Lightroom system empowers you to craft natural, evocative images aligned with your vision using midtone contrast and powerful localized adjustments.

If you're ready to push creative boundaries and craft more meaningful images, join us to cultivate your unique photographic voice in Death Valley. Standard vehicle sufficient; carpooling encouraged.

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 Your Desert Vision: Interpret Death Valley's stark beauty personally, finding unique compositions beyond icons.
  • Master Winter Light: Utilize soft, low-angle light to sculpt forms and reveal textures in dunes, badlands, and salt flats.
  • Refine with Rethink: Learn the 'Rethink Landscape' Lightroom workflow for authentic, powerful desert image development.
  • Ideal Winter Conditions: Explore comfortably with longer golden hours and unique atmospheric potential.
  • Personalized Guidance (4:1): Receive tailored instruction in a small group to elevate your creative seeing.

Logistics:

  • Lodging: Group block secured at The Oasis at Death Valley (Furnace Creek area). Classroom sessions held here. Book directly using info provided upon registration (rate details included in registration info).
  • Transportation: Participants responsible for transport to/from Furnace Creek. Fly to Las Vegas (LAS) and rent a vehicle (~2-2.5 hour drive). A standard passenger car is sufficient for planned locations. Carpooling during the workshop is encouraged and will be coordinated amongst participants.

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 Oasis (Furnace Creek) for introductions and workshop orientation.
  • Evening: Presentation focused on developing your creative vision for Death Valley's unique landscapes (composition, light, interpretation). Optional group dinner nearby.

Days 2-4: Field Sessions, Image Review & Processing

  • Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise - Mid-morning): Explore locations like dunes, badlands, or salt flats, focusing on observation, personal composition (grand & intimate), and working with morning light.
  • Midday Break: Return to Furnace Creek for lunch (on own) and rest.
  • Afternoon Classroom (~1-3:30 PM): Constructive group image reviews followed by learning the Rethink Landscape processing methodology in Lightroom, tailored for desert scenes. Guided practice time included.
  • Late Afternoon Field Session (~3:30 PM - Sunset+): Head to a different location to apply concepts and capture the evening light through sunset and twilight. (Optional night session possible based on conditions/interest).
  • Evening: Dinner on your own. Often a brief evening gathering for Q&A or further discussion.

Day 5: Final Field Session & Workshop Conclusion

  • Morning Field Session (Pre-sunrise - ~10 AM): Final opportunity to practice techniques and refine images in the field.
  • Break (~10-11 AM): Check out from lodging, grab a quick bite (on own).
  • Concluding Session (~11 AM - 1 PM): Final group image review, feedback, and discussion on continuing your creative growth.
  • ~1:00 PM: Workshop concludes.

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 Landscape" processing and group critiques.
  • Collaborative Workshop Zine: A curated 8x8 keepsake featuring participant images, delivered post-workshop.

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: To/from Furnace Creek and during the workshop. Carpooling encouraged for daily field locations.
  • Lodging: In Furnace Creek area (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 2.5 hour drive to Stovepipe Wells.
  • 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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