• Death Valley Cottonballs
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Stay informed about upcoming dates for this exciting workshop! Join the waitlist below and be the first to know when new dates are announced.

Investment: $2,995
Investment: $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

    Hikes up to a two miles (round trip) on uneven terrain. Can be challenging for some, but if you are mostly healthy you will be fine.

    More Info 

  • Curriculum

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    Our days will be split between sunrise and sunset field sessions, with classroom time and breaks in between. You'll learn techniques like: focus stacking, unique Lightroom methodologies, and developing projects to take your photography to the next level!

  • Group Size

    Limited to 8 Guests

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

  • Location

    Stovepipe Wells, California

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)

    Check Flights 

Description

Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Death Valley National Park on an unforgettable photography workshop. Our expert instructors will guide you to the park's most iconic locations and hidden gems, sharing their knowledge and tips to help you capture stunning images. From grand landscapes to intimate scenes, you'll learn to refine your technical skills and develop your creative vision.

Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Death Valley, push your boundaries, and unleash your creativity. Connect with fellow passionate photographers and draw inspiration from each other's unique perspectives. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to elevate your photography skills while exploring one of America's most breathtaking national parks. Book your spot now and prepare to be inspired, challenged, and transformed.

Your Pro Leaders

  • 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 

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: Kickoff and Immersion

  • 5:00 pm: Meet at the hotel for introductions and a warm welcome.
  • Evening Session: Engage in captivating presentations at the hotel, setting the stage for the art of photographing the unique and otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley. We'll discuss composition techniques, lighting, and the unique challenges and opportunities of the desert environment, such as capturing the abstract patterns of the salt flats and working with the extreme contrast of light and shadow.
  • Dinner break: Enjoy a delightful meal together, fostering connections and camaraderie among the group.

Days 2-4: In-depth Exploration and Learning

  • Early Morning (pre-sunrise until mid-morning): Venture into the heart of Death Valley to capture the surreal beauty of the park in the soft, golden light of early morning. We'll focus on creating compelling compositions that showcase the iconic landscapes, such as the undulating sand dunes, colorful badlands, and expansive salt flats, while harnessing the power of light to evoke emotion in your images.
  • Brunch & Rest: Return to the hotel for a well-deserved meal and a brief rest to recharge for the afternoon sessions.
  • Afternoon: Gather for an engaging image share, where everyone will present their favorite images from the previous outings. This is an opportunity to learn from each other and celebrate the group's achievements.
  • Classroom Session: Dive into our exclusive Lightroom techniques designed to streamline your creative workflow without compromising the impact of your final images. We'll explore new tools and techniques each day, building upon the previous day's learnings, with a focus on enhancing the unique qualities of Death Valley's landscapes, such as bringing out the subtle tonal variations in the salt flats and creating drama in the high-contrast scenes. You'll have ample time to work on your own images under our guidance.
  • Evening: Embark on a mesmerizing sunset shoot, applying the techniques and insights gained throughout the day. We'll focus on creating dynamic, emotive landscapes that showcase Death Valley's unique beauty, such as capturing the warm glow of the setting sun on the sand dunes and experimenting with long exposures to create ethereal, dream-like images of the moving clouds and stars.

Day 5: Reflection and Farewell

  • Early Morning (pre-sunrise until mid-morning): Embark on a final sunrise shoot, putting into practice all the skills and techniques acquired throughout the workshop, such as using leading lines to guide the viewer's eye through the landscape and capturing the delicate hues of the early morning sky reflected in the salt flats.
  • Brunch & Rest: Savor a final meal together, reflecting on the experiences and growth achieved during the workshop.
  • Midday: Gather for a concluding image critique session, where you'll receive valuable feedback and insights on your work. We'll celebrate the progress made and discuss strategies for continuing your photographic journey beyond the workshop, with an emphasis on refining your unique vision for desert photography in Death Valley and beyond.
  • 1:00 pm: The workshop concludes, leaving you inspired, enriched, and equipped with new skills, fresh perspectives, and lasting friendships forged through a shared passion for nature photography amidst the breathtaking and otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley National Park.

What You'll Experience

Winter in the Desert: Immerse yourself in the unique beauty of Death Valley during the winter months, when the harsh desert landscape is transformed by the soft light and mild temperatures. Capture the essence of this season through your lens, from the towering sand dunes to the salt flats and badlands.

Diverse Photography Opportunities: Discover a wide array of photographic subjects, including the iconic Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, the intricate patterns of Badwater Basin, and the winding canyons of Mosaic Canyon. Explore the lesser-known areas of the park based on our extensive knowledge of the park.

Classroom Instruction: Benefit from comprehensive classroom sessions covering composition techniques, exposure blending, and post-processing specific to the unique challenges of photographing the desert landscape. We'll help you refine your skills and create captivating images that showcase the beauty of Death Valley in winter.

Personalized Guidance: Receive one-on-one support from experienced photographers who know the park intimately, ensuring you make the most of your time in the field and develop your unique creative vision.

Why Death Valley in Winter?

Mild Temperatures: Winter offers mild temperatures in Death Valley, making it an ideal time to explore and photograph the desert without the extreme heat of the summer months. The comfortable weather allows for more enjoyable and productive photography sessions.

Soft Light: The winter sun sits lower in the sky, providing a softer and more diffused light that is perfect for landscape photography. This gentle light enhances the textures and colors of the desert, creating more opportunities for stunning images throughout the day.

Unique Opportunities: Winter in Death Valley brings unique photographic opportunities, such as the possibility of capturing rare rainstorms or even snow on the higher elevations. These special moments add an extra layer of drama and interest to your photographs.

Important Details

Lodging: We have secured a block of rooms at the Stovepipe Wells Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Death Valley National Park. The special group rate is $229/night, providing a comfortable and rustic base for our desert photography adventures. The hotel offers easy access to many of our shooting locations, making it the perfect choice for this workshop. More details will be provided upon registration.

Image Gallery

What is Included

  • Small class size of 8 maximum to ensure proper attention to each client
  • Two attentive instructors for a client to instructor ratio of 4:1
  • Water and snacks
  • Image Critiques
  • Tailored post processing instruction in Lightroom and Photoshop

What is Not Included

  • Transportation - Everyone will carpool together
  • Lodging - we have a block of rooms held for you
  • Meals - we will be eating some meals together as a group

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are spouses/partners welcome?

Yes, but seating is limited. If they come out on location you will have to provide your own transportation, or pay the full price for another seat.

Will I have cell service during the workshop?

Cell signal is extremely intermittent in most of the locations we will visit, you should not expect to be connected all the time, at certain locations you may be offline for long periods, enjoy the silence. There is cell service and wifi available in Stovepipe Wells, but it can easily get overwhelmed when busy.

Will weather cancel the workshop?

Dramatic weather is when the best photographs are created! Unless there are very dangerous conditions the weather will not stop us, in fact it will encourage us! No rain checks will be given for any weather related circumstances.

Will the instructors take photos during the workhop?

The instructors will take a few photos in a limited manner, this is so you can see how we approach a scene, create comradery with the group, and show you the same type of images you will be taking for our processing session. Our focus will always remain with you.

More Information

Fitness Level

This workshop will include a mix of easy roadside photography plus hiking to access photography locations. Most hiking will not include much elevation change but will include walking over uneven terrain (like in canyons without established trails) and across sand dunes, which can be physical exhausting despite the minimal elevation change. We may also make one or two short but steep hikes to access viewpoints. Good balance and the ability to carry your camera gear for hours at a time will also be necessary. The photography locations for this workshop are between -282 feet and 5,000 feet in elevation. Hiking will typically be limited to 1 to 2 miles at a time.

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

  • If you cancel 90 days prior to the workshop we will refund your initial payment minus a $100 fee.
  • 90 days before the start of the workshop, we will refund your initial payment only if we can fill your spot.
  • The full balance is due 60 days before the workshop. There will be no refunds on the full amount owed. We will attempt to fill your spot, if filled there will be a $100 administrative fee charged and the rest of your payment will be refunded.

There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, even for medical emergencies. All cancellation requests must be in writing and received either by US mail or E-mail. We encourage participants to purchase refundable airline tickets and trip cancellation insurance. We strongly recommend trip insurance to protect you in the event of an unexpected situation that prevents you from attending the workshop. We recommend Travelguard or World Nomads.

We reserve the right to cancel any workshop if the minimum student enrollment is not met. In the event we cancel a workshop, participants will be given the option to reschedule to a later date or receive a full refund. we are not, however, liable for expenses incurred such as airfare or accommodations, and for this reason we also recommend the purchase of trip insurance.

Have Questions?

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

Customer Reviews

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J
Janet

I made a wise choice in joining an Exploring Exposure workshop as my first visit to Death Valley. It was obvious David and Jennifer had an in-depth knowledge of the park. Despite some areas of the park being closed during our workshop, I didn't feel in any way we were being shortchanged. It was only at Zabriskie Point did we even see other photographers! David and Jennifer were always accessible for questions in the field, and David's post-processing guidance every afternoon really helped me pull everything together.

l
lore

I had some personal issues leading up to this workshop which threatened my ability to participate. Once I arrived in Death Valley all of that was put aside. I didn't think I would be able to participate. I made the 6+ hour drive to Stovepipe Wells and didn't regret having done so. David and Jennifer greeted me warmly. I immediately knew I was in my photography family - that is what it feels like to me, being in family with like minds and purposes. We all bring something different to the table but we are all at the same table, if that makes sense.

In the field, David and Jennifer both are appropriately attentive to each of the workshop participants. They answer all questions regardless of how basic it might seem to be (trust me, I have asked some really basic questions). You certainly need a good understanding of how to use your camera. They can help with finding features you may not be familiar with, but ultimately they want you to be the expert of your own gear.

David handles most of the classroom training. He teaches in a very accessible way and goes over difficult concepts until you truly get it. He makes his approaches to work available so that I can truly learn from his style of working with images.

In case you couldn't tell, I am a big fan of David & Jennifer and Exploring Exposure. Their work is phenomenal. I would take a class again given the right circumstances. If you are on the fence, let me help you get off the fence. This was my second workshop and I would quickly add a third given the chance.

l
lore m dickey

I first signed up for a workshop with David & Jennifer in 2017. Various forces kept me from being able to attend. I registered at the last minute for this Death Valley experience. I am glad I did so. David and Jennifer know the park well as they know photography well. They set a welcoming tone from the outset. They are able to work with people from a variety of skill levels. You will not be disappointed. I am already registered for another workshop!

R
Ria Waugh

I've just completed my first of hopefully many more photography workshops with Jennifer and David from Exploring Exposure. They have an intimate knowledge of Death Valley that they shared by taking us to locations which I'm sure that on my own I probably would have driven past, not realizing the possibilities for capturing the smaller details of the natural beauty contained there. Jennifer & David put the participants of their workshops as their primary focus, especially while out in the field. I appreciated their suggestions on composition, whether it was the grand landscape or the smaller scenes, and how best to capture those as the light changed during our sessions. Furthermore, the verbal cues to change in light while we were out in the field was super helpful because it is so easy to get engrossed in a subject and not realize that the light has changed, and therefore so must the approach to photographing that subject. By keeping the group numbers small, David & Jennifer were able to make themselves available to all of the participants equally, whether novices or photographer's with more experience. Even when we were spread out over a large area, they each checked in frequently to see how we were doing, answer any questions, and offer further suggestions. I also felt that the post processing sessions and image critiques in the boardroom were incredibly beneficial. I picked up some new techniques for post processing and was grateful for David's advice on how to bring out the best in my images taken during the workshop.

S
Scott Fenton

This workshop in Death Valley was simply amazing! David and Jennifer are the quintessential workshop leaders and had an exceptional agenda worked out for us. As they spend considerable time scouting out their locations in advance (sometimes living there for months), their knowledge about the best spots and times is unparalleled. They don't take you where all the tourist and other photographers are either, so many times you have the place to yourselves. They are also able to pivot quickly to adjust the agenda if weather or other factors dictate. During down times, David and Jennifer had training and critique sessions in a local hotel board room. These were excellent and I learned many new techniques. The other photographers in the group were so friendly and we all had a great time. I can't say enough good things about this workshop. I am still buzzing about it five days later. Looking forward to my next workshop with David and Jennifer!

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