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September 9-14‚ 2026 - Sold Out!

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Workshop 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

    Consists mainly of short walks, typically up to 1 mile per outing, primarily on park boardwalks and established, relatively flat trails. Some boardwalks may have stairs or minor inclines. Requires basic walking ability.

    More Info 

  • Creative Focus

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    Blends daytime (sunrise/sunset) and nighttime field sessions. Classroom covers composition, day/night techniques (stacking for noise/focus), and the'Rethink Landscape' & 'Rethink Nightscape' processing methodologies in Lightroom.

  • Group Size

    Limited to 8 Guests

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

  • Location

    West Yellowstone, Montana

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    West Yellowstone, Montana (WYS) or Bozeman, Montana (BZN)

    Check Flights 

Description

Experience Yellowstone's dynamic landscapes around the clock. This workshop guides you beyond iconic views to discover personal compositions, exploring both the park's geothermal wonders by day and its stunning dark skies by night.

We dedicate time to capturing compelling intimate and grand landscapes during daylight hours. As darkness falls, we shift focus to evocative nightscapes, integrating Yellowstone's unique features with the stars. This dual approach fosters a deeper connection to place and expands creative possibilities.

Learn to refine your vision through field guidance and classroom sessions covering composition, handling challenging light, and specific night techniques. Master processing with David's 'Rethink Landscape' and 'Rethink Nightscape' methodologies – novel Lightroom systems providing nuanced control for natural, expressive results that match your experience.

Join us to connect deeply with Yellowstone and enhance your creative toolkit for interpreting the world, day or night. Please note: Carpooling is required for field outings due to limited parking.

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:

  • Dual Focus (Day & Night): Master techniques for capturing Yellowstone's landscapes under both daylight and starlight.
  • Beyond the Icons: Develop your unique vision, finding personal compositions in grand scenes and intimate details.
  • Nightscape Expertise: Learn night photography essentials and advanced techniques under pristine dark skies with expert guidance from David.
  • Master the Rethink Workflow: Learn the 'Rethink Landscape' & 'Rethink Nightscape' Lightroom methodologies for natural, powerful results.
  • Flexible & Adaptive: Benefit from a schedule that adapts to weather, maximizing clear night sky opportunities.
  • Personalized Guidance: Receive tailored instruction (4:1 ratio) in a dynamic environment, enhancing both technical skills and creative seeing.

Logistics:

  • Lodging: Group block secured at Holiday Inn, West Yellowstone ($369/night+tax). Classroom sessions held here. Book directly using info provided upon registration, or arrange your own nearby lodging.
  • Transportation: Participants responsible for transport to/from West Yellowstone. Carpooling is required during the workshop due to limited parking; we aim for max 3 vehicles. Instructors coordinate this (2 spots available in instructor vehicle). Standard passenger vehicle sufficient.

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, Yellowstone Visions & Potential Night Out

  • Meet at 3:00 PM at the hotel (West Yellowstone) for introductions and workshop orientation (logistics, safety, approach).
  • Attend the Afternoon Session on seeing Yellowstone day & night (composition, night techniques, handling light).
  • Evening Flexibility: Based on clear sky forecasts, we may have an optional/contingency night field session after an early dinner break (depart late evening, return ~2 AM) to maximize opportunities. Otherwise, the evening is for rest/discussion.

Days 2-5: Flexible Field Exploration, Image Development & Crafting (Daily structure adapts to weather & night sky opportunities, balancing field time with rest/learning)

  • Engage in Night Field Sessions on clear nights (Targeting 2-3 successful sessions total), exploring locations suitable for integrating landscapes with the stars. Focus on composition, long exposures, and creative techniques.
  • Participate in Daytime Field Sessions during prime morning and evening light, exploring geyser basins, canyons, and valleys. Emphasis on finding personal compositions beyond standard views.
  • Attend Midday Classroom Sessions (alternating with rest days after night shoots) for image review, critique, and learning the Rethink Landscape & Nightscape processing methodologies with guided practice.

Day 6: Final Image Review & Departure

  • Join the concluding Morning Session (~9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) for final image critique, feedback, and discussion on continuing creative development.
  • Workshop concludes around 12:00 PM.

What's Included:

  • Expert Instruction & Guidance: Day & Night 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" & "Rethink Nightscape" processing and group critiques.
  • Collaborative Workshop Zine: A curated 8x8 keepsake featuring participant images, delivered post-workshop.
  • Select Field Dinners: Sack dinners provided for some evening field sessions.

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: To/from West Yellowstone, MT. Carpooling required during the workshop.
  • Lodging: In West Yellowstone area (Group rate block available).
  • Meals: Most meals (breakfasts, lunches, some dinners).
  • Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee: Or valid park pass.
  • Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended.
  • Personal Items: Camera gear, warm layers for night photography, headlamp, 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 is Authorized Permittee of Yellowstone 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

This workshop focuses on exploring Yellowstone's unique geothermal features and landscapes via easily accessible paths.

  • Daily Walking: Expect to walk a total of 2-3 miles spread throughout each day, broken into shorter segments as we explore various geyser basins, hot springs, and viewpoints.
  • Terrain: Our exploration will take place exclusively on Yellowstone's boardwalks and paved pathways within the geothermal areas and viewpoints. These surfaces are generally flat and well-maintained.
  • Fitness Expectation: Participants should be comfortable walking up to 3 miles total per day, broken into shorter distances, on flat and even surfaces. Standard walking shoes are sufficient.
  • Environmental Factors: Be prepared for potentially variable weather conditions, even in summer, including sun, wind, rain, or cooler temperatures, especially in the mornings and evenings. Layers of clothing are recommended. While the walking is easy, we will be at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 feet, which can be a factor for some individuals. Staying hydrated is important.

How to Get There

If you are flying in there are several options:

  • West Yellowstone Airport - 5 minutes to the hotel
  • Bozeman International Airport - 1h 45m to the hotel
  • Idaho Falls Airport - 1h 45m to the hotel
  • Jackson Hole Airport - 2h 45m to the hotel

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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