Yellowstone Nightscapes and Landscapes





Join us for an unparalleled experience as we delve into the surreal landscapes of Yellowstone National Park, capturing its majestic beauty both under the vast, starlit skies and during the glorious daylight hours. This extended workshop has been meticulously designed to provide three enchanting nights under the stars and abundant opportunities to explore and photograph the park's natural wonders during the day. By offering this unique blend of night and daytime photography, we minimize the chance of weather interference and ensure a diverse and fulfilling photographic journey. Whether captivated by the Milky Way's ethereal glow or drawn to the vivid textures and colors of Yellowstone's geysers and canyons, this workshop offers a comprehensive and immersive experience tailored to passionate landscape photographers.
September 3-8, 2024
Group Size
8
Investment
$2,995
Initial Payment – $995
Your Leaders
Fly To
West Yellowstone or Bozeman, MT
Fitness Level
Easy
Learn More
Description
Yellowstone National Park offers a celestial canvas like no other, boasting some of the darkest skies in the United States. With most of the park falling within a Bortle class of 1 – the darkest skies you can find – the opportunities for night photography are extraordinary. We will guide you in combining these captivating night skies with the mesmerizing landscapes of Yellowstone, crafting images that are nothing short of magical.
But the experience doesn't end when the sun rises. During the day, we will embark on a visual exploration of the park's many wonders, capturing everything from the ethereal hues of geysers to the dramatic sweep of valleys and peaks. As part of the daytime photography sessions, we will also delve into simple yet powerful post-processing techniques to refine your night photos. By the end of the workshop, you'll walk away with a masterfully processed image that you'll be proud to display.
Our daily schedule will include discussions on scouting, planning, and weather prediction, equipping you with the tools to plan your future night shoots confidently. We will also host an image critique session, offering personalized feedback and guidance.
Due to the special nature of Yellowstone's dark skies, light painting is not permitted in the park. Instead, we will teach you innovative techniques to create stunning foregrounds through long exposures or twilight exposures. These can later be blended seamlessly in Photoshop, a skill becoming essential as more parks move towards protecting their dark skies.
Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this workshop caters to all skill levels. While we will touch on slightly advanced methods like stacking, these are not prerequisites for creating breathtaking photographs. Our comprehensive approach ensures that every participant will have the opportunity to expand their abilities, capture extraordinary images, and deepen their connection to the unique landscapes of Yellowstone.
What is Included
What is Not Included
* Please note that carpooling is REQUIRED. We must get down to three vehicles for our group since parking can be a challenge at times.
Important Details
- Lodging: We have rooms held at the Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone for $369/night. You are welcome to stay anywhere in the West Yellowstone area, but this is where we will be holding the classroom sessions.
- More details will be emailed after signing up.
Itinerary
Important Note:
Over the course of our workshop, we will dedicate three nights to capturing the star-studded night skies. Our remaining time will be strategically utilized, photographing the breathtaking landscapes in the morning and evening and working on processing techniques during the day. This adaptable schedule allows us to modify our plans based on weather conditions, providing the optimal balance of night and daytime photography. But don't worry, there will be time to rest as well!
September 3rd
- 5:00 pm: Gather at the hotel for introductions and a series of enlightening presentations designed to prepare you for photographing the wonders of Yellowstone.
- Evening: Should clear skies grace us, we'll venture out for our first night beneath the dazzling stars of Yellowstone, enjoying a sack lunch in the field and returning to the hotel around 2 am. If the skies prove cloudy, we'll rest up for the exciting days ahead.
September 4th-7th
- Flexible Schedule: Our days will be tailored to accommodate either night or daytime photography, depending on weather conditions, with processing sessions during midday. This approach ensures that every moment is an opportunity for creativity and growth.
September 8th
- Morning: We'll convene for image critiques and reflections on our shared experiences.
1:00 pm: Our transformative workshop concludes, leaving you with new skills, unforgettable memories, and a deeper connection to the art of photography.
Safe, Legal, Responsible.
We are proud members of Nature First Photography. This movement is dedicated to responsible nature photography. At its core are seven principles that we abide by and promote to our clients. We hope you will join the movement!
Concerned About Your Safety
We understand how important your safety is when we’re in remote locations. This is why David and Jennifer are both certified Wilderness First Responders, we are prepared for any situation large or small. We also carry satellite communication devices should we need rescue assistance in remote areas.
Legal
We always run our workshops on the up and up. For this workshop, Exploring Exposure is Authorized Permittee of Yellowstone National Park. We are also an equal opportunity service provider.
Our Philosophy
We encourage you to find your unique style of creativity with focused training based on your style and skill level. You will experience a rigorous learning experience in the field and the classroom to take your photography to the next level.
Our passion is seeing you grow in your photographic journey. We put your interests ahead of our own. Early on in the workshop, we will not photograph at all. Our focus is your learning experience, and we will not run off to chase the light and leave you behind. As the workshop progresses, we will take a few photos in a limited manner. This is so you can see how we approach a scene, demonstrate techniques, and create comradery with the group. Our focus will always remain with YOU.
We understand everyone comes to workshops at different points in their photography journeys. We will be there to guide and help you, whether you are a beginner or advanced shooter. There is always something to learn about photography, and we will do our best to help you find your creative vision.
Above all, we want this to be a fun experience for you. With our small group size, we get to know our clients very well, and we feel like they are part of our extended family. We do this for the love of photography, and there is nothing that gives us greater joy than seeing our clients grow and find their artistic vision.
Questions?
Please do not hesitate to send us any questions you may have, we would be happy to help.
Private Yellowtone Workshops
If you are looking for a private guide to show you around Yellowstone, look no further. We spend extended periods here and are constantly exploring the incredible landscape to find all it has to offer. We can be your private tour guide or we can turn your experience into a full workshop training you on composition, vision, post-processing with Lightroom and Photoshop, all without the group.