This is not just a tour of pretty places; it is an immersion into the culture of a landscape that has thousands of years of history. It is a place that will speak to you if you take the time to listen. It is a landscape that has been known to envelop the soul of many photographers and artists.
Canyon De Chelly, Monument Valley, Shiprock, the list of locations, and iconic landscapes are bucket list items for just about any landscape photographer! We will be photographing for 5 days and will photograph both sunsets and sunrise. We will pace ourselves so there will be plenty of time for rests between shoots if needed.
This small-group tour (limited to 4 participants) is an automobile-based tour. Long hikes to locations are not required. I have designed this tour to minimize the amount of exertion and maximize your photographic potential. I have planned with native tour guides for the locations where we are going. This means that we will get to places that the non-guided public cannot get to.
Instruction
This workshop is a field shooting workshop. While there is no classroom sessions I am using the field time for one on one tutorials and instruction in the field. My primary emphasis, while in the field, is to make sure that you can get awesome images.
Topics of instruction in the field include camera technique, proper metering for proper exposure, how to read histograms, composition for impact, filtering for effects, landscape photography techniques, and much more.
Location
The tour begins and ends in Durango Colorado. This quaint mountain town is the perfect place to base our tour from. It is easy to access by airlines—a short jaunt from Denver Airport with lots of connecting flights. I will pick you up from the airport and bring you back to the airport (provided you arrive and depart within a day of the workshop dates) so no need to rent a vehicle. From Durango we will tour around the Navajo Nation. Our route takes us to Shiprock new Mexico, Chinle AZ, Monument Valley UT, and back to Durango CO.
Sample Itinerary
Day One:
Arrival, I meet you at the airport to transport to Farmington New Mexico. Check into your hotel and relax after a day of travel.
Day Two:
we begin with an early morning revelry to make the one-hour drive to our first location: Shiprock Formation. This iconic rock dominates the surrounding desert and can be seen from four states! After breakfast we travel through the Buffalo Pass and the Chuska Mountains to Canyon de Chelly. We will stop along the way for a variety of views. After a mid-day meal and an early check in we will take in the views from the rim of Canyon de Chelly
Day Three:
we start with an early morning photoshoot at the bad-lands a few miles north of Chinle, then breakfast and a mid-day rest. In the afternoon we will begin our evening Jeep tour of the canyon.
Day Four:
we will begin with the first of three tours into Monument Valley. These tours will take you into the back country where most people don’t go. Here you will meet the people who call this place home. You will rest in a hogan and witness the crafts as they are created.
Day Five:
Tour of Monument Valley to photograph local sheep herder and back country landmarks. Sunset photography shoot of the Mittens and iconic valley views.
Day Six:
Sunrise shoot on the drive back to Durango for flight home.
Payment
Cost: $2995.00 (Double Occupancy, Single Occupancy is $550)
**Please note the deposit is $500** Call to register (218) 830-0767.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 holds your registration until 120 days prior to the workshop when the balance is due. Please read our cancellation policy before registering.
Maximum of 4 participants.
For questions, please call John at (218) 830-0767.
Includes ground transportation from the Durango Airport, around the Navajo nation and back to Durango, guided photography tours including 4 tours run by native guides for Monument Valley (3 tours), Canyon De Chelly. Accommodations for 5 nights (Double Occupancy) at the above-mentioned locations. Single Occupancy is $550.
Does not include airfare, food, tips for local guides or spontaneous tours not listed as part of the itinerary.
Accommodations
A note about the accommodations; upon registration you will receive a list of hotels where we will be staying. When I book these rooms I choose hotels with a good rating for cleanliness and service. When using Booking.com or Hotels.com this means a rating of 8.0 or higher. I find that these hotels are clean, comfortable, and a good value.
