If you have never heard a landscape speak, this one will speak to you. The Bear’s Ears region has thousands of hidden treasures that await your camera, your ears and your eyes. This small group tour (limited to a maximum of 4 participants) will get you into the heart of Cedar Mesa and far off the well-worn path. Daily hikes will take you to ancient cliff dwellings where you can photograph pottery shards, pictographs, petroglyphs, dwellings, and many other fascinating remnants of a culture almost a thousand years old!
In addition to cliff dwellings and cultural artifacts we will visit and photograph scenes of incredible natural beauty, including a native guided tour of the backcountry of Monument Valley. This tour will take you to places that you cannot reach without a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and a knowledgeable guide.
If you like the path less travelled and out of the way places then this workshop is for you!
You should be able to walk up to 3 miles over uneven terrain to participate in this workshop.
We practice “Leave No Trace” and sustainable eco-tourism practices while visiting these culturally sensitive locations!
This workshop is primarily a field shooting workshop. While there are 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 are able to 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
We are based out of Bluff Utah. While this little town (Population 250) isn’t easy to get to—it is a centrally located for the Bear’s Ears Region. There are several hotels and restaurants in town which make it ideal for a base of operations. The small and quiet nature on Bluff will warm your heart and add to your workshop experience. We will be in this location during the off-peak season (just prior to the busy season) so the pace is a little slower and the experience is a little richer.
The nearest international airports are Phoenix AZ (5.5 hour drive), Salt Lake City UT (5.5 hour drive) or Grand Junction CO (3.5 hour drive but connecting flights might prove challenging.) Stay in contact with us as we may be able to carpool you with other participants who are attending.
Sample Itinerary
We don’t have a fixed itinerary as locations and sites visited will depend upon weather and light conditions. The 4 day duration of the workshop will allow us to work at a steady but un-hurried pace. Frequently we will be up before dawn and will photograph after sunset with ample breaks during mid-day for rest.
Includes ground transportation around Bear’s Ears and guided
photography tours including Native guide (Harry Nez in Monument
Valley) Fees for access to Monument Valley, Cedar Mesa, Hovenweep National
Monument, and or Natural Bridges
**There is a $100 discount for signing up for both the Spirit Of Bear’s Ears and Desert Night Skies!**
Accommodations
We have made special arrangements with La Posada Pintada hotel in Bluff for special rates. This hotel is centrally located and is a wonderful place to hang your hat after a long day of photography.