Capture the incredible expanses of brilliant white dunes, desert plant life, wildlife, and mountainous horizons on this workshop.
Workshop Leader: David Downs
One of the greatest locations in the world for amazing landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, and night skies, coupled with the incredible opportunity for artistic compositions. If there was a workshop focusing on composition, this is it.
Workshop dates
Thursday - August 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Location
White Sands National Park. We will be based out of The Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Alamogordo, NM.
Workshop topics
- Landscape composition, artistic composition, long focal length landscapes, using compression as a composition element, smallscapes, use of filters, panoramas.
Please carefully read the additional workshop details below:
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Location/Lodging/Meals information
Our base will be the Holiday Inn Express in Alamogordo, NM
https://goo.gl/maps/QPaVSEXocGdvBzuD8
We will depart from this location each time we head out to the park. Each participant is responsible for making their own reservations. Participants are welcome to stay at other locations but will need to meet the group at this location each morning and afternoon.
There are numerous restaurants around town and we will have returned from our morning excursions in time for breakfast each day. Lunch is open and a late dinner is possible each night although if skies are clear we may be out until 10:00 for Milky Way images one evening.
We will have snacks and water available all times.
Physical Requirements
For some of our sessions we will be making strenuous hikes out into the dunes looking for areas with few, if any, footprints. The hike out and then back (possibly in the dark) may be up to a mile in each direction. Occasionally the hike entails climbing steep dunes which can be challenging. If you've not hiked in sand before you should be prepared to be moving across ground which shifts or gives way beneath you.
The park is located at about 4,200 ft in elevation and if you come from a much lower elevation in your hometown you may found yourself struggling to catch your breath. Keep in mind you will be carrying your gear and there is nothing to hang on to so balance is essential.
We will always moderate our pace to ensure everyone stays as comfortable as possible and NO ONE will ever be left behind. If you have mobility challenges or strenuous effort creates major physical challenges for you we would urge you to consider whether this workshop is a good fit for you. We do not want to discourage participation but we also want our participants to enjoy the experience and set realistic expectations.
Agenda
Agenda is subject to change based on weather conditions and park access potentially impacted by activity at the White Sands Missile Range located nearby.
Day 1
5:00 PM - Meet in interior open area near lobby of Holiday Inn
6:15 PM - Head to White Sands Park for sunset shots
10:00 PM - Return to Hotel
Day 2
4:45 AM - Depart Holiday Inn for White Sands
9:00 AM - Return to Hotel - Breakfast/Free Time/Visit Cloudcroft/Group Lunch
5:30 PM - Head to White Sands Park
10:30 PM - Return to Hotel
Day 3
4:45 AM - Depart Holiday Inn for White Sands
9:00 AM - Return to Hotel/Breakfast
1:00 PM - Editing Session, Image Critiques and Suggestions
6:00 PM - Head to White Sands Park
10:30 PM - Return to Hotel
Day 4
4:45 AM - Depart Holiday Inn for White Sands (for those who wish to go)
8:00 AM - Return to Hotel/Departure
Transportation
Each participant will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the workshop. During the workshop we will group together to limit the number of vehicles driving to the park.
Recommended photography gear
| DSLR or Mirrorless Camera (Full frame or Crop Sensor) with a wide-angle/large aperture (f2.8) lens, an intermediate zoom (24mm-70mm) lens (f4 is sufficient), and a long telephoto of at least 70-300 (longer would be even better). A sturdy, lightweight tripod with a ball head and level indicator. A remote shutter trigger or cable release. An extra battery, charger and extra memory cards. A Circular Polarizer Filter. Neutral Density Filters. |
Other recommendations
| Only PAID participants will attend photography instruction sessions however spouses and other adults may attend any breakfast/lunch/dinner gatherings. Daytime temps will likely get into the mid to high 80's and coupled with the effort to hike through the dunes it can be quite warm; however, once the sun goes down it can cool off quickly and an additional long sleeve layer will be appreciated. We will always have water and snacks on hand but feel free to pack your own preferred food items for our evening sessions. In the mornings we should be back in time for breakfast. We will have at least one pre workshop Zoom call prior to the workshop to bring everyone up to date on any changes and discuss ways to minimize your load on the hikes and maximize your opportunities to enjoy the trip and bring home great images. After the workshop we will schedule an editing session based on the images captured during the workshop as a guide for editing your own images. |
Pro Tips
If you arrive early or stay afterwards in the area there is a plethora of opportunities for exploration. You can visit https://alamogordonmtrue.com/ for a long list of fun and exciting things to do.
Reserve your spot
Important info! We encourage you to create an account when you register so future workshop forms will be prepopulated with your data. Shortly after registering you will receive a confirmation e-mail and a separate email allowing you to pay your registration online. You are not fully registered until your payment is received.
All payments are subject to our regular cancellation policy.
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