Overview

Grab your spacesuits and let’s take a trip to Mars - conveniently located at the Factory Butte near Hanksville, Utah. We will be honing your skills at a few relatively obscure, yet world-class locations all within 30 minutes of each other. These unique locations are out of this world with a truly immense in-person “wow” factor that you most certainly won’t forget. You won’t be stuck in the usual line-up of photographers all vying for “the shot”. Rather, we will aim to build a connection with these beautiful landscapes and discover their endless compositional opportunities. I will show you my approach under various lighting conditions and we will come away with multiple meaningful images.

The timing of this workshop has been purposefully aligned with the full moon. Watching a full moon rise above or dip below the horizon is a magical experience. We won’t need to burn the midnight oil to see the full moon in all its glory. During each month there is a sweet spot that give us a few chances to see the full moon during the golden hours. Weather-permitting, we will have multiple opportunities to capture this most majestic monthly occurrence.

The workshop is limited to four participants to allow for ample one-on-one instruction. My focus is on the participants and guidance will be tailored to each individual’s level of experience. I will share with you what I do and what I use for pre-planning and scouting, and the thought processes I go through as I make compositional and camera setting decisions in-field. Interested in getting a sneak peek into some of the topics we will touch upon? See my guides & tutorials.

Since we will be spending plenty of time together there will be ample chances for impromptu technical photography talk and image critique. However, please note that there is no planned post-processing instruction on this tour. Instead, one-on-one lessons can be added separately at a later agreed-upon date between the participant and myself. We may elect to have this lesson in-person or in the comfort of your home via video conferencing of your choosing as long as we can share screens (I’ll choose if you have no preference). Why? First of all, you’re on holiday. Let’s spend less time in front of screens and more time immersed in nature. I’m hoping now and in the future there will not be a cell signal for the duration of the trip. Instead of squeezing in planned processing sessions, we maximize our time in the field and remain nimble enough to follow the light. Second, I personally don’t process in the field. I don’t find it enjoyable. I have a different process when I process and I like to keep the shooting and post work separate.

Post-processing instruction will be adapted for each one-on-one session. This lesson is not included in the purchase price. I will share my entire post-processing workflow starting in Adobe Lightroom and ending in Photoshop. You won't need to buy any extra plug-ins or panels in order to follow along. I don’t put a hard time limit on these. Depending on experience level, expect anywhere from 1-3 hours and the cost is $250. Send me a message if interested in tacking on a session. Bring your questions.

A portion of the workshop fee ($250) is considered non-refundable. If the need for a cancellation arises, this deposit may be applied to a future group workshop or private instruction. Contact me if you are looking for alternative dates, sliding scale or payment plan options, or if you would like to barter for something awesome.

Itinerary

Day 1. Let’s meet at the gateway to the Factory Butte at the crossroads of Utah State Route 24 and Coal Mine Road mid-day. After a few hellos, we’ll jump back in our vehicles and get this party started full bore. After driving mere minutes more, we will park where the dirt bikers go. With the Factory Butte still well in the distance, we start hiking in an opposite direction closed to off-highway vehicles. You’ll wonder what we’re doing, but, trust me, there will be a lesson in all this. Along the jaunt we’ll start to get to know each other - that is if you can take your mind off the awe-inspiring views that few rarely see. From there we’ll scout some locations and, as needed, go over the basics of shooting a moonrise/moonset. Depending on weather conditions, we will either come back here for sunset or check out one of our other locations. Regardless, we will be familiarizing ourselves with the one and only road we need - Coal Mine Road. For the duration of our in-field time together, this will be our jumping-off point.

Day 2. Here’s where we will plan on getting up close and personal with the Factory Butte. On the way, if we’re lucky, we may come across some wildflowers that could literally stop us in our tracks. Either way, expect countless compositional opportunities. Since the goal of my workshops is to increase time in the wild and reduce motorized travel, plan on being out all day if the weather is good. And I’m talking good photography weather here. If it’s clear blue skies, we may instead find some shade for one-on-one image review or familiarize ourselves with other locations. Bring food, water, and maybe more importantly fully charged batteries. During the day, I’ll answer any and all questions you have. I’m a large proponent of taking breaks, soaking in the scenery, and shooting when the opportunity presents itself. We will do all three. I can’t wait.

Day 3. This is where we put our knowledge gained over the past couple of days to the test. Did we scout something that would be perfect for sunrise? Or do we want to re-shoot a location to catch epic light? We will be discussing options the day before. Of course I can guide you to a spot, but this is our chance to do something new and unique. If the light is good in the morning, we’ll keep on shooting. If not, we will once again do some image review and opportunistic scouting. Plan on a full day. If you’re up for it, I welcome you to join me for a final sunset in the field.

I’ll send a more detailed itinerary with some specifics upon purchase. But we’re going to stay flexible and opportunistic. And that’s all part of the plan. There is so much more to this area than meets the eye and it can be incredibly dynamic. What does that mean? It means everything above is subject to change. Depending on what nature has in store for us, we will adjust.

Transportation

Transportation is not included. I would traditionally encourage carpooling; however, given the circumstances let’s not confine ourselves to an enclosed space. Regardless, your own transportation is recommended to explore the surrounding parks and hidden gems of Central Utah beyond our time together.

Transportation is not included. I encourage carpooling and I come equipped with a fully capable 4x4. Regardless, your own transportation is recommended to explore the surrounding parks and hidden gems of Central Utah beyond our time together.

Lodging

Lodging is not included. I strongly recommend finding a place to lay your head in either Cainville or Hanksville, Utah. There are multiple lodging options in and around both of these conveniently located towns; however, expect around a 20-30 minute drive one-way. There are also plentiful areas to camp. I personally will be camping and you are more than welcome to join me. If you need specific recommendations or would like to inquire about renting camping gear, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Food

Due to the potential for students to have food allergies, particular food preferences, or other dietary restrictions, I will not be providing meals of any kind during the duration of the workshop. It will be your responsibility to bring or purchase food for yourself from a local grocery store. However, I’ve learned how to share and will offer light snacks during our in-field adventures, plus I’m sure I’ll have an extra can or two of soup laying around.

Recommended Packing List

• Camera (full frame recommended)

• Wide-angle and short telephoto lenses (I exclusively use two lenses for my work: a 16-35mm and a 70-200mm)

• Circular polarizer

• Sturdy tripod

• Cable or wireless remote release

• Memory cards

• Extra batteries and charger

• Backpack with a rain cover

• Appropriate clothing (including warm layers and rain gear)

• Headlamp

• Hat or sunscreen and lip balm