Capture the Southwest 2024
BISTI & SAN JUAN BADLANDS
October 1-5 (Tuesday–Saturday)
$2,725 All inclusive
Four-Day/Four-Night Astrophotography and Landscape Workshop
in the Rugged Beauty of the New Mexico Badlands
(Limited to six Students with Navajo Guide)
Shadowy hoodoos, ancient legends, an amazing cultural heritage. All of this, and the spectacular dark skies await you in the Badlands of New Mexico on this epic workshop.
This trip includes an all new exclusive location in the badlands, accessed only with our Navajo Guide. The San Juan Badlands are rich in sandstone formations that create a unique foreground to your nightscape images.
Enjoy the beauty of this sacred Navajo land, as we are privileged to be led by a NatGeo award winning guide. You will explore a land rich in history, tradition, and graced with abundant geological wonders, accessed by dirt roads to remote locations. You don’t want to miss this wonderful opportunity! Join me in the Badlands and bring back the treasure that are your photographs from this unforgettable place.
WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL
Bisti and San Juan Badlands
Definition of Badlands: a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded. They are characterized by steep slopes, minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith, and high drainage density. Ravines, gullies, buttes, hoodoos and other such geologic forms are common in badlands. The numerous geological features include the remnants of volcanos, buttes, stone wings, hoodoos, and many unusual rock structures.
The Bisti and San Juan Badlands adjoin the great Navajo Indian Reservation, and features, such as Shiprock hold great significance as both spiritual and cultural monuments. Always respect these areas, some of which are restricted to visitors, unless accompanied by a Navajo guide.
The formations, colors, and textures offer a wide range of photographic compositions at all times of day, and provide fascinating foregrounds for landscape and nightscape photography.
Before You Book Your Trip,
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Allow Me to Introduce Myself
It is my privilege to share with you my knowledge of photography, which was instilled during my childhood by my late father and mentor, Lowell Anson Kenyon, Chief of the Office of Photography for the Smithsonian Institution.
My style is upbeat, and enthusiastic, and l provide a positive learning environment that nurtures your art, and grounds you in best practices through personalized instruction. My tips and time-tested techniques will help you pursue your brand of photography with greater purpose and with more intentional creativity.
I hope to share with you my passion, not only for capturing compelling photographs, but also for allowing yourself to be “captured” by the beauty and awe of this place – to connect with nature, and appreciate the relevance of our great western treasures.
These workshops are adventurous, and you will enjoy maximum time in the field.
There is no arguing that golden hour light is wonderful, but you will also learn how to maximize any lighting scenario, simply because we don’t always have the luxury of creating images in golden hour, or under perfect light for that matter. You will also be encouraged to use all of your lenses, whether that be a macro for Autumn still life compositions, or a telephoto to capture intimate landscape details otherwise far from view. Remember, you can always rent lenses if you don’t already own them.
To ensure you receive a well-rounded educational experience, following this workshop, I provide you with two-hours of HD video content from my Digital Darkroom series. The series is suitable for all skill levels in post processing, and use both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. If you are uncomfortable with Photoshop, please know there will be content processed solely in Lightroom.
So join me on Capture the Bisti & San Juan Badlands, where filling you with memories is as important as filling your memory cards with unforgettable images.
Trip Overview
The badlands continue to draw me back, for its beauty, yes, but also for the Navajo people I have come to know, as I learn more of their culture, and rich history. This workshop is primarily focused on nightscape photography, and experiencing truly dark skies. I have scheduled a limited number of destinations in order to give you ample time to explore a variety of compositional approaches.
WORKSHOP SNAPSHOT
DATES: October 1-5, 2024 (Tuesday–Saturday); four-days/four-nights under dark skies
PRICE PER PERSON: $2,725 (Includes all lodging) (Deposit of $1,425 to hold your place, with final payment due July 1, 2024)
GROUP SIZE: Limit 6 Students (I am accompanied by a Navajo guide)
PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL: Beginner-Advanced
TERRAIN: Sandy and rocky terrain, generally flat, with dangerous cliffs in some areas; All locations will be accessed by paved and dirt roads
ALTITUDE: 6,300’
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate activity with treks approximately two-three miles round trip on sandy/rocky, hilly terrain
CLIMATE: Typically clear skies. Highs in October average 67°; Lows 42° — Dress in layers
NEAREST TOWN(S): Farmington, NM
AIRPORT(S): Farmington, Durango
VEHICLE: All locations are accessible by stock high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles
ACCOMMODATIONS: Your lodging is reserved at the Comfort Suites in Farmington. Please request Christine Kenyon Workshop when you check in.
ITINERARY SNAPSHOT
TRIP VITALS: Tuesday, October 1 we Meet & Greet at 2:00 p.m. at the Comfort Suites Hotel in Farmington, N.M. Our trip ends, and we say our goodbyes, on Saturday, October 5, after a sunrise shoot in the badlands. Detailed itinerary is emailed to you 14 days in advance of our start date
SHOOTING SCHEDULE: Our featured locations for Astro/Nightscape photography are within an hour of our accommodations, and we also plan to shoot sunrise on select mornings. Be sure to dress for the temps, and bring snacks, and beverages.
LODGING: Your reservation awaits you at the Comfort Suites in Farmington. Please request Christine Kenyon Workshop when you check in.
ASTRONOMICAL SNAPSHOT
MORNING
Blue Hour: 6:43 a.m. - 6:53 a.m.
Golden Hour: 6:53 a.m. - 7:43 a.m.
Sunrise: 7:09 a.m.
EVENING
Golden Hour: 6:21 p.m. - 7:11 p.m.
Sunset: 6:55 p.m.
Blue Hour: 7:11 p.m. - 7:21 p.m.
Milky Way: 8:22 p.m. - 10:43 p.m.
We plan to explore breathtaking scenery!
Hope you can join us!
I will share with you some of my favorite locations!
This Workshop Includes
Photographic Instruction: Imparting to you my knowledge of photography and sharing a little inspiration. Enjoy an adventurous exploration of the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico! Please rest assured that I will give you my full attention, so that you get the most out of each photographic opportunity.
WE WILL EXPLORE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
A new exclusive remote area with our expert Navajo guide
Shiprock
Valley of Dreams
Alien Throne
Cracked Eggs
Stone Wings
TOPICS OF INSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE:
Learn to scout and plan: The power of apps
Dynamic composition through leading lines
Creativity in the field, “seeing vs. looking”
Intimate landscapes: Framing details with a telephoto lens
Exposure bracketing for extended dynamic range
Focus stacking
Full nightscape and Milky Way in-the-field workflow
Optimal camera setup: Nail the shot by knowing exposure, focus, histogram, white balance, rule of 500
Blue Hour Blends
Low Level Lighting to enhance foreground elements
Acquiring critical focus in the dark
Long exposure blends
Multi-exposure star stacking
Star Trails
Astro-Panos
Tips for success in the field
INSTRUCTIONAL NIGHTSCAPE GUIDE
You will receive, via email, my “Capture the Night” guide to nightscape photography (PDF)
instructional “Digital Darkroom” Videos
Video instruction from my Digital Darkroom series is included at no additional charge. Topics range from:
My Post Processing Techniques and workflow in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, including my favorite plugins
Milky Way post processing, including blue hour blends
Strengthening composition through processing
Finessing your image with Lightroom and Photoshop techniques, including greater dynamic range.
Prepping files for output
FOLLOW THE LINK TO LEARN ABOUT HOW YOU CAN RECEIVE A DISCOUNT WHEN YOU BOOK PRIVATE VIRTUAL SESSIONS WITH ME.
This Workshop Does Not Include
No ground transportation, or transportation to or from the workshop
No food/beverages will be provided
There is no insurance provided to cover your travel, trip, your gear, or your vehicle. (Trip insurance is recommended)
No camera gear is provided
There may be little or no cellphone coverage in the workshop locations
What to Bring
GEAR
Camera: DSLR or mirrorless with a wide aperture (i.e., f/2.8 or wider) lens.
Lenses: Wide angle: 14-24mm, Mid-range: 24-70mm, Telephoto: 70-200mm, 80-400mm, etc.(as noted in full frame focal lengths)
Solid tripod and head
Wired shutter release or wireless remote release, for long bulb-mode exposures (if camera is not equipped)
Extra batteries for everything that takes batteries. You’ll thank me.
Extra memory cards, so you don’t miss a single shot
Lens cleaner/blower to save you from dust gremlins
Circular Polarizer (if you only have one filter in your bag, this is it)
3-stop or variable neutral density (nice to have, but not required)
Laptop, or other system to backup your images each day
PERSONAL
Headlamp (did I say bring extra batteries?)
Camera bag + rainfly (yes, even in the desert)
Bring layered, warm, breathable, clothing, including a waterproof shell
Comfortable supportive footwear, wicking socks (wool or synthetic) (keep your feet happy)
Dress for the temps. Layers are recommended. Always check the local forecast as it varies.
Bring snacks and stay hydrated (hydration especially important at altitude)
Consider hand warmers for those early morning shoots, plus warm gloves or fingerless mittens
Trekking poles (better safe than sorry)
Bug repellant (highly recommend Picaridin by Sawyer for the local DEET-resistant night gnats)
Sun Glasses, hat, handkerchief (Desert sand especially hard on the eyes, handkerchief for dusty wind)
Toiletries
Requirements
You are responsible for knowing your way around your camera and its menu system. My time with each of you will be spent learning to capture great images. Please do not burden others, and get less out of this event yourself – know and practice your camera, especially if you will be using any new gear on this trip.
Ability to shoot in a variety of weather and environmental conditions from bright sun to summer storms and at elevations ranging from near sea level to over 10,000 feet in elevation, depending on the workshop.
The ability to hike one to two miles per day over uneven, hilly, and at times rough terrain, however, most locations do not involve much hiking at all.
The ability to remain flexible to make the most out of the often changing environmental conditions.
The ability to work well with others in a group setting.
Our group must stay together. Please do not wander off without telling me of your where abouts. We will be in areas with potential hazards that include exposed cliffs, unstable terrain, and wildlife.
You are responsible for knowing and following all park or jurisdictional rules. Leave No Trace. Let’s leave it better than it was! Thank you!
Please Note: Deposits/payments are non-refundable. Should you cancel, your deposit (in full) will go toward a future workshop, and is good as a credit for two years from the first day of the cancelled workshop. Trip/travel insurance is highly recommended as no refunds are provided.
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