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this trip WILL BE OFFERED AGAIN IN 2025

Capture the Southwest Spring 2024

CAPITOL REEF • UTAH BADLANDS

May 1–5 (wednesday–Sunday)
$2,995 all inclusive

Get inspired and hone your skills on a four-day/four-night, adventure filled,
Landscape and Astrophotography workshop, with some off-road excitement,
as we explore some of the southwest’s most iconic locations!
(Limited to Five Students)

This adventurous Nightscape & Landscape Photography Workshop will visit prime locations in the southwest that create opportunities to capture both nightscape and landscape images. Experience the stunning beauty of Capitol Reef and the Utah Badlands in cooler spring temperatures, and with stunning Milky Way alignments. The geological features are truly unforgettable! Our small group of five will capture the gorgeous night sky as a backdrop to amazing geological foregrounds. Be sure that we will also experience and capture the sunrise at remarkable locations.

 
 

WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL

Capitol Reef National Park

What’s so special about this park? You discover the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic wrinkle on earth! Located in south-central Utah, in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. It’s not a large park, but it packs a visual punch, offering numerous locations for stunning nightscapes. Capitol Reef National Park has been an International Dark Sky Park since 2015, so, it’s safe to say the night sky in Capitol Reef will be a pitch-dark canvas where stars shine brightly.

 
 

Utah Badlands

The Utah Badlands feature countless geologic features ranging from spires and rock buttes to the nearby San Rafael Swell. The Mars Society operates a facility (Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS)) in the badlands. Here, interplanetary travel can be simulated with a crew of 6 to 8 people for several months at a time. Note the MDRS is a closed scientific facility and is not open to the public, so please respect their work and do not wonder onto their campus. The numerous geological features are a product of extensive weathering, and highly eroded rock that are composed of a harder rock above layers of softer, less resistant strata. The formations, colors, and textures offer a wide range of photographic compositions at all times of day, and provide fascinating foregrounds for nightscape photography.

Before You Book Your Trip,
Sign Up with the K-Group for FREE
It Will Save You Money on This Workshop!

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 Southwest, where filling you with memories is as important as filling your memory cards with unforgettable images.

Trip Overview

WORKSHOP SNAPSHOT

Dates: May 1–5, 2024 (Wednesday–Sunday); Four-Days/Four-Nights under dark skies
Price per person: $2,995 (Includes all lodging)
Group Size: Limit 5 Students
Photography Level: Beginner-Advanced
Terrain: Sandy and rocky terrain, with dangerous cliffs in some areas; hilly with loose footing at times
Altitude: 4,300’
Activity Level: Moderate activity with treks approximately two miles round trip on sandy/rocky and hilly terrain
Climate: Typically clear skies. Avg. Daytime temps: Capitol Reef H: 64˚ L: 37° –– Hanksville H: 71° L: 37°
Nearest Town(s): Hanksville, UT
Airport(s): Salt Lake City, Canyonlands Regional Airport
Vehicle: Note: A stock high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is required, since the road to Temples of the Sun and Moon can be quite sandy. A Jeep or Toyota Tacoma (or similar) is recommended for this leg of our journey.
Accommodations: Your room reservation awaits you at the Whispering Sands Motel in Hanksville, UT. Please request Christine Kenyon Workshop when you check in.

itinerary snapshot

TRIP VITALS:

  • We will begin with a Meet & Greet at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1 (TBD) in Hanksville, UT

  • We will leave promptly at 3:30 p.m., after check-in, on May 1, to begin our scouting trip

  • Expect late nights, and a couple of early mornings to catch sunrise. I will give you ample daytime hours to rest

  • On Sunday morning, May 5, we will say our goodbyes after shooting our last sunrise in the Badlands

  • Detailed itinerary is emailed to you 14 days in advance of our start date

SHOOTING SCHEDULE: Our featured locations are all within 1.5 hours (one way) of our accommodations. At this time of the year, the Milky Way rises in the early hours of the morning (see info below). Be sure to dress for the temps (it will be in the mid-upper 30s at night), bring snacks, and stay hydrated!

LODGING: Accommodations are reserved at the Whispering Sands Motel in Hanksville, UT. Please request Christine Kenyon Workshop when you check in.


astronomical snapshot

MORNING
Blue Hour:
6:04 a.m. - 6:15 a.m.
Golden Hour: 6:15 a.m. - 7:09 a.m.
Sunrise: 6:32 a.m.

EVENING
Golden Hour:
7:45 p.m. - 8:38 p.m.
Sunset:
8:21 p.m.
Blue Hour: 8:38 p.m. - 8:49 p.m.
Milky Way: 12:11 a.m. - 4:51 a.m.

We plan to explore breathtaking scenery,
and I can’t wait to share with you some of my favorite locations!
Hope you can join us!

Christine Kenyon , award winning nightscape and landscape photographer.

This Workshop Includes 

I love sharing my knowledge of photography, and I trust these amazing places will inspire you. So come and enjoy an exciting, educational, and fun western adventure, all the while knowing that I am there to guide you through each photographic opportunity.


We Will Explore (subject to change):

The Hanksville, badlands area, including amazing spires, dramatic vistas, towering buttes, and painted hills, as well as an offroad trip to Capitol Reef.

  • Nightscapes/Astrophotography/

    • The Skyline Rim Overlook (Moonscape Overlook)

    • Chimney Rock (Capitol Reef)

    • Temple of the Moon and Sun (Capitol Reef) (this is a late afternoon into the early morning excursion)

    Sunrise:

    • The Skyline Rim Overlook (Moonscape Overlook)

    • Factory Butte (possible wild flower bloom along Factory Bench Road) (also a great opportunity to pull out the telephoto and capture intimate landscapes.)

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 BELOW to learn 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.

Create great memories, new friendships, and unforgettable images!

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It Will Save You Money on This Workshop!

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