Desert at dawn
Milky Way over the mountains
Star trails over sand dunes and mountains
Bright rainbow over tan boulders

DEATH VALLEY & BEYOND 2026

March 15-20 (Sunday-Friday)

Incredible Natural Diversity Throughout this Breathtaking
Six Day Milky Way and Landscape Adventure in Death Valley N.P. & Alabama Hills

(Small Group – Five Students)
— Lodging Included

Our small group of five will get a little dirt on the tires as we make our way to and through some eye popping locations. This road trip begins in Death Valley, a landmark among U.S. National Parks, and it ends in the Alabama Hills on the eastern Sierra Nevada. Embark on a six-day odyssey through these otherworldly landscapes, and capture the Milky Way against dramatic desert backdrops and sculpted rock formations. Join us for an unforgettable adventure under the stars and beyond.

Trip Feature icons

FEATURES OF THIS TRIP

WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is known for its resonating beauty despite its harsh and unforgiving environment. The park straddles the California–Nevada border, east of the Sierra Nevada, and occupies an interface zone between the arid Great Basin and Mojave deserts, protecting the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert and its diverse environment of salt-flats, sand dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons and mountains. Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous United States, as well as the hottest, driest and lowest of all the national parks in the United States. The park is home to many species of plants and animals that have adapted to this harsh desert environment including creosote bush, Joshua tree, bighorn sheep, and coyote. It’s sand dunes, cracked mud, salt flats, and myriad other natural attractions make this a photographer’s paradise. We will visit the park for three full days, featuring nightscape photography (weather permitting.) The historic Amargosa Opera House will make for our base of operations during the three nights of this first leg of our trip, and I am confident that you will agree, this place is a destination unto itself.

6 Things You may not Know About Death Valley N.P.

  • At more than 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the Lower 48

  • The highest recorded temperature in the world was recorded in Death Valley’s Furnace Creek at 134 Fahrenheit in July 1913

  • Death Valley is the driest place in the country, and in 1929, there was not a single drop of rain recorded in Death Valley

  • Death Valley is home to the country’s lowest point, Badwater Basin, which lies at 282 feet below sea level

  • Death Valley is only 76 miles from the highest point in the country, Mt. Whitney, which tops out at an elevation of 14,505 feet. In other words, the lowest and highest points in the contiguous U.S. are less than 100 miles apart!

  • Life abounds in Death Valley! The Park is home to more than 1000 species of plants (including 50 that are found nowhere else in the world), 300 species of birds, 51 species of mammals (including bighorn sheep and mountain lions), 36 species of reptiles and even amphibian and fish species

WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL

Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills is located north-west, and just under two hours from Death Valley. The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, west of Lone Pine in Inyo County, California. Though geographically separate from the Sierra Nevada, they are part of the same geological formation. The smooth stone formations and arches of the hills against the stunning backdrop of Mount Whitney shrouded in snow, will make exploration and composition finding exhilirating at this time of year. The Alabama Hills were named for the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship deployed during the American Civil War. When news of the ship's exploits reached prospectors in California sympathetic to the Confederates, they named many mining claims after the ship, and the name came to be applied to the entire range.

Sand stone arch with the Milky Way in spring

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Christine Kenyon with Black Lab Tuffy
Christine Kenyon takes photos at sunset

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 Death Valley & Beyond, where filling you with memories is as important as filling your memory cards with unforgettable images.

Scary looking Milky Way scene with skull like rock

Trip Overview

Prepare to dive into the raw beauty of Death Valley and Alabama Hills. From towering dunes to rugged rock formations, this adventure promises star-filled nights and breathtaking landscapes, so get ready for an epic journey that blends the craft of photography, exploration, and unforgettable memories.

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  • Workshop Snapshot

    DATES: March 15-20, 2026 (Sunday-Friday) Concluding after sunrise on Friday
    PRICE PER PERSON: $4,095(five days/five nights) (Includes single occupancy lodging) Deposit of $1,995 to hold your place, with final payment due approximately 120 days prior to the trip.

    GROUP SIZE: Limit 5 Students
    PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL: Beginner-Advanced
    TERRAIN: Gradual slopes, sandy, sand dunes, uneven and rocky terrain
    ALTITUDE: • Death Valley: Sea level • Alabama Hills: 5,350’
    ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate activity with treks under two miles, sandy, rocky
    CLIMATE: Avg. Daytime temps: 78-82˚–– Avg. Nightime temps: 50-55˚
    NEAREST TOWN(S): Lone Pine (near Alabama Hills) Amargosa (due east of Death Valley)
    AIRPORT(s): Las Vegas McCarren Int’l
    VEHICLE: All locations are accessible by stock, high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles
    ACCOMMODATIONS: All accommodations included for both Death Valley and Lone Pine (Alabama Hills)


    Itinerary Snapshot

    TRIP VITALS: We will begin with a Meet & Greet at Amargosa Opera House on Sunday, 3/15, at 2:00 p.m. We spend three days (3/15-18) in Death Valley, and then head to the Alabama Hills on Wednesday (3/18), our new base of operations in Lone Pine, at the historic Dow Villa Hotel. The remaining two days will be spent in the Alabama Hills. On Friday morning, 3/20, we will wrap things up, and say our goodbyes after shooting sunrise, and if you don’t have to run to catch your flight, enjoy breakfast together in Lone Pine.

    SHOOTING SCHEDULE: Our featured locations are not far from our accommodations. Be sure to dress for the temps (it will be cold), bring snacks, and stay hydrated! Detailed itinerary is emailed to you approximately 30 days prior to our start date.

    LODGING: Death Valley: Amargosa Opera House; Lone Pine (Alabama Hills): Dow Villa Historic Hotel (Both are included in the total workshop price)


    Astronomical Snapshot (approximate)

    MORNING
    Blue Hour:
    7:27 a.m. - 7:37 a.m.
    Golden Hour: 7:37 a.m. - 8:26 a.m.
    Sunrise: 7:52 a.m.

    EVENING
    Golden Hour:
    7:24 p.m. - 8:13 p.m.
    Sunset:
    7:58 p.m.
    Blue Hour: 8:13 p.m. - 8:23 p.m.
    Milky Way: 3:15 a.m. - 6:24 a.m.

DEATH VALLEY & BEYOND 2026

March 15-20 (Sunday-Friday)
Six Day Landscape and Milky Way Photography Workshop
(Small Group – Five Students)
$4,095 Lodging Included

FAQ

  • 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.

    PLEASE NOTE:We will schedule apre-trip Zoom meeting approximately 30 days prior to the workshop start date


    Workshop Instruction to Include

    I will guide you through my workflow in the field, the art of approaching the scene, compositional techniques, scouting and strategy, and some creative philosophy to help you elevate your photography to new heights. From scouting and planning using my recommended phone apps, to my complete Milky Way workflow in the field, you will come away equipped with the knowledge, creative insight, and practical applications to achieve your goals.

    Instructional Nightscape Guide

    You will receive, via email, my “Capture the Night” guide to nightscape photography (PDF). This guide will review camera setup and settings that optimize your photography for both daytime and night photography.


    Digital Darkroom Instruction

    At no additional charge, each workshop includes a two-hour post processing Zoom session for the group in approximately two to three weeks following the trip. All attendees are encouraged to attend, as we will go through my Milky Way blue-hour-blend workflow. Every effort will be made to accommodate your schedule when we schedule our session. Should you be unable to attend, you will receive an email with the link to an HD video download of the session.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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: All deposits/payments received are non-refundable. Should you cancel your trip for any reason, you will receive a full refund (minus a $250 cancellation fee), provided your spot can be filled before the workshop begins. However, there is no guarantee that your spot will be filled. If you are not eligible for a refund, your deposit (workshops only) may be used as a credit toward another workshop* (minus a $250 cancellation fee), for the current year, and 50% of any unused credit balance may be used for the following year. Should the credit be used toward a workshop of greater value, you are responsible for the difference.

    Trip/travel insurance is highly recommended, and we can provide a reference.We cannot guarantee a refund.
    *Please refer to my complete Terms & Conditions when you click on Book Now.

See What Other Workshop Participants
Had to Say About Their Experience

We plan to explore breathtaking scenery:
Bad Water Basin, Mesquite Flat Dunes; Artist’s Palette,
Zabriskie Point, and the best spots in the Alabama Hills

I can’t wait to share some of my favorite locations!
Hope you join us!

Follow the Link Below to Learn How You Can
Receive a Discount When You Book
Personalized Online Post Processing