A craggy butte with white billowy clouds
A chimney shaped rock with the Milky Way
Badlands in the night with the Milky Way
Cliff overlooking badlands at sunrise

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UTAH’S BADLANDS & BEYOND 2027
5-Day Landscape & Milky Way

Photography Workshop

May 2–6 (Sunday-Thursday)

Step into another world in Utah’s remote Badlands
Among the Southwest’s most iconic and otherworldly landscapes
(Small Group — Five Students) (Single Occupancy Room Reserved)


Journey into Utah’s wildest and most remote landscapes, where bentonite hills ripple in otherworldly colors and the desert night sky comes alive with stars. We’ll explore hidden gems across Capitol Reef and the surrounding Badlands, capturing vivid sunsets, dramatic textures, and the magic of the Milky Way. This workshop offers the perfect blend of wide-open adventure, peaceful solitude, and expert guidance to elevate your creative vision.

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FEATURES OF THIS TRIP

WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL

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.

Badlands sunrise

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.

A redrock scene with the Milky Way

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Christine Kenyon with her Black Lab Tuffy
Christine Kenyon takes a photo 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 this amazing trip, where filling you with memories is as important as filling your memory cards with unforgettable images.

Cliffside overlook at sunrise

Looking for more unique landscapes? Check out other options below:

The Milky Way over a badlands canyon

Trip Overview

In 2026, we'll chase the bold colors of bentonite hills, explore under vast desert skies, and capture the Milky Way rising over a surreal landscape. This spring adventure is designed for photographers who crave wide-open spaces, southwestern nights, and unforgettable compositions from lunar like landscapes. Let’s make memories in Utah’s most otherworldly spaces.

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UTAH BADLANDS & BEYOND 2026

May 2-6, 2027 (Sunday-Thursday)
Five Day Landscape and Milky Way Photography Workshop
$2,195—
Single Occupancy Room Reserved
(Only a deposit required if booked 120+ days in advance)

FAQ

See What Other Workshop Participants
Had to Say About Their Experience

A famous butte in back and white

We plan to explore breathtaking scenery:
Factory Butte, Bentonite Hills,
the Pinnacle, and Moonscape Overlook

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

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