Capture Yellowstone & the Tetons 2024
July 1–6 (monday –saturday)
$3,975 all inclusive
Join me on this Five-Day/Five-Night Landscape and Astrophotography Workshop
in a Legendary Region of the Wild West
(Limited to Five Students)
Authorized Permittee of Grand Teton National Park
If I had to choose one park that clearly rises to heights above all the beloved U.S. National Parks, it would have to be Yellowstone. This magnificent monument of nature takes fully days to encompass, and its grand diversity of both wildlife and geological features is unparalleled. I have always felt that traveling through both Yellowstone and the Tetons conjures the spirit of a bygone era, and lingering passions for this place resonate long after one returns to the stifled existence that so many call life. To breathe in a fair bit deeper, and behold a sky whose boundaries seem endless, is to experience and embrace these two legendary parks. I hope you consider sharing these precious moments with me, as we seek to capture for ourselves what these grand giants hope to share.
where we will travel
Yellowstone National Park
The United States Congress established Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the first preserved area to become a national park. Yellowstone National Park is a roughly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area situated atop a supervolcano. The park is located mainly in Wyoming, but also spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. Yellowstone is home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope.
5 Things You may not Know About Yellowstone N.P.
How did Yellowstone get its name? It's named after the Yellowstone River. The river gets its name from the Minnetaree Indians, who called it Mi tse a-da-zi, or Yellow Rock River, most likely from the yellowish formations of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Half the world's hydrothermal features are found in Yellowstone: Yellowstone National Park preserves more than 10,000 hydrothermal features — an extraordinary collection of hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, travertine terraces and—of course —geysers.
“Share the road” takes on a whole new meaning at Yellowstone: Yellowstone is world-renowned for its bison herds. Rush hour here is a little different with bison often causing traffic jams —nicknamed “bison jams.”
Yellowstone is a supervolcano: One of the world’s largest active volcanoes lies beneath Yellowstone. While the volcano is still active, it’s been about 70,000 years since the last lava flow. With the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Utah, the National Park Service established the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory in 2001 to monitor volcanic and seismic activity in the area.
Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48: Yellowstone’s wildlife is abundant and diverse with an estimated 300 species of birds, 16 types of fish and 67 species of mammals — the largest number of mammal species in the contiguous United States.
WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is located due south of Yellowstone, and was established in 1929, and then again in 1950. In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge approved the original 96,000-acre park, which encompassed the Teton Range and six glacial lakes. In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the 210,000-acre Jackson Hole National Monument to protect the remaining federal lands on the valley floor. In 1950, President Harry S. Truman and Congress merged the monument, the national park and a 35,000-acre donation from John D. Rockefeller to create the 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park we visit today.
3 Things you may not know about Grand Teton N.P.
Earthquakes gave rise to the 40-mile-long Teton Range, which sits on a fault line.
Eight peaks towering above 12,000 feet exist within the park. The highest peak, the Grand Teton, rises 13,770 feet above sea level.
A wide variety of birds flock to Grand Teton National Park. Birders can find avian species of all shapes and sizes, from the trumpeter swan (the largest waterfowl in North America) to the calliope hummingbird (the smallest bird species in North America) in the park.
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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 Yellowstone–Tetons, where filling you with memories is as important as filling your memory cards with unforgettable images.
Trip Overview
workshop snapshot
DATES: July 1-6, 2024 (Monday-Saturday); five days/five nights under dark skies
PRICE PER PERSON: $3,975 (Includes all lodging) (Deposit of $1,975 to hold your place, with final payment due April 1, 2024)
GROUP SIZE: Limit 5 students
PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL: Beginner-Advanced
TERRAIN: Gradual slopes, uneven and rocky terraine
ALTITUDE: 6,500–8,000’
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate activity with treks under two miles
CLIMATE: Avg. Daytime temps: 72-79˚–– Avg. Nightime temps: 40-44˚
NEAREST TOWN(S): Jackson, WY, West Yellowstone, MT
AIRPORT(S): Jackson Hole, West Yellowstone
VEHICLE: All locations are accessible in passenger cars, with average or higher ground clearance
ACCOMMODATIONS: Your lodging is reserved at Colter Bay Cabins 7/1-3; Yellowstone NP: Yellowstone Lodge in West Yellowstone 7/3-5, Ascend Hotel, Gardiner, MT 7/5-6. Please reference Christine Kenyon Workshop at check in.
itinerary snapshot
TRIP VITALS: We will kick things off with a Meet & Greet on Sunday, July 1, at 1:00 p.m., at Colter Bay Village. We spend two full days (7/1-3) in the Tetons, and then head north on Tuesday (7/3) to our accommodations in West Yellowstone. The remaining three days will be spent in Yellowstone. We will relocate to Gardiner, MT on 7/5. On Saturday morning, 7/6, we will wrap things up, and say our goodbyes after shooting sunrise in Yellowstone. Detailed itinerary is emailed to you 14 days in advance of our start date
SHOOTING SCHEDULE: Our featured locations are generally within an hour of our accommodations. Plan to rise early for sunrise on select mornings. Be sure to dress for the temps, bring snacks, and stay hydrated!
LODGING: Grand Teton NP: Your reservation awaits you at the Yellowstone Lodge in West Yellowstone, group cabins at Colter Bay Cabins, and one night at the Ascend Hotel in Gardiner, MT. I have booked two, two-room cabins, with four double beds in each cabin, at Colter Bay Village. These cabins include a private bathroom. If you require individual accommodations, please inform me as soon as possible, so I can check on availability. There will be a surcharge to add a private cabin. Cabin availability is limited. Please reference Christine Kenyon Workshop at check in.
astronomical snapshot
MORNING
Blue Hour: 5:08 a.m. - 5:23 a.m.
Golden Hour: 5:23 a.m. - 6:28 a.m.
Sunrise: 5:44 a.m.
EVENING
Golden Hour: 8:24 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunset: 9:10 p.m.
Blue Hour: 9:30 p.m. - 9:44 p.m.
Milky Way: 11:30 p.m. - 3:23 a.m.
We plan to explore breathtaking scenery,
I can’t wait to share with you some of my favorite locations!
Hope you can join us!
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):
Oxbow Bend
Schwabacher Landing
Mormon Row
Snake River Overlook
String Lake Roadway
Moose Junction (we’ll try to shoot us some Moose – Choose your weapon: Nikon, Sony, Canon, . . . )
Weather permitting: Nightscapes along the Teton range. Location TBD
Lamar Valley Wildlife
Grand Prismatic Spring
Hayden Valley Sunrise & Wildlife
Select hot springs and geysers TBD
Nightscapes at some of my favorite places in Yellowstone
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.
