March 2-4, 2013 in Death Valley, CA
optional Lightroom class on March 1st
with Scott Martin and Lance Keimig
Lance Keimig and I invite you to join us in Death Valley in March. We’re shaking things up for this workshop and doing several things diffrrently than we normally do. Unlike our usual Full Moon Night Photography workshops, this one will take place in the waning stage of the lunar cycle which will offer us some dark skies full of stars. I’ve come to love this time of night after the sun has gone down and before the moon comes up. It will be a great chance to rely upon light painting and make some ‘galactic sky’ images. We are also going to some unusual and remote locations in the park that most workshops don’t get to.
There will also be lots of opportunities for light drawing as well as light painting. Adding add to these scenes will be an important process towards getting a satifiying image. This intensive workshop is intended for photographers with a good grasp of photographic principles and for those who are comfortable with their equipment. At least minimal experience or familiarity with Night Photography and light painting is recommended, as working in the desert without the aid of moonlight can be challenging. We’ll be pushing you to step outside your comfort zone, to test the limits of what you and your camera can do. With some luck, our good friend Russell Brown from Adobe will join us as a special guest.
Shooting in remote locations means long drives both before and after shooting hours, so expect some late nights. One night in particular will require a 3-4 drive on a rough road that requires a 4WD high clearance vehicle. We expect to carpool to this location and take a few vehicles as possible.
We are thinking of this as a class for those looking to expand your photographic horizons, recharge your creative batteries, share ideas with friends and colleagues, and to go home with some exciting images from this unique landscape. Locations may include the famous Racetrack Playa, sand dunes, Badlands, charcoal kilns, Goldwell, and more. Discoveries await.
Lance and I will offer an optional, full day Adobe Lightroom class on March first. If you are new to Lightroom or want to brush up on your LR skills, this is the way to dive in deep and really get to know Lightroom. It will also offer an additional night for you to explore and make images on your own before the workshop.
Accommodations
The workshop classes will be at Stovepipe Wells. This location offers the most affordable rooms and will be closest to most of the remote locations we will be visiting in the north part of the park. While we encourage everyone to stay at Stovepipe Wells, there are also two other options in the park (listed below). Wherever you stay, plan to arrive on or before February 28 if you plan to take the Lightroom class, or March 1st for just the Night Photography workshop. Check out March 5th or later. Since we’ll be sleep deprived at the end of this workshop we encourage you to stay an additional evening to rest and develop images before making the journey back home.
Stovepipe Wells lodge – 3 types of rooms, ranging from $90-150/night. Nothing fancy. Breakfast options are lacking but lunch and dinner options are good. The Deluxe rooms are the best value, IMO. Call 866-315-2980 or book your reservation online.
Furnace Creek Ranch has a nice national park feel with rooms from $210-275. Several excellent good dining options. 25 minutes from Stovepipe Wells. Call (800) 236-7916 or book your reservation online.
Furnace Creek Inn is first class, gorgeous with fantastic dining. Historic charm and luxery. Rooms are $350-500. There are currently rooms available for $380 during the workshop. Lunch is less expensive than anywhere in park ($10-14), dinner is pricey at $25-45 per entree. Breakfast $6-15. Call (800) 236-7916 or book your reservation online.
Farabees Jeep Rental is next to the Furnace Creek Inn and is the place to rent modified 4WD Jeeps for remote locations like the racetrack. Ice chest with ice and water included. $175/2dr/day, $195/4dr/day 760-786-9872
Getting there
Death Valley is located in eastern California, 2.5 hours west of Las Vegas, NV. There are several ways of getting there. If you will be flying, fly into Las Vegas and take this route. Here are route recommendations for those coming from Los Angeles or from San Fransisco
Registration
The price for the workshop is $1200 with the Lightroom class or $975 without. Lodging, meals and vehicles are not included. For a workshop with two great instructors and a small number of participants, we hope you’ll find this to be an excellent value. You can secure your spot by paying a deposit with the button below.
Money handling for this workshop is provided by Lance Keimig Photographics. After reserving your space in the workshop, book your reservation at Stovepipe Wells or one of the other options listed above.
Refunds, less a $50 cancellation fee are available until the payment due in full date. You can make a deposit at any time, but space is available on a first come basis. Payment is due in full by January 15, 2015. If you need to cancel after January 15, you will be refunded the amount you paid, less your deposit. If the program is cancelled for any reason, you will receive a full refund.
All photos on this page are © 2012 by Scott Martin.