The deserts and landscapes of the US South West are among the most stunning places on the planet, and southern Utah more than anywhere has an abundance of these landscapes. Travelling here it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the variety, beauty and sheer massive scale of the this part of the world. You could spend a lifetime photographing here and never repeat yourself, it’s perhaps the most photographically productive place I’ve ever visited and will leave you with a sense of awe at the immensity of this austere and breathtaking landscape.

For our tour we wanted to get away from well known National Parks in the state like Zion, Bryce and Arches, and take people to the lesser known parts of this incredible area. We’ll get off the beaten track and visit some of the harder to reach landscapes away from the crowds, and working with a local guide and drivers gives us a freedom to explore and reach some of the more challenging and unique locations of this incredible part of the world. We want to bring you to unforgettable places and inspire your creativity, and we want our tour to be an adventure and an experience you’ll never forget. To do this we’ve brought all of the structures and philosophy that we’ve used for years on our other tours outside of the US where everything is taken care of: Accommodation, all the driving by local drivers in comfortable, capable 4x4s, and all of the food is included in the tour, as well as constant tuition in the field from three photography guides, post processing and critique sessions, and alongside myself and Hougaard Malan, local photographic guide Nickolas Warner who brings over a decade’s experience capturing these places and can ensure we get the best out of locations and visit parts of Utah that many people never see.

The tour is splt into 3 bases, the first in the tiny town of Hanksville to give us access to the Badlands, one of the most unique and diverse landscapes of the southwest. The range of scenes here really are incredible. After that we’ll visit the Mexican Hat area for a couple of nights, and then finally the Moab area for the huge mesas, where you can find yourself looking out across a landscape that’s so vast that your mind struggles to comprehend the scale. We’ll have two sessions a day, capturing sunrise and sunset, seeing the way the last light of day and blue hour really brings out the incredible colours of this landscape and like all my workshops is designed to ensure that you can focus on photography while we take care of everything else. From the ideally located accommodation, all the meals and of course a tour that’s structured to maximize your opportunities to get great images whilst improving your skills as a photographer. We use all our experience and knowledge to get you to some of Utah’s most beautiful locations in the best light, and in the field we’re on hand to provide as much support, advice or guidance as you want.

 GETTING TO the badlands

Our tour starts and our meeting place is Salt Lake City, where we’ll spend our first night before heading south into the Badlands the following morning.

Salt Lake City is a major hub for Delta Airlines and can be reached from every major US city. If you’re coming from outside the US, the international hubs like New York JFK, Atlanta and Seatac all have direct flights to Salt Lake City

Our tour focuses primarily on the less visited parts of Utah with 3 distinct locations. We’ll mostly be shooting both at sunrise and sunset, and as some of the locations can take awhile to reach, we’ll spend large parts of the day out in the landscape, although we’ll make sure we always get some down time to rest during the day, and that we have time to sit down for at least two meals, although breakfast or lunch may often be eaten in the field.

We spent a lot of time researching and scouting locations that are a little off the beaten track, and to try to preserve that feeling of discovery we’re avoiding disclosing many of the actual shooting locations on the webpage, although you’ll visit all of the locations shown here, and once people have signed up we’re happy to share more specific information on where we’ll we be shooting..

DAY 1 | SALT LAKE CITY

The tour starts at Salt Lake City where we’ll meet and have dinner on the first night. We’ll depart immediately after breakfast the following day and make the 4 hour drive to Hanksville before checking into our accommodation and then heading out for our first sunset shoot in the Badlands

DAYS 2 - 6 | THE BADLANDS

We’ll spend 4 nights in the tiny town of Hanksville, which is perfectly located close to some of the most incredible landscapes the South West has to offer, and fortunately, almost all of what we’ll visit here isn’t in a National or State Park which gives us more freedom, particularly when it comes to drones. Some of the locations we’ll visit here are absolutely incredible when viewed from an aerial perspective, with abstract shapes and a myriad of colours the photographic potential is endless. We’ll visit a couple of well known spots like Factory Butte as well as spending an evening in Capitol Reef National Park, but for the majority of the time we’ll be exploring the lesser known paths of the Badlands, which contain everything from kilometre high mesas, towering spires and incredibly colourful bentonite rock formations.

While we’re here we’ll also have our our first critique or post processing session.

Each day we’ll check the weather forecast and make our decision on which location to shoot from to make the most of the conditions.

DAYS 6 - 8 | MEXICAN HAT

After shooting our last sunrise in the Badlands we’ll make the 3 hour drive south to our next accommodation base near Mexican Hat and the San Juan River area. After checking in to our accommodation we’ll head out for a sunset shoot, and then spend the whole of the next day exploring the area. You’ll feel the change here from the Badlands, the landscape is different and we’ll see a different kind of geology. We’ll have one sunrise shoot at Valley of the Gods and we’ll visit other locations that we want to keep secret as they are lesser known but equally stunning..

DAYS 8 - 10 | MOAB

For the final part of our tours we’re make the 2h30 journey back up to Moab, home of the “big” landscapes. The mesas here rise up and up into the sky, and the scale of the landscape is almost impossible to comprehend as we look out from the edges of the mesa across canyons and the river valleys of the San Juan and Green rivers. We’ll do sunrise and sunset shoots at some of the more difficult to access viewpoints, where rock spires and buttes rise up out of the landscape to impossible heights and get painted by the days first or last light, and we’ll also spend a sunrise shooting at Dead Horse Point, 2000 feet above the goosenecks of the Colorado River as it meanders through this immense iconic landscape.

DAY 10 - DEPARTURE DAY

After our final shoot we’ll head back to Salt Lake City, arriving a little after lunch. If you can get a flight out of Salt Lake City that evening we’ll say goodbye to you there, otherwise we’ll have a last dinner together before departing the following morning.

WHAT WE DO (AND WHAT WE WANT YOU TO GET FROM OUR WORKSHOPS)

OUR AIMS

 Our aim is to take you to beautiful locations and give you every opportunity to get great images while improving your technique over the course of the workshop.  We limit the number of participants on our workshop which gives us plenty of time with everyone in the field and from the beginning of your time with us we can identify your photographic level and what you’d like to focus on. We can then tailor the sessions to your precise needs and provide each participant with plenty of one-to-one tuition both in the field, and having multiple shooting sessions each day means that participants get into a shooting rhythm and can quickly put into practice new skills as they are learned. 

POST PROCESSING

This adaptability also extends to the post processing sessions.  We believe that editing is an integral part of getting the absolute best out of an image but we understand that the range of participant’s skill levels and familiarity with post processing techniques varies greatly.  Whenever there is time available, we can sit down for an informal presentation on editing or any other subject. The digital darkroom has become a crucial part of photography and the guides will present various techniques using images taken by the participants of the workshop. The guides have extensive experience with Photoshop and Lightroom, but they will always do their best to help with your program of choice

THE EXPERIENCE

Finally, we want to share with you our passion for nature and landscape photography in this incredible  place. We aim to build a great learning environment where people feel comfortable together and at ease with asking questions, making the absolute most of the trip. We aim to make your experience here in the beautiful landscapes of Southern Utah a memorable one and a trip from which, as well as getting some great images from amazing locations, you’ll also go home having had a true adventure with great company in a very special place.

IN THE FIELD

• Understanding the light and choosing the best exposure

• Composition. Balance and harmony, leading lines and creating depth.

• Lens choice. From the wide-angle vista to shooting landscape abstracts with a telephoto lens

• Capturing images with a drone

• Shooting multiple image panoramas

• Controlling light in scenes with a wide dynamic range using graduated filters and/or multiple exposures

• Seeing a scene

PROCESSING

• Deciding which direction to take post processing according to the mood of an image

• Using Lightroom to apply contrast locally

• “Shaping” the light using contrast tools in Photoshop and Lightroom

• Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image

• Stitching multiple panoramas together

• Finishing touches for processing to give images dramatic punch

• Sharpening images

Do I need a VISA to enter the US

Most citizens entering the US can stay for 90 days without acquiring a VISA via the Visa Waiver Program. Before travelling you’ll need a valid ESTA ( Electronic System for Travel Authorization) which can be completed relatively quickly online and approval takes a few days. You can find full information here: Travel to the US

Will I have cellphone reception?

Cellphone reception is not always great in Utah, but all our hotels have WIFI.

Will I have Internet access?

All our hotels have WIFI, but don’t expect video streaming speed.

What about medicines, diseases and vaccinations?

Nothing required, but please bring the standard travel necessities like immodium, pain medication etc. along.

Will there be fresh water available?

The tap water in Utah is perfectly safe to drink. We will stop frequently on travel days so you can buy refreshments.

Will I be able to purchase snacks?

We will stop frequently on travel days to go to the restroom and buy refreshments, and there are local gas stations and stores with a wide supply of snacks.

What food can I expect?

Food options in and around Hanksville are relatively limited to a grill and burger joint. It’s not sophisticated but it’s tasty and filling. In Moab and Salt Lake City there is a much wider choice.

What about allergies or dietary preferences?

All of the places we eat are prepared to handle basic allergies and dietary preferences like vegetarian or vegan meals. It is of utmost importance that you indicate this when you book so that we can inform the places beforehand..

Are there any luggage restrictions?

One large duffle bag, a camera bag and tripod is the norm. We will be travelling in two 4x4s and when we change accommodation bases everyone’s luggage, camera bag and tripod has to fit into the vehicles, making space quite limited so please pack considerately. Please bring a duffle bag rather than a suitcase as they are much easier to pack into the vehicles than hard cases.

Do I need to bring spending money along?

Although most of your expenses are included, you will need some cash to buy snacks, drinks as well as tips. You can also use a card everywhere we go and tap-to-pay is pretty common.

Do I need a laptop?

A laptop isn’t an absolute must. If you want to learn editing from the guides, you’ll need one. If you are happy just to look while the others practice and to store all your images on memory cards, then you can leave the laptop at home.

 A dSLR or mirrorless camera 

The criteria for the kind of work we’ll be doing is a camera that can be operated completely manually to ensure we get the best exposure with interchangeable lenses allowing us to cover a range of focal lengths

A wide angle lens

For many of the locations a wide angle lens really is essential if you want to get those epic landscapes that have a foreground leading to epic background and skies. 16mm or 17mm on a full frame camera (10mm or 12mm on an APS-C sensor camera) is ideal, but anything below 24mm (16mm on a crop frame sensor) should be OK.  

A mid-range zoom lens

In some of the locations we’ll visit a wide angle zoom will make the landscapes appear smaller, so a mid-range zoom will be great for maintaining the scale while still including foreground.  They’re also great for panoramas.  Something in the range of 24-70mm (18-55mm on a crop sensor) is perfect.

A telephoto lens

We’ll often find ourselves shooting distant views or abstracts, which a telephoto is ideal for.  A telephoto also compresses the landscape and is great for vistas when shooting from elevation.  A range that covers 70-200mm (55-135mm on a crop sensor) is ideal.

Tripod

We’ll often be shooting in low light so a good tripod is an absolutely essential piece of equipment.

A Drone

Many of the locations we visit have an extra dimension when seen from the air, so we strongly recommend people bring a drone. There are many parts of the Badlands that can only really be captured with a drone, so this is one trip where we consider it an essential. Anything from a Mini 4 Pro to a Mavic 3 will be great.

L-Bracket

An L-bracket allows you to mount your camera to your tripod head in portrait mode. An invaluable piece of equipment for landscape photography, L-brackets are made specific to each camera model, so make sure you purchase the right one.

Filters

We won’t really be shooting moving water so opportunities for long exposures will be rare, unless you want to blur clouds, and so neutral density filters aren’t a necessity. A polariser will help you cut down haze for telephoto shots, and if you usually use graduated filters, then of course bring them along to help you balance bright skies with the foreground.

Comfortable waterproof walking boots and thick warm socks

We'll be doing quite a bit of walking, and we’ll often find ourselves moving across mud and rocks, so good boots with warm socks are vital.

Insulated jacket, water and windproof shell and warm clothes

We’ll be in Utah right on the edge of winter and snow is a distinct possibility. We’ll also often be in some exposed places, and before sunrise and after sunset temperatures can be around freezing, so warm clothes will help keep you comfortable while we’re out shooting.  It’s best to layer, with a base layer next to the skin and then a fleece or thicker layer on top.  An insulated down jacket on top of that will keep you warm, and also a waterproof or windproof shell as a final layer because there’ll certainly be times when the wind can be really strong up on the mesas.

Camera Backpack

When moving your camera gear for any length of time a backpack can really save your back.  A good backpack, one with sturdy hip straps, can safely distribute the weight of your gear and really save you from aches, pains and potential injury. 

Laptop with Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW and Photoshop

We’ll be shooting RAW, and as part of each day will be dedicated to post processing images a good RAW converter like Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW is essential.  Other converters like Capture One are also fine.  Adobe Photoshop is great for more advanced processing as it allows us to be much more subtle and creative in it’s use of layers.

Closer to the time we’ll put out a tour document with a full packing list on it, but in the meantime if you have any questions about what to bring, don’t hesitate to contact us.

 ANDY MUMFORD is a Lisbon based professional landscape and travel photographer. Andy grew up in the UK loving nature and travel and took up landscape photography over fifteen years ago. Since then he has travelled extensively photographing all over the world and his photography and articles have featured in publications and books worldwide. He is a passionate photographer teacher and has been leading both group and one-to-one workshops for over five years.

He is a Fuji X Photographer and a brand ambassador for Fujifilm in Portugal, as well as F-Stop and KASE filters

Hougaard Malan is an award winning South African photographer who has been guiding and organising photo tours for a decade. His photos of Namibia have won him awards like the 2016 International Landscape Photograph of the Year and his clients have also won numerous awards with the photos captured on his tours. All the images on this page were captured by Hougaard.

Hougaard believes the essence of a landscape photograph is allowing the viewer to experience that place without ever being there. When the light, clouds and land combine to produce scenes so beautiful that they etch a profound place in viewers’ memories, and witnessing such moments unfold over earth’s most beautiful landscapes is, for him, one of the highlights of living.

Hougaard’s work has been published in countless media all over the world, from books and magazines to calendars and coffee table books by the likes of National Geographic. Licensing and commission clients include global and local corporates like Samsung, Toyota, SAB Inbev, FNB, Standard Bank and Europcar.

www.hougaardmalan.com

OUR LOCAL PARTNER AND GUIDE

Nickolas Warner is a landscape and travel photographer who focuses on the extreme.  His  photography emphasizes strange and unearthly nature, geography and scenes. Traveling plays a big part in his photographs with an emphasis on environments and cultures that are anything but ordinary. In an often mundane world, it is his goal to bring the viewer to atypical locations that don’t always resemble earth.

Several of his photos have been awarded in the biggest photography competitions worldwide, and he has had his work shared on magazine covers, travel publications and by major news networks such as CNN, Aljazeera, and The Guardian. In 2023, he was named by Capture the Atlas. In 2024, his photo UpRooted, was given the RAW Planet award by the Epson Panorama Awards.

www.warnerwildernessphotography.com

REGISTRATION 

To register for the workshop we require a $1500 deposit.  Please complete the form below to sign up or for more information, and please read the Terms & Conditions by clicking on the link below.