Moab Landscape Photo Safari

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REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

MOAB LANDSCAPE PHOTO SAFARI

Ah, Moab. A place that has inspired adventurists, hikers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, off-roaders, archaeologists, paleontologists, and photographers for decades. With the area's twisting canyons, towering rock formations, impossibly-balanced rocks, and two National Parks, there is a never-ending agenda of things to do here. In some ways, it almost feels like you've stepped onto another planet when you first experience the area surrounding Moab.

ABOUT YOUR WORKSHOP LEADER

Pack your camera bag and sign up for this first-rate photo safari/workshop from award-winning photographer and workshop leader James Harris. James will lead you to some of the most desired photography spots in the southwest. Sunrises and sunsets, prehistoric rock art, a maze of canyons, giant rock arches, and some local Moab hotspots for food and beverages. James Harris knows the area well, and used to work for the National Park Service at Natural Bridges National Monument near Blanding, Utah. It was there that James led his first tours through the canyons giving personal interpretive walks and special tours for archaeologists from Brigham Young University on the archaeology of the area. Currently living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, James has been a professional photographer since 1979 and specializes in landscape, nature, travel, and motor sports photography.

LODGING

We have partnered again with the wonderful Moab Valley Inn and Conference Center for a block of 10 discounted rooms (double queen, nonsmoking) so that you don't have to worry about trying to find a room in one of the most popular tourist areas in the world. Just make your reservations (lodging price not included) here: Moab Valley Inn reservations. I can arrange room-sharing on request. Reservations MUST be made by midnight, September 12.

If the above link doesn't work with your web browser, try pasting in the following link: http://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?groupID=1008740&hotelID=75490

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2

We'll meet in the parking lot of the Moab Valley Inn at 6 p.m., and then venture across the street to have dinner at the Moab Brewery & Restaurant (reservations already made). We'll order off of their wonderful menu (food not included in registration fee). During dinner, I will discuss the itinerary, the rules, and answer any questions you may have about the workshop or our activities for the next four days.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 (starting at 4:30am)

We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Moab Valley Inn, where we will drive to catch the sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park. The view here above the Colorado River is spectacular. After Dead Horse, we will to a little 4x4ing down Long Canyon back down to Highway 287. You'll see sweeping views of Long Canyon, and when we get to the junction at Highway 287, we'll stop and photograph Pot Handle Arch. We'll then travel along Highway 287 and make several stops to photograph the prehistoric petroglyphs along the Colorado River, and then head back to Moab for a lunch break. After lunch, we'll head out Kane Creek Road up Hurrah Pass. Along the way, we'll see several boulders with petroglyphs on them, see some fantastic balanced rocks, and drive up slickrock roads to Hurrah Pass. There will be many stops and photo opportunities along this trip. We will then return the way we came back to Moab and have dinner. Get to bed early! The next day starts at 4 a.m.!

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 (starting at 4:00am)

We will meet out in the front parking lot at the Moab Valley Inn again and drive into the northern part of Canyonlands National Park to photograph the sunrise through Mesa Arch. We have to get there early since this is a very popular spot for photographers, even during October weekdays. This is also the time of year that the sunrise occurs right over the La Sal Mountains. This is definitely a bucket list photo opportunity! After shooting there we will continue further out onto Island in the Sky (the northern section of Canyonlands National Park) to Upheaval Dome, where we take a short hike to see the huge, collapsed salt dome that has made an enormous crater.

We will return to Moab for a 2-hour break (lunch and rest), and then we will head up into Arches National Park and do a little bit of off-roading to the Klondike Bluffs, driving past Eye of the Whale Arch. We'll stay here until dusk photographing around Tower Arch. This area affords us some excellent sunset opportunities.

That evening we will have a conference room at the Moab Valley Inn from 8:00pm to 10:00pm, where we can show the photos we have taken and I will teach some techniques I use for post-processing to get the most out of your RAW images in Lightroom 5's Develop Module.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 (starting at 8:00am)

Be prepared for some good hiking today. We will meet in the parking lot at 8:00am and drive into Arches National Park and stop at the Visitors Center for a multimedia presentation on hiking in the Fiery Furnace. After or introduction, we will then drive into the park with the Fiery Furnace as our destination. The Fiery Furnace is a jumbled maze of Entrada Sandstone fins that includes some of the coolest hiking in the area (literally and physically). We must absolutely stay together as a group. It is EXTREMELY easy to get disoriented and/or lost here due the the maze-like canyons. I will have a handheld GPS that will take us to all of the features that this exciting geologic formation has to offer. From giant plunge basins (dead ends) to arches, and even a small natural bridge, where we'll get an awesome group picture! The hiking here will be challenging, so please be prepared.

We will then picnic in the park and get prepared for another awesome photo experience. Then it's off to Delicate Arch for the sunset. Last year's workshop gave us a full moon. This year we will have a new moon for star trails, the milky way, and some very fun light-painting of Delicate Arch. This will be the most strenuous hike of the workshop, and it is rated moderate. Hiking poles are HIGHLY recommended since we won't have the moonlight helping us along the 2-mile hike back down to the parking lot. Some flashlights will be provided, but it is recommended that you also bring your own.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 (starting at 8:00 a.m. — optional)

Since this is a travel day for most attendees, this excursion is totally optional. As we head north out of Moab on Highway 191, we will take a short detour to some dinosaur tracks that we can walk along. It's on an unpaved road, but the conditions are usually pretty good and can be achieved by a regular passenger car.

WHAT TO BRING

DSLR Camera (with at least one extra battery and charger)
Extra Storage Cards (i.e. SD, CF, etc.).
Laptop computer with a card reader compatible with your camera's storage cards
Comfortable daypack-style camera bag
Light and sturdy tripod
*Wireless Remote Release
Zoom lenses (18mm through 200mm highly recommended; ultra wide zoom, and longer zooms optional)
Appropriate clothing for warm weather hiking
A light rain coat or sweat shirt (for evenings)
Sturdy but comfortable hiking shoes
Comfortable hat to protect your head from the sun
Sunblock
*Walking stick(s)
Water bottles
Flashlight with extra batteries
Snacks and/or energy bars

*Recommended but optional

The weather this time of year can still be pretty warm during the days (90°+), but the nights are much more pleasant.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

50% down ($300) due within 14 days of RSVP. This initial payment is your RSVP and will guarantee your place in the group. Balance due ($299) by September 20, 2013.

IMPORTANT: ALL ATTENDEES/GUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A SIGNED ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM BY SEPTEMBER 12, 2013. DOWNLOAD THE FORM HERE (http://files.meetup.com/3579242/TQL%20Liability%20Waiver.pdf). ALL ATTENDEES WILL ALSO BE COVERED BY A GROUP LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY.

Workshop fee includes all field instruction, critiques, and park entrance fees. All transportation, meals, and lodging are the responsibility of each attendee. The Quiet Light LLC has partnered with the Moab Valley Inn for a discount on lodging for this workshop.

If you have any additional questions, please email me at jharris@thequietlight.com.