Capture abstracts at its most creative form within deep canyons and bizarre badlands.
Join us as we explore one of the most otherworldly landscapes on earth, along with a foray of remote and rarely photographed slot canyons in the heart of Utah’s Badlands. We will spend time in the heart of a labyrinth of canyons, enjoying a fully outfitted camping adventure in a remote area of Utah’s backcountry, giving us unprecedented access to some of the most remote slot canyons in the Southwest. On top of plateaus where ancient seabeds now erode away, we will explore areas around Hanksville, where we will enjoy the comfort of a quaint, cozy cabins complete with full bathroom and kitchenette.
GROUP SIZE
8
Participants
2
Instructors
INVESTMENT
$3,595
$1750
Initial Payment
INSTRUCTORS
Nicole
Pino
John
Haymore
FLY TO
Salt Lake City, Utah
EXERTION
Moderate to High
Intensity
What to Expect
The narrow, seldom seen secret slot canyons and otherworldly landscape of the central Utah Badlands will surely blow your mind.
Camping and Cabins
Outfitted camping with Overland trailer and any necessary canyoneering equipment, as well as single-occupancy lodging in comfortable quaint cabins.
Purpose
The small group size ensures your safety while navigating slot canyons with plenty of individual attention and assistance.
Specialized 4x4's
We provide all transportation in our 4x4 vehicles, so no need to worry about driving on the remote, rough roads.
Drone Paradise
The central Utah Badlands offer some of the best locations in the world for drone photography.
Image Processing
Post-processing and image critique sessions are scheduled throughout the workshop to assist in making the most of your images.
Astrophotography
We have timed our excursion to coincide with the new moon cycle, so if skies are clear we will be able to capture the Milky Way over some of our favorite formations!
Itinerary
Our exact itinerary will be kept very flexible to account for changing weather conditions, varying lake levels and group interest. This is simply an example of what you can expect.
Click on each day for details.
Meet in Hanksville, Utah at 1PM on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.
We will have a brief safety orientation and discuss plans for the next couple of days before setting out for sunset. Be sure to eat lunch prior.
Our sunset location will be an intro to this vast area of badlands. The moon-dust soil crunches under foot as we hike out to capture millions of years of erosion and soft abstract patterns.
Logistics
Plan to arrive in Hanksville, Utah prior to 1PM on May 1, 2024.
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The closest international airport is Salt Lake City (appx 3 ½ hour drive). There are municipal airports in both Grand Junction (appx 2 ½ hour drive), or Moab, UT (appx 1 hour 45 min. drive). You will need to rent a car, or take public transportation to Hanksville. Carpooling with fellow participants following a similar schedule could also be an option. The workshop concludes after sunrise and a group breakfast on TBD. Plan your return travel any time that afternoon or evening.
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Meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are provided ONLY during the camping portion of the workshop, otherwise they are at your own expense. Please advise us of any dietary restrictions or food allergies upon booking so we can prepare accordingly.
We are permitted to operate in Hanksville, Utah’s Canyon Country and surrounding areas. A canyoneering professional will be on staff at all times to assist with the slot canyon portion of our adventure. Our instructors are both CPR and Wilderness First Aid certified to ensure your safety and well-being.
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Camping support personnel will take care of all logistics (including meal prep), during the camping portion of the workshop so you can relax and concentrate on your photography.
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All participants should be in good physical condition, free of mobility challenges, balance issues and extreme fear of heights. You will need to be comfortable hiking 2 miles per day during the Badlands shooting and up to 10 miles for slot canyons, over uneven terrain. No mobility or balance issues, as well as be comfortable with, and in proper physical condition to perform light canyoneering maneuvers (i.e. scrambling over obstacles, short, chimneying, and stemming), with assistance from experienced instructors and proper equipment.
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Be prepared for any type of weather. Daytime highs could reach into the 70’s & 80’s with chilly overnights and sunrises. That said, desert weather is very unpredictable, and we could experience strong winds, rain, thunderstorms, and much cooler temperatures.
What’s Included
Fully outfitted camping including meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages while camping.
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3 nights lodging in Hanksville, UT.
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4x4 transportation throughout the workshop.
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Photography guiding and post-processing training.
What’s Not Included
Transportation to and from Hanksville, UT.
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Meals, snacks & beverages during our time in Hanksville (non-camping portion of the workshop).
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Pre/Post workshop accommodations.
Instructor/Staff gratuities.
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Alcoholic beverages.
Accommodations
All camping equipment (tents, pads, sleeping bags, and pillows) are provided during camping days.
All meals during the camping days.
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3 nights single-occupancy lodging in Hanksville, UT is also included in the workshop price.
Recommended Camera Gear
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Mid to lightweight tripod that can be attached to your pack while hiking.
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We recommend bringing two digital SLR or mirrorless camera bodies in case of malfunction, and to avoid excessive lens changes in the dusty desert environment.
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Wide angle len in the 16-35 range or wider, and f2.8 or faster for night photography. You will definitely find use for an ultra-wide, so if you have one, bring it along!
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Mid-range zoom in the 24-70 or 24-105 range.
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Telephoto lens in the 100-400 or 100-500 range.
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Circular polarizing filters for your wide-angle and mid-range lenses. ND filters could be useful for long exposures.
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Drone.
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Cleaning supplies, extra batteries (this is particularly important as our ability to recharge batteries will be limited to when the boat generator is running), and extra memory cards. Don’t forget the battery charger and cords!
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Remote cord for your camera
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Headlamp.
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Weather protection for your gear in the form of a backpack cover.
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Laptop to back up your photos or work on post-processing.
Personal Gear List
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Comfortable backpack for hiking with your camera gear and tripod
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Sturdy hiking footwear. An extra pair of shoes that can get wet (in the event there is water in the canyons).
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Hiking socks and long pants.
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Several changes of clothes.
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Rain jacket and warm fleece underlayers.
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Hat and gloves.
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Water bladder and reusable water bottle(s).
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An extra pair of footwear in the event you get wet and muddy.