The summer monsoon season is one of our favorite times of the year in Sedona. Every day, moisture from Old Mexico is drawn north, and the skies progress through a series of ever-more photogenic stages of thunderstorm development. Billowing white clouds turn dark & dramatic and often clear again giving participants the opportunity to shoot rainbows, rain squalls, lightning & otherworldly water vapor-filtered sunset light.
Combine this with the legendary vistas of Red Rock Country plus amazing & intimate locations along Oak Creek and West Fork—filled with vibrant summer greens, reflecting pools and waterfalls—and a good chance at shooting the full moon rising amongst sunset-lit red rocks . . . and you have a photographic adventure of the highest order.
We hope you'll join us. Sedona's sunrises and sunsets are legendary; the summer foliage electric green, the weather ("it's a dry heat!") comfortable for long sessions; the town, with its accomodations and restaurants, friendly and welcoming.
Over three days, we'll visit the most iconic locations
in Sedona: red rock vistas like Cathedral Rock,
Coffee Pot Rock & Schnebly Hill; waterfalls & reflections
along spectacular Oak Creek; the unparalleled beauty of Sedona's
West Fork Trail; the Sinaguan ruins at Palatki; and the rising full moon on the first evening of the workshop.
Kim &
Derek will guide students to the very best compositional perspectives
and provide nuanced technical tips specifically related to the
challenges posed by the wide variety of photo opportunities
available in Sedona. We'll shoot flowing water, employing the
longer shutter speeds necessary to obtain the classic 'silky'
water effect! As they capture world-class photographs, students
will gain technical mastery of their cameras, see compositions
in new ways and begin to understand the spiritual connection
between themselves and the landscape.
Transportation
& Itinerary
This is
one of our most reasonably-priced and flexible workshops. Unlike
most of our guided expeditions where lodging is provided as
part of the workshop fee, being centrally located in Sedona
gives participants the opportunity to book their own lodging
at a variety of world-class resorts. We will provide transportation
for those who desire it and would like to eschew a car rental, but you also have the option to drive yourself.
Our workshop fee is less and you have the freedom to choose
your own accommodations. You can even camp if that works
for you!!
This is our home turf and we'll make sure that you
go home with amazing photographs. This is also a more relaxed
workshop with less traveling and more time for leisurely meals
and rest without sacrificing any photo opps!
Day 1 - Friday, August 10
The workshop begins at sunrise, meeting in Sedona and driving to Slide Rock State Park where we'll capture waterfalls & reflecting pools.
With breaks for breakfast & lunch, we'll spend time on Schnebly Hill mid-morning and likely spend the afternoon shooting along Oak Creek.
The sunset hours will find us along Upper Red Rock Loop Road poised to capture forty-five full minutes of sunset-hued red rock vistas with a rising full moon!
Day 2 - Saturday, August 11
We'll meet early and drive to the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon where we'll shoot electric green summer foliage and towering sandstone canyon walls that frame this amazing creekside trail.
After our late breakfast, we'll spend the mid-day shooting the Palatki Native American ruins and petroglyphs inside Red Canyon.
At sunset, we'll head to Red Rock Crossing, taking adavantage of the many varied creek and red rock perspectives.
Day 3 - Sunday, August 12
Early & mid-morning we'll shoot again along Oak Creek. With the wide variety of photo opportunities, we will likely return to either Slide Rock or West Fork. We'll pause for breakfast and students will help decide where our mid-day shoots will be.
Participants needing to make transportation connections will have the option of leaving anytime during
the day at their convenience.
We'll spend our sunset session photographing one of a variety of red rock vistas depending on light and sky conditions.
What's
Included (and what's not!)
Unlike
most of our guided expeditions where lodging is provided
as part of the price, this workshop gives participants the
opportunity to book their own lodging at a variety of world-class
Sedona resorts. The workshop fees reflect this. We will,
of course, provide transportation for those who desire it
and would like to eschew a car rental for four days, but
you'll also have the option to drive yourself.
While
some early morning and mid-day snacks (yogurt, breakfast bars,
trail mix, etc) and water will be provided to tide you over
on our long days, all formal meals and drinks are the responsibility
of participants.
We think
the optimal way to travel to Sedona for our workshops is to
utilize the Sedona-Phoenix
Shuttle, especially for those wishing to save
on car rentals. It's inexpensive, convenient, fast, but it's
also not included in the workshop price!!
Baggage & Camera Gear (Very
Important!)
On most
trips, we accommodate participants with three pieces of luggage,
specifically one sturdy camera backpack (with tripod carrier!),
a second pack for computers, chargers, extra batteries, lenses,
etc, and one large duffel bag ( maximum size, no exceptions:
36"L x 20"W x 20"H) or a similarly-sized suitcase.
Room for gear is limited in our 4x4 SUVs & you will be held
responsible for adhering to these baggage requirements. Should
you exceed these requirements, you will have to make your own
arrangements in Sedona to store your extra gear.
Participant's Physical Fitness
Requirements
As there
is always an element of risk in any adventure associated with
the outdoors, participants must be physically fit and capable
of participating in outdoor photography in field locations and
aware of any associated risks created by field locations and
weather. Workshop instructors will take considerable time to
familiarize participants with safety precautions, almost to
a fault. It will be the responsibility of each participant to
listen and follow precautions carefully. Your safety is our
#1 priority and if necessary insuring your safety will take
precedence over ruffled feathers!!
All participants
are required to provide on our Registration
form current and accurate medical information.
Where applicable, participants will be required to provide medical
release forms from their supervising physicians to participate
in the outdoor physical activities associated with workshop
photography.
Policies
Southwest Perspectives Photographic Workshops, Derek von Briesen, Kim Hoshal, all guides, and cooperating agents aim to provide every participant a safe, educational, and enjoyable experience. We act solely as agents for you regarding accommodations, special activities, and travel, by any means, and assume no liability for any act, error, omission, injury, loss, delay, mishap, or damage to persons or property arising from any cause during the course of the workshop or in transit thereto.
We can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in the services to be provided. We reserve the right to change our arrangements should conditions necessitate, or to cancel any aspect of the workshop due to exceptional circumstances.
In the event that we deem it necessary to cancel the workshop we will provide a full refund which the participant(s) acknowledges as full and final settlement. In the event of a workshop cancellation airline tickets, car rentals and hotel reservations associated with participation in this workshop will not be refunded. We recommend you purchase refundable airline tickets and make refundable car and hotel reservations. We strongly advise purchasing some form of trip insurance. We also recommend you carry travel and camera equipment insurance.
At the time of Registration, a 50% deposit is required. Payment in full must be made thirty days prior to the workshop. In the event that a participant cancels their workshop reservation, the cancellation must be at least sixty days prior to the workshop to receive a full refund. Cancellations less than sixty days prior to the workshop will be subject to $100 lost booking fee.
As there is always an element of risk in any adventure associated with the outdoors, participants must read the liability release form carefully. Participant's signed/dated release will certify that said participant is physically fit and capable of participating in outdoor photography exercises in field locations, and is fully and completely aware of any associated risks created by field locations and weather.
Meeting times, meeting places and itinerary are subject to changes dictated by the weather, the road conditions and other imponderable variables that are part of doing landscape photography. We will be carrying cell phones but reception is not always possible. You are responsible for being at the meeting place at the designated time and have your photographic & camping equipment with you.
