Utah Landscape Photography Workshop

Dates: March 20-26, 2027
Fee: $2,395 (Includes transportation and gas)
Deposit: $750 due on registration, balance due January 2027

Limit: 6 participants

Location

Hanksville, Utah

Fee

$2,395

Dates

March 20-26, 2027

Fitness Level

Easy to Moderate

Location Images

View Gallery

This landscape photography workshop is limited to a small group of just six photographers, giving us plenty of time and space to explore, photograph, and learn together.

We will start in Moab, then Hanksville will be our home base for the next 4 nights, we will primarily seek out lesser-known locations away from the crowds of Utah’s national parks. The landscapes here are incredibly varied, with sculpted rock, open desert, subtle textures, and constantly changing light offering plenty of opportunities to create distinctive images.

Late March is a particularly interesting time to explore the Utah desert. The days are becoming longer, temperatures are generally comfortable for being out in the field, and the landscape can look quite different depending on recent weather. We will make the most of whatever conditions we encounter, adapting our plans and compositions to the light and atmosphere.

Beyond composition, the workshop will focus on the finer points of landscape photography and, most importantly, on how to make the most of the opportunities in front of you. Nikhil will share his experience and approach to working with changing light, finding compelling compositions, and adapting your photography to the landscape rather than simply waiting for perfect conditions.

Our days will be built around photography. We will head out early and stay out late to take advantage of the softer, more interesting light at the beginning and end of the day. The longer days of spring give us a little more flexibility, while our schedule will still be centered around the best photographic opportunities.

When time allows, we will have image review sessions in the afternoons. These provide an opportunity to look at your work, discuss ideas, and apply what you are learning while the workshop is still underway. You should return home with plenty of new ideas, a deeper understanding of your own photographic process, and a collection of images you will be happy to add to your portfolio.

Getting Around and Hiking

This is an active photography workshop, and you should be comfortable with some light hiking while carrying your camera gear. Walks may be up to approximately one mile, often over uneven desert terrain.

At most locations there will be options to stay relatively close to the vehicle, but some of the more interesting photographic opportunities require a little extra effort. The short hikes are part of the experience and often lead to quieter viewpoints, unusual perspectives, and compositions that are less easily found from the roadside. We will use a 4x4 SUV to reach some of the more remote areas, allowing us to explore beyond the more accessible locations.

Equipment You Should Bring

We recommend bringing lenses covering approximately 14mm to 400mm equivalent focal lengths, giving you the flexibility to work with both expansive landscapes and more distant details. A sturdy tripod is essential.

A complete gear and packing list will be provided to all participants ahead of the workshop, so you can prepare with confidence and arrive ready to make the most of your time in the field.

Itinerary

The itinerary below provides an outline of the workshop. It may be adjusted as needed to accommodate weather and changing conditions, with the goal of making the most of the photographic opportunities available to us.

March 20 - Arrival in Grand Junction & Orientation

Please plan to fly into Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT) before 1pm. You will be picked up at the airport at 1pm, and we will drive together to our hotel in Moab.

After some time to settle in, we will meet for an orientation and presentation. This introduction will cover some of the key aspects of landscape photography and help prepare you for the types of photographic opportunities we will encounter during the workshop. We will then get together for dinner and have an opportunity to get to know one another before our first full day of photography. Overnight in Moab.

March 21 - Canyonlands National Park

We will start the day early with a sunrise photography session, taking advantage of the first light before spending time exploring and photographing in Canyonlands National Park.

The day will give us an opportunity to work with the expansive landscapes of the area and begin putting some of the ideas from the orientation into practice. Overnight in Moab.

March 22 - From Moab to Hanksville

We will begin with a sunrise shoot near Moab before heading south toward Hanksville, Utah.

Hanksville will be our home base for the remainder of the workshop. Its location gives us convenient access to the diverse landscapes and lesser-known areas we will be exploring over the following days.

After checking in and getting settled, we will head out for an afternoon photography session, giving us our first opportunity to explore the area and work with the afternoon light. Overnight in Hanksville.

March 23-25 - Exploring the Hanksville Area

These three days will form the core of the workshop, with each day centered around making the most of the landscape and the available light.

We will depart early each morning and drive to our sunrise location, arriving before sunrise so that we are ready to photograph as the first light reaches the landscape. Throughout the morning, we will work our way through the area, photographing a variety of subjects—from grand desert landscapes to intricate details and textures in the rock. There will be opportunities to explore different focal lengths, perspectives, and compositions as the light changes.

In the late morning, we will stop for brunch before returning to the hotel for an afternoon break. This will give you time to download your images, review your work, and recharge before heading back out. We will then meet again for a sunset photography session, followed by dinner before returning to the hotel.

While the basic rhythm of these days will remain consistent, the exact locations and shooting opportunities may change according to weather, light, and conditions. Overnight in Hanksville.

March 26 - Final Shoot & Return to Grand Junction

We will begin the final day with a sunrise shoot at a location close to Hanksville, giving us one last opportunity to photograph the landscape before starting our journey back.

We will return to the hotel and check out by 10am. At 11am, we will begin the drive back to Grand Junction, Colorado, arriving at approximately 1:30pm.

You will have the option of being dropped off at the airport or at a hotel in Grand Junction if you are flying out the following day.

If you are flying out of Grand Junction on March 26, please make sure your flight departs after 3:30pm.

Possible overnight in Grand Junction.