Big Bend
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Overview
Join our deeply engaging and inspirational instructors, Jack Dykinga and Justin Black, in one of the sunniest parts of the United States in winter: southern Texas. We plan to navigate around the high mountains and into the canyons of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park for a customized itinerary to visit locations scouted for the most favorable photography instruction and practice.
Big Bend National Park, one of the least-visited national parks, and Big Bend Ranch State Park comprise desert, mountain, and river landscapes that are home to a remarkable variety of cacti, birds, and reptiles. This region’s layers of mountain ranges within the “bend” of the Rio Grande River make for majestic and breathtaking views to experience first-hand, particularly in the crisp air during crimson sunsets. We will be visiting the parks before spring break, when even these overlooked destinations can get busy.
Jack and Justin will lead eight field sessions to explore the uncountable location options for photography. Big Bend National Park alone has over 100 miles of paved road, giving us access to stunning vistas and geological wonders. At the same time, they won’t get in the way of our photos, since Big Bend also contains the largest expanse of roadless public lands in Texas.
Field sessions begin the evening of the first day. Each day, we’ll be out to photograph during the best morning and evening light, following the daily weather conditions to make the most of opportunities. During mid-day hours, Jack and Justin will make presentations on composition and creativity, light and exposure, digital workflow, and maximizing image potential through post-production. Refreshments and light snacks are provided in the classroom. During field sessions, Jack and Justin will offer hands-on guidance on composition and technique, suggest creative ways to capture the mood and spirit of the place, and provide tips on creative use of aperture, shutter speed, filtration, multiple exposures, exposure blending, and panoramic stitching. Classroom sessions to review and critique your photographs will empower you to revisit and improve upon your creative ideas during subsequent outings. Friday morning will be the final field session, followed by critique until we adjourn at 3:00 pm.
The group size is limited to ten participants, and the package includes the workshop itself from 1:00 pm on February 26 to 3:00 pm on March 2, four nights’ accommodations, all meals, snacks, and drinks (including adult beverages with dinner). The rate for single-occupancy is $4,245; double-occupancy is $3,745 per-participant; for those who do not need lodging arrangements provided, the rate is $3,245.
Workshop will be operated under a commercial use authorization issued by Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Instructors
Jack Dykinga
- Taste life and strive to make a difference. Pulitzer Prize (1971 Feature Photography) winning photographer Jack Dykinga blends fine art photography with documentary photojournalism. He is a regular contributor to ...
Justin Black
- JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer, writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers (ILCW), a former executive director of the International ...
Gallery
Pricing
Highlights
- Two of the Southwest’s most visually spectacular parks: Bed Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
- Eight field photography sessions, morning and evening
- Timed during period of lower visitor count
- Composition
- Working the scene to capture its essence
- Using various qualities of light to best effect
- Exposure and tonal control
- Essentials of digital workflow
- Optimizing images in post-processing
- Three constructive group critique sessions
- Packaged with single-occupancy lodging, all meals and beverages
- Accommodations at two highly-rated hotels with meeting rooms
Accommodations
We meet at Chisos Mountains Lodge located in the center of Big Bend National Park to stay from Monday to Wednesday morning. Our group has Casa Grande rooms reserved together, all of which will be on the ground floor. This lodge is in an ideal location to spend time in and around the mountains of the national park; Lajitas Golf Resort in Lajitas, TX – a very comfortable hotel tucked away in the rugged desert landscape – will be our basecamp and indoor classroom from Wednesday to Friday and offers different locations for field sessions as it is located between the national park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. All rooms are Officer’s Quarters Jr. Suite rooms, which include a king bed, superior furnishings, and some of the most desirable views in the resort.
Travel
Expectations
Jack and Justin will make any enthusiastic photographer will feel right at home in this workshop. They are both very experienced photo leaders and often lead Visionary Wild workshops in tandem. From critique sessions to field drives to sharing meals together, the atmosphere is friendly, open, and noncompetitive. Jack and Justin easily foster an environment where learning, purpose, and camaraderie are strongly valued. We also supply materials in advance of the session to make sure all participants are prepared to get the most out of the experience.
Big Bend
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