Big Bend
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Overview
Big Bend, one of the least-visited national parks, comprises dramatic desert, mountain, and river landscapes that are home to a remarkable variety of desert flora, 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 golden glow of dawn and crimson sunsets.
Join master landscape photographers Jack Dykinga and Justin Black for this late winter workshop in one of the sunniest parts of the United States: southern Texas. On this customized itinerary, explore our favorite locations in the mountains and canyons of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, scouted in advance of the workshop for current conditions to enable us to deliver the most favorable photography instruction and practice.
Jack and Justin will lead eight field sessions making the most of seasonal opportunities. Big Bend National Park alone has over 100 miles of paved road, giving us access to geological wonders and stunning vistas overlooking the largest expanses of roadless public lands in Texas. The remote desert outpost communities outside the park offer an array of fascinating opportunities as well, including old weathered structures like old churches and cafes, as well as some great local cuisine.
Field sessions begin the evening of the first day. During field sessions, 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, panoramic stitching, and focus stacking for unprecedented control of depth of field. Classroom sessions to review and critique your photographs will empower you to improve upon your creative ideas during subsequent outings.
Workshop will be operated under a commercial use authorization issued by Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Itinerary
We will gather for an introduction and orientation session at Chisos Mountain Lodge at 1:00pm on February 21, and will conclude our final image review and critique session at Lajitas Golf Resort by 3:00pm on February 25.
Field sessions begin the evening of February 21. Each day, we’ll be out to photograph first light before breakfast and evening light after dinner. During mid-day hours, Justin will make presentations on light, composition and creativity, digital workflow, and maximizing image potential. Critique sessions will follow before we return to the field for photography in afternoon and evening light. The final field session will be on Friday morning, followed by image review and critique.
Instructors
Jack Dykinga
- Taste life and strive to make a difference.
Justin Black
- "Justin is a model of what every phototour leader should aspire to. Apart from being an excellent photographer, he was a fantastic leader, always available to help with anything, ...
Gallery
Pricing
Double Occupancy $3,180
Single Occupancy $3,950
No Lodging $2,410
PRICING AND OCCUPANCY
All prices are per person.
This workshop is priced for single-occupancy, with pro-rated double occupancy rates for participants traveling together. We are not pairing individual participants who are not traveling together in the same room until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic. If you are an individual traveler please register at the single occupancy rate. If this changes this page will be updated.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
- A 50% deposit is required to register
- 50% balance will be due by December 15, 2020
- All payments are non-refundable unless the workshop is cancelled by Visionary Wild
- Travel insurance is recommended.
All other terms and conditions apply. Please review our terms and conditions even if you have participated in previous Visionary Wild trips so that you are aware of current policies.
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
The workshop package includes eight field sessions, classroom lectures, ample hands-on instruction, image review and critiques, four nights’ lodging (nights of February 21 and 22 at Chisos Mountain Lodge and nights of February 23 and 24 at Lajitas Golf Resort), all meals from dinner on February 21 to lunch on February 25 – including gourmet dining with emphasis on excellent regional dishes – snacks, and drinks. As always, Justin will be present to teach and assist students throughout the workshop.
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
- Scheduled during period of low visitation
- Mastering composition
- Working the scene to capture its essence
- Using various qualities of light to best effect
- Exposure and tonal control
- Panoramic stitching and focus stacking techniques
- 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. 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
COVID-19
We will be providing more detailed information about COVID-19 protocols during this workshop to registered participants, but in general all participants will be required to:
- …use personal or individually rented vehicles to travel to the workshop location, and to drive to field locations during the workshop. Participants traveling to the workshop together may share a common vehicle.
- …respond to a brief health questionnaire within 48 hours prior to the workshop.
- …wear masks at all times when with the group in an indoor setting, except when eating, and when within ten feet of other participants or other people we encounter during the workshop while outdoors.
- …maintain at least a six foot distance from other people throughout the workshop.
- …have their body temperature measured daily.
- …bring hand sanitizer and have it available at all times.
- …notify the instructor and remove themselves from the workshop group if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, a body temperature above 100.4ºF, or if they learn that they or a member of their household has been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case up to 14 days prior to the workshop. Workshop fees will not be refundable if a participant has to exit the workshop for any reason.
We ask that all participants follow the CDC guidelines on protecting yourself and others as well as any state or local guidance in advance of the workshop and while traveling to and from the workshop. If a participant or members of his or her household are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has experienced symptoms of or been diagnosed with COVID-19, she or he will be asked not to attend the workshop.
Big Bend
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