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Valley of Fire

with Jeff Foott, Justin Black
March 11 - 15, 2013 Creative Core
Limited to 10 Participants. From $2,250  
Closed
  • Overview
  • Instructors
  • Gallery
  • Pricing
  • Highlights
  • Accommodations
  • Travel

Overview

Nevada’s Valley of Fire derives its name from the firelight glow of red sandstone formations reflecting the sun’s magic-hour rays. Swirling “wave” formations, majestic arches, wind-eroded pocket caves, water-polished slot canyons, layered beehives, hoodoos, and layered ridges catching sunset like flickering flames are among the incredible array of landforms here. The color of the rock ranges from oranges, yellows, and pinks to magenta and blue.  Mesozoic petrified trees and cryptic petroglyphs left behind by ancient cultures are found at several sites around the park. It’s the southwest in microcosm, conveniently located just an hour from Las Vegas.

This workshop is a camping trip limited to a small group of ten. Our base camp right in the middle of the landscape will allow us to focus on photography in the field, making the most of the potential of the place. Instructors Jeff Foott and Justin Black will lead the group on photo excursions to capture the best morning and evening light. During mid-day hours, the group will head into slot canyons and other sheltered areas to photograph in the warm glow reflected from the colorful stone. Jeff and Justin will guide participants through the process of conceiving, planning, and creating inspired photographs among the wind-chiseled, swirling formations.

There will be plenty of time in the field for personalized instruction, discussion, and Q&A. Back in camp each evening, we will gather to review and critique the day’s images on our laptops. Those who are interested can even take advantage of the clear desert air to photograph by moonlight.

Click “read more” below right for the image gallery and Jeff Foott’s thoughts on Valley of Fire:

Jaw-dropping moments are something I’ve had more than my fair share of during my long career as a nature photographer and cinematographer. In Nepal, I once had a wild tiger unexpectedly leap from camouflaged cover no more than twelve feet away from me. In Botswana, an angry mother elephant nearly flipped my open Land Rover with her tusks. And, I’m sure I’ve experienced whichever emotion it is that arises beyond “elation,” when the full moon began to rise unexpectedly into the perfect place in my composition as I photographed the warm afterglow of dusk on the red rock of Utah’s Castle Rock Spire.

But one year, suffering from spring fever, I decided to explore Valley of Fire. I had driven past the park countless times, uninspired by the dull brown rock visible along the highway. Valley of Fire is one of the first places to warm up in the spring, though, so off I went.  As I ventured into the main part of the park for the first time, the sculpted and faceted multi-colored sandstone landscape before me surpassed my wildest expectations. Over the next few days, I hiked most of the main drainages looking for color and design. Some of the best was within a hundred yards of the road, some a mile or two back, but exquisite compositions were everywhere. It was reminiscent of Coyote Buttes in some spots, complete with its own “wave” except many times more colorful. As if the beautiful rock designs were not enough, big horn sheep and ancient petroglyphs are commonplace. For a place that appears from the road to be an underwhelming state park, Valley of Fire reveals itself as one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. –Jeff Foott

 

Instructors

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    • Jeff Foott

    • Having had the good fortune to work and play in nature most of my early life, it became obvious to me I had to spend my life outside. ...
    • Justin Black

    • JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer, writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers (ILCW), and a former executive director of the ...

Gallery

Pricing

Double Occupancy $0 (Limited)

No Lodging $2,250 (Limited)

Proceed

Highlights

  • More than a dozen photography sessions with guiding and instruction by Jeff Foott and Justin Black throughout.
  • Emphasis on refining composition and stimulating creativity
  • Working the scene through changing conditions and light
  • Understanding and using various qualities of light to best effect
  • Control of digital exposure and dynamic range
  • Embracing the Time Factor – long exposures, motion blur, time-lapse, and multiple exposures
  • Stitching for high resolution and panoramas
  • Focal plane and perspective control and use of tilt-shift lenses
  • Digital workflow for the photographer in the field
  • Photography at night, including time-lapse and star trails
  • Our camp is strategically positioned to access a range of awe-inspiring landscape opportunities within easy driving and hiking range
  • Excellent catering by our camp staff
  • The great outdoors, crisp desert air, camaraderie, and a lot of fun!

Accommodations

Our basecamp is perfectly located to maximize our photographic opportunities. Available amenities include hot showers and modern restrooms, a camp headquarters RV that we will use for recharging camera batteries and laptops, and catering by backcountry chef Tracy Terzian. The camp will accommodate tents or pickup campers, and an RV campground is nearby. We will happily arrange tents, sleeping bags, and comfortable sleeping pads for those who need them.

Travel

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Las Vegas (LAS) McCarran International is the closest airport, offering an excellent array of flights.
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Valley of Fire is a little over an hour's drive from Las Vegas. Directions can be found here: http://goo.gl/maps/Ktnh6 . Within Valley of Fire State Park, we will carpool to locations and trailheads.
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Hikes will be easy, ranging from a few feet to up to a mile or so each way.
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Temperatures in March range from a high around 70ºF to a low around 50ºF. The chance of precipitation is small, though March may deliver some clouds to complete landscape compositions.

Valley of Fire

with Jeff Foott, Justin Black
March 11 - 15, 2013 Creative Core
Limited to 10 Participants. From $2,250  
Closed

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