Arches at Night Photo Workshop

Moab, UT 84532, USA

RL
Rock Light Photo
  • Email address verified
9 reviews
Jun 4 - 8, 2024
Group size: 1 - 8
Arches at Night Photo Workshop
Moab, UT 84532, USA

Rock Light Photo
  • Email address verified
9 reviews

Jun 4 - 8, 2024
Group size: 1 - 8

About this trip

Arches National Park has been designated as an official International Dark Sky Park.  Spend 4 nights photographing the Milky Way against a wide variety of fascinating rock formations, including the largest collection of natural arches in the world.  


We will visit a wide variety of great locations in Arches National Park, as well as a couple of locations outside the park, including Canyonlands National Park.  The workshop will include classroom work to better your photographic craft, including time to process and critique your images.  We will shoot each evening into late at night as weather allows, with a few hours each day dedicated to classroom instruction and image processing.  We will end the workshop with a group slide show and critique. 

About the workshop leader

Colin is an award-winning photographer who has spent the past several years exploring the red rock Canyonlands of Southern Utah and the mountains of Colorado.  As a part time resident of Moab since 2011, he has spent several weeks a year exploring the photographic riches in and around Moab in every season, and has been leading workshops and tours in the area for several years as the founder of Rock Light Photo Tours.  He is a certified and insured photography travel guide in nearby Arches, Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands national parks. 

Field lessons include

- Capturing the Milky Way with your digital camera

- Techniques and gadgets for better Milky Way photography

- Making your red rock sunset images pop

- Determining proper exposure
- Capturing great images in challenging lighting conditions

- Analyzing a scene for compositional options

- Using filters to improve artistic results

Classroom instruction

- Adobe Lightroom workflow for getting the most from your images

- Post processing for Milky Way photography

- Stacking images to reduce noise 

- Creating composite images with layer masking

- Techniques for creating star trails images

- Photographic techniques for shooting the red rock sandstone of the Colorado Plateau

Other Considerations

Skills Needed:

All skill levels are welcome.  Participants who have a good working knowledge of their cameras, and basic understanding of digital workflow and knowledge or exposure to Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom will get the most from this workshop. 


Physical Demands:

Though locations visited during this workshop are readily accessible, the hilly terrain requires some moderate hiking (typically less than 3 miles round trip). Participants MUST be in good physical shape and able to climb and descend moderate to steep inclines. They should wear sturdy boots and use caution on slippery and rocky slopes.  As this is a night workshop, we will be shooting late at night, sometimes into the wee hours of morning. 


Group Size:

Maximum 8 photographers.  Note: This workshop usually sells out quickly!

Lodging Options

Accommodations are available in one of our luxury vacation rental properties just 10 min. south of Moab, Utah, each with a private hot tub and a fully equipped kitchen, which will be a great base of operations for visiting Arches National Park other locations in and around Moab and Castle Valley.   One of the two properties will be the home base for the workshop, giving us a place to  gather for classroom sessions, a kitchen to use for meals, and a chance  to mingle with and learn from your fellow photographers.  Prices shown do not include local taxes.

  • Private bedroom (King bed, pvt bath (3 avail): $140/night single occ, $165/night dbl occ.
  • Private bedroom (Queen bed, pvt bath (0 avail): $125/night - $150/nt dbl Occ (1 Queen, 1 full)
  • Private Bedroom (King bed, shared bath (0 avail): $110/night - $135/nt dbl occ.
  • Private bedroom (full bed, shared bath(0 avail): $90/night - $125/night dbl occ (2 full beds)

Please be sure to request one of the lodging options above when booking if desired.  Payment taken separately.  contact colin@Lightandphoto.com with questions.

Workshop Details

Registration fee: $1065 per person (includes 6.85% Utah services tax)

Deposit to reserve a date: $300


Dates and Times

Workshop begins Tuesday, June 4th at 4pm, and ends Saturday, June 8th at Noon.

 

Non-photographer/tag-along rate: $500 - for a spouse/partner/friend who wants to come along, eat meals with the group, and travel to some of our shooting locations.  Note there is a double occupancy rate for the lodging options at the vacation rental properties.


Where to Meet

Participants will gather and be based at the Red Rock Garden vacation rental property in Moab, Utah.   Directions and details will be sent well in advance of the workshop.

What to Bring

 What to bring:

  • ·         A digital SLR or mirrorless camera capable of manual exposure settings.  Due to the short time frame of the workshop.
  • ·         Plan to bring all of your lenses, from 14mm to 200mm(full frame equiv.), as the variety of daytime locations for sunsets will put all your gear to work!  A wide angle lens capable of an aperture of f/2.8 or lower is best for capturing the Milky Way.  Consider renting a lens if you don’t own one.
  • ·         A sturdy tripod 
  • ·         A circular polarizer filter, while not required, can be a useful tool for controlling glare and reflections for the sunset shoots. NOTE: Colin is a rep for NiSi Filters, which makes an excellent circular polarizer filter, and he can get you a 15% discount off retail prices.  https://nisiopticsusa.com/shop/nisi-circular-filters/round-cpl-circular-polarizer-filter/ti-enhanced-cpl/
  • ·         Hiking boots or other sturdy shoes: while the hikes to locations we will visit will be fairly short (typically less than 1-3 miles round trip) a good set of sturdy hiking boots is good for protecting the ankles on rocky trails and slippery rocks.
  • ·         Lots of clothing layers – Moab weather can be finicky, and temps can be chilly at night in the desert, and much warmer during the day.
  • ·         A headlamp, preferably with a red light setting, to participate in optional night photo sessions.  A dimmable headlamp is a bonus.
  • ·         Your own method of transportation.  We will carpool to locations as possible, so not everyone needs to drive every day.
  • ·         A laptop computer, ideally loaded with Adobe Lightroom Classic, to best take advantage of the Lightroom workflow instructional session.  Cables and devices necessary to download your images from camera to laptop.

What’s included

  • Sales Tax
    6.85% Utah services tax
  • Photography instruction
    classroom and on-site instruction on capturing the Milky Way and processing your images.

What’s not included

  • Airfare
    round trip airfare not included
  • local transportation
    We will carpool as possible, but access to a vehicle while you are in town is suggested
  • meals
    We will eat some meals as a group at restaurants in Moab, but all meals are the responsibility of the student
  • Lodging
    Housing options are available as an add-on

Available Packages

Workshop Registration Fee

Registration fee for the June 4-8, 2024 Arches at Night photo workshop, including all applicable local taxes. (does not include housing or transportation)

$1,065
Deposit:$300
Non-photographer companion

For a spouse/partner/friend who wants to come along, eat meals with the group, and travel to some of our shooting locations as an observer.  Note there is a double occupancy rate for the lodging options at the vacation rental properties.  

$400
Deposit:$200


Your Organizer


RL
Rock Light Photo
9 reviews
Professional photographer Colin D. Young offers 4-6 multi-day immersive photography workshops in various locations generally centered around U.S. National parks, with an emphasis on the national parks of Colorado and Utah. He is a certified and insured photo tour guide in Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Parks.

Reviews

It was a good trip. Colin was very good at leading us to locations most apt to having the best color. I look forward to joining him on future photo tours.
By bill r for San Juans Fall Color Photo Workshop on Oct 17, 2024
I had a great workshop with Colin in the San Juan Mountains. He knows the area so well and is a great instructor for photographers of all levels.
By Marcus S for San Juans Fall Color Photo Workshop on Oct 09, 2024
This is my third workshop with Rock Light Photo tours and likely won't be my last! Colin was joined by Byran Haile (another excellent Moab photographer) on this workshop, and what a great combo it was! We were taken to remote locations where the skies were super dark and the conditions were perfect. Getting to these locations was also super fun! There was ample downtime during the day to process images or go for walks in and around Moab, or into Arches NP. Colin was on hand each day for assistance with Lightroom or Photoshop editing. I feel lucky to have joined the first Moab: Secrets of the Night Sky workshop and I hope it becomes a regular on the Rock Light Photography's website. Robin K.
By Robin K for Moab Secrets of the Night Sky on Sep 18, 2024
This was my first workshop with Colin (Rock Light Photo), and it was absolutely fantastic. Loved that we got to stay in an AirBnB as a group when available, it afforded many opportunities to collaborate and learn from the other workshop attendees as well as from Colin. We had some weather struggles on this trip, particularly on the coast, but Colin helped us expand our skillsets and pushed us to see the beauty available regardless. Crater Lake is unreal, and staying in the park maximized our opportunities for beautiful sights, including some lovely nights under the Milky Way, which was visible to the naked eye. Colin did a great job scouting locations for us in advance, so we were able to maximize the night sky. I am definitely already making plans to attend, potentially one more trip in 2024, and definitely at least one in 2025. Thank you Colin, this trip was a treasure.
By Bradley P for Crater Lake and the Oregon Coast on Aug 18, 2024
This was my third trip with Colin and arguably the most interesting given the diversity of locations, experiences and camaraderie of the course participants. The weather on the coast only partially cooperated, yet Colin was able to ensure the team stayed engaged and active, no easy feat when we were looking for images of the Milky Way and sunlit sea-stacks. As we moved to Crater Lake looking for Milky Way opportunities during unpredictable wildfires, fog and smoke, Colin came through finding opportunities where a normal instructor might have tossed in the towel. Colin's creative use of AirB&B houses and National Park Lodging allowed for multiple interactions amongst the participants and encouraging impromptu discussions and "sharing sessions" As an instructor Colin is a natural teacher as he can quickly assess the students' needs, skills and personality traits allowing for high degree of personal attention in a group setting. This is not something that typically comes naturally, yet it appeared to be quite natural for Colin. I eagerly look forward to my fourth course (I have already secured my spouse's permission for trips in 2025 and 2026 - Did I mention Iceland???? LoL) with Colin (and Niki) in 2025! As a final thought, for those looking for a genuine bargain, Colin's courses are extraordinary and under priced. Justin
By justin D for Crater Lake and the Oregon Coast on Aug 17, 2024
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References

QD
I have been out with Collin for quiet a few times to capture the moments of nature with cameras. I enjoyed all of the trips. The beauty and grandeur of those places often captured my mind, as I was capturing their images. Photography is about capture the right light at right moments and right places. Colin is a career professional light expert, and has a keen sense and splendid knowledge about light. He helped almost every participant in his workshops to get high quality images. I have about 50 years of experience in photography, and I still learn something new in each Colin’s workshop. I plan to attend more Collin’s workshops.
By Quan D on 18 Dec, 2023
JB
I attended Colin's Arches and Canyonlands workshop in March of 2023 and it was a fantastic experience. Colin knew the area well and took us to all the best spots at the right times. He was friendly and personable and I would recommend him to anyone interested in landscape photography. Our group had photographers with greatly varying levels of skill and experience and Colin was excellent at meeting their often different needs. This was my first time doing a photography workshop but it definitely won't be my last.
By Jerry B on 04 Dec, 2023
My first workshop with Rock Light Photo hooked me! The trip was well-organized, well-planned, had good fellow guests, and solid leadership from Colin Young. There was a strong sense of camaraderie and fun, heightened by most of us staying in the same rental house. We visited a lot of sites in Bryce Canyon, and since I'd never been, it was really eye-opening and fun. Colin organized things well, but not too much, and was responsive to the group's varying skill levels and energy. I've done several more photo workshops with Rock Light Photo in different places and consistently enjoyed myself, learned a lot about many aspects of photography, and gotten great images. I'd strongly recommend Rock Light Photo for photographers with a range of experience - you'll also have fun, grow as an artist, and create great photos.
By D H on 02 Nov, 2023