PHOTO WORKSHOP - Monument Valley & Canyon de Chelly

with Chuck Lawsen . . . April 23-27, 2005

(Emphasis on beginner photography, but all skill levels and formats welcome)

PHOTOGRAPH THE FULL MOON RISING BEHIND THE MITTENS ON THE 23rd.

(Photo by Mark Larson)

with Jeff Kida . . . . . . . . October 11-15, 2005

(Emphasis on advanced digital photography, but all skill levels and formats welcome)

Cost: $1,775

From the moment you enter Monument Valley you'll want to have your camera at the ready. The combination of sinuous sand dunes, gnarled juniper trunks, sweeping vistas and grandiose rock formations can yield photograph after extraordinary photograph. Ancient windswept mesas have eroded here into the narrow buttes and distinctive "monuments" that give this region its name. Bring plenty of film to capture the striking panorama before you. While we're in Monument Valley we may visit the home of a talented weaver as her fingers move swiftly across the warp threads of her loom, skillfully creating a boldly-patterned rug. We'll also explore the arches and other unique formations of Mystery Valley.

Canyon de Chelly offers us quite a different set of photographic challenges. Shooting from the canyon rim into its depths at sunrise and sunset, you'll want to be sure to bring a warming filter and polarizer to make canyon features such as Spider Rock stand out. Within the canyon, it's the fabulous cliff dwellings and petroglyphs that will be our focus, as we stop at First Ruin, Antelope House, Standing Cow Ruin, White House Ruin and more on a day-long tour. The cottonwood and willow trees will provide a bold contrast to the stark pre-Columbian cliff dwellings tucked securely within the towering sandstone walls. After a scenic farewell from the rim of the canyon we'll continue on to Ganado for a stop at Juan Lorenzo Hubbell's active trading post.

DIFFERENCES IN THE WORKSHOPS

Our expectation was that many beginners would want to have a workshop to themselves, where they could get instruction in things like f-stops, shutter speeds and depth of field. That has not come to pass.  So there may not be much of a functional difference after all between the two workshops.  We will analyse the skill levels of all involved before the trips depart, and try to make the most appropriate choices for all involved.

Both workshops will cover artistic vision and composition, and are open to both film and digital photographers.

• RT transportation from Phoenix
• Lodging
• Photographic instruction
• Lunches and snacks
• All tour, entrance & model fees