PHOTO WORKSHOP - Chiricahuas in Autumn

with Edward McCain
November 4 - 8, 2008
Cost: $1,650

A little known secret about Southeastern Arizona is that it boasts stunning displays of fall color and some of the most dramatic scenery in the state. That’s especially true in the Chiricahua (pronounced "Cheer-ih-cow-wah") Wilderness. On this workshop you’ll visit two of the most scenic areas in the Chiricahuas, first photographing the maples and sycamores of remote Cave Creek Canyon, on the eastern side of the mountains. The picturesque creeks of the Cave Creek corridor boast fantastic fall color, which is what we're hoping to capture.

After two days photographing fall color, you’ll move on to photograph the photogenic volcanic spires and balanced rocks of Chiricahua National Monument. Rock formations there defy imagination and make for visually dynamic images, particularly during the sweet light of sunrise and sunset, when the sheer columns take on a fiery glow.

The fact that Chiricahua National Monument is one of the least known of Arizona's attractions works in our favor, because it means there will be fewer visitors than in other parts of the state, with scenery that is equally as dramatic and awe-inspiring. We'll drive to lookouts with views of Cochise Head, and hike short distances to photograph many of the rhyolitic spires and pinnacles which earn silly but often quite appropriate nicknames like "Duck on a Rock" and more. At sunrise and sunset, the sun drops yellow and orange rays across these formations, while in the distance can be seen the panorama of both sprawling grasslands and neighboring mountain ranges.

BACKGROUND
The Chiricahua Mountain Range is referred to as a "Sky Island" because the mountains tower high above the desert floor and are separated from one another by hotter, low-lying grasslands. From a distance, they look like islands jutting up through a waving, tawny sea. Here can be found, amongst some of the most unusual rock formations imaginable, forests of alligator juniper and piñon pine trees which offer sanctuary to many unique – and at times evolutionarily distinct – species of plants and animals. Visitors from around the world travel to the Sky Islands not only for their biodiversity and magnificent landscapes, but also to enjoy a quiet, scenic getaway in an historic part of the Old West.

WEATHER
Early November is generally dry, with temperatures ranging anywhere from 35° at night to 70° in the afternoons. Please be advised, however, that if there is an unexpected storm we may have to travel extra distances to avoid impassable roads.

Includes:

• RT transportation from Phoenix
• Lodging
• Photographic instruction
• Lunches and snacks
• Entrance fees

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