Death Valley
National Park
Tuition
Coming Soon
Location
Death Valley, USA
Dates
February, 2028
Fitness Level
Moderate
Group Size
Limited to 6
Death Valley Photography Workshop: Light & Landscape
Dunes, Badlands, Salt Flats, Ghost Towns, and Desert Light
February 2028 — Dates Coming Soon.
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Photograph dramatic desert landscapes during sunrise, sunset, and twilight
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Explore sand dunes, salt flats, colorful badlands, Rhyolite Ghost Town, and Racetrack Playa
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Enjoy personal instruction and classroom processing in a group limited to six photographers
Death Valley is a landscape shaped by extremes, where vast salt flats, sculpted sand dunes, rugged mountains, and colorful badlands create extraordinary opportunities for landscape photography. February brings cooler temperatures and beautiful winter light, making it an ideal time to explore and photograph one of America’s most dramatic national parks.
Limited to just six photographers, this workshop will take us from the patterns and shadows of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes to Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, the abandoned structures of Rhyolite Ghost Town, and the remote Racetrack Playa. We'll plan our photography sessions around sunrise, sunset, twilight, and the changing desert light.
Between our time in the field, we’ll hold classroom sessions devoted to image review and post-processing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Randy will work beside you in the field on composition, exposure, filters, and creative landscape techniques, then bring those photographs into the classroom to demonstrate how to develop them into finished images.
With a small group, carefully selected locations, classroom instruction, and time built into the schedule between early-morning and evening shoots, this workshop gives you the opportunity to slow down, study the desert landscape, and create stronger photographs in one of the most remarkable environments in the American West.
Your Instructor
Randy Van Duinen
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, road conditions, local conditions, and other factors.
Monday: Arrival, Orientation and Welcome Dinner
Arrive in Death Valley and check into our hotel. You’ll have time to settle in and explore before we meet in the evening for our workshop orientation and welcome dinner. We’ll discuss the days ahead, photographic goals, and prepare for our first early-morning shoot.
Tuesday: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Sunrise, Classroom Session, Zabriskie Point Sunset
We’ll start before dawn at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, photographing the patterns, textures, and shadows created by the early morning light. After breakfast and some downtime, we’ll meet for our first image review and post-processing session. Late in the afternoon, we’ll head to Zabriskie Point to photograph the colorful badlands through sunset and twilight.
Wednesday: Badwater Basin Sunrise, Death Valley Landscapes, Rhyolite Light Painting
We’ll begin at Badwater Basin, photographing the salt flats and surrounding mountains as morning light moves across the valley. After breakfast, we’ll explore additional locations based on the conditions and available light before returning for an afternoon break. Later, we’ll travel to Rhyolite Ghost Town, photographing the abandoned structures through evening light before finishing with a light painting session after dark.
Thursday: Desert Sunrise, Classroom Session, Racetrack Playa Twilight
We’ll begin with sunrise at a location selected according to the conditions and best available light. After breakfast, we’ll have a classroom session and midday break before traveling by four-wheel-drive vehicles to remote Racetrack Playa. We’ll photograph the playa, surrounding mountains, and famous sailing stones through late-afternoon light, sunset, and twilight.
Friday: Zabriskie Point Sunrise, Image Review and Workshop Wrap-Up
We’ll head out early for our final sunrise at Zabriskie Point, photographing the badlands as the first light reaches the surrounding peaks. After breakfast, we’ll meet for a final image review, post-processing discussion, and workshop wrap-up, concluding around noon.
What Past Workshop Participants Are Saying
Gallery
The Death Valley Experience
Death Valley is a landscape where light, texture, shape, and color can transform dramatically throughout the day. From sweeping sand dunes and vast salt flats to sculpted badlands, rugged mountains, and abandoned structures, the desert provides endless opportunities to explore composition and create powerful landscape photographs.
With only six participants, we’ll have the flexibility to work around weather, road conditions, and the best available light. Randy will work beside you in the field, helping with composition, exposure, filters, long exposures, and creative approaches to photographing the desert landscape.
From Dunes to Salt Flats
Photograph the patterns of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, the salt formations of Badwater Basin, colorful badlands, abandoned structures at Rhyolite, and the remote landscape of Racetrack Playa.
Chasing the Desert Light
Our schedule is built around sunrise, sunset, and twilight, when low-angle light creates dramatic shadows, textures, colors, and shapes across the desert.
Small Group, Personal Instruction
Limited to just six photographers, giving Randy plenty of time to work individually with each participant in the field and during classroom sessions.
Workshop Details
Fitness
Moderate: Participants should be comfortable walking on sand, salt flats, rocky and uneven desert terrain while carrying camera equipment. Some locations may require short hikes, and Racetrack Playa involves travel over a long, rough, unpaved road. We’ll keep hiking distances reasonable and allow time to rest between photography sessions.
Flights
The closest major airport is Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Because Death Valley is several hours from Las Vegas, we recommend arriving at least one day before the workshop begins.
Participants are responsible for transportation to the workshop hotel in Death Valley. Detailed information about the hotel, driving directions, recommended arrival times, and meeting location will be provided approximately 90 days before the workshop.
What to Bring
Please visit our How to Prepare for Your Workshop page for general recommendations on camera equipment, clothing, and travel essentials. A detailed information document will be sent approximately 90 days before the workshop with specific recommendations for photographing in Death Valley, including clothing, footwear, camera gear, and other workshop information.
What’s Included
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Shared lodging during the workshop. Single-room upgrade available for an additional $1,150.
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Daily breakfast and lunch.
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Opening and closing dinners.
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Attraction and entrance fees included in the itinerary.
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London Underground and public transportation used during scheduled workshop activities.
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Photography instruction with Randy Van Duinen and Karen Bengall.
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Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
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Pre-workshop online meeting and post-workshop processing and Q&A session.
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Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
What’s Not Included
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Travel to and from Death Valley
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Transportation from the airport to the workshop hotel
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Meals not specifically included with the workshop
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Alcoholic beverages
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Personal expenses
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Travel medical and trip cancellation insurance
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Anything not specifically listed under What’s Included
Payment Terms
Workshop Tuition: Coming Soon
Registration details, tuition, deposit requirements, and payment dates will be announced when the February 2028 workshop dates are finalized.
Interested in joining us? Add your name to the interest list and be among the first to receive the workshop dates, tuition, and registration information when they are announced.
NOTIFY ME WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS
February 2028 · Limited to 6 photographers
