Erin Babnik is known internationally as a leading photographic artist, educator, author, and speaker. She is honored to be a Canon Explorer of Light, an f-stop gear Global ICON, and a brand ambassador for numerous companies in photo-related industries. Erin’s enthusiastic support of creative photography expressed in her articles and talks has made her one of the most highly requested speakers among the current generation of landscape photographers. She brings this joy of discussion and encouragement to interactions with her workshop participants, offering a unique dimension to the workshop experience. Her work has appeared in well over a hundred publications, including books, magazines, and travel guides. Erin is also a member of the illustrious nature photography team Photo Cascadia.

IN-PERSON PROGRAM

February 28:

We will begin our trip on February 28 at 2:30pm with an outdoor rendezvous in the Furnace Creek area. The location will be revealed during the virtual orientation (on Wednesday, February 28). Following a short round of introductions, we will depart for a sunset outing.

March 1-5:

Each of these days will included sunrise and sunset outings, with possible midday outings dependent upon conditions. Each day will be its own adventure with as much photography as we can pack in and covering as much ground as is possible. Some days may involve more driving than others, with some destinations requiring a drive of up to two hours each way.

March 6:

We will conclude the workshop with a sunrise outing and will say our farewells outdoors. Further instructions for the virtual post-processing seminar (to be held on Wednesday, March 10) will be discussed at the end of the outing.

VIRTUAL SEMINARS (VIA ZOOM)

February 24:

At 6pm Pacific we will meet as a group via Zoom for an orientation and introductory seminar on composition and creativity. Special accommodation will be made for anyone who is unable to attend this seminar, but it is highly recommended that you attend with the group. Please inform Erin as early as possible if you will need to make other arrangements.

March 10:

At 6pm Pacific we will meet as a group for a seminar on post-processing visualization and techniques. Programs used will include Lightroom and Photoshop. There will be no make-up session available for this seminar, but the schedule could be adjusted by unanimous consent of the group.

Airports:

• The nearest airport is in Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport (LAS) is about two hours away from Furnace Creek, where the workshop will begin and end.

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about five hours away from Furnace Creek.

Rental Cars:

Many options are available for renting a vehicle of any kind from either airport listed above. Any car will be sufficient for most of our outings, but a vehicle with higher clearance will make driving easier on some dirt roads. A vehicle with AWD or 4×4 is not necessary but is always recommendable in remote areas. Because we have many options on any given day, we will consider a road requiring AWD only if there are enough capable vehicles in the group.

Hotels:

We have a block reserved at the Ranch at The Oasis at Death Valley in Furnace Creek for February 27–March 6 (7 nights) at the rate of $175 per night before taxes and fees for a room with two queen beds. Registered participants will receive the block code.

Camping:

The weather is usually quite comfortable for camping in Death Valley during this time of the year. It can be very windy sometimes, but the temperatures are usually quite nice. My favorite campground, Texas Spring, is a first-come, first-serve campground. If you get there in the morning around 9-10am, you can usually score a nice spot, even on busy days. Furnace Creek Campground is my next favorite, and it takes reservations in advance online and by phone. There are also options for backcountry camping nearby if your vehicle has at least 9 inches of clearance (no 4WD necessary, but somewhat high clearance is). Showers are available for $10 per person at the Furnace Creek Resort.

Your Camera.  You can choose to use any camera you like, but a digital camera with full manual control and interchangeable lenses is highly recommended in order for you to have the best experience.

Lenses.   There are opportunities to use any and all focal lengths, so bring a good range of them.

Tripod.   A tripod is essential for low-light stills and for timelapse photography.

Filters.   Polarizing or neutral density filters can be very useful, but it is possible to get great results without them. Having a UV filter can be handy to protect the front element of a lens in high winds.

Other photography gear. Several batteries, plenty of memory, a remote trigger, lens cleaning supplies. Some people prefer to use a rain cover on their camera to protect against dust in windy conditions, but other people find flapping covers to be more trouble than they are worth in high winds.

(Optional) Laptop. If you would like to follow along or take notes during the two processing sessions, then you may want to have your laptop with you.

Clothing & shoes.   Weather conditions in Death Valley can vary a lot, but temperatures in early December are usually quite comfortable. The coldest temperatures could drop close to freezing before sunrise, and in the Furnace Creek area we could see afternoon temperatures reaching into the mid-70’s. Bring insulating layers: layers for warmth such as fleece and down, in addition to lightweight clothing that breathes well in hot weather. A shell jacket and hiking pants will help to protect against the elements as well. Good hiking boots are advised, along with a sun hat for midday periods and gloves to make you comfortable during frosty mornings.

*FACE MASK*

Willingness to learn and discover.

Hiking on this workshop will be minimal. Some locations may require a hike of a little more than one mile, but most are not far from a parking area. The most strenuous hikes will be those that we do to photograph sand dunes. These hikes will still be about one mile out, but walking on sand dunes is relatively strenuous compared to most other outings.

While adventure and great photos are our main goals, your safety is a priority. Erin is certified by Wilderness Medical Associates as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), but safety begins with you. In order for participants to have a comfortable experience where they can concentrate on the photography, it is highly advised that you have proper attire consisting of non-cotton outdoor dedicated clothing, including an assortment of layers to keep you warm.

PANDEMIC AWARENESS

Please be prepared to wear a face mask at all times when social distancing cannot be maintained. If you feel as though this requirement will be difficult or impossible for you to meet, then you are welcome to join me at a later date when such precautions are no longer necessary.

Due to the risks associated with enclosed spaces, all participants are encouraged to drive in their own vehicles rather than carpooling. If you do choose to carpool with people who live outside of your household, then please wear masks and keep the vehicle’s windows open while occupying it.

Please be prepared to step away from your tripod when you want Erin to view your camera’s LCD to give you feedback in the field. After you step away to a safe distance, Erin will look at your screen, and you are welcome to return to your tripod afterwards. You may also email or airdrop images to Erin for virtual consultation at any point during the workshop.

INCLUDED:

• Tuition

• In-field instruction on the art and craft of fine-art landscape photography.

• A program of two virtual seminars.

• Virtual image consultation at any time during the workshop.

• Guidance to unique photography locations.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights and transportation.

• Lodging.

• Meals.

• Park entrance fees.

• Travel and cancellation insurance.

COST: $1895 ($550 deposit)

PAYMENT: Payment may be made using a credit card or via PayPal directly through this web page using the sign-up button in the right column. A non-refundable deposit of $550 will reserve your spot in this workshop. The final balance of $1345 is due by Monday, February 15, 2021.

INDEMNITY WAIVER: All participants are required to sign a standard workshop indemnity waiver: here.

CANCELLATIONS: Deposits are non-refundable. Cancellations require us to re-open enrollment and/or to engage in additional promotional efforts to fill the workshop on short notice, so our policy is that there will be no refunds on the final balance after Monday, February 15, 2021, with one exception: if we find another participant to fill your space and the workshop is ultimately full when it begins, then you will receive a refund of your final balance, (the deposit is non-refundable). All refunds are subject to a 4% processing fee. We highly recommend that you obtain travel/cancellation insurance for all workshops.

Use the sign-up button on this page (in the right side column) to place a deposit with a Credit Card or via PayPal. If you would like to pay by another method, use the contact form on this page to ask Erin about options for sending a personal check or bank transfer.