Capture The Red Magic Of Moab
a nature photography experience in MOAB, UTAH
MAY 16-19, 2019
the power of moab
Moab... a massive and magical place, exploding with staggering beauty right out of the heart of the United States. It is one of the most wildly unique and visually stunning areas on Planet Earth. With its special sandstone terrain and red rock formations spread over tens of thousands of acres, Moab's astounding red glow calls to inspire and reinspire nature lovers and photographers of all levels.
The area where an entire ocean evaporated 300 million years ago, today Moab is the most condensed area of natural sandstone arches in the world (over 2,000, to be exact!).
WHO THIS TRIP IS FOR
If you have a passion for photography and nature, and don't know what to do with it or where to take it, this expedition is an experience that has been waiting for you.
Let the power of Moab's arches, bizarre geological formations and dark night sky ignite your passion for photography and deepen your connection to nature.
This photo expedition is for people who want to immerse themselves in the natural wonder of the world and capture their experience with their cameras, learning how to express the incredible connection we can have with nature.
This expedition is open to ALL levels of photographers looking for the EXPERIENCE of connecting to nature, and the photography skills to better translate that feeling (and their message) through their images.
Still not sure if this trip is for you? Need a little more inspiration?
You've got it. Shoot us your email address, and we'll send you some special updates to help ignite your spark...
ITINERARY
Day 1 - ARRIVAL, ORIENTATION, ARCHES national park
We will pick up all participants at the Moab airport (CNY). Participants coming from other locations may simply meet us at the hotel at 2 p.m., which will be orientation time.
At 2 p.m., we will gather in the hotel's meeting room for introductions and a review of the next few days. We will go over photography concepts, techniques and tips for shooting over the next few days, and then there will be time for a break before we depart for afternoon and sunset shooting in the field.
We will take the short drive to Arches National Park and begin our hike to Delicate Arch for sunset captures. We will eat a picnic style dinner at Delicate and then, time-permitting, head to Garden of Eden and/or Double Arch for some night photography shots. If conditions warrant, we may either stay at Garden of Eden, Double or Delicate for Milky Way shots, depending on Milky Way's location.
Sunset: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Night: astrophotography at Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Day 2 - Dead horse point state park and arches national park
We begin our day early in order to capture the stunning colors of sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park. We will have a to-go breakfast and then set up at one of the most beautiful overlooks in the park and begin to experiment with the shifting light. We then have time to explore the park a little bit further and eat lunch.
After lunch, we will embark on a one-of-a-kind 4x4 'backcountry' safari (provided by Navtec, an authorized concessioner of Arches NP and Canyonlands NP)! This excursion will take our Moab experience to another level of authenticity as we leave the paved roads and explore rarely-seen vistas!
After our backcountry safari, we'll have time for a short break, then we'll enjoy a picnic-style dinner in Arches National Park and capture the sky unfold gorgeous golden hues onto the beautiful Garden of Eden at sunset. Conditions and energy pending, we remain in Arches National Park (we will most likely head to Double Arch) for further experiments with astrophotography, including star trails and time lapses.
Sunrise: Dead Horse Point Overlook
Sunset: Garden of Eden, Arches National Park
Night: astrophotography at Double Arch, Arches National Park
Day 3 - canyonlands national park and arches national park
Today we will begin with a to-go breakfast and sunrise exposures in Canyonlands National Park. The vista we have chosen provides for not only stunning color, but also a beautiful silhouetted landscape due to the layered horizon of rock formations and mountains.
After sunrise we will have time to explore various areas in Canyonlands and then return to town for lunch. After lunch we will go over post-processing, followed by one-on-one reviews and a break.
As the afternoon comes to a close, we head back to Arches National Park for sunset shots from the Windows area. Then, we'll have dinner and call it an early night to catch up on some sleep. (If the weather conditions were not favorable for astrophotography prior to tonight, and are favorable tonight, we will use this night to make up for it. Perhaps a Milky Way hunt in Canyonlands!).
Sunrise: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands
Sunset: Windows, Arches National Park
Night: astrophotography in Canyonlands
Day 4 - canyonlands national park and departure
To close out our last day, in the morning we will have a to-go breakfast and head to a vista in Canyonlands. Islands in the Sky provides a stunning view of the canyons and makes for a beautiful color or black and white capture.
After our morning shoot, we will drive everyone to the Moab airport around 11 a.m. for your afternoon flight departures or rental vehicle departures to Salt Lake City, Grand Junction, Denver, or anywhere else your next adventure takes you!
Sunrise: Islands in the Sky, Canyonlands
GEAR LIST
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING TO MOAB
DSLR Camera
At least two camera batteries
At least two memory cards
Your favorite lens (We recommend bringing at least a wide-angle, mid-range and telephoto lens so you are able to seize all photographic opportunities in Moab.)
Tripod
Shutter release cable
Laptop (If you would like to follow along with us during our post-processing instructions, we recommend that you bring a laptop to be able to participate and edit your photographs while with us.)
Headlamp (We recommend something like this because it can switch between a regular and a red, night vision light. While having a regular light will be important for hiking, having red lights are important for night photographers because this type of light preserves your night vision and does not negatively impact other photographer's exposures in the way that regular light does.)
Camera bag (We will be hiking distances from the parking lots to the viewpoints, and therefore you will each need to have a bag that can hold the gear you'd like to shoot with. Keep in mind that this usually includes your tripod. You will also want to have some extra room for a water bottle and a packed meal on the days we take our meals to-go.)
Water! We will be spending hours outside without access to refreshment stands and will also be doing moderate hikes, so we highly recommend that each person be prepared to pack water bottles (There is a convenience store near our hotel in the event you need to obtain more water or refreshments outside of our meals).
A good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes. Our longest (and most rewarding) hike is about 1.5 miles to the glorious Delicate Arch. One thing that makes this arch so incredibly special is that it is not accessible from the road, and therefore it is quite a rare beauty. No hiking expertise is required for this hike. I have seen people all of ages partake in this. I advise that you set yourself up for success, though, by taking a few 1-2 mile walks or hikes in your town prior to joining us. Most of our other outdoor wonders are within a couple hundred feet of the vehicle.
TAKE YOUR MOAB PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THIS GEAR:
Cable release
A cable release will allow you to take exposures longer than 30 seconds and multiple successive exposures (for star trails), help prevent camera shake, and more.
(These can be purchased on Amazon for approximately $9 and arrive within two days. Make sure you are getting the one that is appropriate for your particular camera. This one is for a Canon Rebel t6i. You can search Amazon or Google for the terms "remote cable release" + [your camera name and model].)
Neutral density filter for your wide-angle / landscape lens
An ND filter will allow you to take longer exposures when you normally wouldn't be able to because the scene is too bright. This is the key to nice soft clouds in landscapes, milky waterfalls, etc.
(I recommend anywhere from a 3-stop to 10-stop ND filter, but make sure it is of decent quality. I use B+W brand, but HOYA also makes great filters. LEE square filters are good too.)
Graduated neutral density filter for your wide-angle / landscape lens
A graduated ND filter serves the same purpose as the ND filter described above, however the darkening effect takes place only on the top half of the filter, which allows your lighter sky to be exposed more similarly to your darker foreground. A 2-stop GND is a good start.
Polarizing filter for your wide-angle / landscape lens
A polarizing filter will help deepen colors.
Hand warmers (approximately $7 on Amazon or $5 at your local Walmart) and rubber bands
As your camera is brought from warm interiors to cooler settings, dew can accumulate on your lens glass and completely fog up your images! Photographers have come up with the ingenious solution of securing a couple of hand warmers onto the lens with a rubber band, which keeps the lens temperature regulated enough that it prevents the condensation from occurring!
About The Instructors
about marisa
Marisa Marulli (on frozen Lake Baikal, Siberia)
Marisa is an explorer, photographer and journalist with a passion for connecting people to the unknown.
Her passion for documentary photography has lured her to remote corners of the world to experience the fire and ice of Iceland, ice-driving across the world’s deepest lake in Siberia, zodiac-riding over the world’s strongest current - Saltstraumen - in the Arctic circle, and more.
Marisa’s work has been featured in the first exhibition juried by infamous Cecil The Lion photographer, Brent Stapelkamp, written about by The Palm Beach Post, and hung on the walls of various locations throughout the East Coast.
She currently teaches photojournalism at The Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and creates photoessays for national and regional publications.
As a former student herself, Marisa is appreciated by all levels of students for her tactful ability to break down the elements of photography and post-processing, and convey them in a simplified way.
a few highlights of marisa's photographic career
Featured in Palm Beach County's newspaper, The Palm Beach Post (article and image of United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Launch out of Cape Canaveral)
Featured in The Palm Beach Post's social media (image of Jupiter Lighthouse)
Exhibited in infamous Cecil The Lion photographer Brent Stapelkamp's first juried exhibition, Ivoryton, Connecticut
Commercial location take-over at Essex Tea & Coffee, Essex, Connecticut
Siberia photoessay to be published by national magazine (coming Winter 2017)
Photojournalism instructor at Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida
Cover image of Armory Art Center's Fall Session 1 Catalog
Exhibited in Armory Art Center's "New & Now" exhibition
Robert Swinson
about robert
Robert has over thirty five years of experience in photography, encompassing 35mm through large format studio cameras, to DSLRs by both Nikon and Canon.
He has worked with many artistic and commercial uses of photography and graphics arts. His professional roles have included commercial publishing, studio photography for both large products and portraiture, color separation for the printing industry, location, fashion and product photography, and video and film production.
Robert is also an established and well-respected photography instructor and mentor, teaching everything from basic photography to studio lighting, figure classes, post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop, workflow and travel photography.
With an initial background in mechanics, he is appreciated by students for his comprehensive, technical mastering of photography and post-processing.
a few Highlights of robert's photographic career
Contributor to The Complete Picture, book by Nature Photographer Magazine editor-in-chief, Helen Longest-Slaughter
Contributes to prominent lifestyle and fashion magazines in Palm Beach County and Southeast Florida
Featured in New York Style Guide
Previous teacher of multiple photographic disciplines (basic, intermediate, figure classes, post-processing, etc.) at Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida
Previous photography teacher at Lighthouse Art Center, Tequesta, Florida
Hosted "Photo Salon," a twice-monthly meeting of photographers, West Palm Beach, Florida
Contributed photographic assistance to Palm Beach Photographic Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida
MOAB WORKSHOPS - A COMPARISON
We used to be photography workshop attendees once, too (way back... oh, now we feel old!). In fact, we still go on some by other providers every now and then! That said, we care about our clients and empathize with the time and effort they put into making the decision to spend time with us.
So, we've taken the time to prepare a chart comparison of our expedition with 5 other Moab photography workshops that appear in Google's search results.
If you're interested in viewing the comparison, input your email address below and we will send you a copy pronto!
You'll see that our expedition is one of the most inclusive experiences. We provide a set number of class hours (you don't have to show up to these, but we will be there with bells and whistles on). We are one of the only providers that include all meals. The cost of our expedition also includes your hotel accommodations and transportation within Moab.
Plus, with hotel rates of over $150/night during May, we are likely the most cost effective workshop available.
We believe taking care of all of these things translates to less stress for you and more time to relax and enjoy time with your camera and the great outdoors!
expedition price: $2,500
Price is for single accommodation. That's right: A whole room to yourself. Because you deserve it.
tour overview
LOCATION
Moab, Utah
Dates
May 16-19, 2019
PLACES
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Dead Horse Point State Park
THIS TRIP IS FOR
*All* levels of photographers
Those looking for a nature photography *experience*
Those looking to translate their connection with nature into their images
Want to know more about who this trip is for and what transformation it will make in your life?
Sign up for more info here, we can't wait to tell you...
photographic themes
Landscapes
Nature
The experience behind the photography
Powerfully beautiful geological formations
Stunning sunrise and sunset glow on the red rock formations
Inspiring connection with nature
Light and color
Astrophotography (weather permitting)
Education
In-the-field photography instruction
Classroom and post-processing instruction in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop
One-on-one critiques
EXPEDITION Price
$2,500
Price includes
Expert photography guidance and in-the-field lessons from two professional photographers
A 4x4 backcountry Jeep Safari!
Post-processing lessons in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, shooting techniques and other classroom lessons, and one-on-one critiques
All national park and site entrance fees
Hotel accommodations
All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 4
Private transportation from Moab Airport to hotel on arrival day
Private transportation from hotel to Moab Airport on departure day
Private transportation to and from all parks throughout the duration of the workshop
PRICE DOes NOT INCLUDE
Flights to and from Moab or Salt Lake City airports
Travel insurance
Additional food and drinks outside of the meals which are mentioned as part of the itinerary
Photography gear
Alcoholic beverages
Gratuities
What is not mentioned as included
Photography instructor: Marisa Marulli
“Marisa Marulli is the person who took my love for photography and pushed it over the edge. Prior to her explanation I didn’t know anything about shutter speed and aperture. Not only did she take the time to explain it to me but she spent the time to show me how to do it in the field. She put everything in terms that I could understand and I am forever grateful.”
Photography instructor: Robert Swinson
“Robert, Thank you for all of your help and for your artistic abilities!”
“Bob, Thank you for the inspiring start you gave me.”
photography instructors marisa and robert arrive to the location days in advance in order to assess real-time weather conditions and confirm the best places to photograph.
WE ARE:
We are CPR First Aid AED trained and certified.
We are authorized by the National Park Service to run photography workshops in the parks that are part of this expedition.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate
Level 3 of 5
(Most of our jaw-dropping scenery is within a couple hundred yards from the vehicle. The reason we marked this trip as “Moderate” is because one scene - our favorite! - is 1.5 miles from the road. We take our time completing the 1.5 hike over varied terrain. In other areas, we may be out capturing the incredible Milky Way when it is a bit dark, so attention and care is needed when walking around in a dimly lit area.)
Tips on Getting to Moab
Moab is easy to get to, and you will enjoy awe-inspiring scenery along the way!
Here are a few different ways you can get to our meeting place in Moab, Utah:
Recommended: You can fly into Moab Airport (CNY), where we will pick you up and you will not need further transportation. Please arrive at Moab Airport by 1 p.m. on May 16th, 2019.
Suggested route: Fly into Denver, then take the 1-hour, non-stop United Airlines flight to CNY.Or, you can fly into Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT) and rent a car for a 1.5 hour awe-inspiring drive to Moab. Please plan your drive so that you arrive at the hotel by 1:30 p.m. or to drop your car off at the Moab Airport by 1 p.m. on May 16th, 2019. Our driver will pick up anyone (those flying in, or those simply wanting to return their rental vehicles from other cities) at the Moab airport and depart at 1:15 p.m. for the hotel.
Or, you can fly into Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC) and rent a car for a 3.5 hour beautiful drive to Moab. Please plan your drive so that you arrive at the hotel by 1:30 p.m. or to drop your car off at the Moab Airport by 1 p.m. on May 16th, 2019. Our driver will pick up anyone (those flying in, or those simply wanting to return their rental vehicles from other cities) at the Moab airport and depart at 1:15 p.m. for the hotel.
DISCLAIMER
This itinerary is subject to change at any time. The opportunity for photography and astrophotography is based on proper weather conditions. If the weather conditions are in any way hazardous or unfavorable, the photography instructors reserve the right to cancel in-the-field instruction for affected days.