Education

10 Lessons from 10 Years of Leading Photography Workshops

10 Lessons from 10 Years of Leading Photography Workshops

After more than a decade of leading workshops, I’ve seen what truly helps photographers grow. It’s rarely expensive gear or technical tricks. Growth comes from mindset, consistency, and curiosity. These are the ten lessons that have helped my clients progress the most—and the ones that continue to shape my own photography today. 1. Be a…

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Scotland Photography

Scotland — The Land of Light and Legends

“Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.”— Robert Burns There’s a moment, standing on a windswept ridge above the Isle of Skye or along the still waters of a Highland loch, when time seems…

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Alaska Aurora Winter Photo Workshop

Aurora Borealis Under the Solar Maximum

As autumn settles in and nights grow long, aurora season begins in Alaska. This year is especially exciting because we are still at the height of the solar cycle—a time when the Sun is most active, showering Earth with bursts of charged particles that fuel breathtaking aurora displays. What is the Solar Cycle? The Sun…

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Salt River Canyon Photo Workshop

Salt River: Arizona’s Hidden Gem

Why We’re Drawn to the Untamed Action Photo Tours has built its reputation on guiding photographers off the beaten path, especially in the desert Southwest. We’ve made it our mission to reveal places that most people pass by—locations that surprise, inspire, and stay with you long after you’ve packed up your tripod. So when we…

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Patagonia Peaks and Pumas Photo Workshop

In the Realm of Giants: Peaks, Pumas, and Patagonia

There are few places on Earth that stir the soul like Patagonia. Here, at the southern edge of the world, jagged peaks spear the sky, glaciers tumble into turquoise lakes, and the wind carries the raw song of untamed wilderness. It’s a land of drama and silence — a place where every sunrise feels like…

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Moab Monsoon Photo Workshop

Chasing the Monsoon: A Photographer’s Paradise

The monsoon season in the Desert Southwest is magical—an ever-changing dance of light that transforms an already beautiful landscape into something otherworldly. For us at Action Photo Tours, this is one of the most exhilarating times to be out with our cameras. When storms roll in, the atmosphere itself becomes electric: dramatic skies, vibrant rainbows,…

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Using Blend Modes to Enhance Your Landscape Photography

Blend modes are one of the most confusing aspects of Photoshop. First off, there’s twenty-seven of them. Further adding to the confusion, many of them have similar names or do similar things. As you cycle through the blend modes, it’s hard to know exactly what’s happening, and their names do little to prepare you for…

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Photographing Blue Hour and Twilight

Better than golden hour? Photographing Twilight

In the world of photography, golden hour gets all the praise. Warm side light and colorful clouds at sunset may make for dramatic photos, but don’t put your camera away when the color fades. Often, the most interesting time of day can happen after the sun has set. This period of time is called twilight…

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Tips for Photographing Brown Bears Wildlife Photography

Power & Beauty: Photographing Brown Bears

Join pro-photographer David Swindler as he shares his best tips and tricks for photographing brown bears in the wild. Watch the video below where David will talk in-depth on the following subjects: About Brown Bears Safety Bear Activities When To Go Where to Go Photo Gear Shooting Techniques Putting It All Together Join Us for…

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Five Tips for Shooting a Telephoto Lens In the Field

5 Tips for Shooting Telephoto Lenses

Learning how to use a telephoto lens is an important skill. We see a lot of mistakes people make in the field and it ends up impacting their ability to get sharp shots. In this informative video, David Swindler shares his must-know tips on how to use long telephoto lenses for outdoor photography, from landscapes…

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Patagonia Peaks & Pumas
Apr 11-22, 2026

South Carolina Plantations Mobile Banner

South Carolina Plantations
Mar 24-28, 2026

Utah Badlands Drone
Apr 23-27, 2026

Redwoods & Oregon Coast
June 7-13, 2026

Southwest Drone
May 4-9, 2026

Palouse Spring - Women Only
June 23-26, 2026

Mt Rainier Wildflowers
Aug 3-7, 2026

Alaska Fall Colors Photo Workshop

Alaska Fall Colors
Sept 9-16, 2026