Beyond the Badlands Fall Photo Workshop

Oct 24-28, 2025

Book Now

Join us in Hanksville, UT for a 5-Day adventure into some remote and uniquely beautiful parts of the desert.  October welcomes the advent of cooler temperatures and dates are timed for optimal fall color which really pop against the blue badlands!  This area is absolutely stunning from the air as well - if you have a drone, bring it along!  We'll photograph everything from narrow slot canyons to huge views and everything in-between. Come witness one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth!

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Wendy Casey

Physical Intensity

Utah Badlands Photography Workshop Southern Utah Fall Colors Hanksville Utah

Highlights

  • Get off the beaten path and explore the spectacular Utah Badlands!
  • The workshop dates are optimized for the best fall colors and great weather.
  • Learn many new skills and techniques with a small group of 2 pro instructors and 8 participants.
  • Transportation is provided so you don't have to worry about rough roads.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled throughout the workshop to help make the most of your images.
  • The itinerary is kept flexible so we can chase the best conditions. Our job is to get you the best photos possible!
  • Fly your drone and capture amazing aerial images from above! Bringing a drone is NOT a requirement for the workshop.
Book Now

Itinerary

The itinerary is being kept flexible to allow us to chase the best conditions. What is presented below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 4PM in Hanksville, UT for a mandatory introductory session.  Next, we head out to photograph the brilliant yellow cottonwood trees against the stark background of the badlands. Soft sunset light illuminates the subtle textures and ridges. We continue shooting through blue hour in this austere and otherwordly landscape.
  • Day 2:  We wake before sunrise to photograph some impressive hoodoos in golden light. After breakfast we photograph a beautiful slot canyon, looking for that soft reflected light. In the evening we hike out into the badlands and capture some impressive light and clouds!
  • Day 3:  It's another early morning departure to an amazing viewpoint of the badlands. This place is almost like being on a different planet!  We photograph more of the golden cottonwood trees and then return to Hanksville mid-morning for a rest break. In the afternoon we head up to Capitol Reef and photograph the fall colors up that way and stay out past sunset and blue hour.
  • Day 4:  We're out again at dawn to capture first light on stunning sections of badlands. The angled light will make the landscape come alive!  During the day, we meet for post-processing and image critique.  At sunset, we'll get out our telephoto lenses and shoot abstract compositions of the blue hills.  Since it's cloudy tonight, we skip night photos and get to bed early for some much needed rest.
  • Day 5: We wake up early and drive to one of our favorite overlooks for sunrise. The sky lights up for an incredible show of colors.  We return to Hanksville and say our final goodbyes.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM and you can plan your return travel after that.
Book Now
Utah Badlands Drone Photo Workshop
Custom Photo Tours
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop Autumn Fall Colors
Utah Badlands Fall Colors Photo Workshop
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop

Logistics

Please arrive in Hanksville, UT prior to 4PM on the first day of the workshop for a mandatory orientation session.  We'll be going out to shoot shortly thereafter.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM on Day 5 and you can plan your return travel after that.

All transportation during the workshop is included in lifted 4x4 trucks. However, there is no public transportation to Hanksville so you'll need your own vehicle to get there. The nearest major airport is SLC International.

Lodging is in short supply so we have pre-paid for 4 nights of accommodations in luxury cabins for all workshop participants.  During checkout you will add your lodging package based on either single or double occupancy.  See the Pricing section for more details.

Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition.  We aren't planning any long hikes, but the uneven terrain, sand, and steep uphills can make short hikes seem much harder.  You should be comfortable walking around 1-3 miles per day while carrying your gear.

We timed this workshop for optimal fall colors. But fall colors can be a fickle thing and can always come earlier or later than expected.  But not to worry - no matter what the conditions are, we'll find amazing places to shoot and help you learn as much as possible!

This time of year the temps are mild during the day with cooler nights.  There is always a chance rain and cold temps may move in. You'll need to bring warm layers to ensure you don't get cold photographing early in the morning.  Please see the gear list further down.

Food options are limited in Hanksville.  If you have specific dietary needs, it might be best to pick-up food in a larger town before arriving in Hanksville.  The cabins all have microwaves and fridges.

Book Now

Additional Notes

Many of the areas we visit are perfect for using a drone camera.  It's up to you if you want to bring a drone on this trip and we will let you know where it's possible to fly.  We are more than happy to help teach and instruct you on your drone photography.  However, for liability reasons, we cannot take-off, fly, or land your drone for you.  You must become proficient flying your own equipment BEFORE the workshop.

We are authorized permit holders with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). We carry a satellite beacon in case we run into any emergencies in the backcountry.

We keep our groups small so we can give you adequate individual attention.  Education and instruction is an important component of our workshops which is why we also schedule plenty of post-processing time throughout our days together.  Come explore our amazing world with us!

 

Utah Badlands Photo Workshop
Beyond the Badlands Photo Workshop Utah Hanksville Fall Autumn
Slot Canyon Photo Workshop

Pricing

$2250/person + Tax

Join our Loyalty Program and Save 10%!!

Trip Includes:

  • 5-Day Intensive Photo Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors.
  • All Ground Transportation in Lifted 4x4 Trucks.
  • Post-processing instruction and image critique.
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting
  • 4-night lodging package in luxury cabins will be added to your booking. Cost is $450 for double occupancy or $900 for single occupancy.

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Hanksville, UT.
  • Meals, Snacks, and Beverages
  • Instructor Gratuities

 

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit.  If you pay the deposit, you will be sent a payment link for the remaining balance approximately 120 days prior to the workshop.

Book Now
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop Autumn
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop
Utah Badlands Drone Photo Workshop
Beyond the Badlands Photo Workshop Utah Hanksville Capitol Reef

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range. Ultra-wide angle lenses can also come in handy if you have one.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lenses will come in handy for creating abstract images. We recommend lenses in the 100-400mm range. You can even use lenses in the 600mm range!
  • Drone if you wish to capture aerial shots.
  • Circular polarizer filters are useful.  Bring any ND filters if you have them.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera. An intervalometer will be especially useful for doing long exposures at night.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • A rain jacket and several warm layers since it can get cold at night.
  • Headlamp for night photography.
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat.
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.

Book Now
The Utah Badlands offer a stunning variety of shooting opportunities. And autumn is one of my favorite seasons to visit! Our group really enjoyed shooting this lone tree at peak fall color. It's really unique how it stands alone in such an unforgiving landscape. Want to join us this fall? Spots are available but filling fast: https://actionphototours.com/workshops/beyond-the-badlands-fall-2022/

Trusted by Over 900 Reviews

See More
Ryan McGinty Profile Photo Olympics

Ryan McGinty

Photography Instructor

Ryan McGinty is a seasoned landscape photographer living in the Palouse area of southeastern Washington.  His first-hand experience in this unique agricultural area makes him the perfect instructor to lead people to out-of-the-way places for those once-in-a-lifetime rainbows, sunsets and sunrises in the beautiful rolling hills. He loves chasing the light and diligently checks weather apps to get the latest sun and rain predictions, cloud formations, wind and temperatures for the best locations and light.

His interest in photography started at an early age and continued in college with graduate work at Brooks Institute of Photography.  His experience in portrait, wedding, film, and medium and large format photography give him an extraordinary background for his award-winning landscape photography.

His passion for the Palouse is only exceeded by his passion for photography and his desire to show people his favorite places.  He takes a legitimate interest in his clients and strives hard to ensure they get the best shots. His photographs have been published in books, calendars and travel guides.

Wendy Casey

Wendy Casey

Photography Instructor

Wendy is proud to be a Utah Native and began hiking and camping with her parents at a very young age. She has many fond memories hiking to amazing viewpoints and taking in the grandeur that is Utah. Her interest in photography began in the 80’s where she made her film images come to life in a darkroom.

She now enjoys the creativity of the digital world by photographing a wide range of interests, from Landscape, Wildlife, Portraits, to Sports. Her favorite is capturing epic scenery with a human interest.

When Wendy and her husband Randy are not at home on their farm, they are out on a trail somewhere, exploring, photographing and creating videos of their adventures.  Wendy has a lot of experience with horses on their ranch and will be an instructor on some of our wild horse and ranch workshops.

Over the years, she has participated in many art shows. Her local favorites are the Kimball Arts, Park City Art Festival and Midway Swiss Days. She has shipped her art around the world  and has her work hanging throughout the state in hospitals, clinics and many large and small businesses. Her images have also been featured in and on the covers of local magazines.

Wendy loves to help others develop their passion for photography and capture through the viewfinder, winning scenes to last forever and an epic story to go with it.

Gallery  Facebook  Instagram