Bisti Badlands Spring Photo Workshop

May 8-12, 2027

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Let your imagination run wild in one of the most bizarre and alien landscapes! We will be visiting areas in and around Shiprock and the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico. The dates are optimized for dark skies, prime Milky Way panoramics, and possibly Spring thunderstorms! The group will be accompanied by Navajo Guides while on reservation lands. All participants will need to walk a cumulative 2-4 miles per day to reach many of the shooting locations. 

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • 8 Students Max

Instructor(s)

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Wendy Casey

Physical Intensity

Bisti Grid

Highlights

  • The badlands of New Mexico are truly astonishing, with whimsical hoodoos, jagged spires, arches, fossils, and much more!
  • Dates are timed for optimal Milky Way shooting. Expect to do a lot of night photography when skies are clear!
  • We will be using local Navajo Guides for tribal land access.
  • Expect plenty of individual attention during the workshop with a 4:1 client to instructor ratio.
  • Learn many new techniques and come prepared to shoot a wide range of desert subjects.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled throughout the workshop to help make the most of your images.
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Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop New Mexico Night Photography

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather, current conditions, and group interest. The itinerary below serves only as an example of what we might do.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 1PM in Farmington, NM for a mandatory orientation session. We will cover many techniques you will be using during the workshop and discuss the itinerary in detail.  After a quick dinner, we head out to photograph sunset at Shiprock with a local Navajo guide. With clear skies in the forecast, we stay out after dark to capture star trails and Milky Way panoramics.
  • Day 2:  Since we were out so late the night before, we skip sunrise and hold a Milky Way editing session after breakfast.  That afternoon we head into the badlands. Some stormy clouds have moved in and we capture the dramatic light and glow!
  • Day 3:  We are up early again for golden light in a new area of the badlands. There is so much to explore and photograph here! We do another post-processing and image critique session when we return to town. Mid-afternoon, a quick half-mile hike puts us in an area with some incredible formations and hoodoos. We just can't get enough of the otherwordly shapes and spires. After sunset, we capture the brilliant Milky Way at our favorite formations.
  • Day 4:  Based on the forecast, we decide to revisit one of our favorite areas of badlands for sunrise. Mother Nature is kind to us and we get a couple hours of soft light and perfect clouds.  We return to the hotel for an image critique and post-processing session.  After lunch and a mid-day rest break, we head out for our sunset shoot, if skies are clear, we will stay out for Milky Way.
  • Day 5: We wake up for our final sunrise at a location of the group's choosing. We return to town in time for breakfast and check out of our hotel. We reluctantly say goodbye to all the new friends we have made! The workshop will conclude by 11AM so you can plan your return travel after that.
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Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop

Logistics

Please plan your travel so that you are in Farmington, NM no later than 1PM on on the first day of the workshop.  We will begin promptly with our orientation session and group meeting.

For those who are flying in, Durango, CO is the closest airport. It's a one hour drive from Farmington but the flight options are fairly limited. Albuquerque International Airport is a 3-hour drive from Farmington but has more options.

Transportation will be provided during the workshop for all participants. You are welcome to follow us in your own vehicle, but we recommend everyone ride together since we may be out late at night or going on some rough 4x4 roads . Each participant will need to get to Farmington, NM on their own.

To simplify logistics, we have pre-paid for 4 nights of hotel lodging at the highly rated Comfort Suites in Farmington.  During checkout you will add your lodging package based on either single or double occupancy.  See the Pricing section for more details.

Our goal is to maximize your photography while you are here. This can mean short nights and not a lot of sleep. We will utilize the middle of the day for naps, rest breaks, and post-processing sessions.

This workshop is rated Active for activity level. No long hikes are planned but participants should be able to hike a cumulative 2-5 miles over relatively flat terrain each day to get to the shooting locations while carrying their photo gear.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM on the last day.  You can either head back home after that time or spend additional days in the area.

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Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop
Shiprock Milky Way Pano Action Photo Tours
Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop

Pricing

$2450/Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • 5-Day Photo Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors
  • 4x4 Ground Transportation
  • Local Navajo Guides
  • In-Field Photography Instruction
  • Night Photography and Lighting Setups
  • Post-processing and Image Critiques
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting
  • A 4-night lodging package at the Comfort Suites Farmington will be added to your booking. Cost is $300 for double or $600 for single occupancy.

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Farmington, NM.
  • Meals and Beverages.
  • Photo Instructor and Navajo Guide Gratuities.

The Fine Print:

  • 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
  • Remaining balance is due Jan 8, 2027.
  • If you need to cancel, a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee will be given once your spot is filled by another participant.
  • See the full Terms and Conditions.
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Alien Milky Way

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range. For night photography, you need a wide angle lens that is f/2.8 or faster.
  • An ultra-wide lens like an 11-24mm or a fisheye will allow you to make very creative compositions.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Telephoto lenses are optional and there won't be much use for them.
  • Circular polarizer filters.
  • Backpack to carry your gear.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup and work on your photos.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • Warm jacket for cool mornings
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat.
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop
Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop
Shiprock Simplicity

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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 Casey is a Utah-based landscape and wildlife photographer with more than 40 years behind the camera. Her photography journey began in 1982 with her first photography class. She built her technical foundation in the film era through extensive darkroom work and developing and printing her own images. That experience continues to shape the way she teaches exposure, light, camera settings, and composition.

Wendy’s photography has taken her from Utah’s dramatic red rock country and the Alaskan tundra to the vast plains of Africa. She specializes in landscape and wildlife photography, with a particular passion for wild horses and animals in their natural environments. As an exhibiting fine art photographer, she photographs with the finished print in mind, creating images designed to tell a story, evoke emotion, and be enjoyed beyond the camera screen.

As an instructor, Wendy is known for her warm, patient, and encouraging teaching style. She helps students slow down, see with intention, and take creative control of their cameras, especially through Manual mode, thoughtful composition, and field-based problem solving. Through hands-on instruction and collaborative post-processing sessions, Wendy meets photographers where they are and helps them build the confidence, technical skill, and vision to create images they are proud to print, frame, and share.

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