Death Valley and Stars

Mar 13-18, 2027

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Discover the rugged beauty of Death Valley and the Alabama Hills—where soaring vistas, sculpted sand dunes, colorful canyons, and surreal landscapes await your lens. We’ll venture beyond the usual spots to capture remote gems like the legendary Racetrack Playa. This workshop is perfect for expanding your skills, from wide-angle close-ups to long-lens compositions. 

Timed for dark skies, you'll have the chance to shoot stars and the Milky Way when conditions align. We provide all transportation to and from Las Vegas, and a separate lodging package is available for your convenience. Post-processing instruction is included to help you bring your images to life.  We aren't planning much hiking on this workshop, but to photograph the dunes you will need to walk around 2 miles in the sand with your camera gear.

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 2 Instructors
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Sarah Shumaker

Physical Intensity*

Death Valley Photo Workshop

Highlights

  • Photograph a variety of landscapes across Death Valley with sand dunes, salt pans, huge views, towering canyons, mud cracks, and much more!
  • Dates are timed for dark sky conditions.  We'll be out capturing the stars and Milky Way when skies are clear!
  • Contemplate the mystical moving rocks at the Racetrack Playa.
  • Capture the arches and rock formations of the Alabama Hills.
  • Transportation is provided to/from Las Vegas. No need to rent a car!
  • Itinerary is flexible to chase the best weather conditions.
  • Small group of 8 participants and 2 pro instructors. Take your photos to the next level with in-field instruction and digital darkroom training
  • Expect a good assortment of classic locations and off-the-beaten path spots!
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions.
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Death Valley Stars Night Photo Workshop
Badwater at Night Death Valley Night Photo Workshop
Death Valley Photo Workshop

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather and current conditions in the park. We will optimize our time for the best possible photography. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1:  The workshop begins with 9AM pickups near the Las Vegas International Airport. From there, we begin the drive to Death Valley, stopping for lunch along the way.  We hold our orientation session that afternoon, get check in, and head out for our first sunset shoot.
  • Day 2:  With nice clouds in the sky, we wake up early to photograph the salt polygons at Badwater. We venture further afield to colorful badlands and slot canyons. In the afternoon and through sunset we photograph old cars, joshua trees, colorful badlands, ghost towns, and more!
  • Day 3:  With clear skies in the forecast we wake at 2AM and head out to the sand dunes to capture the Milky Way.  We find some nice compositions with the sweeping curves of the dunes and photograph through blue hour and sunrise. Late afternoon we reconvene for an intensive post-processing session and then photograph fields of mud cracks for sunset.
  • Day 4:  Some clouds rolled in overnight and we get an absolutely a brilliant sunrise over the otherworldly badlands.  We explore a side canyon and then head back for breakfast. We reconvene for a midday image critique and post-processing session and then make a decision on where to shoot sunset based on the weather and group interest.
  • Day 5:  With clear skies overnight, we wake up at 2AM and shoot some Milky Way panoramics over the landscape. We stay out for sunrise and and return check out and drive to Lone Pine. We get settled into our new hotel and then explore the amazing rock formations for sunset.
  • Day 6: If skies are clear, we are up very early to capture the spring Milky Way with the arches of the Alabama Hills.  We stay out through sunrise and return for breakfast. We'll check out mid-morning and start the drive back to Las Vegas.  Depending on traffic, we should be back to the Las Vegas Airport around 3PM.
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Logistics

To simplify travel logistics, we are providing all transportation starting and ending near the Las Vegas International Airport (LAS). There is no need for you to rent a car.  If you'd rather drive your own vehicle to Death Valley, please let us know and we'll tell you where to meet us.  If you are staying in Vegas the night before, we recommend the Tru by Hilton (free airport shuttle).

Lodging within the park is in very short supply and is very expensive if not secured well in advance. We have pre-paid 5 nights of lodging for our group with 4 nights in deluxe rooms in Stovepipe Wells and 1 nights in Lone Pine. When you checkout, you will add the lodging package to your booking based on double or single occupancy. Please see the Pricing Section below for more details.

*Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition.  We aren't planning any long hikes but you should be comfortable walking 2-3 miles per day while carrying your photo gear.  The sand dunes are the most physically taxing and we may be walking 1-2 miles in the sand.

Food is not included as part of the workshop.  You are free to bring your own food or eat at nearby restaurants.  Dining options are pretty limited and pricey in Death Valley so you may want to buy some provisions before arriving (mini-fridge in the rooms but no microwaves).

Expect high temps in the 60's-80's and lows in the 30's-50's, so be sure to bring warm layers. In case of inclement weather, bring a rain jacket and something to cover your backpack. High winds are common in Death Valley and it's helpful to have a cover for your camera in the event of a sand storm.  Please see the gear list further down.

At the conclusion of the workshop, we are estimating our return time to the Las Vegas Airport to be around 3PM.  However, that could vary depending on traffic and highway conditions. We do not recommend booking any flights before 5PM.  Or you can book an extra night in Vegas and fly out the next day.

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Death Valley Photo Workshop Racetrack
Death Valley Photo Workshop Badwater Flooded

Pricing

$2950/Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • 6-Day intensive photo workshop with 2 professional photographer instructors.
  • All ground transportation during the workshop including round-trip transport to Las Vegas. There is no need to rent a car!
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions.
  • All necessary permits and entry fees for the places we will visit.
  • Night photography.
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting.
  • 5-night lodging package will be added to your booking at checkout. It includes 4 nights with Deluxe Rooms at Stovepipe Wells and 1 night in Lone Pine.  Cost is $775 or $1550 for double or single occupancy respectively.

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Las Vegas.
  • Meals, beverages, and snacks.
  • Instructor Gratuities.

The Fine Print:

  • 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
  • Remaining balance is due Nov 7, 2026
  • 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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Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens in the 14-30mm range. For night photography, you will need a lens that is at least f/2.8 or faster.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lens for landscape compression and abstracts.  We recommend something in the 100-400mm range.
  • Circular polarizer filters for your lenses.  If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Cover for your camera/lens to protect against high winds.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and hiking pants.
  • A rain jacket and several warm layers.
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat, Warm Hat, and Gloves
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
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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.

Sarah Shoemaker

Sarah Shumaker

Photography Instructor

Sarah brings a rare combination of backcountry experience, technical camera knowledge, and patient instruction to every workshop she leads. As an avid hiker, canyoneer, and 4x4 explorer, she has spent years traveling through remote corners of the desert Southwest in search of unique perspectives and locations far beyond the standard roadside view.

Her love of photography grew from that time outdoors. The more Sarah explored wild canyons, rugged backroads, and hard-to-reach desert landscapes, the more she wanted to capture those places and share them with others. She enjoys studying maps, scouting new locations, and finding scenes that feel fresh, personal, and full of discovery.

Sarah is especially skilled at night photography and enjoys teaching guests how to photograph the Milky Way and the starry night skies. In the field and classroom, Sarah is often praised for her technical expertise. She is comfortable working with a wide range of camera systems and enjoys helping guests understand their settings, solve problems quickly, and gain confidence with their gear. She also brings strong post-processing skills in Lightroom and Photoshop, helping photographers carry their creative vision from capture to finished image.