Desert Nightscapes Photo Workshop

Sept 27-Oct 1, 2027 - Sold Out

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Desert Nightscapes is a Southwest photography workshop focused on capturing the Milky Way over the region’s most striking landscapes—White Pocket, beautiful arches, odd hoodoos, deep canyons, and much more! With the Milky Way visible soon after dark, the schedule is more sleep-friendly than most astro trips. If clouds move in, we’ll pivot to daytime photography and you’ll also get post-processing training to bring out the best in every image. All ground transportation is included in lifted 4x4 trucks to reach our remote shooting locations.

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Kevin Dobo
  • Sarah Shumaker

Physical Intensity

White Pocket Night Photography Desert Nightscapes Photo Workshop

Highlights

  • Photograph the Milky Way over the stunning Southwest desert landscapes! Dates are timed for optimal dark skies and favorable weather.
  • Visit many great locations like White Pocket, Inchworm Arch, the Grand Canyon, Zion, and many hidden gems.
  • Sleep-friendly schedule with the Milky Way visible shortly after dark.
  • Small group of 8  participants and 2 pros for personalized instruction.
  • Daily image critique and post-processing training included (night sky blending, noise reduction, Photoshop layers, stacking, etc.)
  • Transportation provided in lifted 4x4 trucks to reach remote locations.
  • Flexible itinerary to take advantage of weather and light, including daytime photography if skies are cloudy.
  • Learn various foreground enhancement techniques such as low-level lighting, blue-hour blends, and long night exposures.

Itinerary

The itinerary will remain flexible so we can chase the best conditions. Clear skies mean a stronger focus on Milky Way photography, while clouds or storms will shift our attention toward dramatic daytime landscapes. The outline below is a sample of what you can expect. We’ll spend most of our time in the field shooting, with classroom sessions for post-processing and image critiques woven throughout the workshop.

  • Day 1: We’ll meet in the afternoon for introductions and an orientation covering workshop flow, gear setup, and night photography techniques. That evening, we’ll head out for sunset followed by our first Milky Way session after dark. We expect to return around 1AM.
  • Day 2: After a relaxed morning, we’ll hold an image critique and post-processing session. That afternoon we’ll travel by 4x4 to White Pocket, where swirling sandstone formations create incredible foregrounds for sunset and Milky Way images. We’ll photograph into the late evening before returning to town. Expect a late night if skies are clear.
  • Day 3: We’ll begin with a mid-morning classroom session focused on more advanced night sky editing techniques. After lunch, we’ll explore a nearby slot canyon. Following dinner, we’ll photograph sunset and blue hour at Inchworm Arch, staying on location as the Milky Way rises.
  • Day 4: We'll hold another classroom session today to work on the previous night's images.  Then we'll decide as a group if we go to Zion, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, or the Grand Staircase Escalante. We'll head out that afternoon for our sunset plus Milky Way shoot.
  • Day 5: Enjoy a relaxed morning and our final classroom session. The workshop concludes before 11AM, and you may plan return travel for anytime after that.
Desert Nightscapes Photo Workshop Milky Way
White Pocket Photo Workshop
Desert Nightscapes Photo Workshop Milky Way

Logistics

Please arrive in Kanab, UT prior to 1PM on Day 1 for an orientation session at our local Kanab office. We didn’t include hotel stays on this trip to allow you the flexibility of a lodging option of your choice.  There are many good properties in Kanab like the Hampton Inn, Springhill Suites, and La Quinta.  Note that the Comfort Suites is within a half block walk of our business office which will be our central meeting point for all excursions.

All participants on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition.  We aren't planning any long hikes on this trip, 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.

Because the Milky Way is visible in the late evening during this time of year, our schedule is designed to maximize shooting opportunities without sacrificing too much sleep. On most days we'll head out to shoot in the afternoon and shoot into sunset and the blue hour. The Milky Way will be visible starting at 8:30PM and we'll usually keep shooting until around 11PM-Midnight.  On clear nights, expect a late arrival back in Kanab.  We won't be shooting sunrises on the nights we are out for astro.

We'll hold mid-morning classroom sessions focusing on refining your night sky editing skills.  We'll use Lightroom and Photoshop for our demonstrations. You do not need to bring a laptop as our sessions will not be the follow-along step-by-step type.  You will learn techniques for low-level lighting, blue hour blends, and long night exposure blends.

If skies are cloudy, we won't do any night sessions and will focus on sunrise and sunset photography, we’ll pivot to dramatic desert landscapes during sunrise and sunset, ensuring you return home with a strong and diverse portfolio.

Weather tends to be pretty temperate this time of year, with warm midday temps and cooler nights.  Please see the gear list further down for recommendations.  A pre-workshop zoom meeting will be held when we're a few months out.

Pricing

$2295 per Person

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Trip Includes:

  • 5-Day Intensive Photo Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors and 8 Students.
  • All Ground Transportation in Lifted 4x4 Trucks.
  • Post-processing instruction and image critique.
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • Lighting equipment and fixtures for night photography.
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Kanab, UT.
  • Hotel Lodging
  • Meals, beverages, and snacks.
  • Instructor Gratuities.

The Fine Print:

  • 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
  • Remaining balance is due May 27, 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.
Desert Nightscapes Photo Workshop Milky Way Night Photography Tours Utah Arizona Workshops
Desert Nightscapes Photo Workshop Milky Way Night Photography Tours Utah Arizona Workshops
White Pocket Milky Way Photo Workshop Night Photography

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.  A full-frame camera is recommended for night photography.
  • Backpack to comfortably carry your camera gear. Make sure you have a rain cover for your backpack.
  • Wide Angle Lens. We recommend a 16-35mm lens.  If you have wider lenses in the 11-15mm range, bring them along!  For night photography, you will want a wide angle lens that is at least f/2.8 or faster.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Telephoto lenses will come in handy if we go to Bryce, Alstrom Point, or the Grand Canyon.
  • Circular polarizer filters are useful for daytime photography.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup or work on your photos during the tour (not required).

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants (keeps sand out of your shoes).
  • A rain jacket and one warm layer since it can get cooler at night.
  • Headlamp for night photography.
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder
  • Hiking poles (optional)

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Kevin Dobo

Kevin Dobo

Photography Instructor

Kevin’s passion for landscape photography began more than 40 years ago during a youth group bicycle tour along the coast of Maine. At just 16 years old, he returned home, developed dozens of rolls of film, and quickly realized that what had captured his attention wasn’t people, but coastlines, forests, light, and the natural world.

That early connection between photography and outdoor exploration has shaped Kevin’s life ever since. His photographic journey and active outdoor lifestyle led him from his native Ohio to the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, through the Rockies of Colorado, and eventually into the Desert Southwest. He now lives in Kanab, Utah, where he leads Action Photo Tours day tours, overnight tours, and multi-day workshops.

Kevin’s primary passion is Southwest monsoon storm photography, which began after attending Action’s Storms & Saguaros workshop. From his first successful lightning capture, he was hooked. Since then, he has built a strong working knowledge of weather forecasting and spends weeks each summer chasing storms across southern Arizona and New Mexico.

In addition to storm photography, Kevin enjoys intimate landscapes, abstract and minimalist compositions, drone photography, and astrophotography. In the field, he enjoys helping guests slow down, recognize strong light and composition, and experience the simple pleasure of capturing a magical moment outdoors.

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.