Eastern Sierras Fall

Oct 30-Nov 4, 2025 - 6 Days

Variety is the name of the game on this 6-day photo adventure.  We'll explore our favorite locations along the Eastern Sierras such as the Alabama Hills, the Bristlecone Pines, Mono Lake, Eureka Dunes, the Owens Valley, and many hidden gems.  You'll photograph crazy rock formations, arches, hot springs, jagged mountain peaks, pastoral valleys, alpine lakes, ghost towns, sand dunes, and much more.  Night photography is also an option if skies are clear! Although we aren't planning any long hikes on this workshop, some of the locations are at high altitude which can make it feel more taxing. All participants will need to be able to walk at least 2 miles with their camera gear for the best photos.  Supercharge your adventure by adding our Death Valley and Beyond Workshop Nov 5-10, 2025!

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 2 Instructors
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Josh Miller
Eastern Sierras Fall Autumn Photo Workshop California

Highlights

  • Photograph the vibrant fall colors along the Eastern Sierras corridor.
  • Explore the many arches and bizarre rock formations at the Alabama Hills.
  • Experience the dramatic and and often snowy Eastern Sierra Mountains.
  • Walk among the ancient bristlecone pines, capture the tufa formations at Mono Lake, and photograph steaming hot springs and alpine lakes.
  • Photograph the undulating patterns and curves of the remote Eureka Dunes.
  • Transportation is provided to/from Las Vegas. No need to rent a car!
  • Take your photos to the next level with in-field instruction and digital darkroom training by our pro photographers.
  • When skies are clear, we'll incorporate some night photography.
  • Supercharge your trip by adding our Death Valley and Beyond Workshop
Eastern Sierras Fall Autumn Photo Workshop California

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather and current conditions. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 9AM in Las Vegas for pick-ups at the airport or a nearby airport hotel. We'll immediately hit the road towards Lone Pine, CA where we'll hold a short orientation session, and then head out for our first sunset shoot among the arches and rock formations of the Alabama Hills.
  • Day 2:  We get up early for a short hike into the Alabama Hills for our sunrise shoot. The snow-covered peaks in the background light up brilliantly!  We return for breakfast and check-out, heading up to Bishop, CA where we'll be based for the next 4 nights. For our sunset shoot, we decide to photograph the fall colors and an interesting lake with some very bizarre formations!
  • Day 3:  We capture a phenomenal sunrise at the hot springs and return to town for breakfast and a short midday break. That afternoon, we drive high up into the mountains to photograph the ancient bristlecone pines. Their gnarled bark and interesting textures create some unique photo opportunities. We return to town after sunset.
  • Day 4:  It's another early morning as we make our way to the mythical Mono Lake for sunrise.  We explore tufas of all shapes and sizes. We grab breakfast and then head up to explore a ghost town. At sunset we photograph some of the brilliant fall colors against the mountains.
  • Day 5:  We photograph sunrise at a clear and calm alpine lake with reflections galore. After breakfast, we start the long drive out to the remote Eureka Dunes.  We'll hike into the dunes and find some fantastic compositions free of footprints. Listen closely, and you'll hear the sands sing!  We return to town well after dark.
  • Day 6: It's hard to believe it's our last day together. We capture sunrise in the pastoral Owen's Valley before checking out of the hotel. We start the drive back to Las Vegas, arriving at the airport around 2PM.
Eastern Sierras Photo Workshop Mono Lake Ryan McGinty
Eastern Sierras Photo Workshop Death Valley California Autumn
Eastern Sierras Fall Autumn Photo Workshop California

Logistics

Plan to arrive in Las Vegas prior to 9AM on the first day.  We will pick everyone up at the airport or an airport hotel and start driving immediately to Lone Pine, CA. We will be providing all ground transportation during the workshop so there is no need for you to rent a car. We will return to Las Vegas between 2-3PM on Nov 4th. If you are also doing the Death Valley & Beyond Workshop with us, we recommend booking a room at Stovepipe Wells Hotel for Nov 4th if you don't want to return to Vegas.

To simplify logistics,  five nights of hotel lodging have been pre-paid for our group, one night in Lone Pine and four nights in Bishop.  During checkout you will add your lodging package based on either single or double occupancy.  See the Pricing section for more details.

Our itinerary is flexible since we don't know what Mother Nature will throw at us.  Some years we get early snowfall that can hamper access to some of the higher elevation locations. If that happens, we have many Plan B locations that are equally stunning, especially with the snow covered mountains! Our dates are timed for prime fall colors along the Eastern Sierras, but seasonal and climactic fluctuations could change that.  We reserve the right to modify the itinerary based on safety concerns and current conditions.

Time will be set aside for post-processing and image critique throughout the workshop.  There is no need for you to bring a laptop unless you want to download and or edit your images.  All levels of photographers are welcome on this workshop and we'll tailor the instruction to the unique needs of the group.

No long hikes are planned on this workshop but you should be able to walk at least  2-miles with your camera gear in tow.  Note that the hiking will be more difficult at high elevations and on the sand dunes.

Eastern Sierras Photo Workshop Death Valley California Alabama Hills Lathe Arch
Eastern Sierras Photo Workshop Mono Lake Moon
Death Valley Sand Dunes

Pricing: 6 Days

$2895/person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • 6 Day Intensive Photo Workshop with max 8 participants and 2 pros.
  • All ground transportation to/from the Las Vegas Airport.
  • Photography guiding and instruction throughout the trip.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions.
  • Park Entrance Fees and Permits.
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting.
  • 5-night lodging package will be added to your booking at checkout. Cost is $450 or $900 for double or single occupancy respectively.

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Meals, beverages, and snacks.
  • Transportation to/from your home to Las Vegas.
  • 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 amount due approx. 120 days before the workshop. Please see our Terms and Conditions.

Death Valley Photo Workshop

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 lenss for landscape compression and wildlife encounters.  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 weather and high winds.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or do some editing during the trip.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and hiking pants.
  • A rain jacket and several warm layers (upper and lower body) as it can get very cold in the high country.
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat, Warm Hat, and Gloves
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
Eastern Sierras Fall Autumn Photo Workshop California
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.

Josh Miller

Josh Miller

Photography Instructor

Josh has been a professional photographer and educator for more than
twenty years. His work has been published by National Geographic, Sierra Club, Audubon, Microsoft, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside Magazine. Josh is also passionate about the environment and shares his photographs and knowledge with conservation projects whenever possible.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Josh developed a passion for “the high country” and “bad” weather. He became interested in photography while working at Denali National Park for a summer job during college, and after graduation he moved to the mountains of northern California to spend as much time as possible climbing, skiing, and photographing in the Sierra. In addition to being a professional photographer, Josh is a California
credentialed art and science teacher. Josh and his wife spent seventeen years running an environmentally focused high school academy in Northern California where they were both honored as teachers of the year. Josh also loves to travel, and after the Covid pandemic, he and his wife spent nearly two years abroad traveling and photographing the world with their two young boys.

During workshops, Josh loves sharing his passions for the environment and travel, and his expertise as both an educator and photographer helps students improve their technical skills and feel comfortable pushing their creative boundaries.