Ice and Winter Magic

Jan 15-18, 2027 - 2 Spots Left!!

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Join our Ice and Winter Magic Workshop and photograph the frozen landscapes unique to the Heber and Utah valleys. Prepare to experience unique ice formations that make for incredible foreground compositions. Held over MLK weekend, this 4-day adventure is easy to pair up with a ski vacation! Surrounded by the imposing Wasatch Mountains, we'll find pastoral barns, waterfalls, peaceful rivers, frozen lakes, vintage trains, and more! Each day you'll fill your lungs with cold, crisp air as we venture out to find the best landscapes. Led by Northern Utah native A.J. Rich, you'll learn a lot and expand your photographic repertoire. 

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 5 Students Max

Instructor(s)

  • A.J. Rich

Physical Intensity

Ice and Winter Magic Northern Utah Photo Workshop

Highlights

  • Mid January brings cold temps, snow, and ice to Northern Utah, making it the perfect place for landscape photography! A flexible itinerary allows us to chase the best winter conditions and weather.
  • Photograph ice formations, pastoral barns, waterfalls, peaceful rivers, frozen lakes, vintage trains, and more!
  • With resident photographer A.J. Rich at the helm, we'll get you to the best locations.
  • Workshop is capped at 5 participants, allowing for plenty of individual attention
  • Transportation included so you don't have to worry about slick roads.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled during our time together.
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Itinerary

In order to give our clients the best possible experience, we keep the itinerary flexible to account for winter conditions, weather, and group interest. The workshop dates coincide with the typical cold weather patterns in Northern Utah. With resident photographers at the helm, we'll get you to the best locations as per current conditions.

  • Day 1:  The workshop begins at 1PM in Heber City, UT with a short orientation session and classroom instruction.  With clouds building throughout the day, we head out to a partially frozen lake to capture the sunset drama.
  • Day 2: We are up extra early this morning to capture the ice formations along Utah Lake. We even get lucky with some brilliant cloud color that reflects off the icy surface! We photograph a waterfall with several ice climbers and then return to Heber for a short post-processing session. That afternoon we photograph several pastoral scenes throughout the valley and even capture the vintage train as it speeds along the tracks!
  • Day 3: Our sunrise spot focuses on massive Mt Timpanogos in the background with some great foregrounds! We even find some swans and bald eagles to photograph. We hold an image critique session midday and then head back to Utah Lake to capture the ice formations with the rising full moon!
  • Day 4: For sunrise, we shoot along a peaceful river where you can get some nice long exposure foregrounds. The morning light perfectly accents the willows and background mountains. We head back to town to check out of the hotel.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM.
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Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop Barn
Ice and Winter Magic Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop
Northern Utah Winter Photography Workshop

Logistics

 

The trip will begin and end in Heber City, UT.  Make sure you arrive before 1PM on the first day. You will need your own transportation to get to Heber City. We will provide transportation for all workshop outings.

We did not include hotel stays in the workshop package to give you the flexibility to stay where you’d like.  We recommend you stay at the Best Western Plus in Heber Valley as that will be our central meeting place.  The workshop will conclude no later than 11AM on the last day.

This workshop is rated as Moderate for physical intensity. Most all of the locations will be pretty close to the vehicles and only 1 or 2 spots will require any sort of hiking. Daily mileage will be no more than 1-1.5 miles. Participants will need to be able to walk these sorts of distance with their camera gear. Depending on conditions, snow and ice may be present. Everyone will need a pair of micro-spikes to go over their winter boots for safety.  See the gear list further down.

The workshop dates coincide with typical cold temperature patterns in Northern Utah. However, if Mother Nature has different ideas, we'll change up the shooting locations as needed.  No matter what, we'll find great photographic opportunities!

Drones are prohibited in any wilderness areas.  However, drones are legal in many of the places we visit.  If you have a drone, bring it along.  We just ask that you be cognizant of others and their enjoyment.

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Winter in Northern Utah Photography Workshop
Ice and Winter Magic Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop
Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop
Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop
Ice and Winter Magic Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop

Pricing

$1950/Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • 4-Day intensive photo workshop
  • All ground transportation and photography guiding during the trip.
  • Park entrance fees.
  • Post processing and image critique.
  • Pre Workshop Zoom Meeting.

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Heber City, UT.
  • Hotel accommodations.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • 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 linkn for the remaining balance approximately 120 days before the workshop.

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Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens (16-35mm is perfect).  For crop sensor, you'll want 10-22mm.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Telephoto lens in the range of 100-400mm.  For wildlife, you'll want a lens that is longer than 200mm.
  • Circular polarizer filters are recommended for the wide-angle and mid-range lenses.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup or edit your photos.

Personal Gear List

  • Warm, moisture wicking base layers for both upper and lower body.
  • Warm layers like a down puffy, winter coat, and or fleece jacket.
  • Waterproof outer shell jacket (helps protect against wind and snow).
  • Warm winter boots with thick wool socks.
  • Waterproof snow pants.
  • Warm gloves or mittens along with a pair of glove liners.
  • Warm hat, buff, and or balaclava.
  • Micro-spikes to go over your winter boots. Make sure you get the ones with actual spikes on them (no rollers or Yak-Tracks).
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen for sunny days. The light reflecting off the snow can be intense.
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Winter in Northern Utah Photography Workshop Ice
Ice and Winter Magic Northern Utah Winter Photo Workshop
Winter in Northern Utah Photography Workshop Barn

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AJ Rich Profile

A.J. Rich

Photography Instructor

A.J. Rich is a southern Utah native with more than 25 years of experience as a photographer, senior graphic designer, and art director. His background gives him a powerful eye for composition, balance, light, and visual storytelling. His photography has been recognized by the International Aerial Photographer of the Year and the Epson International Pano Awards. His commercial work has also appeared in national publications, including Parents Magazine, Runner’s World, and Harvard Business Review.

A.J. earned a degree in graphic design with a minor in photography. His work has evolved from commercial photography and portraiture to landscape and aerial photography, where he finds his greatest challenge and fulfillment.

Whether exploring the remote deserts of the Colorado Plateau or hiking into alpine landscapes before sunrise, A.J. is continually searching for fresh perspectives and extraordinary light. In the field, he helps photographers slow down, look beyond the obvious, and make stronger visual decisions before pressing the shutter.

While A.J. enjoys teaching advanced techniques such as focus stacking, panoramas, and exposure blending, his greatest passion is helping photographers truly see the landscape. For him, the best photographs aren’t simply found; they are anticipated through patience, observation, and a deep understanding of light, atmosphere, and composition.

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