Wild Horses in Utah

Apr 14-17, 2023 - Sold Out!

Apr 17-20, 2023 - Sold Out!

Apr 21-24, 2023 - Sold Out!

Venture to the isolated West Desert of Utah in search of one of largest herds of wild horses left in the United States! Dates are carefully selected for rutting behavior where the mustangs fight for breeding rights. We'll photograph a variety of interactions between the mustangs, mares, and the small foals. When we're not photographing horses, we'll be on the lookout for other wildlife such as Desert Fox. Optional excursions may include the Bonneville Salt Flats and or a Milky Way shoot.

Tuition

$1795
50% Deposit

Max Group Size

4 Students per Instructor
Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

David Swindler
Brian Clopp
Wendy Casey

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Photograph one of the largest herds of wild horses left in the US!
Dates coincide with rutting behavior where the mustangs will be posturing and fighting for breeding rights.
Capture interactions between the mustangs, mares, and the tiny foals.
Join wildlife photographers David Swindler and Brian Clopp to learn many new shooting techniques. Brian has been photographing these horses for many years.
Classroom sessions will be held during midday hours to enhance your shooting technique and post-processing knowledge.
All transportation included along with transfers to the SLC International Airport.

Wild Horses in Utah Photography Workshop Brian Clopp Action Photo Tours

Itinerary

The itinerary below is just an example of what we may do. We will optimize our time depending on weather, current conditions, and group interest. Our goal is to get you the best photos possible!

Day 1: Meet at 1PM at the Salt Lake City International Airport for transport to Tooele, UT. If you have your own vehicle, you can meet us in Tooele for the orientation session at 2PM. During the session we'll cover important safety information, shooting techniques, and discuss the itinerary in more detail. We'll break for dinner and then head out for a sunset shoot with the wild horses!
Day 2: After an early breakfast we head out to find the wild horses. We are in luck as the mustangs are posturing with each other and we get some dramatic action shots! We return to town for lunch and an afternoon classroom session where we'll critique images. That evening we enjoy a productive sunset shoot with the horses.
Days 3: We take a break from the horses this morning and go out to the Salt Flats for sunrise. The sky lights up beautifully and we capture the polygonal formation. We have another midday classroom session where we do a deep dive into post-processing techniques before heading out for a sunset shoot with the horses.
Day 4: We get up early for our final shoot with the horses. We return to town, check out of the hotel, and head back to the Salt Lake City Airport. The workshop will conclude by noon.

Logistics

Our goal is to capture the best images possible during our time together and this means starting before dawn and ending after sunset. Our in-field photography sessions will be pretty intense and we'll make sure you well educated on the shooting techniques before we go out.

Lodging and food are not included in the workshop fee. We have secured a block of rooms at our hotel of choice in Tooele, UT for $110/night + tax. Information on how to secure your room will be sent after booking. You are welcome to stay at any other hotel in the area as long as you make it to our central meeting point each day.

Transportation will be provided throughout the workshop, including transfers to/from the Salt Lake City International Airport. We will be picking up at 1PM on the first day and dropping off by noon on the last day. If you will be driving your own vehicle to the workshop, you can simply meet us in Tooele, UT at 2PM on the first day.

After you register, we will be emailing you detailed information on specific things to bring to ensure you are prepared for the trip. We'll continue to stay in touch as we get closer to the workshop.

David Swindler and Brian Clopp will be instructing the Apr 14-17 and Apr 17-20 workshops. Brian Clopp and Wendy Casey will be instructing the Apr 21-24 workshop.

The weather can be highly variable in the spring. It can be calm and pleasant or windy and stormy. Please come prepared for all types of weather. Don't despise bad weather as that is often when we capture the most dramatic photos!

We will email you specific camera gear recommendations after you register. A camera with a faster frame rate is recommended for best results (6 fps or faster). We'll utilize all kinds of lenses on this workshop. Bring a wide angle zoom (16-35mm), a mid-range zoom (24-105mm), and a longer telephoto (70-200mm and or 100-400mm). Bringing a second camera body can be useful to avoid changing lenses as often, especially in the dusty environment.

Desert Foxes Utah Brian Clopp Action Photo Tours

Bonneville Salt Flats Utah David Swindler Action Photo Tours

Pricing

$1795/person + Tax

Trip Includes:

Professional photography instruction and in-field guiding.
All ground transportation throughout the workshop.
Classroom instruction including image critique, wildlife shooting skills, and post-processing techniques.

Trip Does NOT Include:

Lodging
Meals, beverages, and snacks
Transportation to/from your home to the meetup location.
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, the remaining amount will be due 90-days prior arrival. We will contact you to arrange final payment. See the full Terms and Conditions.

Wild Horses in Utah Photography Workshop Action Photo Tours Brian Clopp

David Swindler

Founder - Photography Instructor

David Swindler is an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer. Among others, he has been recognized by International Photography Awards, Siena International Photo Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, and National Geographic. He received a degree in chemical engineering and worked in the semiconductor industry specializing in optics and photolithography. In 2014, he left his day job to follow his true passion. He has traveled to some of the most remote regions of the world and has extensive experience photographing a wide variety of subjects and conditions. He finds great satisfaction in helping others learn photography, especially in the wild desert environment near his home in Kanab, UT. David is an expert in night photography and loves to get out and shoot the starry night skies. Catch a glimpse of David's work in the slideshow, and follow the links below to see more!

Gallery Awards and Media Coverage

Having guided photo tours for years, David is very familiar with many different types of cameras. He is a master with light and composition. But most importantly, his dedication to his clients is what really sets him apart! Just read what others are saying here: Trip Advisor.

Brian Clopp

Brian Clopp is an entrepreneur and a passionate wildlife and portrait photographer based in Salt Lake City, UT. His work has been featured on Forbes, CNN, MSN, Daily Mail, DP Review, DY Photography, and the cover of Foto Magazine. His portraits include noted celebrities such as President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, James Earl Jones, John C. Reilly, Jessie Jackson, and more. His work has graced the CNN Travel homepage numerous times, is featured in world class hotels, and his print “God’s Painting” has won a major National Geographic award. Recently, he won a prestigious Travel Photographer of the Year Award for his wild stallion portfolio in the Thrills & Adventures category.

Brian is also involved in many good causes. He co-founded the Giving Herb, which gives half its net profits to good causes. You can learn more about Brian by visiting his website: brianclopp.com

Wendy Casey

Photography Instructor

Wendy is proud to be a Utah Native and began hiking and camping with her parents at a very young age. She has many fond memories hiking to amazing viewpoints and taking in the grandeur that is Utah. Her interest in photography began in the 80’s where she made her film images come to life in a darkroom.

She now enjoys the creativity of the digital world by photographing a wide range of interests, from Landscape, Wildlife, Portraits, to Sports. Her favorite is capturing epic scenery with a human interest.

When Wendy and her husband Randy are not at home on their farm, they are out on a trail somewhere, exploring, photographing and creating videos of their adventures. Wendy has a lot of experience with horses on their ranch and will be an instructor on some of our wild horse and ranch workshops.

Over the years, she has participated in many art shows. Her local favorites are the Kimball Arts, Park City Art Festival and Midway Swiss Days. She has shipped her art around the world and has her work hanging throughout the state in hospitals, clinics and many large and small businesses. Her images have also been featured in and on the covers of local magazines.

Wendy loves to help others develop their passion for photography and capture through the viewfinder, winning scenes to last forever and an epic story to go with it.