Yellowstone Winter Photo Workshop

Feb 6-13, 2024 - Sold Out

Join the ultimate winter wildlife photo safari in Yellowstone National Park. With 6 participants and 2 instructors, everyone is guaranteed plenty of personal attention AND quick access to their gear when animal sightings happen. Wildlife species include bison, wolves, coyotes, elk, moose, otters, red foxes, swans, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, eagles, and even the occasional bobcat and ermine! The landscapes of Yellowstone are also spectacular when covered in winter white. We'll explore many hot springs, canyons, and vistas in search of incredible landscape photos. This workshop is rated Moderate for physical intensity. There are no long hikes, but sometimes we'll need to walk short distances through the snow which adds to the difficulty.

Tuition

$8495
All-Inclusive

Max Group Size

3 Students per Instructor
Max 6 Students

Instructor(s)

David Swindler
Kevin McNeal

Physical Intensity

Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Photo Workshop-44

Highlights

Experience the Serengeti of North America with the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states! Winter is one of the best times to capture the wildlife and landscapes in Yellowstone.
3 Days of Private Snowcoach Excursions in the interior of the park.
Small group of only 6 participants and 2 instructors means plenty of individual attention and quick access to the wildlife.
All-inclusive experience with lodging, meals, non-alcoholic beverages, and ground transportation included.
Learn lots of new wildlife and landscape photography skills while in the field along with post-processing and image critique sessions.

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.

Day 1: Arrive at Bozeman, MT (BZN) Airport no later than 2PM. We will pick up participants from the airport and start the drive over to West Yellowstone. We may stop along the way for wildlife and or landscape photo ops. After we check into the hotel, we'll meet together for an orientation session, review the latest wildlife reports and discuss our final itinerary.
Day 2: Today we travel via private snow coach along the Madison River looking for wildlife and scenic photo ops. Most snowcoach tours will pack 14+ people into one vehicle, but we will be comfortable with only 6 workshop participants. This way we have plenty of room for gear, warm clothes, and quick exit/entry for our photo ops. Scenic viewpoints abound and you'll be busy pressing that shutter button.
Day 3: We continue our journey via private snowcoach deep into the interior of Yellowstone, visiting West Thumb Geyser and Hayden Valley. We get lucky with some otter sightings and even a pack of wolves! The pine martens also make an appearance much to our delight. It's a long, exhausting day, but the excitement level more than makes up for it.
Day 4: We have one more day in our private snowcoach. We decide to focus on the Northern Section of the park, visiting Norris Geyser Basin and Swan Lake Flats. We finish out our day looking for more wildlife and exploring several different geyser basins.
Day 5: We check out of our hotel in West Yellowstone and make our way over to Gardiner, Montana. We'll photograph wildlife as we pass through Paradise Valley. Possible species include pronghorn, bighorn sheep, bison, eagles, and more. After checking into the hotel, we run up to one of our favorite spots for sunset.
Days 6-7: We will focus on the Mammoth and Lamar Valley sides of the park on these days, photographing both landscapes and wildlife. This is also the best area of the park to find wolves, moose, and elk! We never know what we'll find each day and we'll take advantage of the best conditions. Expect to be out all day long from from before sunrise until after sunset.
Day 8: After breakfast we travel to Bozeman airport for departures. You can schedule your return flight anytime after noon on Feb 13th.

Yellowstone Winter Photo Workshop Hot Springs

Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Photo Workshop

Coyotes are one of my favorites of Yellowstone's Winter wildlife, especially with their thick winter coats! Our workshop group got to photograph this coyote while he was "mousing". That is when they dive into the snow hoping to catch a meal, which is why he has so much snow on his face. But I liked this shot the best from the series as he stands stoically looking for the whereabouts of his next meal. An interesting fact - foxes are about 80% successful when they mouse in the snow, but coyotes are only about 20% successful.

What to Expect

Our workshops are pretty intense - you should not expect a leisurely vacation. Our goal is to capture the best images possible during our time together and this means starting well before dawn and ending after sunset. However, we will usually take a longer lunch break to rest and recuperate.

This workshop is unique with a very small group and 3:1 participant to instructor ratio! We want EVERY participant to have quick access to their gear and be able to exit the vehicle or snowcoach quickly. Wtih wildlife, speed is often essential! We also want to ensure you have plenty of room for your gear and warm clothing. Compare that to your typical Yellowstone workshop where you have one instructor and up to 14 participants in a single van or snowcoach with no operable windows! Rest assured you will have the best vantage points at all times without being held back by a large group or overcrowded vehicle/snow-coach.

Pro-photographers David Swindler and Kevin McNeal will be leading the workshop. Both pros will be on hand throughout the workshop to teach you new skills and ensure you get the best photos! We'll be intently looking for both wildlife and landscape photo opportunities.

After you register, we'll be emailing you detailed information on how to book your flights along with checklists for clothing and gear to bring. We will continue to stay in touch as we get closer to ensure you are setup for success before you even arrive.

Temperatures will be very cold in Yellowstone in February but this is also what makes the photography so good this time of year with frost-lined trees, foggy meadows, and snowy landscapes! We will make sure you have the right gear to comfortably photograph in these frigid conditions.

Pricing

$8495/person + Tax

Single Supplement: $900/Person

Trip Includes:

7 Nights Hotel Lodging. Single Occupancy Lodging is available for an additional $900.
All Meals, Non-Alcoholic Beverages, and Snacks.
All Ground Transportation to/from the Bozeman Airport
3-Days Private Snow-Coach Transportation
All Permits and Park Fees.
In-Field Photography Instruction
Post-processing and Image Critique
Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to Bozeman, MT.
Alcoholic 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 link for the remaining balance approximately 120 days prior to the workshop. Since this workshop is done as a collaboration with other parties, no loyalty discount is offered. See the full Terms and Conditions.

As a photographer, I find myself gravitating more towards minimalism in my style. Yes, I still love the grand, intricate landscape. But there is something almost more gratifying to simple scenes, such as this sunrise we captured on our recent Yellowstone Workshop.

We had so many great wildlife moments on our Yellowstone Trips this year. On this particular morning we got to spend a couple hours with a group of bull elk. I really liked the shots we got of them up on the ridge with the dramatic clouds and dappled light in the background. I am excited to be one of the speakers at the upcoming Outsiders Photography Conference April 16-18. My topic is on Wildlife Photography and I'll be sharing many of my best tips and tricks! Tickets are still available to come in-person or virtually. And the best part is, all sessions are recorded and you'll have access for one full year. Send me a message if you'd like to learn more about the event.

When you think of wildlife deep in the winter in Yellowstone, what comes to mind? Stately and graceful swans glistening in the morning light and misty fog?

As a photographer, sometimes I find myself more drawn to abstract scenes. Sometimes it can be a fun guessing game as to what it might actually be. Here is a shot I took on our Yellowstone Workshop this year. The various patterns, colors, and shapes really caught my eye.

This is probably the most photographed tree in Yellowstone and for good reason – it’s a perfect composition and is so symbolic in what it stands for. The winter winds and cold temps are especially pronounced in this broad valley. But this tree continues to thrive despite all that nature throws at it. I've photographed this tree many times but it wasn't until our workshop this year that I got the perfect conditions. Dark, stormy clouds filled the sky and a brief moment of light popped through a break in the clouds above and illuminated the hills behind the tree. But if you look closely, the light never actually hit the tree which would have created a distracting shadow in the snow! The soft light was exactly what I wanted and I took this as a 3-shot pano. As a photographer, I find I have to go back again and again to places in order to get that “perfect” shot.

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David Swindler

Founder - Photography Instructor

David Swindler is an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer. Among others, he has been recognized by the 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. As the founder of Action Photo Tours, 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.

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! But don't take our word for it - read what others are saying: Trip Advisor.

Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States. He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C.. He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.