All workshops kick off from my hometown of Avon, Colorado.  For participants flying into DIA shuttles will be coordinated to provide transportation into Avon, CO.  

DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOP:

 All summer and fall workshops, although visiting similar destinations, will have uniquely designed routes giving all those who desire summer and fall experiences with my personalized technique focus groups here in Colorado, will have different experiences and planned stops throughout our journey.  As an examle,  in june through August, the wildflowers in the high country are VAST and demand frequent random stops to capture the beauty of Colorado's high elevation summer displays. In the autumn the aspen leaves' golden flutter will draw us in....hence, regions may be similiar but the stops will vary dramatically.   There are towns, such as the world renowned Crested Butte that have the distinction of the Wildflower Capitol of the Southwest; where the Dallas Divide, which lies just outside the township of Telluride, is an iconic pull for impressive, sweeping mountainscapes covered in dramatic bold colors and rich vegetation. 

The workshop is all-inclusive once you meet up with the group in your desired location, excluding the afternoon & evening meals and accommodations.  (Breakfast is included).  Snacks and water are supplied daily and all park fees and jeep outfitter tour prices are included.  

Tips are encouraged at your discression for the drivers of the 4 x 4 jeep tours .  Group rates are arranged for all participant's desiring hotel and campground reservations for a fixed number of rooms/spaces pending availability.  I will personaly assist you in booking all hotels and campgrounds.  

As we head out across the majestic mountain passes and sprawling valleys we'll begin our discussion about your individual experience and personal goals for the trip while we photograph the scenery and begin our introduction into what you can plan to see, and some of the technique exercises we'll conqour during the week/weekend. A few of the lessons we will cover include shooting for HDR, shooting in natural light, photographing weather events, a wide range of composition topics, using accessory fill flash, exposure drag, and in field on-location filtration.  All topics will be taught at a beginner/intermediate level, with signifiant advanced techniques offered to those participants with the desire and skill sets.

Collaboration throughout the group will be encouraged as we chip away the miles on our exciting journey across some of the most scenic country on this great earth. I'll ask those who would like to share, to tell us about their  past photographic experience and memorable trips while we get to know one another....the first day is more of a "stretch your legs and settle in experience" with ample independent shoot time.  I will be on hand to answer any questions and begin my one-on-one interaction with each participant.  ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

 We'll be driven by professional outfitting guides that will not only masterfully tackle the narrow 4 x 4 trails for us, which provides us ample time to shoot. The drivers will point out significant mountain ranges and tell us about the history of the area on our 6 hour tour.  We'll see bountiful wildflower covered hills and waterfalls along the way.  The guides will stop on occasion so that we can execute tripod mounted imagery, while giving us freedom to shoot quick shots with frequent unplanned stops as we glide in and out of designated turnouts. Samples below. 

McClure Pass, Crystal Creek Mill    4 x 4 Jeep Tour with Crystal River Jeep Tours

This trek between the falls and the mill takes 30 minutes to drive and traverses deep into the aspen forest which can be a bit bumpy.  The tour drivers drive very slow, so you and your equipment will be in very capable hands. Along the way to the mill, seen below, you'll pass one of my favorite hidden lakes, called Lizard Lake. The mirror is of a sheer face limestone cliff, with firs and aspens aligning the lakes edge. It is a sight to behold. There is also a gorgeous valley with a beautiful river running through it along the way that is fun to capture. Well before sunset, we put ourselves at the edge of Beaver Lake, image below, which often stills and is almost to beautiful to take your eyes off of long enough to shoot. It is a gorgeous but small body of water with algae and weeds floating just below the waters surface. Depending on weather, sometimes the water is so clear you can pick the weeds up in your image. The sun screams yellow in July as it sets; it is just so beautiful.  It is difficult NOT to jump out of the jeep every 5 miles along this incredibly scenic stretch of back road Colorado.  

The summit itself is one of the highest elevations in Colorado, it is brisk and usually a bit breezy; the views are absolutely stunning. We'll make a number of stops along the well maintained trail, capturing vast valleys, waterfalls, and twists in the road that are fun to shoot. The aspens forests hug the road between the summit and valley floor but what will truly inspire you is the millions of wildflowers blanketing the prairie lands, including  colorful poppies, Baby's Breathe and Columbine. From the time we leave Marble to the time we reach the Crystal River Mill is approximately 5.5 hours.  We'll stop at the beautiufl Coors Falls for a picnic lunch on the rocks of the falls.  (pictures below)