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March 1-5‚ 2026 - Sold Out!

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March 1-5‚ 2027 - 4 Spots Available

Workshop Dates

Note: Transportation in Jeeps provided during the workshop

$3,895
$3,895
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  • Experience Level

    Beginner to Advanced 

    This workshop is designed for photographers of all skill levels. You'll receive personalized guidance to build on your strengths and overcome weaknesses. Expect to be challenged and grow, regardless of your starting point.

  • Fitness Level

    Moderate

    • Requires hiking up to 4 miles round trip over potentially loose, rocky, and uneven desert terrain, often without established trails as we explore cross-country. A key component is spending significant time (often several hours daily) traveling in high-clearance 4x4 vehicles over bumpy, unpaved roads. Good core stability for vehicle travel and moderate hiking fitness are necessary.
    More Info 

  • Creative Focus

    Field Sessions & Classroom Instruction

    This unique workshop prioritizes maximizing field time in remote locations. Nearly all our time is spent creating images out in the vast desert landscapes. Image review, processing instruction using the Rethink methodology, and critiques will take place via Zoomafterthe workshop concludes.

  • Group Size

    Limited to 6 Guests

    We keep our group sizes small to ensure the individual attention you deserve.

  • Location

    Furnace Creek, California

    View Map 

  • Fly To

    Las Vegas (LAS)

    Check Flights 

Description

Venture beyond the paved roads to explore the less-traveled corners of Death Valley National Park. This workshop is designed for those seeking to interpret the more remote and rugged character of this vast landscape, accessing locations reachable only by high-clearance 4x4 vehicles or moderate hiking.

Even if you've joined our standard Death Valley workshop before, this itinerary delves into different areas. We’ll guide you in finding compelling compositions amidst unique environments, including two distinct remote dune fields, expansive Joshua Tree woodlands, a stunning and secluded canyon, and dramatic overlooks high above the valley floor. Depending on road conditions, we may also have the opportunity to explore the unique landscape of the Racetrack Playa. The focus, as always, is on helping you develop your personal vision and craft images that reflect your experience of these wild places.

Please note that reaching these locations requires significant driving time on rough roads. Due to the logistical demands and emphasis on maximizing field time in these remote areas, we will not hold dedicated classroom sessions during the workshop itself. Our instructional focus will be on in-the-field guidance, helping you refine your seeing and composition skills amidst these unique landscapes.

Following the workshop, we will convene online via Zoom for an image review session and dedicated instruction on David's 'Rethink Landscape' processing methodology. This Lightroom-based system, focused on natural results through midtone contrast and localized adjustments, will help you bring your creative vision for your Death Valley images to fruition.

Join us to experience and interpret Death Valley's vastness and subtle details from perspectives few photographers reach.

Meet Your Creative Guides

  • David Kingham

    David is an accomplished professional photographer renowned for his evocative nature imagery. His work showcases intimate landscapes, stunning nightscapes, and masterful black-and-white photography. As the founder of Exploring Exposure, David is dedicated to mentoring aspiring photographers, helping them refine their skills and develop their artistic vision.

    View David's Portfolio 

  • Jennifer Renwick

    Jennifer is a professional photographer renowned for her captivating abstract and small scene imagery. With a keen eye for detail, she uncovers the hidden stories within grand landscapes. Jennifer is passionate about helping fellow photographers discover their unique style and guiding them to express their vision through meaningful projects.

    View Jennifer's Portfolio 

Visual Inspiration

Workshop Highlights & Creative Focus:

  • Exploring Death Valley's Deeper Character: This workshop takes you far beyond the paved roads to explore the wild, less-visited corners of Death Valley National Park. Using our capable 4x4 vehicles, we'll navigate rugged routes to reach extraordinary and remote locations, including the famous Racetrack Playa with its mysterious moving rocks. We'll also explore towering dune fields far from the crowds, unique high-elevation desert flora, and sweeping backcountry viewpoints that few visitors ever see. The goal isn't just access; it's about immersing ourselves in diverse and remote landscapes that offer unique challenges and rewards for the creative photographer during our intensive field days.
  • Developing Your Vision in the Backcountry: In these remote settings, we focus entirely on honing your ability to see and interpret the landscape while in the field. Learn to find compelling compositions amidst vast, sculpted dunes, the stark beauty of a dry lakebed like The Racetrack, intricate desert textures, resilient plant life, and grand mountain vistas. We emphasize slowing down, observing the light, and crafting images that convey a personal connection to this powerful environment.
  • Mastering Desert Light & Conditions: Death Valley's light can be intense and dramatic. We'll maximize our time in the field during the prime light of early mornings and late afternoons, learning techniques to manage contrast, capture subtle color palettes, and utilize light and shadow to sculpt the landscape. We'll discuss adapting to the often-challenging conditions of the desert environment during our field sessions.
  • Expert Navigation & In-Field Guidance: With David and Jennifer's extensive experience driving these demanding backcountry routes, you can focus on your photography. In the field, we provide personalized, hands-on guidance tailored to your creative goals. Whether you're drawn to grand scenes, intimate details found on the playa surface, black and white interpretations, or abstract patterns, we'll help you refine your compositions and techniques right there on location.
  • Post-Workshop Image Development via Zoom: Following our field immersion in Death Valley, we will hold dedicated online classroom sessions via Zoom. Here, you'll learn our "Rethink Landscape" processing methodology in Lightroom. This system is particularly effective for desert scenes, helping you manage contrast, enhance textures (like those on The Racetrack), and develop color palettes that authentically reflect the unique atmosphere and your experience. This post-workshop format allows you to focus solely on shooting while in Death Valley and then dive deep into image development from the comfort of your home.

Why Death Valley Off-Road?

Exploring Death Valley's backcountry offers a profoundly different experience... (This paragraph remains largely the same as before) ...It's an adventure designed to inspire significant growth by taking you, quite literally, off the beaten path, maximizing field time for image creation.

Important Details:

  • Lodging: We have secured a block of rooms at Oasis at Death Valley with a special group rate of $229/night (plus tax). Located within Death Valley National Park, it provides a comfortable and central base for our field explorations. Detailed booking information will be sent after registration.
  • Transportation: Participants are responsible for their transportation to/from Death Valley (Furnace Creek). Transportation during the workshop to all remote field locations is included. We will be utilizing our high-clearance 4x4 vehicles, driven by us (David & Jennifer), to navigate the necessary rough backcountry roads. You will not need your own high-clearance or 4x4 vehicle. Participants will travel together in our vehicles from the hotel to the shooting locations.

Itinerary

Preparation: Upon registration, a comprehensive itinerary will be sent to you, ensuring all the details are at your fingertips to help you plan your travel arrangements seamlessly.

Day 1: Journey to Remote Dunes

  • 12:00 PM: Meet at our designated hotel basecamp for introductions and workshop orientation. We'll discuss the logistics of off-road travel, safety considerations in the desert environment, and our approach to finding compelling compositions in Death Valley's diverse landscapes.
  • Afternoon (~12:45 PM onwards): We immediately embark on our first 4x4 adventure, undertaking a significant drive (approx. 2.5 hours) to reach a secluded and stunning sand dune system.
  • Late Afternoon (~3:30 PM - 6:10 PM): After a moderate hike into the dunes, we'll spend the prime late-afternoon light exploring their contours. Focus will be on finding unique patterns, capturing the interplay of light and shadow on the sand, and crafting abstract compositions from the wind-sculpted shapes. David and Jennifer will provide guidance on seeing and composing within this environment.
  • Evening: Following the hike back to our vehicles, we'll drive to a small desert outpost town for a group dinner before making the return journey to our hotel (arriving late).

Day 2: Canyon Depths

  • Morning: Enjoy a relaxed morning to rest and recover from yesterday's travels.
  • Late Morning (~9:30 AM onwards): We set out via 4x4, driving roughly an hour and fifteen minutes to the mouth of a remarkable canyon system.
  • Afternoon (~10:45 AM - 4:00 PM): Today is dedicated to exploring the depths of this canyon. We'll hike into its narrows, spending several hours moving through the sculpted passageways. The photographic focus will be on the intimate details – the texture of polished rock walls, the quality of reflected light, abstract patterns, and the unique formations carved by water and time. Field guidance will emphasize seeing these smaller scenes within the larger landscape.
  • Evening: Return drive to the hotel, evening free for dinner (on your own) and rest.

Day 3: Remote Basin Exploration & Field Dinner

  • Optional Early Morning: Depending on conditions and group interest, there may be an optional early morning shoot closer to the valley floor to capture sunrise light on the badlands or mountains.
  • Midday: Extended break for rest, image downloading, and lunch (on your own).
  • Afternoon (~1:30 PM onwards): Prepare for another significant off-road journey (approx. 2.5 hours). Depending on current conditions and accessibility, we'll travel to either a vast, remote dry lake bed famous for its unique geological features or an expansive area of intriguing, isolated desert flats.
  • Late Afternoon/Sunset (~4:00 PM - 6:20 PM): Arriving in the late afternoon, we'll photograph the chosen location's distinctive character – whether it's the cracked playa textures and mysterious moving rocks or the surreal shapes and wide vistas of the flats – as the sun begins to set.
  • Evening (~6:30 PM onwards): Experience a unique desert dinner – we'll prepare hearty sandwiches using quality ingredients right at the Jeeps, enjoying a simple but satisfying meal surrounded by the immense quiet of this remote location. This isn't a luxury vacation meal, but part of the authentic field experience! Afterwards, we undertake the long 4x4 drive back to the hotel.

Day 4: Towering Dunes & Second Field Dinner

  • Morning: Rested morning.
  • Afternoon (~1:00 PM onwards): We embark on our final major off-road expedition, undertaking a significant 3-hour drive each way towards a different area renowned for its massive, towering sand dunes – among the tallest in California. We may stop for perspectives capturing the dunes within their mountain setting before hiking in.
  • Late Afternoon (~4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): After hiking to the dunes, we'll focus on capturing their immense scale, dramatic shapes, and the texture of the sand in the late afternoon light. Finding compositions that convey the grandeur of this location will be key.
  • Evening (~6:15 PM onwards): Hike back to the vehicles for our second field dinner. Again, we'll break out the supplies and make fresh, quality sandwiches beside the Jeeps, refueling after our hike amidst the stunning desert scenery before embarking on the long return drive (approx. 3 hours) back to the hotel.

Day 5: Final Sunrise & Departure

  • Sunrise Session (Departing pre-dawn): Our final field session takes us to a spectacular, lesser-known location featuring intricate polygon formations similar to those found in Badwater Basin, but often without the crowds. This provides a fantastic opportunity to capture the unique textures and patterns of the desert floor as the first light strikes the valley. It's a final chance to apply the compositional eye and techniques practiced throughout the week.
  • ~10:00 AM: Workshop concludes back at the hotel. You’ll depart with images reflecting Death Valley's rugged, remote beauty, extensive experience in off-road photographic exploration, new perspectives on seeing the desert landscape, and memories of a true adventure.

What's Included:

  • Expert Instruction & Guidance: Field guidance focused from David Kingham & Jennifer Renwick (3:1 ratio in field).
  • Small Group Experience: Max 6 participants for personalized attention.
  • Off-Road Transportation During Workshop: In instructor-driven Jeeps to remote field locations.
  • Online Image Development (Post-Workshop): Dedicated Zoom sessions for "Rethink" processing (desert focus) and group critiques after the field portion.
  • Collaborative Workshop Zine: A curated 8x8 keepsake featuring participant images, delivered post-workshop.
  • Basic Field Lunches/Dinners: Supplies provided for participants to assemble simple meals on backcountry days.

What's Not Included:

  • Transportation: To/from Death Valley base hotel.
  • Lodging: (Group rate block available).
  • Meals: Breakfasts and any restaurant meals.
  • Death Valley National Park Entrance Fee: Or valid park pass.
  • Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended.
  • Personal Items: Camera gear, clothing, toiletries, reusable water bottle, etc.

Your Commemorative Workshop Zine

As a special part of your Exploring Exposure workshop, we create a unique, tangible keepsake: a custom-designed 8x8 Zine featuring images from you and your fellow participants. It’s a beautiful way to remember the shared adventure and the landscapes explored.

More than that, the process encourages you to mindfully review your work, finalize your processing, and select your most meaningful images for inclusion. About a month after the workshop, you’ll share your selections with us. We then handle the curation, layout, and printing, sending you this beautiful collective memory to hold onto. It’s one more way we support your creative journey, even after the workshop ends.

Our Teaching Philosophy

At our workshops, we are dedicated to helping you discover and develop your unique creative style through personalized training tailored to your skill level and photographic interests. Our goal is to provide you with a rigorous learning experience, both in the field and the classroom, to elevate your photography to new heights.

Your growth and satisfaction are our top priorities. We put your interests first, focusing solely on your learning experience. Throughout the workshop, we will take photographs alongside you to demonstrate how we approach a scene, share techniques, and foster a sense of camaraderie within the group. However, we will never leave you to pursue our own photographic endeavors. Our attention will always remain on you and your progress.

We regularly check in with each participant to provide helpful feedback and advice on your work, without being overbearing. Our biggest goal is to see you succeed and learn, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.

We recognize that each participant joins our workshops at different stages of their photographic development. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced photographer, we are here to guide and assist you. We firmly believe that there is always room for growth and improvement in photography, and we are committed to helping you refine your skills and find your unique creative vision.

Above all, we strive to create a fun, engaging, and rewarding experience for you. Our small group sizes allow us to build strong connections with our clients, fostering a sense of community and belonging. We are driven by our love for photography and find immense joy in witnessing our participants' growth and artistic development.

Join us on this exciting journey of photographic discovery, and let us help you unlock your full creative potential.

Safety First

Your safety is our utmost priority, especially when exploring remote locations. As certified Wilderness First Responders, David and Jennifer are prepared to handle any situation, big or small. We also carry satellite communication devices to ensure we can request rescue assistance if needed in areas without cellular coverage.

Responsible

As proud members of Nature First Photography, we are committed to responsible nature photography practices. We abide by and promote the seven principles of this movement to our clients, encouraging them to join us in preserving the natural world we capture through our lenses.

Join Nature First

Legal Compliance

At Exploring Exposure, we operate with the highest level of integrity. We obtain all necessary permits, carry comprehensive liability insurance, and acquire any required certifications to ensure our workshops are conducted legally and ethically.

For this workshop Exploring Exposure operates under a Commercial Use Authorization with the National Park Service. We are also an equal opportunity service provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are spouses/partners welcome?

Our workshops are designed as immersive group learning experiences. Participation in all activities, including field excursions and instructional sessions, requires full registration and payment of the workshop fee. Therefore, spouses or partners who wish to join must register as participants.

Will I have cell service during the workshop?

In many remote areas we visit, cell service and Wi-Fi can be extremely limited or non-existent during field excursions. Expect potential periods of being offline. Service is typically available at our accommodation, but cannot be guaranteed everywhere. We carry a satellite communication device for emergency use.

Will weather cancel the workshop?

Often, dramatic weather provides the best photographic opportunities! We prioritize participant safety, but the workshop will proceed in most weather conditions. Locations or schedules might be adjusted if conditions pose a significant safety risk (e.g., hazardous roads, extreme events). We encourage embracing the elements! Please note that no refunds or rescheduling are offered based on weather circumstances.

Do the instructors photograph during workshops?

Our commitment is first and foremost to your learning and creative exploration. While you might see us create some images during our time in the field, it's always with an educational purpose in mind. We might photograph to:

  • Walk you through how we evaluate and compose a scene, sharing the excitement and challenges together.
  • Demonstrate a specific technique (like focus stacking, long exposure, or ICM).
  • Make images during our field sessions that reflect the specific locations and conditions you're experiencing. This provides highly relevant examples for demonstrating the Rethink processing workflow, directly applicable to the images you're creating on the trip.

Engaging in the creative process alongside you can be instructive and helps foster a shared experience and connection within the group. However, this never takes precedence over providing personalized attention and ensuring you have the support you need to develop your vision. Our focus remains squarely on you.

Detailed Fitness Requirements & Terrain

Physical Activity Level & Terrain: Moderate

This workshop explores some of Death Valley's more remote and rugged locations, involving short hikes over varied desert terrain, including a challenging approach to sand dunes and a ridge hike with exposure. Off-road travel is required to access these locations.

  • Daily Hiking: Expect short hikes totaling approximately 2-3 miles per day, broken into segments as we explore different locations.
  • Sand Dune Exploration & Approach: A key activity involves hiking to a specific sand dune location. The approach hike is approximately 1.5 miles one-way (3 miles round trip). While not involving major elevation gain, this hike requires navigating varied and potentially challenging terrain. This includes walking through sandy washes, crossing sections of rocky ground, and being mindful of areas where the ground might be unstable or collapsing due to underground animal burrows.
  • Hiking in Darkness: Critically, the return hike from the dunes after sunset or night photography sessions will be undertaken in complete darkness. Navigating this mixed terrain (rocks, washes, unstable sand) by headlamp requires careful footing, attention, and confidence.
  • Once at the Dunes: Upon reaching the dune field, you can choose your level of exploration. The dunes themselves offer opportunities for walking on softer sand, with some gentle ups and downs on lower, rolling sections. For those wanting to explore further or climb higher dune ridges, we can utilize our two-leader setup to split the group, accommodating different energy levels and interests.
  • Ridge Hike: Another location involves a hike up a defined but steep and narrow ridge to gain a commanding viewpoint. This section involves exposure and requires comfort with heights. If participants are uncomfortable with this section, we can split the group, with some opting for a lower viewpoint or alternative exploration nearby.
  • Terrain Summary: Be prepared for varied desert terrain including sandy washes, loose sand, packed sand, rocky sections, uneven ground, and potentially unstable surfaces. The ridge hike adds steepness and exposure.
  • Fitness Expectation: Participants must be comfortable walking up to 3 miles total per day over mixed, uneven desert terrain, including potentially tiring surfaces like sand. You need to be steady on your feet. Crucially, you must be comfortable and capable of navigating uneven, rocky, and potentially unstable terrain in the dark using only a headlamp. For the ridge hike portion, comfort with heights and exposure on a narrow trail is necessary.

How to Get There

  • We recommend flying to Las Vegas, from there it is a 2 hour drive to Furnace Creek.
  • We recommend using Google Flights to find the best option for where you are coming from.

Cancellation Policy

We put a lot of care into planning intimate, high-quality workshop experiences. Because our group sizes are small and significant logistical planning begins well in advance, we must adhere to a firm cancellation policy. We strongly encourage you to purchase trip insurance to protect your investment should unforeseen circumstances arise.

  • Initial Payment: An initial payment is required to secure your spot in the workshop.
  • Cancellation More Than 90 Days Out: If you need to cancel your registration more than 90 days before the workshop start date, we will refund your initial payment, minus a $100 administration fee.
  • Cancellation Between 60 and 90 Days Out: If you cancel fewer than 90 days but more than 60 days before the workshop start date, your initial payment becomes non-refundable. However, should we successfully fill your spot from a waiting list or new registration, we will refund your initial payment, minus a 5% payment processing fee.
  • Automatic Final Balance Payment: The remaining balance for the workshop will be automatically charged to the card used for the initial payment 60 days prior to the workshop start date. We will send a courtesy reminder email a few days before this charge occurs. It is your responsibility to ensure your payment information is up-to-date. If you need to use a different card for the final payment, please contact us well before the 60-day deadline.
  • Cancellation Within 60 Days (After Automatic Final Payment): If you cancel fewer than 60 days before the workshop start date, after the final balance has been automatically charged, all payments made (initial payment and final balance) are non-refundable. This is why we strongly recommend trip insurance. However, should we successfully fill your spot from a waiting list or new registration, we will refund your total payments, minus a 5% payment processing fee. We will make a reasonable effort to fill the spot but cannot guarantee it, especially close to the start date.
  • Process & Policy Understanding: All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email or US mail. Please understand that this policy applies regardless of the reason for cancellation, including medical emergencies, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances. There are no exceptions.
  • Trip Insurance is Highly Recommended: Again, to safeguard against unexpected events (personal/family emergencies, illness, travel delays, etc.) that might prevent you from attending, we strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation and interruption insurance. This can help cover your workshop fees and travel expenses should you need to cancel within the non-refundable period. These are just suggestions, and we have no affiliation with them, but you might consider providers like TravelGuard, World Nomads, or Allianz Travel. Please research plans carefully to ensure they meet your needs.
  • Workshop Cancellation by Exploring Exposure: We reserve the right to cancel a workshop if the minimum participant enrollment is not met or due to other unforeseen circumstances (e.g., leader illness, park closures). If we must cancel a workshop, you will be notified as soon as possible and offered the choice of transferring your registration and payments to a future workshop or receiving a full refund of all payments made directly to Exploring Exposure. Exploring Exposure is not liable for any other expenses you may have incurred, such as airfare, lodging, or rental cars. Trip insurance can often cover these associated costs in case of workshop cancellation by us, providing another reason for its purchase.

Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out, we are happy to help!

Customer Reviews

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B
Bill

David and Jennifer did a wonderful job on this workshop. Under the best of circumstances, Death Valley can be a difficult area to photograph. During this trip, getting into back country proved difficult due to extreme weather that seems to be the new normal: think sustained wind speeds of 40 mph for two days; snow blocking, or threatening to block passes around the park; and, abnormally low temperatures for the time of year. David and Jennifer's new motto should be 'Plan to Improvise' because they are very adroit at both. Their knowledge of the area allowed them to shuffle the planned itinerary for the safety and satisfaction of everyone.

M
Mike

We embarked on a multi-day backcountry camping adventure in DV with David and Jennifer at the lead. Right from the start, we were faced with challenging weather conditions which forced them to reevaluate the original itinerary. They were very professional and diplomatic about explaining the options and included the group in the final decision. We were faced with similar weather challenges throughout the trip and each time they were successful at providing us with the best possible shooting locations given the circumstances, even if it meant long unplanned drives. Thankfully they have an intimate knowledge of DV and the surrounds, which enabled them to work with the cards Mother Nature dealt us. They are very accommodating workshop leaders and provided a very comfortable camping experience, cooking meals and always checking in to make sure everyone was comfortable. In the field, they are available to answer any questions you have and willing to give you as much or as little guidance as you desire. Their teaching approach is not overbearing and they are very approachable. Even though our workshop did not include a formal post-processing session, they still found some time to do some teaching on the subject. Even though they are highly accomplished photographers, they are very personable and down to earth and make the whole experience very fun.

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