Adventure with Jess & Ryan into the otherworldly landscapes of Utah's remote badlands, May 27th to 31st, 2025. We will be exploring some of the darkest skies in the lower 48! Along the way, we'll discover epic views filled with textured canyons and uniquely shaped buttes. We both love getting off of the beaten path and exploring the lesser known parts of the wild west and that’s what this workshop is all about!

Focusing on EVERYTHING astrophotography, become a master of shooting the stars in this intesive night photography boot camp. What sets our masterclass apart is our commitment to providing you with a comprehensive learning experience. We go above and beyond the basics, immersing you in every facet of astrophotography. From mastering the art of capturing single images to delving into advanced techniques such as image stacking, star trails, timelapse, and tracking, we leave no stone unturned. Register Today and Master the Stars!

More than that we value the experience of adventuring in the outdoors and will encourage you to enjoy staring up at the stars with us while wandering the dirt roads of these alien landscapes.

We have left the itinerary flexible to be able to chase clear skies, if it rains or conditions prove unsafe to venture out we will work on post processing, image critiques and in classroom sessions, there's always so much to learn both in field and in the classroom!

We are limiting the group size to 10 students to ensure that everyone recieves our attention and to keep compositional possibilities uncluttered.

This workshop will require moderate hiking (no more than 3 miles) through rocky or sandy terrain.

Astrophotography Masterclass in the Utah Badlands (2025)

$2,899.00

Utah Workshop Bundle Sale

This workshop includes:

- Hotel or AirBnb Lodging on all nights based on Single Occupancy

- Timelapse Photography, Videography, Post Processing Instruction, Image Critiques

- NEW! Pre and Post Workshop Zoom Editing Session

- Park Entrance Fees

This workshop does NOT include:

- Ground Transportation or Airfare from your home to Hanksville, Utah

- Ground Transportation to all shooting locations. These are backcountry roads, this means a High Clearance Vehicle is RECOMMENDED (4x4 recommended, but not required). Please contact us if you need assistance in securing a capable vehicle. No previous dirt road driving experience required.

- Travel Insurance

- Meals, Drinks & Snacks
You will need to bring the following with you:

- DSLR or Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens

- A wide angle fast lens, you will need a minimum of 24mm and f/2.8 lens (although I would recommend a 16mm)

- A mid range lens (24-70mm or similar)

- A telephoto lens (recommended 200mm at a minimum)

- A sturdy tripod, if you'd like a recommendation on tripods, I use a Slik USA Pro CF 734 Legs with 200DQ Ballhead this is a great lightweight and sturdy option, it also gets low enough to the ground to create some great compositions. (Slik is giving 15% discount to anyone wishing to upgrade their gear, use code missjess15)

- Laptop for post processing sessions

- Memory cards, external hard drive

- Extra Batteries and chargers

- Rain fly for your camera & bag

- Shutter release cable

- Headlamp (white light recommended, preferably without a red light)

- If you have filters please bring them as we can show you how and when to use them. If you'd like a recommendation on filters, I use the Cokin EVO System wit Polarizer (Z Series), Soft Grad 3 Stop, Reverse Grad 3 Stop, ND 6, ND 10, Clear Sky Filter. Cokin is giving a 15% discount to those wishing to add their filter to their gear kit, use code missjess15)
- You will need sturdy hiking shoes. Although most locations won't require an extreme amount of hiking you will still need sturdy shoes with good grip.

- Lots of layers. Temperatures in the desert vary widely, a lot of times it can be over 90F during the day and as low as 40F during the night, so layers are a must. Wind might also be a factor in the temperature.

- A warm jacket. Again temperatures at night can drop significantly especially when it is windy.