Adventure Photography Expedition
July 22–26, 2026
Led by Jess Santos and Ryan Oswald
 
This summer, step into a living landscape painting in the heart of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Our 5-day photography expedition leads you into a world of alpine wildflowers, winding dirt roads, and skies so wide they feel mythic. From paintbrush covered meadows, boulders draped in columbine to towering peaks, every trail we follow tells a story and every frame you capture becomes part of that legend.
 
This isn’t just a workshop. It’s a journey into the wilderness with your camera as your guide. You’ll learn how to tell visual stories with depth, intention, and artistic voice all while exploring a land where adventure lives around every curve in the trail.
 
Workshop Details
Location: San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Dates: July 22–26, 2026
Group Size: Limited to 8 students
Hiking Difficulty: Easy to moderate (no more than 1 mile over rocky terrain at high elevation)
Elevation: Approximately 12,000 feet
 
What This Journey Looks Like
We’ll be photographing during golden hour, into twilight, and under the stars. Our focus is on creating strong visual depth using techniques like focal length blending, perspective control, and focus stacking. You’ll learn how to choose and manage focal lengths to build foreground-to-background cohesion in your images.
 
We’ll explore how to use color, balance and compositional flow to guide the viewer through the frame. Whether working with wide-angle lenses or stitching scenes together from multiple exposures, you’ll develop the tools to create thoughtful and engaging landscapes.
 
Throughout the week, we’ll stay flexible to follow the best light and conditions. When weather keeps us indoors, we’ll shift to editing sessions, image critiques and classroom-style instruction.
 
Why This Workshop is Different
This expedition takes you beyond the tourist trails and into the hidden folds of the San Juans. Based out of a mountain cabin in Silverton, we’ll use 4x4 vehicles to reach wildflower meadows, alpine basins, and cinematic overlooks few people ever get to see.
 
The roads are accessible for beginners but lead to places far beyond the ordinary. This freedom gives us the power to chase story-worthy light wherever it may be.
 
Our cabin keeps us close to the land, nestled deep in the backcountry. Each morning you’ll wake up already inside the landscape, ready to continue your creative quest. This is a workshop for those who want to build not just a portfolio, but a photographic narrative rooted in place and presence.
 
We’ll also include a post-workshop Zoom editing session, recorded for your convenience, where we’ll guide you through the entire image-making process from raw file to final edit.
 
Ideal For
Landscape photographers who crave a sense of place and story in their images
Creatives seeking to learn advanced techniques like focal length blending and wide-angle layering
Night photographers looking to combine starlight with wild foregrounds
Photographers of any experience level who enjoy hands-on, in-field learning
Adventurers who thrive off-road and off-grid, ready to trade comfort for connection
 
Ready to Begin Your Wildflower Quest?
This workshop is more than a trip, it’s a creative adventure into one of Colorado’s most magical seasons. If you’re ready to follow the wildflowers into the high country and come home with images that speak with voice and vision, we’d love to have you join us.
 
Spots are limited to ensure an intimate, story-driven experience.
Reserve your place today and let your lens lead the way.