Investigate the Alien Landscape of New Mexico with Jess Santos and Ryan Oswald on September 16th to 21st, 2025 on this overlanding photography workshop. This year we will be visiting a very special location with a Navajo Guide.

One step into this desolate world will truly make you feel like you have left planet earth. Hidden valleys of towering hoodoos and extraterrestrial slate formations create the perfect foreground for photographing the cosmos. 🌌👽

During this photography workshop we will chase the Milky Way through New Mexico's remote badlands. Using advanced astrophotography techniques you will learn to capture stunning images of the night sky. Your experiences in the dark skies of this vast desert will inspire you to create imagery that truly tells a stellar story.

This workshop is a little different...

Every attendee will have their own self-contained room on wheels! We are securing overland rigs (or similar) for this adventure. Because of the remote nature of this location having the freedom to base camp near our locations allows us more photography time.

Together we will take you on a backcountry journey that will leave you with wild photographs and wild experiences. Many of the photography locations in this workshop are hidden far from civilization in the New Mexican Desert and there is no better way to explore than outfitted with your very own overlanding rig.

Pack your camera, your sleeping bag and your favorite pillow... leave the rest up to us! Even the cooking, breakfast and dinner are provided on this workshop in true camping style.

We will return to civilization mid-week to refresh and take you into the digital darkroom to learn the processing of your images from start to finish.

(Please see adventure inclusions below for more info and/or send us a message)

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Optional Add-On - Capturing Timelapse with Robert Oleysyck

September 22nd to 24th, 2025 | $900

Are you ready for to add time-lapse to your repertoire? Come with us as we explore the unique landscapes of the New Mexico Badlands with time-lapse photography in mind. Robert Oleysyck, the time-lapse master, shows you how to capture the dance of light, shadow, and motion in one video that we can't see with the naked eye. You will capture sunrises and sunsets melting into the horizon, dramatic cloud formations, and the Milky Way streaking across the night sky. Discover the expert settings and techniques you need to create captivating time-lapse videos!

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We will be including a Post Workshop Group Zoom Editing Session to cover putting it all together in the digital darkroom, this will be screen recorded for you to be able to finish your images at your leisure.

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⛰ All experience levels are welcome.

We are limiting each group to 10 students based on vehicle availability, to ensure that everyone receives our attention and to keep compositional possibilities uncluttered.

This workshop is astrophotography based so we have kept the itinerary flexible to be able to chase clear skies at night and light during day. 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!

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

Overlanding New Mexico Photography Workshop (2025)

$2,999.00

This workshop includes:

- Due to liability, rental and insurance agreements, clients will be responsible for fees and paperwork related to the rental vehicles. We will work with you to ensure you are all set with a capable vehicle. If you have your own overlanding rig this does not apply. Rental fees are NOT included in the tuition cost of the workshop and can range from $199 - $300 per day.

- NEW! Pre and Post Workshop Zoom Editing Session

- NEW! Breakfast and Dinner Camp Style

- Hotel Lodging or AirBnB based on single occupancy for 1 night mid-week to recharge and work on some editing!

- Photography Instruction, Post-Processing Instruction, Image Critiques

This workshop does NOT include:

- Ground Transportation or Airfare from your home to Grand Junction, Colorado or Farmington, New Mexico

- Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

- Lunch, 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 mountains vary, a lot of times it can be over 80F during the day and as low as 50F 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.