Fall Utah Badlands Art Retreat

October 21st-24th, 2027

Led by Jess Santos

There's something about Utah's badlands that makes you feel like you've stepped onto another planet. Towering buttes, strange rock formations and hills painted with layers of color stretch across the desert. Add in the changing colors of fall and you've got one of my favorite places to get creative with a camera.

For this four-day fine art photography retreat, we'll explore the badlands surrounding Hanksville, Utah, but we're going to do more than visit beautiful locations. We'll take inspiration from traditional landscape painters, learning how to use color, light, shape and composition to create photographs that tell a story.

From sweeping desert vistas to the smallest patterns carved into the hillsides, we'll explore how to find interesting compositions, develop creative ideas and make images that feel like your own.

Workshop Details

Location: Utah Badlands with Lodging in Hanksville, Utah
Dates: October 21st-24th, 2027
Group Size: Limited to 4 students
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate (up to 3 miles over rocky or sandy terrain)

What This Journey Looks Like

Our days will revolve around sunrise and sunset, exploring places like Goblin Valley, Moonscape Overlook, Factory Butte and the colorful hills around Caineville. We'll spend time learning about the elements of art, color theory, composition and visual storytelling, then head into the field to put those ideas to work.

One morning might be spent photographing layers of distant desert hills with a telephoto lens, looking for patterns and abstract compositions. Another might find us among golden cottonwoods or studying how sunlight and shadow transform the shape of a butte.

Between shoots, we'll have time for classroom lessons, image reviews and discussions about the creative process. The goal is to help you recognize what makes a scene interesting and figure out how to translate that into a photograph.

Why This Workshop is Different

A lot of photography workshops focus on getting you to the right place at the right time. And while great light certainly helps, there's so much more to creating a compelling photograph. We'll spend time studying the same art and design principles painters have used for centuries. Things like balance, movement, color harmony and the relationship between light and shadow.

Rather than rushing from one viewpoint to the next, I want you to have time to explore, experiment and really think about the images you're creating. With a small group, there's plenty of room for questions, individual feedback and trying something new.

Before the retreat, we'll have a Discord meet-up to go over preparation and what to expect. Afterward, you'll receive a recorded editing tutorial tailored to our Utah Badlands workshop, delivered through Dropbox so you can revisit the techniques at your own pace.

Ideal For

Photographers who feel stuck and want to rediscover creativity
Artists who want to integrate classical ideas into modern photography
Those curious about color harmony, story, rhythm and visual language
All levels of experience, with a focus on growth over gear

Ready to Create Powerful Images with Meaning?

This retreat is more than a trip into the badlands, we aim to approach photography as an artist’s craft. If you’re ready to connect with the autumn palette of Utah and create work that feels timeless and true to your vision, we’d love to have you join us.

Enrollment is limited to ensure an intimate, mentorship-focused experience.

Reserve your place today and begin your artistic journey.

Fall Utah Badlands Photography Workshop | Art Retreat (2027)

$2,499.00

Payment Options

This workshop includes:

Airbnb Accommodation based on single occupancy rooms.

Photography Instruction, Post-Processing Instruction, Image Critiques

Permits, Park Fees and any entry fees

NEW! Post Workshop Pre-Recorded Editing Tutorial

This workshop does NOT include:

Ground Transportation or Airfare from your home to Hanksville, UT and all shooting locations.

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Meals, drinks and 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 with 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)

There will be opportunity for drones, if you have one bring it.
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 widely, a lot of times it can be over 70F 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.
Once a deposit is paid it is not refundable, it may however be transferred to a future workshop when a spot is available, if cancelled 60 days or more prior to workshop start date.

If moving to a different workshop the switch must be secured within a year of cancellation.

If cancelled less than 60 days before workshop start date the deposit is not refundable and cannot be transferred.