Moab, Utah, is home to three internationally recognized dark sky parks: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Dead Horse Point State Park. Moab is also home to many off-the-beaten-track locations – places we will have to ourselves at night, where we can capture more unique Milky Way images and practice the art of light painting. (FYI – light painting of any kind is illegal in Arches and Canyonlands).

We will spend three nights photographing the Milky Way against a wide variety of fascinating rock formations, led by local Moab photographers and guides Bryan Haile and Colin D. Young. We will also photograph sunsets in fantastic locations.

The workshop will include classroom work to improve your photographic craft and time to process and critique your images. We will shoot each evening into late at night as the weather allows, with a few hours each day dedicated to classroom instruction and image processing. With two professional workshop leaders leading tours in the area year-round, there will be many opportunities for one-on-one instruction. We will end the workshop with a group slide show and constructive critique.

About the workshop leaders
Bryan Haile has been a professional landscape photographer and tour guide in Moab, Utah, for the past 7 years. He has led more than 250 tours in the Moab area and has over 20 years of experience as a Professional Nikon Photographer. Bryan lived and worked as a wedding and portrait photographer in Colorado before moving permanently to Moab in 2016. Bryan’s specialities include landscape composition and night photography, backed up by his vast knowledge of the Moab area.

Colin D. Young is an award-winning photographer who has spent several years exploring the red rock Canyonlands of Southern Utah and the mountains of Colorado. As a part-time resident of Moab since 2011, he has spent several weeks a year exploring the photographic riches in and around Moab in every season. He has been leading workshops and tours in the area for several years as the founder of Rock Light Photo Tours. He is a certified and insured photography travel guide in nearby Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Canyonlands National Parks.

Skills needed
All skill levels are welcome. This workshop will benefit participants with a good working knowledge of their cameras, a basic understanding of digital workflow, and some knowledge or exposure to Adobe Lightroom and/or Photoshop.

Physical demands
Though locations visited during this workshop are readily accessible, the hilly terrain requires moderate hiking (typically less than 3 miles round trip). Participants must be in good physical shape and able to climb and descend moderate to steep inclines at night. They should wear sturdy boots and use caution on slippery and rocky slopes. As this is a night workshop, we will be shooting late at night, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning.

Group size
Maximum 10 photographers. Please note that Colin’s June workshop is already sold out, so we expect this workshop to sell out quickly!

Dates and times
The workshop begins on Friday, September 6, at 3 p.m. and ends on Monday, September 9th, at noon.

Where to Meet
Participants will gather at a location TBA in Moab, Utah. Directions and details will be sent well in advance of the workshop.

Registration fee: $1065 USD per person (includes 6.85% Utah services tax). Deposit to reserve a date: $300 USD