• Monument Valley Workshop
Destination:
MONUMENT VALLEY
In-Field Experience:
Low light & Astrophotography
Group Size:
6 Guests
Travel Dates:
April 15 - 19, 2025
Capture Integration
PhaseOne_Logo

Monument Valley and Beyond Photography Workshop focuses on the Navajo Tribal Park and its surrounding landscape. The area is largely semi-desert and made up of red and yellow sandstone with a vegetation dominated by junipers, pinions and sage shrubs. The entire area is a very iconic and a touristic wonderland, however, even if you have already been a visitor to this place you will be surprised by incredibly stunning vistas, elegantly shaped arches and gravity defying spires. These ‘secret’ places require a Navajo guide. We will have highly knowledgeable Navajo guides to find and explore these hidden gems. This is a unique opportunity to photograph Monument Valley from its best vantage points, with its best light conditions at the right time of the day.

Highlights

Tear Drop Arch
Totem Pole with Milky Way
Sunrise at Hunt's Mesa followed by Cowboy Breakfast
Mystery Valley
Ancient Pueblo ruins and petroglyphs

5 spots are still available

Magical Monument Valley

Tear Drop Arch, Mystery Valley, Totem Pole and Hunt's Mesa are attractions to Monument Valley which are only to be seen by the few who have a knowledgable guide who knows where these are hidden and also knows how to master the off-road difficulties to get there. The driving up to Hunt's Mesa is nothing for the faint of heart, but you can leave behind your worries about this and concentrate on getting there and working and creating your images with the assistance of your photography instructor and the Phase One instructors to get the best possible images of the most iconic place in the US.

Additionally to these iconic places we will also go in search of Ancient Pueblo ruins and petroglyphs. These are an integral part of the Monument Valley and its surrounding area and document that humans had a special link to this landscape already for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

The photo tour is suited for beginners, advanced and semi-pro photographers. Participants must have a working knowledge of their own camera. A list of must-have and nice-to-have photographic gear will be provided once booking completed.

Strenuous rating: This tour requires good health and physical condition. Be prepared for daily hikes up to 30 minutes to 1 hour of duration. These are simple, partly sandy and uneven trails. Some short stretches are downhill or uphill with rocks, but no rock climbing. You need to be able to carry your photography gear backpack and a water bottle. Sturdy shoes and walking sticks might be helpful, but not mandatory.

Learn & Photograph with Passion

Work in different light conditions, with short/long exposures.
Learn about night photography techniques in the beautifully desolate surroundings of Monument Valley.
How to handle equipment with care on location and harsh weather conditions.
Assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, guide and help in general.
Hands-on lessons that can help to take your photography skills to the next level.
Learn about image back up strategies in-the-field to avoid any loss of your irreplaceable images.
Review and constructive criticism/feedback of the images taken during the tour.
List of must-have and of nice-to-have photography gear.

Itinerary

This tour offers an in-depth exploration of the Monument Valley and its surroundings. We will be out in search for unique and novel compositions at sunrise, sunset and during the night for some incredible astrophotography, including milky way and star trails. The days of this workshop are during new moon allowing us to explore the absolute darkness throughout the nights and the absence of light pollution in the Southwest.

We will meet each other at the hotel "The View" and have lunch and briefing. In sequence we will meet our Navajo guides at the parking lot of our hotel and drive to our first photographic sunset destination, Tear Drop Arch.

Be equipped for an informal dinner (sandwich, fruits, nuts, whatever fancies you …) while we move on to our next destination as the landscape plunges into darkness. We are approaching now Totem Pole and getting ready for a cold and exciting night of astrophotography.

Around 3 am we will engage in a crazy off-road drive up to Hunt’s Mesa to witness sunrise above Monument Valley. At the end of this shooting session you will rewarded by a breakfast prepared by our guide, including some strong cowboy coffee. We will drive back to our hotel for some rest and in anticipation for our next photographic adventure in the afternoon. You also have the opportunity to explore the Monument Valley on your own until we reconvene in the afternoon for the last Navajo guided portion of our workshop. Mystery Valley is waiting for us!

At the end of this very long, tiring and previous sleepless night we will drive to our hotel.

The following days we will have a photographing schedule of getting up very early and getting to bed late in the evening. We will explore several undisclosed petroglyphs, granaries.

Travel Facts

Facts

Monument Valley and Beyond Photography Workshop
April 15 - 19, 2025
5 Days
Number of guests: 6

Included
Welcome dinner
All breakfasts at the hotel
Navajo Guides
Transport around Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Breakfast at Hunt’s Mesa
Four nights in the hotel "Monument Valley View" (double occupancy)

Not included
Travel to Monument Valley and getting back home at the end of the workshop
Meals with exception of mentioned above
Beverages
Travel and Health insurance

Ask Us
Do you have any questions about the Monument Valley and Beyond Photography Workshop or would you like to go on a private customized tour?

Price

USD 5,200.

Groups sign-up of 3+ participants receive a 5% group discount.

Alumni to previous photo tour or workshop receive a 5% discount on the base price.

All prices are per person (photographing and non photographing guests).

To secure your reservation a deposit of USD 500 per person is required. Refunds are handled according to the Terms & Conditions. The remaining money is due 90 days prior to the trip.

We recommend an independent travel insurance. Knowing you have 100% trip cancellation coverage can make a big difference should you have to cancel for some unforeseen reason.

Overview

GETTING THERE

The closest airport to Monument Valley is the La Plata County Airport by Durango, CO. The drive from the airport to the hotel “The View” is approximately 180 miles, a drive of about 3h 20min.
Car rental is available at the airport. SUV is recommended over a compact car.

WEATHER

The summers in the Four Corners area are hot and mostly clear while the winters are very cold and partly cloudy, and it is dry year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 30°F to 97° F and is rarely below 22° F or above 103°F.

Typical temperatures to be expected during this photography tour: Min 25°F , Max 66°F.

BASIS AND RATES

All prices are quoted in US Dollars (US$). The prices are based on current tariffs and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While Peter Boehringer Photography will do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge, Peter Boehringer Photography reserves the right to do so, and notification will be given at the time of final invoicing.

PAYMENTS

A deposit is required at the time of booking. The invoice for the balance of payment will be issued 180 days prior to departure of international tours and 90 days for tours in the U.S.A., where after final payment is due. For reservations made within 180 days (international tours) or 90 days (tours within the U.S.A.) of the departure date, full payment is required when the reservation is accepted. In order to participate on a photography tour or workshop the participant must have made full payment prior to the start of the photography tour or workshop.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective on the date, which the letter or email is received by Peter Boehringer Photography. There is no cancellation charge until 180 days (international tours) and 90 days (tours within the U.S.A.) before departure with exception of transaction fees (5.8% + $0.6 + international exchange fees, if applicable). Cancellation charges less than 180 days (international tours) or 90 days (tours within the U.S.A.) before departure are expressed as a percentage of the total price, and are as follows: 179 – 91 days, for international tours, and 89 – 31 days, for tours within the U.S.A., before departure 50%, and 90 days for international tours and 30 days for tour within the U.S.A. or less before departure 100%. Leaving a photography tour or workshop in progress, for any reason whatsoever, will not result in a refund, and no refunds will be made for any unused portions of a photography tour or workshop. Peter Boehringer Photography reserves the right to cancel a photography tour or workshop because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically infeasible to operate, or because of good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If a photography tour or workshop is cancelled prior to departure, you will have a choice between a full refund minus transaction fees (5.8% + $0.6 + international exchange fees, if applicable) or a credit towards a future photography tour or workshop equivalent to amount paid. If Peter Boehringer Photography cancels the trip in progress, you will receive a pro-rata refund based on the number of days. Peter Boehringer Photography is not responsible for any refund for airline tickets, hotel accommodation, etc. purchased by the participant.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

In order to participate in a photography tour or workshop you are required to have comprehensive insurance coverage for personal accident and injury, medical and repatriation costs during the photography tour or workshop. In addition Peter Boehringer Photography strongly recommends that you arrange cancellation and travel insurance covering the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, cancellation of the photography tour or workshop (whether in whole or in part), loss of baggage and personal money and belongings, as well as flight cancellations and delays.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

You must be in good physical and mental health. Any physical condition or treatment requiring special attention must be reported in writing at the time of booking and again when signing Peter Boehringer Photography’s waiver of liability. By registering for a photography tour or workshop, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. Peter Boehringer Photography reserves the right in its sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant of a photography tour or workshop, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in our judgment, conditions warrant or if I Peter Boehringer Photography deems it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants.

SPECIAL REQUESTS

If you have special requests, e.g. dietary, cabin number, bedding type, airline seat or other requests, you should inform Peter Boehringer Photography of these at the time of booking. Peter Boehringer Photography cannot guarantee that such requests will be met, and will have no liability to you if such requests are not met.

RESPONSIBILITY 

Peter Boehringer Photography shall not be held liable for (a) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by Peter Boehringer Photography; and (b) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond our control. The participant waives any claim against Peter Boehringer Photography for any such loss, damage, injury, or death.
Peter Boehringer Photography shall not be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket to or from the participant’s Peter Boehringer Photography’s photography tour or workshop departure city. It is the sole responsibility of the participants to organize their own transportation to and from the meeting point as described in the photography tour or workshop itinerary, e.g. airport, hotel, and to ensure timely arrival. The participant should not book flights and/or hotel accommodation until Peter Boehringer Photography has issued final confirmation for the photography tour or workshop. In the event of late arrival it is the responsibility of the participant to join the photography tour or workshop, and to carry all associated expenses. Peter Boehringer Photography is not liable if the participant misses any portion of, or the entire photography tour or workshop as a result of the delay. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the responsibility of the participant.

OTHER

Other terms and conditions may apply to some photography tours or workshops, and details will always be provided with pre-trip mailings. By making the deposit payment, the participant agrees to the terms and conditions and the responsibility statements herein on behalf of all the individuals included in the booking.

TRAVEL SAFETY

I will be carrying an inReach device with me during the entire photographic tour for  everybody’s safety. The inReach is a handy satellite operated device which has virtually 100% coverage capabilities regardless of where we are located in the wilderness. This ensures that I can dispatch a SOS signal for an emergency evacuation. The dispatch is free, but all the costs related to the rescue will be your responsibility and that is why a comprehensive insurance is imperative and mandatory.

DISCLAIMER

Peter Boehringer is a physician by trade and he takes people along with him on his trips because he enjoys the company and the opportunity to help people get to know and photograph the Southwest. His goal is to have a pleasant, safe trip with artistic value photography as a result. We share gear, ideas, and experiences. We will not be going anyplace on public lands that are not generally open to the public. No photographs you take on public lands may be used to promote the sale or use of a product or service. We will not do any "commercial filming" as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations.

***

Digital photography, social media and modern travel patterns changed nature & landscape photography radically. The amount of people visiting the wilderness increased over the last two decades exponentially. Nature is coping poorly with the increased human presence. It is time that we all, who value nature and photography, question our behavior out there and prioritize the well-being of nature over photography. As such I support the entities Leave no Traces, Nature First, Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

Leave no Traces Nature First
Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance