Joshua Tree National Park Night Skies Photography Workshop

Photo by Bruce Herwig

The health and safety of our participants and staff is of the utmost importance to us. Please read our updated COVID-19 Health Procedures and Cancellation Policies for 2020 workshops. 

Overview

Imagine seeing the orange glow of sunset over the mythical-looking Joshua trees before watching the Milky Way arch over the California desert.

This workshop will immerse you and a small group of participants in the art of landscape and night skies photography in Joshua Tree National Park. We’ll take advantage of the park’s dark night skies and stunning sunsets to capture this compelling desert park.

The workshop is headquartered at the Campbell House in 29 Palms, conveniently located near the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. Lodging is not included in this workshop, but a room block has been set up at the Campbell House and its sister property, 29 Palms Inn. See details below.

The workshop begins with a seminar at 1:30 p.m. on October 15. From there, we’ll head into to park to shoot the sunset and stay to capture blue hour and eat dinner in the field, before moving on to capture the Milky Way. The next morning, we’ll cover post-processing over breakfast. Be prepared to walk up to a quarter mile on uneven surfaces to get to each shoot location.

Tamron USA will have their full complement of lenses available to loan out to you for the entire program in Canon, Sony and Nikon mounts. National Park Trips (an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service) and Tamron USA have teamed up to for the 5th year in a row to offer National Park Photography Workshops in parks across the Western United States in 2020. 

 What's Included:

• Expert instruction by Tamron photographers
• In-the-field personalized instruction at several locations within Joshua Tree National Park
• Full line of Tamron lenses available for all participants to use throughout the workshop
• 3-hour pre-shoot seminar (sunset, night skies techniques + light painting)
• 2.5-hour post-shoot seminar (post processing)
• Transportation to and from the Campbell House to all shoot locations
• Dinner and snacks on the 15th, breakfast on the 16th

Itinerary

Thursday, October 15, 2020

1:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.: Intro to Workshop & Photography Seminar at the Campbell House; lens loaner
5 p.m. Leave for sunset shoot
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Sunset/Blue Hour Shoot (sunset at 6:06 p.m.)
7:30 p.m.: Boxed dinner served in field
8:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Night Skies Shoot 
12 a.m.: Leave the park to return to Campbell House

Friday, October 16, 2020

7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Post Processing seminar with breakfast at Campbell House

Workshop Headquarters

Campbell House
74744 Joe Davis Dr.
29 Palms, CA 92277

Transportation and Lodging:

All participants must arrange transportation to the Campbell House. 

In the past, all of our workshops have been van-supported, however given uncertaintly due to COVID-19 developments, 2020 workshop attendees may be asked to drive their own vehicles to and from each photo shoot location in Joshua Tree National Park to adhere to social distancing protocols. We will be in close contact with attendees in the weeks leading up to the workshop to confirm the transportation arrangements.

Be prepared to walk up to a quarter of a mile on uneven surfaces from the parking location to shooting locations. 

Lodging is not included for this workshop. We have set up a room block with the Campbell House and its sister property down the road, 29 Palms Inn, at a discounted rate of 20% off. Participants are not required to stay at the host property, but can reserve rooms by emailing liz@29palmsinn.com or calling the Campbell House and asking for Liz at 760-367-3238 or the 29 Palms Inn and asking for Liz at 760-367-3505.

Our block and special rate are valid the night before and the night of the workshop. Availability guaranteed until August 13, 2020.

Weather:

The desert experiences large temperatures swings, so we suggest dressing in layers. Daytime temperatures can be in the 80s, but as soon as the sun goes down, the temperature can swing into the low 50s.

Inclement Weather:

In the event weather prevents photographing the night skies, we will have several contingencies.

Fee:

$395 + processing fees. Includes workshop, transportation to and from shoot locations, and some meals. Airfare and lodging not included.

Your registration fee includes a complimentary membership to the Joshua Tree National Park Association (a $35 donation). This organization supports various conservation and education projects in the park. Your membership includes:

• 15% discount on merchandise at Joshua Tree National Park Association park stores, with reciprocal park store discounts at many other National Parks
• Keys Views, our JTNPA newsletter, and a monthly e-newsletter update on park events
• $10 discount off every Desert Institute class
• Joshua Tree National Park Association sticker

Your Instructors:

Erica Robinson

Erica Robinson has always had a strong passion for both photography and travel, but once merging the two together is where she found her true calling. After studying photography in college, her first adventure was working as a photographer for a cruise line. Trying to pursue a different genre she then worked with talented Boston wedding photographers while learning the technical side working for a local camera store. Photography is an incredible tool that allows us to stop a moment and relive it every time we look at that image. She genuinely enjoys teaching others how to capture that moment in the way it makes them feel, to relive it over and over again. 

Armando Flores

Armando Flores studied photojournalism in college and worked at a camera store to support his newfound expensive photo habit. He has worked for Nikon, Sony and now Tamron where he has honed his photographic skills for more than 30 years. Photography has enabled him to travel to many foreign lands and to attend large media and sporting events. He has photographed professional sports for more than 17 years and has worked for Reuters, Associated Press, AMPAS, HFPA and IGLA as a contributing photographer. His passion has always been to lend a hand to new aspiring photographers.

Questions:

Please email Mikaela Ruland at mruland@nationalparktrips.com.