Canyons, rock spires, and the colorful deserts of Utah
A Photography Expedition Through the Landscapes of Utah and Arizona
October 23 – November 3, 2027
Set out in search of light to a landscape where the rock changes with every hour: from the gentle waves of white sandstone to the red spires of Monument Valley to the quiet, colorful deserts of Utah. You’ll return with photographs that can never be replicated and a journey that will be remembered as one of those truly exceptional experiences.
✦ 12 days ✦ up to 6 photographers ✦ 5 excursions with local guides ✦ one night at Hunts Mesa ✦ local transportation, admission fees, and lodging included ✦ option to rent Sony photography equipment
The American Southwest is a landscape where the land has made do with rock, sand, and light—and yet you could hardly accuse it of lacking imagination. Sandstone forms waves, rock towers rise from the desert, and in the deep canyons, the colors shift with every glint of the sun.
I invite you to join me on a photography journey through Arizona and Utah—from the twists and turns of the Colorado River and the narrow passages of Lower Antelope Canyon, through Monument Valley, to the fascinating landscape around Hanksville and the rock amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon. We’ll seek out both sweeping compositions and subtle details: the patterns of erosion, color transitions, the rhythm of the rocks, and those moments when light brings order to the entire scene.
We’ll travel in a small group of four to six photographers. At each location, I’ll be available to help you find the right composition, work with the light, and adjust your camera settings. Included in the price are excursions with local guides, a sunset photo session at White Pocket, and an overnight stay right on Hunts Mesa, where we’ll experience Monument Valley in both evening and morning light.
✪ Dates: October 23 – November 3, 2027
✪ Duration: 12 days, 11 nights
✪ 4 to 6 participants + guide
✪ Start and end of the expedition: Salt Lake City Airport
✪ Accommodations: in hotels, motels, or cabins, and one night at a campground on Hunts Mesa
✪ Focus: landscape photography, composition, light, colors, textures, and image processing
✪ For beginner and intermediate photographers
✪ 20% discount on Sony, Shimoda, Haida and Benro purchases
Price: 126,000 CZK / 4,900 EUR (excluding VAT)
The expedition itinerary is tentative. The order of the locations visited and the individual parts of the itinerary are subject to change depending on the current flight schedule, weather conditions, and the accessibility of the locations. I will inform you of any changes in a timely manner, and the participants’ legal rights will not be affected.
Preliminary Expedition Plan
Hunts Mesa | Monument Valley
The itinerary provided is preliminary. I will adjust the final routes, travel times, and specific photography locations based on published flight schedules, current weather conditions, road conditions, and conditions in the areas we visit. Any changes made are always intended to ensure the expedition proceeds safely and to make the best possible use of the light and photographic opportunities.
Utah Badlands near Hanksville
We’ll set out from Salt Lake City toward the desolate badlands near Hanksville, where gray clays, bluish shadows, and rust-colored sandstone create a landscape that’s almost otherworldly, yet strangely familiar. It’s a place tailor-made for drone photography: only from above can you fully appreciate the subtle folds of the earth, the patterns of erosion grooves, the color transitions, and the solitary table-top mountains. We’ll be photographing Moonscape, Factory Butte, and Bentonite Hills—always with due regard for local regulations, weather conditions, and safety.
Monument Valley and Hunts Mesa
Then we’ll head to the rock spires and vast horizons of Mexican Hat and Monument Valley. Here, the highlight of the entire expedition awaits us—a night on the iconic Hunts Mesa. We’ll drive our off-road vehicles up above Monument Valley and stay there until morning. In the evening, the rock spires will be bathed in long shadows, and at dawn they’ll reemerge from the silence of the desert. Spending the night right on the mesa will allow us to photograph both the evening and morning light without having to make a long drive back down to the valley—in a place where Monument Valley doesn’t feel like a familiar tourist spot, but rather like a vast, peaceful expanse.
Page and White Pocket
In Page, we’ll explore the Lower Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell below Wahweap Overlook, and the grand meanders of Horseshoe Bend. Via Kanab, we’ll head to White Pocket, where white sandstone gives way to waves of pink, orange, and gray, offering a different view every few steps.
Coral Pink, Red Canyon, and Bryce Canyon
The journey concludes with the red dunes of Coral Pink, Red Canyon, and the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon—a landscape that, in the morning light, looks as if it has just awakened from an ancient geological dream.
We’ll be taking photos mainly from the first hint of dawn until morning, and again in the late afternoon until sunset. We’ll use our travel time during the day to explore smaller subjects, focus on details, and respond to the clouds and changing light. Thanks to our small group, we can adapt to the location and conditions.
| Base | Through the Night | Main Area | Key Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | 1 | Arrival and Departure | — |
| Hanksville | 3 | Utah Badlands and Cathedral Valley | Goblin Valley, Moonscape Overlook, Factory Butte, Bentonite Hills, Lower Cathedral Valley |
| Mexican Hat | 2 | The San Juan River and Monument Valley | Comb Ridge, Goosenecks State Park, Muley Point, Moki Dugway, Valley of the Gods, Forrest Gump Point |
| Hunts Mesa | 1 | Monument Valley | A Night at Hunts Mesa, Morning and Evening Photography Tours in Monument Valley |
| Page | 1 | Lake Powell and Northern Arizona | Wahweap Overlook, Horseshoe Bend, Lower Antelope Canyon, Stud Horse Point |
| Kanab | 2 | Vermilion Cliffs and Paria | White Pocket, Toadstool Hoodoos, Coral Pink Sand Dunes |
| Tropic | 1 | Bryce and Red Canyon | Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon |
Total: 11 nights. The final day includes a morning photo shoot at Bryce Canyon and a drive to Salt Lake City for the flight home.
Utah Badlands
An Aerial Photography Paradise
The Badlands near Hanksville are exceptional for drone photography. From above, the endless abstract patterns of the Bentonite Hills, the delicate erosion grooves, the color gradients, and the solitary table mountains—which often cannot be captured on the ground in their true scale—are revealed. It is here that the landscape transforms into a scene full of lines, textures, and muted colors.
We’ll be using a traditional camera in many places, and it will remain irreplaceable for a variety of compositions. However, some of the most striking images of the badlands can only be captured from a bird’s-eye view. To get the most out of this part of the expedition, I therefore recommend bringing your own drone.
You don’t need to be an experienced pilot or own an expensive drone. I’ll help you with the controls, safe procedures, and finding the right composition right on location. In most situations, the DJI Mini 4 Pro or DJI Air 3 will work perfectly. We’ll only work in locations where local rules, FAA regulations, weather conditions, and safe operation permit it.
Here, a drone isn't just a piece of equipment. It's a tool that reveals the badlands in a whole new way and can yield images you'll keep coming back to in your portfolio for many years to come.
Arrival, Departure, and Meeting Place
The expedition begins on October 23, 2027, with a meeting at the Salt Lake City airport and ends on November 3, 2027, with our return to the same airport. We will provide details on the exact location and time of the meeting and the group departure transfer before the trip.
International airfare is not included in the price. Each participant is responsible for booking and paying for their own tickets. As soon as the flight schedule for the expedition dates is released, I will recommend suitable flights and arrival and departure times that will align with our group itinerary.
I recommend purchasing your plane tickets only after the expedition has been confirmed and a suitable flight connection has been agreed upon. If you choose a different arrival or departure time, we will arrange for connecting transportation in advance. Shared transfers are scheduled according to the confirmed expedition itinerary.
This date refers to your stay in the U.S. When planning your return trip, please also take into account that your arrival date in Europe will be later.
Fall Colors in Bryce Canyon
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
Trips Included in the Shipping Cost
Antelope Canyon
The group itinerary also includes excursions with local guides that require off-road transportation or are subject to Navajo Nation regulations. It’s not just about transportation: thanks to the guides’ expertise, we’ll reach places that can’t be accessed by a regular car, arrive at the right time for morning or evening light, and ensure that we respect local regulations and the character of the landscape. These excursions offer the most valuable photographic opportunities of the entire trip—from the flowing lines of the slot canyons to the silence and vast expanse of Hunts Mesa—and are an essential part of the expedition’s value.
Lower Antelope Canyon: Tour with a Local Guide and Admission Included
White Pocket: Full-Day Tour with a Local Guide and Off-Road Transportation
Evening photography tour in Monument Valley: access to locations along a prearranged route with a local Navajo guide
Morning photography tour in Monument Valley: access to locations along a prearranged route with a local Navajo guide
Overnight at Hunts Mesa Photography Tours: off-road transportation, local guide, evening and morning photography sessions, overnight stay at a campsite, equipment, dinner, and breakfast
The value of these trips lies not only in the included admission fees, transportation, and lodging, but above all in access to the landscape, which would not be possible without local partners or would require complex arrangements on one’s own. This allows participants to focus their time and energy on photography and experiencing the location.
Pace of the trip and physical demands
White Pocket
Be prepared for an early start, several long drives, and walking with your camera gear on sand and uneven terrain. Lower Antelope Canyon features steep staircases and narrow passages; some viewpoints require a short hike. The trail to Hunts Mesa runs through very uneven terrain, and the local tour operator does not recommend it for people with back or neck problems.
The program does not include full-day mountain hikes. What’s more important is general physical fitness, a steady gait, and a willingness to adapt to the day’s photography schedule. Warm clothing is necessary for morning photo sessions and spending the night outdoors.
During the expedition, we will adjust the daily schedule based on the current weather, light conditions, and trail conditions. Unpaved access roads, in particular, may affect the accessibility of certain locations. The goal is to take advantage of the conditions the landscape offers and leave plenty of time for photography itself.
Lodging and Meals
We’ll spend ten nights in comfortable hotels, motels, or cabins. Accommodations will primarily consist of twin-bed rooms with private bathrooms. We choose our accommodations based on proximity to photography locations and the opportunity to relax between morning and evening photo sessions.
We’ll spend one night camping right on Hunts Mesa in two-person tents. The local organizer will provide the tents, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags; please bring your own small pillow. This is a simple camping experience in nature that will allow us to stay up there to catch both the evening and morning light.
Meals are not included in the expedition, with the exception of dinner and breakfast during our stay at Hunts Mesa. We will confirm any breakfasts included in individual lodging reservations before the trip.
Single-occupancy accommodations
The single-room supplement is $110 per night, subject to availability. If you stay all 10 nights in hotels, motels, or cabins, the total supplement is $1,100.
The night at Hunts Mesa is spent in a shared two-person tent and is not included in the surcharge.
Bryce Canyon
Monument Valley
Techniques We'll Be Focusing On During the Expedition
In the field
Reading the Light and Choosing the Right Exposure
Composition: Balance, Harmony, Leading Lines, and Working with Depth in a Painting
Choosing a Lens: From Wide-Angle Landscapes to Landscape Abstractions with a Telephoto Lens
Drone Photography
Multi-frame panoramas
Working with scenes with a wide dynamic range using gradient filters and multiple exposures
Perceiving the Scene and Finding a Strong Motif
By prior arrangement, you’ll be able to try out selected Sony products, subject to availability. You’ll receive information about current partner benefits when planning your trip.
Image Processing
Choosing a processing style based on the mood and character of the photo
Local Contrast Adjustments in Adobe Lightroom
Shaping Light Using Contrast Tools in Lightroom
Combining Multiple Exposures of the Same Shot
Panorama Stitching
Final adjustments for the look, depth, and energy of the photo
Sharpening Images
Join Us
If you're interested in an 11-day trip focused on light, landscapes, and photography in a small group, please contact me. I'd be happy to discuss the itinerary, equipment, and what you'd like to take away from the expedition in terms of photography.
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Physical difficulty
Low - Medium
Most locations are just a few minutes' walk away
More demanding locations by agreement within the group
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Group size
Min. 4, max. 6 photographers
Guide / Photographer
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Reservation
A spot on the expedition is reserved upon payment of a deposit of 42,000 CZK / 1,633 EUR
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Payment
The shipping fee is paid in three equal installments:
1/3 of the price upon booking—your reservation is confirmed upon receipt of this payment
1/3 of the price through April 23, 2027
1/3 of the price through July 23, 2027
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✔️ What is included
Individual Assistance and On-Site Instruction
An online group portfolio review within six weeks of your return.
Airport Transfers in the U.S.
Transportation as per the itinerary, including fuel and parking
10 nights in hotels, motels, or cabins in shared double rooms
Admission fees to parks and sites visited as part of the program
One night at the campground on Hunts Mesa, including equipment, dinner, and breakfast
Tour of Lower Antelope Canyon with a Local Guide
White Pocket Sunset Tour with a Local Guide and Off-Road Transportation
Morning and Evening Tours in Monument Valley with Local Guides
A trip to Hunts Mesa with a local guide and off-road transportation
Selected Sony equipment is available for rent by prior arrangement and subject to availability
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✘ What is not included
International airfare
Food, alcohol, refreshments and drinks
ESTA or Visa and Related Fees
Travel Insurance
Tips
Personal Expenses and Services Not Included in the Group Itinerary
Single-room supplement: $110 per night, for a total of $1,100 for all 10 nights, subject to availability.
You can find the complete terms and conditions here.
Experiences of participants in my previous photography expeditions.
"Dane, I also join in thanking you for a fabulously planned, organized, and above all, wonderfully led event. Thank you for the advice regarding both the technical aspects and, above all, the composition. I have much to think about and my head is full of experiences. Thanks to the group for the great atmosphere, I felt excellent and had a great time. You are all very inspiring, but above all, great people. I would gladly go with such a group again in the future. I will be following you. Have a safe trip home."
— Tomáš Šoula
"Dane, thanks again for the super workshop, it was great, the location, the time of year, the light. Well organized, great accommodation. When you organize another Scotland somewhere else, or the UK, I'm in. Take care, and good luck."
— Jiří Soural
