Workshop Overview

Testimonial

Over the past few years, I attended several seminars, workshops and the like....  Generally there is little to no room for personal interaction and/or personal problem solving....  Not so with Ralph.... you can ask him whatever you want.  If he can help you he will.  Ralph is a problem solver and an evangelist.  He opened my eyes... and while respecting my "dislike" for Photoshop he developed a two-step process for "people like me."  Another fantastic thing about his attitude is that he respects everyone's opinion.  So, to all future workshop attendees,... if you want to be treated as a human and more importantly as a photographer who has his own opinion and way of working, sign up for a workshop with Ralph.

Johan Dermaut
Belgium

Our Philosophy

Our workshops emphasize great photography and personal attention.  You will get as much or as little one-on-one attention as you desire.   You will have assignments that teach and reinforce the principles of great landscape photography.

We will cover various topics during the workshop such as mastering exposure in difficult lighting situations, composition and light, advanced techniques and techniques for expanding our creativity.

One very popular feature is the print review.  In addition to reviewing the images you capture during the workshop, you are invited to bring up to six prints of your work for review and comments by the instructor.  The prints should be 8X10 or larger.  All reviews provide supportive and constructive feedback.  Participation is totally voluntary.

Our goal is for you to leave the workshop with some great photographs and feel you have grown as a photographer.

Location

Why conduct a workshop in Death Valley?  There are many reasons.

• Great locations – Death Valley’s geology is rich with wonders that range from volcanic craters to fantastic badlands, salt flats that stretch for miles, fascinating canyons and more.

• Great light – Winter time is the best time to be in Death Valley, not only because the temperatures are very pleasant but because the light is at its best.  Sunrises and sunsets can be utterly spectacular

• Weather – It’s quite possible to get some winter storms rolling through during our workshop.  In fact we selected this date precisely because such storms are possible.  And you know what Galen Rowell said about bad weather and great photography

Our base of operations will be Stovepipe Wells.  This provides comfortable accommodations and easy access to the Mesquite Flats Dunes and Mosaic Canyon, two of the many sites we can visit.  And if you prefer to camp, Stovepipe Wells has a campground for both tent campers and RV’ers

A Typical Day

The day of photography will begin before sunrise shoot and end after sunset.  This is when we will enjoy this valley under the most amazing light of the day.  During some days we will offer instruction.  On other days we will be traveling to more far flung sites

You will also be given assignments to hone your technical and creative skills.  As part of the assignments we will review and comment on each others’ works.  Some of the topics we will discuss include mastering exposure in complex lighting situations, advanced technical skills and exploring your creativity.

A very popular feature of our workshops is the print review.  Participants are invited to bring up to six prints of their work for feedback from the instructors.  This is strictly voluntary and all feedback is given in a spirit of positive and constructive feedback.

There may be a small amount of hiking and scrambling to reach some of the locations.  However, all hikes will be easy to moderate in difficulty.  No strenuous hikes will be undertaken.

Who Should Attend?

Our workshops are appropriate for anyone who has a passion for photography and nature, from beginners to serious amateurs and professionals. We will provide as much or as little individualized assistance as you desire and at a level appropriate to your experience. 

You will get the most out of the workshop if you have a digital SLR (film cameras are fine also) with one or more lenses that range in focal length from approximately 20 to 200 mm as detailed below.

What to Bring

The following is a short list of what to bring.  A comprehensive list will be provided when you register.

1. A digital SLR camera (film is also quite acceptable).  You will also need your camera's manual
2. Knowledge of how to do the following with your camera
   - Display the camera's histogram (preferable RGB if your camera supports that)
   - Use different modes such as aperture priority, shutter priority and manual
   - Exposure compensation - increase or decrease the exposure suggested by your light meter
   - Capturing images in RAW file format
3. Lenses that cover the range from wide angle (20-24 mm) to telephoto (150-200 mm).
4. Sturdy tripod
   - Quick release brackets are very handy
   - L-brackets that allow you to quickly switch from landscape to portrait are also very handy (optional)
5. Backup device for your files
   - Laptop computer is preferable, ideally installed with Lightroom and Photoshop or equivalent software
   - Portable hard drives also work well
6. Extra batteries and chargers
7. Extra memory cards (or film)

Schedule

Day 1: Meet in Death Valley National Park (at a place to be announced) for orientation and a sunset shoot.  Lodging is in Stovepipe Wells.

Day 2:  Sunrise and sunset in locations to be selected to take advantage of local conditions and the best light.  We will also explore the many cameo locations found in the valley.  Classes, assignments and reviews will be conducted mid-day.

Day 3: Sunrise and sunset locations will again be selected for the best conditions.  More classes, assignments and review will be conducted during the day or we may travel to one of the more remote locations for sunset.

Day 4: Final sunrise shoot in the valley followed by the workshop wrap-up.  Departure after a final lunch together.

 Some of the locations we may photograph include Artists Palette, Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flats Dunes, Badwater, Devils Golf Course, Golden Canyon, Mosaic Canyon, Wildrose, Rhyolite, Race Track, Aguereberry Point, Charcoal Kilns, Devil's Cornfield, Dante's View,....  We obviously won't be able to cover all of these in three days but we have lots to choose from.

This itinerary may change according to weather and photographic opportunities.  However the lodging arrangements will not.

Testimonial

The friendly and patient attitude of the instructor, variety of good places to photograph, handouts and technical discussion.

Kit Rosenlund
California

Lodging

Death Valley has only a couple of lodging options - Stove Pipe Wells and Furnace Creek.  We will base our operations out of Stove Pipe Wells Village. Lodging, RV'ing and camping are all available there.

Stove Pipe Wells Village
State Hwy 190
Death Valley, CA 92328
Phone: 760-786-2387

You are responsible for making your own lodging arrangements.

Travel Information

Out of State

Fly into Las Vegas Mc Carran International Airport.  Death Valley is about 150 miles or 2 1/h hours.  You take SR 160 north to Parump, NV.  Follow the signs to Death Valley Junction, CA and from there take SR 160 into Death Valley.  Continue past Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells.

Southern California

Death Valley is about 350 miles from Southern California.  Take I-15 north to Baker.  From there head north on SR 127 to Death Valley Junction.  Turn left on SR 160 into Death Valley.  Continue past Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells

Weather

We can expect chilly temperatures in in the mornings this time of year.  Temperatures in the day should be pleasant.  It's also possible a storm may come through (if we're really lucky).

To Sign Up

Attendees will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. To sign up complete the Registration and Assumption of Risk forms and fax them to Ralph Nordstrom at (949) 589-8457 or mail them to Ralph Nordstrom Photography, 25422 Trabuco Road, Ste 105/250, Lake Forest, CA 92630.  A $200 non-refundable deposit is required with your registration.  You can pay be credit card or check.  We accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express.  Click on the links below to download the forms.

Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel, please notify us at least 7 days before the event.  The $200 deposit is non-refundable.  However, the remainder of the workshop fee is refundable or can be applied to future workshops.