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WHAT TO EXPECT

We will be chasing the light around different locations in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Most of the shooting locations will center around the Superstition Mountains and the surrounding National Forest.

We will shoot at sunrise, making good use of the soft light of early morning and then use the more dramatic light when the sun crests the horizon. Each day after our morning shoot we will take a break to rest up, review images and prepare for our sunset shoot. We will be shooting at a variety of locations plus the possibility of visiting one location more than once for a chance at better light or for different compositions.

The group size is limited to four photographers, plus myself, for a nice intimate session where everyone will have a chance at a good spot to get the right composition for their image.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This workshop will provide value for any photographer, from beginner to advanced attendees. Having a good working knowledge of your camera would be ideal, but it is perfectly alright if you are just beginning! We will assess the skill level of all participants before the workshop begins to ensure the best experience for everyone!

ITINERARY

There will be a pre-workshop Zoom meeting to discuss the goals for everyone and for a quick Q&A Session. Typically, we hold that meeting 30 days prior to the start of the workshop.

Thursday, July 24: We will meet on the first day at 2 PM for a meet and greet and a brief overview of the coming days before we head out for our first shoot at sunset.

Friday, July 25: The sun rises early in Arizona and so must we! We will meet in Gold Canyon, AZ at 3:45 am to head out to catch the light. Twilight on this day starts at 4:30 am and we will not want to miss it!

After our morning shoot, we will break so you can have a chance to get breakfast, review images and prepare for our sunset shoot.

We will meet again in Gold Canyon at 4:30 PM to head out to the site of our sunset shoot. Sun sets at 7:30 PM and the twilight ends at 8:30. Usually, we shoot until 8:30 or 9:00 to catch the twilight and blue hour light.

Saturday, July 26: We will meet even earlier in Gold Canyon (3:30 am) to head out to catch the early morning light. Twilight on this day starts at 4:33 am and we will not want to be late! The light will not be waiting for us!

After our morning shoot, we will break so you can have a chance to get breakfast, review images and prepare for our sunset shoot.

We will meet again in Gold Canyon at 4:30 PM to head out to the site of our sunset shoot. Sun sets at 7:30 PM and the twilight ends at 8:30 PM. Usually, we shoot until 8:30 or 9:00 to catch the twilight and blue hour light.

Sunday, July 27: We will meet early again in Gold Canyon (4:00 am) to head out to catch the early morning light. Twilight on this day starts at 4:34 am. Again, we will not to miss out on that beautiful early morning light!

After our morning shoot, we will do a quick image review and a short post-processing session before we say our goodbyes!

We will also have a post-workshop Zoom session scheduled to dedicate to post-processing and image reviews!

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • Professional Photography Instruction

  • In Person Post-Processing Session

  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting / Q&A

  • Post-Workshop Zoom Meeting for further Post-Processing

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

  • Transportation to and from Workshop Location

  • Lodging

  • Meals

  • Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

    Please Note: We will carpool as much as possible during the workshop, but come prepared to drive your own vehicle to our workshop locations. 4x4 is not required for this workshop.

INVESTMENT

The investment for this photography adventure is $1695 per person. There is a 10% discount if you register before April 24, 2025.

A deposit of $900 is required to reserve your spot with the balance due no later than May 24, 2025.

LODGING

Lodging is not included in the workshop investment.

There is a block of rooms reserved at the Gold Canyon Best Western. You may stay anywhere you would like, or you may camp at one of the many nearby campsites.

The entire workshop will be based out of Gold Canyon, AZ.

CANCELLATION POLICY

At times, circumstances arise to where it may affect your attendance for the workshop. Hopefully that will not be the case, but just in case that it does, the following cancellation policy will be applied.

If you cancel more than than 120 days before the scheduled start of the workshop, you will receive a full refund of all monies paid minus a $200 cancelation fee.

If you cancel 120 days or less before the scheduled start of the workshop, no refund will be provided unless your spot is filled, in which case a full refund of all monies paid will be provided to you.

If a workshop is cancelled on my end for any reason, a full refund will be provided to you.

WEATHER

Expect it to be HOT! This is the hottest time of the year and temperatures will stay above 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day. There are times in the Sonoran Desert where it is considerably above 100 during the day and even remains in triple digits overnight. Typically, it is about 104-108 on a late July afternoon with an overnight low in the lower 80s. But make no mistake: it’s hot.

Being able to work with the heat for this particular workshop is no joke. Be sure you are up for it!

This workshop is called Monsoon Magic for a reason. It is monsoon season at this time in the Sonoran Desert, and monsoon storms can be quite intense. It is strongly advised to bring a waterproof bag for your equipment in case the rain comes and we are in the middle of it!

HIKING

There is a very small amount of hiking involved in this particular workshop. The longest hike will be 1 mile in and 1 mile out on uneven terrain, but this particular hike will likely be done in the late afternoon hours when it is hot. While we will be taking all necessary precautions to perform this hike safely, you will want to come prepared for this.

The remainder of the workshop will involve small walks from our parking area, no more than 100 or 200 yards.

Please be sure that you are physically fit enough to perform the necessary hiking and for being on your feet for several hours at a time.

GEAR

The following camera gear is recommended for this workshop:

  • DSLR or mirror-less camera body (2 bodies are ideal)

  • Sturdy tripod with a ball-head

  • Wide angle lens (14 or 16mm preferred)

  • Midrange zoom lens (24-100 mm)

  • Telephoto lens (100-400 mm is ideal for abstracts)

  • Circular polarizer and ND filters for wide angle and midrange lens)

  • Extra batteries and memory cards

  • Lens cleaning supplies

  • Remote shutter release is recommended

Upon registration, we will send you a full list of recommended camera and personal gear suited for this particular workshop!

FAQ

Hopefully, this workshop synopsis has answered any questions that you may have regarding the Land & Light Workshops by Todd Stapleton Photography.

If you have any other questions regarding this workshop or just general inquiries, please visit the Contact page and drop us a quick line. We are generally pretty prompt in our response time.

REGISTRATION

Now that you have seen the details, the time has come to register for this workshop! You will be amazed on how much knowledge you can pick up from a professionally guided photography workshop like this one! You will also have an awesome time learning from a gifted instructor who is down to earth and makes learning fun!

IT’S TIME TO INVEST IN YOUR PASSION AND TAKE A PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURE THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER FOR YEARS TO COME!

THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT!

We have a WAITING LIST for this workshop that is on a first come, first served basis. You will be notified the moment we have a cancellation. To join the WAITING LIST, please click the button below!

2026 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE TO COME SOON

Email List Subscribers will be the first to know!