Death Valley Workshop With Sapna Reddy

Experience the beauty of the barren. Winter in Death Valley is an exceptional time of the year as passing storms generate incredible atmosphere with remarkable light. There is an increased chance of catching reflections as the salt pans are transformed into giant mirrors. Woven with the tapestry of sand dunes, salt flats and majestic mountains, Death Valley is a favorite for obvious reasons amongst landscape photographers. The plethora of subjects, the diversity of the landscape, the relative solitude the location offers all combine to produce an unforgettable experience. The patterns and textures of the valley create the opportunity for compelling visual stories through composition and light.

In addition to the dramatic angled light of sunrise and sunset, Death Valley is home to some of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States. We are specifically staying inside the park at Stove Pipe Wells (accommodations are reserved in advance given high demand) to shorten our commute to various locations and in turn this gives us more time to shoot and rest. This workshop will require mild hiking (no more than 1-2 miles) through rocky or sandy terrain.

During our journey in the field you will learn:
-How to distill the scene before you to create an evocative image.
-Find compelling compositions that convey a strong visual story.
-Observing the nuances of light and finding the best light for the scene.
-Focus stacking, focal length blend, and perspective blend.
-Mastering the technical details of image capture including bracketing and exposure blend.
-Choice of focal length and creative ways to use lens distortion.
-Using filters.

During the dedicated post processing sessions you will learn: 
-Planning your shoot. Learn to predict weather using apps.
-Blend multiple exposures as well as images in photoshop.
-Final image rendition for focus stacking using Photoshop and Helicon focus.
-Learning how to use luminosity masks for tonal adjustments.
-Specific steps that can be taken in post-processing to strengthen the visual pathway through your image.