Colorado Fall Colors photography Workshop
A 4-day workshop based out of beautiful Telluride, Colorado
October 5-8, 2023 - $1,600
Join seasoned Colorado photographers Martha Montiel and Shanda Akin for an unforgettable fall colors workshop in beautiful Telluride, Colorado. We’ll take you through winding trails and up to breathtaking vistas to capture the colors of fall in their full glory.
On this 4-day workshop, we will offer guidance, insights, and tips to help you better capture the vibrancy of fall in your images. From composition to lighting and editing, we will share our expertise and help each participant develop unique skills and style.
Beyond the technical aspects of photography, we also foster a sense of community and camaraderie among the group. As we explore the wilderness together, share snacks and meals, and bond over our shared love for photography, you will form lasting friendships and connections.
Take home beautiful images you’re proud of!
Vision
We will make sure each participant leaves with not only stunning images of Colorado’s fall colors, but with newfound confidence in your photography skills and a network of inspiring, talented photographers to support and collaborate with in the future. We constantly employ Nature First Photography and Leave No Trace principles on all our outdoor photography adventures.
Planning your trip
Please note that transportation and accommodations for the Fall Colors workshop are up to each individual participant.
Lodging: We have discounted rooms blocked for our group. After you sign up for this workshop, you will receive information on how to book your stay. You are welcome to stay at this hotel or any place of your choosing.
Car: If you aren’t driving your personal vehicle, we highly recommend renting a vehicle so you may also explore on your own before/after the workshop. We will be carpooling to each location during the workshop.
Flight: The closest airport is Montrose, Colorado or Durango, but you can also fly into Denver.
Note: Temperatures can range from the 30's overnight into 60's during the daytime so paying close attention to our recommended packing list and bringing layers is important, especially if you plan on joining us on a night shoot. Physical difficulty will range from easy. The elevation of Telluride is over 8,700 feet, which can catch people off-guard if you aren’t used to high elevations.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
Day 1 (Oct 5): Meet at 2pm in the lobby of the hotel for a short meet and greet and orientation to include camera settings. We will break to check-in to lodging and meet again for an early dinner before heading out to shoot at sunset.
Day 2 (Oct 6): We will rise early, meet at our designated place to carpool. We will be on location before the sun rises in order to capture the best light over the peaks and continue shooting through the early morning hours. We will return to town for breakfast. After breakfast, we will work on small scenes and intimate images. In the afternoon, we will meet back at the hotel for editing sessions. We will break for an early dinner before meeting up for the sunset shoot.
Day 3 (Oct 7): We will rise early, meet at our designated place to carpool. We will be on location before the sun rises in order to capture the best light. We will return to town for breakfast. After breakfast, we will have a classroom session on image processing and take a break to rest up for the sunset/night sessions.
Day 4 (Oct 8): We will rise early again to shoot the morning sunrise. After breakfast and a quick break, we will meet again for the image feedback session. Bring 10-12 of your best images from this workshop or previously captured and receive new ideas on how to improve. We will wrap up by 11am.
Notes: The agenda may change due to time of year, access, weather, wildlife, and other conditions. The sun rises around 7:10AM and sets around 6:45PM this time of year. When we add travel time to and from locations, this workshop calls for early mornings and late nights, so it's important to take advantage of the afternoon rest breaks. Many locations have limited parking so car-pooling is important if you feel comfortable riding/driving with others from the group. Optional night shoots will occur depending on conditions.
What's Not Included
Photography equipment
Meals
Flights
Lodging
Car
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
What's Included
Hands-on instruction
Small class size of 10
In-field use of learned skills
Classroom courses
Forest permits
Snacks and beverages on location
Portfolio feedback session
Connection with other people interested in learning
Meet Your Instructors
Shanda Akin is a landscape, nature, and adventure photographer whose endeavor is to "capture the remarkable". She retired from the Air Force after 25 years and moved back to Durango, Colorado to chase her dream as a freelance photographer. Though she loves all outdoor photography, growing up in Colorado has made her particularly drawn to the mountains. Her passion is in the pursuit of witnessing a depleting natural globe, bringing the surreal to life, and archiving remarkable moments in time while sharing her view of the world. She is a remarkable teacher with years of experience.
Martha Montiel is a fine art nature and landscape photographer born in Mexico City and now based in beautiful Colorado. Drawn to emotion, texture, and light, she aims to capture this in beautiful and interesting ways. Her fascination with photography started at a young age. As an adult, it grew as a way to show others the beauty of our natural world. Born in Mexico City, grew up in California and now living in Colorado. Photography has continued to fuel her love of the outdoors, her sense of adventure, and a desire to inspire others to conserve and protect our planet.
TESTIMONIALS
“We had a fun adventure! Shanda had a beautiful location for shooting. Reviewing photo basics was a professional approach and a great review for me. I was happy to shoot with the help and encouragement Shanda offered. Digital cameras overwhelm me, Shanda’s knowledge helped me relax and compose beautiful images.” ~Eileen Wegrzyn
“Shanda has a real eye for photography and captures the beauty and purpose in each of her photographs. Would highly recommend any of her photographic work.” ~Cindy Koch