Our itinerary is subject to change, and is still in progress. We may switch up days, shoot orders, etc. to accommodate for changing weather and the pace of the group.
At this time of year, sunrises occur around 6:15 AM and sunsets occur around 8:40 PM. Summer means long days. We will likely not be shooting sunrise and sunset every day but have a mix of both. We will dine out each night before the sunset.
🖼️Making Impactful Landscapes
🔍 Focus Stacking
📷 Concepts in Composition
🎨 White Balance & Color
🗻Depth, Compression of Perspective & Scale
🔘 Using ND Filters
✴️Sunstars
🌠 Night Photography (if weather and time allows)
🏜️ Making the most of harsh desert sun
⬛ When to shoot in B&W vs. Color
Surrounded by spectacular natural scenery in southwest Utah, La Quinta® by Wyndham La Verkin-Gateway to Zion is located a short drive from the Zion National Park South Entrance.
Located just 45 Miles from the Canyon, Jacob Lake Inn is the gateway to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
We will update this with the flights we recommend. After we arrive and gather the group we will head to our accommodations.
We will begin the tour with a short orientation, gear check and dinner.
Drive the Zion Mount Carmel Highway to Checkerboard Mesa, with stops along the way, including the mysterious ‘beehive’ formation. Maybe we’ll see bighorn sheep!
After lunch, we will spend the afternoon shooting along the Virgin River, riding the park shuttle to various destinations such as Court of the Patriarchs, The Great White Throne, The Sentinel, Temple of Sinawava.
After sunset, we may choose to shoot into the night.
Bryce is a 2-hour drive from where we are staying. After our arrival in the park, hike & shoot among hoodoos (Thor’s Hammer, Navajo Loop/Queen’s Garden).
Bryce Canyon is not technically a canyon. It is a series of about a dozen natural amphitheaters, eroded into an escarpment of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
After lunch, we will drive the park road and shoot along the way (Fairyland, Natural Bridge, Rainbow and Yovimpa points).
Experience Bryce Canyon from above with an optional helicopter ride. This unique adventure provides a bird's-eye view of the stunning rock formations and vibrant colors that make the canyon famous.
Shoot into the golden hour and sunset as the hoodoos become illuminated!
Today we explore the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, where vibrant, peach-hued sands create a landscape perfect for sandboarding and photography. The unique dunes, shaped by winds and time, offer a perfect playground for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. Afterward, head to Kodachrome Basin State Park, famous for its striking rock formations and colorful spires.
It is approximately a 2-hour drive to and from this area from our hotel.
Shoot the sunrise in Zion National Park, before packing up to check out and move on to our next location near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in neighboring Arizona.
This drive is about 2.5 hours long. We will make some stops along the way as needed or as we see fit.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon offers a more secluded and serene experience compared to its South Rim counterpart. With breathtaking views and stunning sunsets, this area is less crowded, allowing for peaceful contemplation of the canyon's majestic beauty. The cooler temperatures and lush forests make it a refreshing getaway.
Explore Kaibab Plateau for more views of the North Rim and aspens. Today we will take a more leisurely pace.
One last chance for a beautiful sunrise!
Fly back home St. George. We will update this with recommended flights. Your flights will be in the evening, as we must drive back to St. George to drop off the group.
This tour is rated as easy to moderate. We will be getting up for sunrises on some days, and staying late through the sunset on some evenings. In summer, the sunset isn’t until almost 9 PM. There will be some hiking. These hikes are not strenuous, but they do require the ability to walk for a couple of hours, with breaks for photos and enjoying the scenery. Trails consists of gravel pathways, packed dirt, and slickrock. Some areas may have exposed roots and rocks.
✅ All overnight accommodation
✅ Ground transport
✅ Park Permit & Fees
✅ Helicopter Flight if you opt for this
✅ Photography guidance & instruction
✅ Optional After-tour Zoom session for Feedback/Critique
❌ Flights
❌ Alcohol, Meals, Groceries
❌ Any tips or gratuities
❌ Visa(s)
❌ Travel Insurance
You will automatically receive information about travel insurance with our partner, Redpoint, a couple of days after your successful trip registration. You can take a peek here.
Paul Nguyen has lived and worked from coast to coast across the U.S., and has over 35 years of experience in film and digital photography. He specializes in digital photography of natural landscapes and wildlife, and capturing the authentic experience of outdoor adventure and exploration through his video series.
In April 2017, he served in the prestigious National Park Artist in Residence program at Petrified Forest, Arizona, and continues to create programs for the National Park Service. His accomplishments also include an exclusive assignment as a photographer for the Boston Museum of Science, and a position as a program guide and brand ambassador for Swedish outfitter Fjällräven.
His noteworthy image-making and teaching in the realm of photography have gained him sponsorships from Tamron USA and Sun Surveyor, and his acclaimed adventure and overlanding videos have led to numerous outdoor equipment sponsorships.
Hailing from Massachusetts and now based out of Flagstaff, AZ, Paul spends most of the year exploring the western U.S. to research photo tour destinations and create video content. You may run into him, his Jeep, his trailer, and his cat somewhere along your own travels. Despite the distance, he maintains an active connection to New England camera clubs, and continues to serve as a remote lecturer and competition judge.
Meredith Fontana is a Denver-based landscape photographer, educator, and founder of Nature Photography Academy. Drawing on her experiences from a career in paleontology and outdoor adventure, Meredith brings a unique perspective to the art of landscape photography. Her focus for the past 4 years has been on capturing the beauty of Colorado's diverse, hard-to-reach wilderness areas and promoting their protection.
Meredith's passion for teaching landscape photography stems from a desire to inspire others to explore their creativity and deepen their connection with nature. Through engaging workshops and educational content, she has helped over 1,400 nature and landscape photographers improve their skills, harness their unique perspectives, and cultivate a greater appreciation for the environment. You can learn more about Meredith and her work at her website.