Bisti Badlands Photography Workshop
The Milky Way Night Sky and Golden Sunsets
with Bryan Maltais
Oct 10-13, 2024 Thurs-Sun
Why experience this Photo Workshop at Bisti Badlands?
During these dates, darkness begins at 8:00pm with the Milky Way already risen. This allows us to photograph sunset without having to wait long for the Milky Way, then be in bed early enough to comfortably wake for sunrise. It’s also convenient to photograph fall colors in the nearby San Juan Mountains, then head to this workshop. In fall, the Milky Way is in the vertical position, which nicely compliments the spires and hoodoos of the badlands. During this time of mild weather and pleasant days we’ll also capture the golden light of sunrise and sunset as it bathes the alien landscape in honey. This adventurous photo workshop will be filled with variety, including the lunar terrain of Bisti Badlands and bizarre Alien Throne. I’ll guide you to the most beautiful of the other-worldly rock formations within Bisti Badlands, which is like a natural sculpture garden created for photographers. We’ll practice composition techniques, best milky way settings, using diffused lanterns to illuminate the night landscape and Lightroom/Photoshop processing.
Bisti Badlands Photo Workshop Instruction
I aim to help beginners build a foundation in basic camera settings, intermediates to move to the next level through learning new techniques, and advanced photographers who might desire a more passive approach.
Depending on weather, techniques that we may practice in this workshop include:
Milky Way Settings
Blue Hour Blending
Star Trails
Creating Balanced Landscape Compositions
Motion Blur in Clouds with Neutral Density Filters
Bracketing and Blending
Light Painting
Averaging frames for low noise
Bisti Badlands Workshop Information
Oct 10-13, 2024
- Workshop cost is $1775 including the $450 deposit
- Receive a $100 discount for payment in full of $1675
For Terms & Conditions and registration please click below:
Our actual itinerary may vary according to weather. There are countless formations to photograph along our way; here are some of the notable ones that we’ll likely visit:
- Alien Eggs
- Conversing Hoodoos
- Stone Wings
- Ship Rock
- Alien Throne
- Hoodoo Alley
- Manta Ray
- Clamshell Hoodoo
Day 1/Thurs: Meet at Comfort Suites Farmington for intros and briefing at 2:00 pm, then head to Bisti Badlands to shoot sunset and night sky.
Days 2-4:
- Depart hotel by 5:30 am
- Photograph Bisti Badlands from predawn to mid-morning
- Return to Farmington for breakfast, mid day break, followed by Lightroom/Photoshop editing session
- Head to our sunset/night sky shot at mid afternoon. There will be one evening each at at Alien Throne, Bisti Badlands, and Shiprock if time/weather permits.
Post-workshop Lightroom/Photoshop editing: Each student receives a free, 1-hour editing session via zoom call to process your favorite couple of images from the workshop.
A block of rooms with discount pricing is reserved at the Comfort Suites in Farmington. After booking this workshop, you’ll be sent information on how to reserve your room. Staying at this hotel is not required for the workshop, though this is a good option for staying coordinated with the group.
6 to 7
This is a physically moderate, hiking workshop. In Bisti Badlands we’ll hike about 1 mile on flat terrain to our first shot, then meander to further shots. We may walk a maximum of 3 miles in one night. On our evening at Alien Throne, the hike is a 3.75 mi round-trip.
Workshop participants will be driving their own vehicles, which allows maximum versatility for exploration before and after the workshop and saves on workshop fees. We ask that you be willing to carpool. I have room for a copilot on a first come first served basis. A basic 4×4 is needed to reach some of our destinations due to potentially deep sand.
Included
- Room discount
- Fees, permits, Navajo guide
- Photography instruction and Adobe editing sessions
- Personal editing session after workshop
Not Included
- Cost of hotel room
- Transportation/fuel
- Meals
Airports with commercial flights:
Durango/La Plata County Airport- 1:11 with limited flights
Albuquerque International Airport- 2:54
Montrose Regional Airport- 3:34
Recommended Gear
There are no equipment requirements to attend this workshop. You can use a cell phone or point & shoot if you desire. However, the following gear is best to practice all the techniques offered in this workshop:
Interchangeable Lens Camera
Wide Angle Lens f/2.8 or Faster (e.g. 16-35mm, 12-24mm)
*If using a crop-frame camera (APS-C or Micro Four Thirds) make sure you consider crop factor.
Medium Zoom Lens (e.g. 24-105mm or cropped sensor equivalent )
Sturdy tripod and Ball Head
Polarizer Filter (example)
Neutral Density Filter Set-I recommend an 82mm set like this with step-up rings to adapt each of your lenses
L-Bracket-Specific to your camera model (example)
You can rent any gear that you may not have. It’s conveniently shipped to you, then you ship it back in supplied packaging. I recommend Borrow Lenses.
Telephoto Lens-e.g. 100-400mm, useful for tight abstract shots with nice bokeh
Panoramic Leveling Head (example)
Remote Shutter Release
Laptop with Adobe Creative Cloud for editing sessions and image reviews
I enjoy assisting students with settings. It’s my job to advise you on WHICH camera settings to use, but you should arrive knowing HOW to adjust them on your camera. It’s impossible for me to know the menu system of every camera on the market. I have deep working knowledge of many cameras, and will assist to the fullest extent where possible. I currently shoot Sony and Olympus. Knowing how to adjust the following settings on your camera is useful, particularly for astrophotography:
How to activate Magnify Focus/Manual Focus assist (for pinpoint focusing on stars)
How to change White Balance
How to select Shooting Modes: Aperture Priority (A), Manual (M), Shutter Priority (S)
How to switch between Focus Modes: Manual/Auto/Single/Continuous
How to activate Bracketing (- 0 +)
How to adjust Exposure Compensation
How to adjust Aperture (f/stop)
Select File Format RAW
In addition to what you would normally pack for a trip, these are special considerations for this workshop:
Food/Water: Bring more water than you think you need. Store water in your car and also bring a full hydration pouch in your backpack. Also bring snacks.
Headlamp with Red Bulb: Also bring a backup flashlight and spare batteries
Clothing: It may reach freezing at night. Bringing clothing for the coldest possible conditions will ensure you will have everything you could need (thermal underwear, wool socks, down jacket, outer shell pants/jacket, wool cap, face balaclava, mittens). Conversely, it may reach the high 70’s by day.
Ready to sign up?
Questions? Contact Me
Workshop Testimonials
- Ed-Falston, MD
- Jason-Houston, TX
- Stacey-Fort Collins, CO
- David-Ashburton, NZ
- Michael-Morgan Hill, CA
- Shanna-Loveland, CO
“This workshop was by far the best one I’ve attended. Bryan took us to amazing places! Even though I’m a pretty experienced photographer, he still was constantly checking in with me (and everyone) to make suggestions or check on my progress. He was flexible in changing plans to try and catch the best light. Definitely a five star experience.”
-Ed. Fallston, MD
“I took an absolutely amazing private workshop with Bryan in Telluride, CO. His photography expertise is only surpassed by his knowledge of the Colorado countryside. We shot a large variety of shots including astrophotography, sunset, sunrise, pano, long exposure, starburst, eclipse, and even a little wildlife. I would recommend using Bryan anytime you want to improve your photography game and see some back country hidden gems.”
-Jason, Houston, TX
My husband and I have taken 3 private workshops with Bryan so far. I took the beginner’s camera course and 2 Milky Way workshops in RMNP. I started with the beginner’s course because we bought nice cameras, knowing we wanted to get into serious photography, but let them sit there because they seemed too complicated. In only two hours Bryan showed us how changing one setting affects the others, and how each setting makes the picture look different. I was blown away by how much I learned in just a lesson. I then booked him to take us up to a stunningly beautiful lake in Rocky Mountain National Park at night to learn how to shoot the Milky Way. What an adventure! It was a beautiful hike where we learned how to shoot blue hour along with the milky way. Bryan gave us step by step instructions of which settings to dial in and why. He let me figure them out on my own and stepped in when I couldn’t. And then, voila, I had this amazing, bright picture of the Milky Way on my viewfinder! We even witnessed SpaceX launching a bunch of satellites into orbit! It was so much fun we did it again! I felt safe and listened to the whole time and now feel like since I can take night photos I can do anything with my camera!
-Stacey, Fort Collins, CO
“My wife and I met Bryan while he was photographing the Routeburn track in New Zealand. I had just become interested in photography and he shared some impactful tips for making better landscape photos. We travelled to America a few years later for a photography trip through the western states. For our Colorado leg, we enlisted Bryan for a photography tour of Crested Butte and the Telluride area. As a fledgling photographer, it was highly educational watching and learning from a master at work. Bryan’s knowledge, hospitality and professionalism to his craft is amazing. We are looking forward to getting to the States again soon for more of the same.”
-David, Ashburton, New Zealand
“I’ve been a professional nature photographer and cinematographer for 20 years, and needed video and stills of Colorado’s best spots for a large project. Being from CA, I didn’t have time to figure this out alone. After reviewing Bryan’s website and speaking with him, I spent three highly productive days with him in the San Juan Mountains during fall colors. I captured more material than I could have hoped for. Bryan had an excellent attitude during our 18-hour days. Whenever the light or clouds changed for the worse, he knew right where to go next to suit conditions. He was even able to teach this “old dog” some new techniques.”
Michael Routh, Dreamchase on Demand
“I took a wildflower workshop with Bryan in Crested Butte and was most interested in learning how to shoot flowers in the foreground with mountains in the background. I also wanted to practice macro photography. Bryan took me to spots I would have never found, at the perfect dates for peak bloom. I needed some help with my complicated Olympus, which is a one of the systems Bryan also shoots with. I was amazed what I learned; focus stacking, super magnification, and beautiful ways to take landscape compositions. Bryan was super patient and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!”
Shanna, Loveland, CO
About Bryan Maltais- Fort Collins, CO
Bryan Maltais is an award-winning professional photographer, film-maker and founder of Wilderness Shots Photography Workshops. His images are displayed in spaces around the world and have been published in well known photography magazines and media channels.
“I was addicted to exploring nature and observing animals very young, keeping terrariums full of insects and amphibians. Craving a camera to capture the beauty that I witnessed in nature, my dad gave me a manual Canon that he had lying around from 1970. A military brat, I grew up in Germany, New Jersey and Missouri. I received my BS in Wildlife Biology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. This gave me a good foundation for understanding the natural world. I also did a stint in the Army, which gave me a good foundation for tolerating insects and lack of sleep. My dream was to live in the Rocky Mountains, so after college I moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado where I still live today. Since then I’ve been shooting and documenting the American West and producing wildlife nature documentaries. My latest film is on Amazon Prime. My goal with nature photography workshops is to share knowledge, fun and adventure with others while enjoying nature. I currently shoot Sony and Olympus gear. When not photographing, I garden in my raised beds and teach 3-4 year olds in Sunday School.”
