Expedition Details
See the world through the eyes of our top photographers on a National Geographic Photography Workshop. Learn how to take National Geographic-quality photographs through expert-guided field assignments, constructive critiques of your images, and the insights and experience of your instructors.
Santa Fe provides an ideal setting, with its stunning scenery, vibrant cultures, rich history, and radiant light. Daily assignments, location shoots, and critique sessions are designed to improve your photographic technique. These workshops are geared toward amateur and serious photographers, and include an overview of downloading, archiving, sizing, and adjusting your images on the computer. All workshop participants must bring a digital SLR camera, a laptop computer, and software for organizing and presenting images. Each workshop is limited to 25 participants.
The following is our planned itinerary; however, the schedule is flexible to allow for spontaneous photographic opportunities.
Itinerary - 7 Days
Day 1 — Santa Fe
Arrive in Santa Fe and check into the pueblo-style La Fonda Hotel. Gather for a reception and dinner with your instructors.
La Fonda on the Plaza (D)
Day 2 — Santa Fe
This morning, learn how images for a National Geographic magazine article are conceived, photographed, and selected. After lunch, take a photo walk around town and then begin your first assignment. Tonight, gather for a presentation by the instructors.
La Fonda on the Plaza (B,L)
Day 3 — Santa Fe
Spend the morning editing and critiquing the photos you took yesterday. Set off to photograph the spectacular landscape near Ghost Ranch, the former home of Georgia O'Keeffe.
La Fonda on the Plaza (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Santa Fe
After editing yesterday's images, go on assignment to Canyon Road to photograph its traditional adobe homes.
La Fonda on the Plaza (B,L)
Day 5 — Santa Fe
Following a morning edit-and-critique session, go on a photo shoot to a re-created Old West town.
La Fonda on the Plaza (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Santa Fe
Spend the morning editing and critiquing the photos you took yesterday. In the afternoon, explore Santa Fe further on your own. This evening, gather for a reception, dinner, and a "best of the week" image presentation.
La Fonda on the Plaza (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Santa Fe
After breakfast, meet for a final recap of the week with your instructors. The workshop ends at noon.
La Fonda on the Plaza (B)
For questions on this workshop, please call 1-866-797-4686.
Related Trips
National Geographic Expert
Ralph Lee Hopkins
Ralph Lee Hopkins is a popular photography workshop instructor based in Santa Fe. Also a trained geologist, he was a photographer on a U.S. Geological Survey Colorado River expedition matching historical photos from the 1890 Stanton Expedition. Ralph's images have appeared in National Geographic's books, magazines, and online galleries, and are represented by the National Geographic Image Collection.
Ralph Lee will join the following departure:
Oct 04 - 10, 2009
Expedition Costs
Upgraded hotel rooms are available at additional cost; call for details.
What To Expect
All workshops are geared toward amateur and serious digital photographers, and include an overview of downloading, archiving, sizing, and adjusting your images on the computer. All workshop participants must bring a digital SLR camera, a laptop computer, and software for organizing and presenting images. Each workshop is limited to 25 participants.
