July 6th: Workshop commences on July 6th when you will be transferred from Hosea Kutako International airport in Windhoek to your luxury boutique hotel The Weinberg. You will have time to recover from the flight/jet lag. This bustling city is Namibia's capital with wide variety of restaurants, museums, galleries and craft shops. The perfect location to launch our Namibian adventure. Your welcome dinner is included and will be at one of the popular restaurants in Windhoek.

July 7th: After a sumptuous breakfast we begin our journey to the quiver tree forest. The Quiver tree branches are what the San people have traditionally used to make quivers. The unique architecture of these trees makes them very photogenic and the dark skies lend themselves beautifully to night photography. We will be staying at the comfortable Quiver tree forest camp which gives us extended access and option for night photography weather permitting.  All meals are included.

July 8th: After our sunrise shoot and breakfast we will make our way to the town of Luderitz. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib desert this historic town will be our base for exploring the nearby ghost town of Kolmanskop. We will be staying at the ocean front Luderitz Nest Hotel with its own private tidal beach and walk on Jetty. The town of Kolmanskop offers incredible photographic opportunity as the desert reclaims the once diamond mining village. Vibrant colors, dramatic light, historic architecture and the silence of this abandoned town will inspire you to create your own visual stories of what transpired here. Breakfast included.

July 9th: We have all day to explore Kolmanskop as well as catch up on some post processing, exploring the town of Luderitz and relaxing in our luxury suites with attached ocean view balconies at the Nest Hotel. We will have both morning and late afternoon/evening shoots at Kolmanskoppe. The town of Luderitz has many dining options and you will have a chance to eat at restaurants of your choice. Breakfast included at the acclaimed Nest Hotel restaurant. Lunch and dinner are on your own to stroll through the historic town and explore the various dining options.

July 10th: On this day we begin our journey to Sossusvlei. 60,000 years ago the Tsauchab River gave up its fight to reach the sea creating a vast clay pan in the heart of the world's oldest desert. Considered as the most iconic location in Namibia for landscape photographers, we will be exploring this area for the next two days. Our accommodations are luxury tented chalets in Dead Valley Lodge situated inside of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. You will get to taste the best of Namib cuisine. Accommodations inside the park are not offered by most tours due to their expense. But because we are staying here we have extended special access to our shooting locations. All meals inside the park are included.

July 11th: We have all day to photograph this iconic Namibian landscape. Towering red sand dunes, rugged mountain ranges, ghostly trees, beautiful salt pans and spectacular wildlife. Our private chalets are luxury comfort with attached bathrooms and the cuisine is excellent. We can try to set up a night shoot here weather permitting. All meals are included.

July 12th: After sunrise shoot and breakfast we will head out to the coastal town of Swakopmund. This historic German settlement with Bavarian spires, ancient lighthouse and colonial buildings is considered to be the adventure centre of Namibia. It is from here that we will explore the famous Skeleton Coast of Namibia. On our journey to Swakopmund we will pass the Tropic of Capricorn and the picturesque town of Walvis Bay. We will be visiting and photographing the coastal dunes beyond Sandwich Harbor. After shooting sunset we will check in to the beautiful boutique hotel The Delight. This is in the epicenter of town surrounded by numerous restaurants. Dinner is not included and you are encouraged to explore the restaurant of your choice.

July 13th: We have the entire day to explore the iconic Sandwich harbor. This is where the vast Namib desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. The remnants of previous explorers who came in search of treasure, the gigantic sand dunes, vibrant coastline and local flora and fauna offer a plethora of subjects to photograph. This will be a leisurely day with time for post processing sessions, exploring the town of Swakopmund, and optional aerial tour over Sandwich harbor (at additional cost). After shooting the coastal sunset, we will be dining in the town of Swakopmund. Breakfast included. 

July 14th: After a delicious breakfast we will make our way to the dramatic landscapes of Spitzkoppe. The allure of this location are the spectacular Pontok Mountains aka "The Matterhorn of Namibia". The most fascinating aspect of Spitzkoppe is the granite composition of its towering peaks which have a unique pink hue due to presence of minerals such as feldspar and quartz. This striking coloration especially during sunrise and sunset paints the landscape in a surreal palate, making it a paradise for photographers and nature enthusiasts. We will be shooting sunset and sunrise the following day at this location. We will be staying at the luxury Spitzkoppen lodge surrounded by spectacular scenery. All meals included.

July 15th-17th : After shooting sunrise and a sumptuous breakfast, we will make our way to Etosha National Park. We will be staying in the best possible place to view wildlife in this park. Our luxury chalets overlook the watering hole at Okaukuejo Resort with a viewing balcony. This unique location not only gives us access to photograph Namibia's premier game park, but also gives us the opportunity for extended observation of animal behaviors, and beautiful reflection shots at night. We will have game drives morning and evening to spot the large variety of wildlife including the endangered black Rhino and the desert adapted elephants. With two full days in the park you can be guaranteed to walk away with portfolio worthy wildlife images.

July 17th: After a leisurely breakfast we drive back to Windhoek for our international flight. Please book flights later in the day. This is about a 6 hour drive to the airport. 

Group size is limited to 6. This is to ensure a high quality experience for all.

This workshop will require mild to moderate hiking (no more than 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.