Southern New Mexico: Organs and White Sands 2020

Hi everyone! I hope you'll join me exploring the Organ Mountains and White Sands area this spring 2020. I personlly love this time of year as it's the perfect time to catch the deserts in bloom! We will spend our time photographing the eastern and western sides of these incredible mountains based on light where I will personally work with each of you showing how I find compositions in these harsh and rugged environments. We will read weather and light aiming for our best shot. Being situated in Las Cruces allows us easy access both to the Organs and also White Sands National Park. We will be able to navigate and really work this area to its fullest potential. This trip will really be one where we focus on light, clouds, conditions, composition and head wherever we need to capture the images we are looking for. Below is a tentative shooting itinerary which is subject to change based on weather and light. 

 

Note: Optional for Thursday evening, April 16: Driving to Las Cruces can be a bit of a long haul and I recommend staying in Santa Fe Thursday evening to break up the drive. This will make Friday's remaining drive much more comfortable and you'll be ready to get out and explore our first evening there, Friday, April 17th. There is a great inn I love that's close to I25 as well, the Pecos Trail Inn, 2239 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe NM 87505. They also have a solid little restaurant on-site with really tasty New Mexican fare. Rates are about $80 per night and it's a rarity in being one of the remaining family-run establishments like this. It's an awesome little spot and super comfy.

 

 

Proposed Workshop Itinerary - TBD and may change, sleeping locations are fixed:

 

Day 1, Friday, April 18: 

Arrive Las Cruces and check-in to our accommodation around 1pm. Feel free to arrive anytime before if you would like. This first evening (Friday) we will explore this area learning how to read the desert finding compositions in this challenging environment. It's so much fun! We will photograph sunset this first evening and get ready for sunrise the following morning. 

 

Recommended Sleeping arrangement both nights: Friday - Comfort Inn & Suites, 1611 Hickory Loop, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005, (575) 541-8887

Price per room: Approx $119/night

Day 2, Saturday, April 19:

We will wake up early and spend sunrise in the Organs or nearby deserts. The eastern side of the Organs is perfect for sunrise allowing for the sun to rise in the east and illuminate the peaks, including the Rabbit Ears formation. It's such a dramatic landscape and these peaks remind me of a Patagonia of the Southwest. After sunrise we will head to breakfast and talk about the morning's shoot and then return to our hotel where we will take a break to rest for a couple of hours. We will spend a couple of hours this afternoon to cover several post-processing techniques and evaluate our evenign and morning images. We will then head to an early dinner and make our way to White Sands National Park hiking and scouting preparing for sunset searching for leading lines, shapes in sand and possibly some wildflowers that bloom in the dunes. We will be scouting our locations for sunset this evening in the park preparing for ideal light, but will also be keeping an eye on weather and clouds around us. Our main focus this trip will be chasing light and getting the best possible images we can. 

 

Recommended Sleeping arrangement: Saturday - Same as above

 

Day 3, Sunday, April 20:

We will shoot sunrise in White Sands capturing that beautiful pink and purple glow over the sand only White Sands can produce. After sunrise this will conclude the workshop so everyone can get back home to Denver in a timely fashion. 

 

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Sunday April 20, 12pm - End of Workshop. Participants may leave earlier if they wish.

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Flights: Flying into Alamogordo is a great option for the area. Albuquerque is also a great option. 

 

Driving: I-25 south straight from Denver. It's about a 9.5 hour drive to Las Cruces.

 

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What IS included: instruction from Joseph Roybal, four photoshoots at several locations around the Organs and White Sands, snacks & water, sunrise early entry into White Sands National Park. We certainly can make arrangements for a second entry based on interest, please email me if you would like to stay later than park hours Saturday evening. I will have the group split this fee if there is enough interest to do so. Cost is $50/hour. 

 

What is NOT included: your transportation to/from the workshop (flights or car rental), hotel accommodation, personal food/drink or any camera/outdoor gear. 

 

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How can I pay and when are payments due?

 

Payment can be made directly through my website here. The Deposit is due immediately upon signing up to guarantee your space on the trip. The final and remainder is due 30 days prior to the workshop start date which will be March 18th and that ticket is also here on my site. 

 

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What if I need to cancel?

 

Cancellation and Refund Policy

 

I strongly recommend you to purchase a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip which will help cover you and your gear while away. 

 

Should you need to cancel the workshop for any reason your refund will be based upon the following schedule: 

 

Workshop:

Greater than 31 days from the start date of the Workshop: Your Deposit can be applied to future workshop or I will refund your fees, participants choice.

 

0 - 30 days: Your Deposit will be forfeited, however your space can be sold to another attendee and should your space be filled I will refund you your deposit. 

 

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made. 

 

More info to come! Please RSVP or register for updates. 

 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Joseph