Day 1 — Arrival & First Evening in the Dunes

Arrive in El Paso before transferring to our house-based accommodations in Alamogordo, ideally located for quick access to White Sands National Park.

After settling in and getting acquainted with the group, we head straight into the dunes for our first evening session. As the light softens, White Sands begins to reveal its quiet complexity—subtle textures, flowing lines, shifting shadows, and minimalist compositions emerging across the landscape.

This first session is about slowing down, observing carefully, and beginning to approach the dunes with intention rather than simply searching for obvious scenes.

Dinner provided following the session.

Day 2 — Photographing With Intent

Rather than rushing for first light, today begins later in the morning when stronger directional light creates more contrast and definition across the dunes.

White Sands rewards patience and refinement. Throughout the session, we’ll focus on composition, tonal relationships, abstraction, and learning how to simplify scenes down to their essential elements.

The remainder of the day is dedicated to post-processing and the foundations of fine art printing. Together, we’ll begin refining images from the field while discussing tonal control, paper selection, monochrome interpretation, and preparing photographs specifically for print.

In the evening, we return to the dunes for another sunset session—applying what we’ve explored throughout the day in real time.

Day 3 — From Capture to Print

Today shifts deeper into the creative process.

The morning and early afternoon are focused on image refinement, proofing, and printing. We’ll work carefully through editing decisions and explore how subtle adjustments in contrast, tonality, texture, and paper choice influence the final emotional feel of an image.

Seeing your work translated into a physical print fundamentally changes the way you evaluate composition, detail, and light. This process is at the core of the retreat experience.

By evening, we return to White Sands for one final sunset session—an opportunity to work the dunes with greater clarity, patience, and creative intention.

Day 4 — Final Light & Departure

For our final session, we enter the park before sunrise to photograph the dunes in their quietest and most minimal state.

The last morning is less about chasing images and more about fully experiencing the landscape—soft light moving across untouched sand, long shadows stretching through the dunes, and the stillness that makes White Sands unlike anywhere else in the Southwest.

After returning to the house and packing up, participants depart with their own finished 13x19” fine art prints—work created, refined, and brought fully to life during the retreat.

Transfers back to El Paso provided as needed.

• Travel during the workshop (including transfer to and from El Paso airport)
• All meals during the workshop, including selected drinks
• Sole occupancy bedrooms at private accommodation in Alamagordo during the workshop (shared bathrooms)
• All activities during the workshop, including photography outings and printing sessions
• Proof prints and final 13x19” prints on two kinds of paper to take home
• All permits and park fees 
• Professional photography guiding and instruction 
• Annual membership with Nature Photography Collective

• Transportation to/from our starting point in El Paso
• Lodging outside of workshop dates
• Alcoholic beverages
• Souvenirs and personal items
• Trip insurance and medical evacuation insurance
• Guide gratuities ($USD cash recommended)

This retreat takes place at White Sands National Park with two private houses booked for our group in Alamagordo. Each participant will have sole occupancy with shared bathrooms. We will use one of the houses as our “home base” to set up as a post-production and printing studio. 

We will have two kinds of paper available: a soft rag lustre and a matte fine art option, both 100% OBA free.

• A sturdy tripod, ideally with a ballhead or geared head
• Digital SLR or mirrorless camera body
• Wide angle/standard focal lengths, plus a 70-200 or 100-500 lens highly recommended 
• Backpack to carry your gear 
• Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies 
• Laptop for post-processing instruction and image reviews
• Goggles, sunglasses, and buff

• Safety goggles (seriously!), sunglasses and buff!! “Over-glasses” style preferred.
• Sturdy footwear, comfortable socks, and long pants 
• Polarizer, lens wipe 
• Warm jacket for cool mornings/evenings
• Rain gear (jacket and pants), and protection for your camera gear (sand)
• Sunscreen, sun hat 
• Rocket blower and other lens cleaning tools