Mountain Gold & Milky Way
"Chasing Aspens and Stars in the San Juan Mountains"
October 5th through 8th, 2026
Join us for an unforgettable 3-night, 2 full-day photography workshop where your lodging is included, so you can focus fully on the experience, not the logistics.
By day, we’ll chase golden hour light through blazing aspen groves and towering alpine passes during peak fall color. By night, we’ll turn our lenses skyward as the Milky Way stretches over rugged mountain peaks, capturing the cosmos under some of the clearest skies in the American West.
This is more than a photography workshop—it’s a high-altitude adventure designed to ignite your creativity, sharpen your landscape and night photography skills, and immerse you in the wild beauty of autumn in the Rockies.
Whether you’re refining your portfolio or chasing inspiration deep in the backcountry, this experience is for you. Lodging, stars, and unforgettable moments—all included.
Adventure Dates
October 5th–8th, 2026
GROUP SIZE
Limited to a small group of 6 students to ensure that everyone receives 1:1 attention
Experience Level
All skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners, are invited to participate in this inclusive photography workshop.
HIKING
This workshop will involve moderate hiking, covering a distance of up to 1.5 miles Round Trip, across diverse terrain including rocky and sandy paths.
GOLDEN ASPENS
Experience the magic of Colorado’s peak fall—where endless golden aspens blanket the rugged Rocky Mountains in a sea of fiery color. It’s a breathtaking spectacle of nature at its finest, with every turn revealing vibrant, shimmering groves that feel like something out of a dream.
MILKY WAY CHASING
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of chasing the Milky Way high in the Colorado mountains. As the last light fades and the air turns crisp, the night sky ignites with stars—unfiltered, vast, and awe-inspiring. Surrounded by towering peaks and alpine silence, you’ll capture the cosmos in one of the most breathtaking settings on Earth. It’s an experience that stirs the soul and fuels the passion for adventure and photography.
OFFROADING
Buckle up in your 4×4 to venture down rugged backcountry trails into remote, alpine valleys bursting with golden aspen. After sunset, marvel at the Milky Way stretching across crystal-clear high-altitude skies as countless stars light up the night.
LODGING INCLUDED
Get ready to stay in an unforgettable 8-bedroom, 6.5-bath mountain retreat packed with all the amenities to make this workshop nothing short of legendary. With plenty of space to unwind, connect, and create, this home offers the perfect blend of comfort and community—turning our time together into more than just a workshop… it’s an experience you won’t forget.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Off-Road Adventure
While high-clearance or 4x4 vehicles are not required, they are highly recommended to help you access the best shooting locations with ease. Some roads may be rough or uneven, and a capable vehicle will enhance your comfort and flexibility throughout the workshop.
If you're driving a standard vehicle, we'll work with you to ensure safe access and parking options near each site. Participants are also welcome to coordinate carpooling with one another if they'd prefer to share rides and work together during the workshop.
Astrophotography Adventure
As day turns to night, discover the enchanting realm of astrophotography. Capture the Milky Way sprawling above Colorado's San Juan Mountain landscape, guided by our experts who will teach you the secrets of capturing the cosmos.
Golden Hour & Blue Hour Magic
Witness the magic of the golden hours as you capture the interplay of light and shadow against the picturesque mountains in Colorado Stay up after sunset and learn how to infuse your photographs with depth and emotion during these enchanting moments.
Under the Stars
Experience the magic of Colorado's night sky as you gaze at constellations and capture the serene beauty of the mountains after dark. Share moments with fellow photographers under a canopy of stars and immerse yourself in the peaceful stillness of the alpine night.
The Team
We are excited to share our love of photography, nature, and adventures with you. Please check out our links below to learn more about us.
Included in the Workshop
PLANNING YOUR SHOT
– Scouting and evaluating conditions
– Composing an image to grab the viewer’s attention
– Composing an image with a person in the frame to show scale and tell a story
– How to work with light and how to find the best light for the scene
– Utilizing apps, such as PlanIt & PhotoPills, for more efficient planning
– Choosing the right lens, find your focal length
– How and when to use filters
– How to shoot with a plan or vision for editing
CAPTURING YOUR IMAGE
- Creative light painting techniques to bring your vision to life
– How to use and capture moonlight in your night scenes
– Histogram: How to read for perfectly exposed images
– Exposure control: How to use ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed in different scenarios
– Creative ways to use lens distortion
– Focus stacking & Focal Length Blends
– Bracketing and exposure blending
– Focusing at night to capture pin-sharp stars and foreground
– Blue Hour Blending: How to capture blue hour & Milky Way
– Stacking for Noise Reduction: how to shoot the proper frames to stack
BRINGING IMAGE TO LIFE
– Lightroom and Photoshop: Learn our post-processing workflow
– How to blend multiple images in Photoshop (Blue Hour Blends, Focal Length Blends, Exposure Blends, Composites)
– Luminosity Masks
– Dodging and Burning
– Blue-hour Blends
– Star-stacking: how to edit starry night skies with Starry Landscape Stacker (or Sequator)
– Understanding layers and masks
– Finishing touches using clone stamp and removing distractions
– Creating Orton glows and painting with light
– Sharpening: Creating sharpness in your final image
During the bright midday hours, we’ll shift gears and dive into post-processing. You’ll learn a powerful editing workflow to bring out the vibrant colors and exquisite details in your Mountain Gold and Milky Way images. Together, we’ll fine-tune each photo to reflect the spirit of your adventure. By sunset, you'll have a gallery of stunning images—ready to share, print, and treasure for years to come.
We understand how important it is to stay connected, especially when exploring remote locations. That’s why we provide complimentary access to Starlink satellite internet in areas without cell service. While many of our shoot locations have little to no signal, you’ll still be able to check in with family or handle any urgent communications—giving you peace of mind while focusing on your photography adventure.
We’ve secured an incredible 8-bedroom, 6.5 bath Airbnb that will serve as our home base for the workshop—offering plenty of space to relax, recharge, and connect with fellow photographers. Whether you're winding down after a day on the trails or sharing stories over coffee, this comfortable and spacious retreat fosters both creativity and camaraderie. It also provides the perfect environment for our editing sessions, with ample room to dive into post-processing while surrounded by inspiring company and mountain views.
Take a look below!
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE EPIC ADVENTURE NOW!
Availability is limited to six spaces, and reservations are first-come, first-served. The workshop is supported by a duo of accomplished photography instructors who will be in attendance throughout its duration. This setup ensures personalized, one-on-one guidance, allowing you to enhance specific areas of your skill set that you wish to refine.
