Mountain Gold & Milky Way: Colorado Is Calling
There's something about fall in the Colorado mountains that is difficult to put into words.
The crisp mountain air. The possibility of fresh snow dusting the highest peaks. Entire mountainsides covered in brilliant gold as the aspens put on one final show before winter arrives. And when the sun disappears behind those mountains, we turn our cameras toward the stars.
This October, I'm heading back to Southwest Colorado for Mountain Gold & Milky Way, and I'd love for you to join me.
Due to a few recent cancellations and a change in our lodging that has actually worked out to be a great thing—we now have ONLY TWO SPOTS AVAILABLE for this year's workshop.
Mountain Gold & Milky Way
October 5–8, 2026Telluride, Colorado ***ONLY TWO SPOTS REMAIN***
For three nights, we'll make beautiful Telluride, Colorado, our home base, surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the American West.
And in October, those mountains become something extraordinary.
Chase the Gold
By day, we'll head into the mountains searching for Colorado's legendary fall color.
We'll photograph golden aspen groves, winding mountain roads, dramatic valleys, rugged peaks, intimate landscapes, and hopefully a little early-season snow contrasting against the brilliant yellows and oranges below.
Fall in the mountains is constantly changing. Light moves across the landscape, weather rolls through the valleys, clouds gather around the peaks, and sometimes the scene in front of you completely transforms in a matter of minutes.
That's part of the adventure.
We'll slow down, explore, work on compositions, and chase the best conditions Mother Nature decides to give us.
And Then We Chase the Stars
When daylight disappears, the adventure isn't necessarily over.
If we're fortunate enough to get a clear Colorado night, we'll watch the Milky Way glide across the sky above the mountains, cameras pointed toward the stars as the galaxy slowly moves through our compositions.
There's something incredible about standing beneath a cold, clear Colorado sky with mountains surrounding you, watching the stars appear one by one and then seeing the Milky Way emerge overhead.
We'll photograph the night sky against the incredible landscapes of Southwest Colorado, working on compositions and techniques that bring together the mountains, foreground, and stars.
This workshop gives us an opportunity to experience both sides of landscape photography, the incredible colors of autumn during the day and the beauty of the night sky after dark.
Mountain Gold by day. Milky Way by night.
That's exactly what this adventure is about.
More Than Just Taking Pictures
One of my favorite things about photography workshops has always been what happens between the photographs.
It's laughing together when plans completely fall apart.
It's getting excited when the light suddenly breaks through the clouds.
It's standing beside someone when they look at the back of their camera and realize, "I got it!"
It's learning, exploring, talking photography, sharing stories, and spending time with people who understand why we're willing to get up ridiculously early, stay out ridiculously late, and stand around freezing just because the light might get good.
You don't have to be an expert photographer.
You just need to love photography, beautiful places, and a little adventure.
Telluride Will Be Our Basecamp
I'm especially excited about our change in lodging this year because we'll now be based right in Telluride.
That puts us in the heart of the mountains with incredible scenery surrounding us and gives us a fantastic home base for exploring Southwest Colorado.
Wake up surrounded by mountains.
Spend the day chasing fall color.
Watch the last light disappear from the peaks.
And, if the stars cooperate, stay out a little longer and photograph the night sky.
Then get some rest and do it all over again.
That's my idea of a pretty great few days.
Only Two Spots Are Available
Because of the changes we've made and recent cancellations, we only have two openings remaining for October 5–8, 2026.
If you've been thinking about joining one of my workshops, photographing Colorado in the fall, learning more about landscape and astrophotography, or simply giving yourself an excuse to grab your camera and go on an adventure, this might be the opportunity you've been waiting for.
Fall color is never guaranteed. Neither are clear skies, snow-covered peaks, dramatic sunsets, or the Milky Way.
That's landscape photography.
We chase the conditions we're given, adapt when Mother Nature changes the plan, and have a great time doing it.
But if Colorado gives us even a little of her October magic, we're going to be in one incredible place to experience it.
October 5–8, 2026.Telluride, Colorado.Mountain Gold & Milky Way
Come chase the gold, the mountains, the stars and maybe a photograph you'll remember for the rest of your life.
If you're interested or have questions about the workshop, please reach out to me. I'd be happy to talk with you about the experience and help you decide if it's right for you.
Colorado is calling. Let's go chase some light.
Want One More Adventure? Add the Cowgirl Experience
For those who aren't quite ready for the adventure to end, we're offering an optional add-on photography experience in the La Sal Mountains above Moab, Utah.
We'll trade Colorado's towering peaks for the rugged beauty of Utah and spend time photographing a real cowgirl in action against the fall colors of the La Sal Mountains.
Think golden aspens, mountain scenery, horses, western lifestyle, and an authentic cowgirl creating the kind of scenes that feel like they belong in the American West.
This isn't simply a portrait session. It's an opportunity to work on action, environmental portraiture, storytelling, composition, and changing natural light while photographing a subject completely different from what we'll experience during the main workshop.
Colorado mountains. Golden aspens. Milky Way skies.
And then we finish it off with horses, fall color, and a little bit of the Wild West above Moab.
If you're looking to come home with a truly diverse collection of images, this optional adventure is going to be something special.
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