The American Southwest offers some of the most unique vistas and landscapes on planet earth. From Arches National Park to the Grand Canyon, there are literally dozens of amazing places to see and photograph! Iconic scenes are practically around every corner. Some, like the "Mittens" of Monument Valley, are blatantly obvious. While others, like the ancient Anasazi dwellings we'll visit, are truly a hidden treasure.

Mother Nature has done some of her best handiwork in the Desert Southwest. Carved by wind and rain, colorful red rocks take on some astonishing shapes. They've named a national park after these shapes; of course I speak of Arches NP. We'll hike up to the iconic Delicate Arch, for a once in a lifetime sunset opportunity. Antelope Canyon is another of the many amazing examples of photographic bliss created by the power of erosion that we will visit.

You'll have the option to explore Lower Antelope Canyon on your own, or have us take you through this remarkable slot canyon. You'll be truly amazed as you descend into the canyon through what appears to be only a crack in the ground. However, you will quickly realize that this is a unique and wondrous place. Sunlight filters in from above to light up the red rocks with a luminous and surreal glow. As you make your way through the canyon's curving walls, you'll witness the rock take on shades of reds, oranges, and even purples. These are just a couple of examples of what you'll be experiencing and photographing during this epic journey.

People from around the world visit these areas, because this incredible locale is one of the few places on the planet you can see such geological diversity.

Come join us for a 9-day adventure as we visit over a dozen iconic locations and teach you how to capture them in your camera. We've put together a very well thought out itinerary designed to allow you ample time to capture stunning images at each location. We'll cover a lot of amazing ground, but you'll never spend more than a few hours riding in our plush Mercedes van. During any down time, you can choose to relax and take a siesta, learn some post-processing skills, or have some images critiqued by our pros. This is the combination of a highly interactive learning experience and a vacation of a lifetime!

This workshop was designed by professional photographers, for photographers. With that in mind, we've painstakingly designed an itinerary that maximizes your opportunity to capture professional quality images whilst visiting iconic and exclusive locations.

This trip will focus primarily on landscape photography. There is always the chance that we'll encounter some wildlife, such as big horn sheep or coyote. Therefore, it's a good idea to throw the telephoto lens in your bag, just in case. However, the itinerary is scheduled around amazing American Southwest landscape destinations. Locations include Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, House on Fire, and many, many, more.

See the itinerary for more details on each location.

Expect some easy to moderate hiking to be involved. Oftentimes, getting to the best spot for photography requires a little effort. The ability to hike 2 to 3 miles in a day is a good guideline to know if you're fitness level is up to par. That extra effort is well worth it once you lay eyes on the landscape prize!

Group Size

We designed this trip with these three things in mind: photography, comfort, and learning... oh, and fun! Guess that makes it four things.

While thinking of these things, we decided to limit the group size to 10. We will often split up into two groups, to offer the ease of image capturing without competing or jockeying for positions.

Day 1 - Arrival in Las Vegas, NV, in time for a 7:00pm orientation. Get acquainted with your Aperture Academy instructors, and your fellow students. Turn in for a restful night's sleep.

Day 2 - Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada. After breakfast we'll depart for Valley of Fire State Park. We'll get checked into our hotel in Overton, NV, and photograph sunset in the park.

Day 3 - Valley of Fire to Bryce Canyon National Park. An early morning sunrise shoot in the park, then breakfast and checkout. We'll head to Bryce Canyon for a gorgeous sunset shoot.

Day 4 - Bryce Canyon to Arches National Park. Sunrise shoot at Bryce Canyon, breakfast, then checkout. En route to Arches NP, we'll stop at several fantastic shooting locations, including Capitol Reef NP.

Day 5 - Arches National Park. From sunrise to sunset, we'll be spending the day in Arches NP and the surrounding area. You'll receive a mid-day break to recharge in your hotel room.

Day 6 - Arches to Monument Valley. After breakfast, we'll head to an exclusive location, not located on any map. This spot is called, House on Fire, and it's stunning to say the least. After the surreal experience, we'll head to Monument Valley for a sunset shoot.

Day 7 - Monument Valley to Page, AZ. After an iconic sunrise shoot in Monument Valley, the next stop is Page, the home of Horse Shoe Bend. Some sunset photography at this awe-inspiring location, and we'll spend the night in Page.

Day 8 - Page, AZ, to The Grand Canyon NP. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then we'll proceed to another iconic Page location, Lower Antelope Canyon. The slot canyon truly is the stuff of dreams. As you meander down into the ground, you're surrounded by twisting, glowing rock formations. A photographers playground, if there ever was one. After our fun in the slot canyon, we'll head to the Grand Canyon for some sunset photography.

Day 9 - Grand Canyon, AZ, to Flagstaff, AZ. After an epic sunrise shoot in the astonishing Grand Canyon, we'll have breakfast, and lastly depart for Flagstaff, AZ, for a fond farewell and your return flight home.

Travel and Lodging We've chosen the hotels, not only for proximity to our amazing photographic destinations but also, for comfort and cleanliness. We are staying at properties such as Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, and smaller chains, like The Grand Hotel in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. At all locations, you'll feel confortable and safe, while enjoying swimming pools and hot tubs at most locations, as well as wi-fi. Your transportation for the duration of the workshop is our pride and joy, a Mercedes passenger van, adorned with the Aperture Academy logo. This comfy and roomy ride is affectionately dubbed, the ApCab.

Meet our master instructors and learn what qualifies them to give you a great experience during your workshops! While you're joining us, you will receive comprehensive digital photography instruction and tutoring by our team of award-winning photographers.

Scott Davis is a wildlife researcher, eco-guide and successful professional photographer specializing in wildlife, lifestyle, and editorial imagery. Originally trained as a wildlife and marine biologist, Scott's research and photo assignments have taken him to the far corners of the globe.

He is a National Geographic Society Grant recipient and has co-authored and published several peer reviewed scientific articles investigating aspects of animal behavior. His photographic work has appeared in commercial websites, stock catalogues, national magazines and newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, Sport Diver, Conde' Nast, and Men's Journal. He has also worked as a commercial photographer for several national and international ad campaigns, including Barclays Global Investments, The Cayman Islands Bureau of Tourism, Atlantis Resorts, Syngenta USA, Nationwide Children's Hospital, USA Aid, and the World Wildlife Fund, to name a few.

Scott's easy going style, coupled with a passion for all things photography, is contagious. He finds great satisfaction sharing his unique insight and knowledge with others, be they aspiring or already established photographers. Often taking a different approach to image making, he seeks to unlock the creative potential in each of his students, to help them see beyond the obvious or traditional and craft a style that is both technically proficient yet unique.

When not hopping a plane, train or automobile in search of his next subject, Scott makes his residence in Monterey, California.

At the age of nine, Jean snapped her first photo in Sequoia National Park, stirring her lifelong love for landscape photography. Jean has been a semi-pro photographer on and off for over 30 years. Her experience began in a professional photographic lab in Southern California specializing in school and sports photography as well as catering to wedding, portrait and landscape photographers. Her leadership skills and ability to teach and train others quickly landed her the position of production manager and liaison between in-house photographers, office staff, and outside professionals. Weekends were often spent in the field assisting other photographers with weddings and portraits until she was photographing her own, but it was the work of landscape photographers and time spent in the dark room developing their shots that continued to capture her interest.

Jean dedicated most of her adult life to raising two sons, enjoying her passion for landscape photography when time allowed. She acquired two AAs with honors at Sierra College in her spare time, already having entered the field of special education as a teacher's assistant at the middle school level. Children with special needs were a magnet for her empathy and experience. Several years ago, Jean discovered the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) becoming a member, assisting youth and their families in leading productive and successful lives.

With her boys grown, she dove back into landscape photography with an unparalleled passion, taking every opportunity to travel the southwestern U.S. in search of the most unique and beautiful vistas and to capture with her camera all this diverse corner of the world has to offer. It was a natural transition for Jean to combine her love of teaching and landscape photography, and extremely gratifying to share this passion and knowledge with those of like interest.

→ The cost includes:

• all accommodations (based on double occupancy), during trip dates, upon your arrival to Las Vegas (single room supplement is available, see pricing tab for more information);
• all transportation during your workshop dates, including all park entrance fees and permits;
• breakfast and lunch daily;
• water and soda during van transportation;
• all your photography instruction and photo editing instruction.

→ The cost does not include:

• arrival flights (Las Vegas), departure flights (Flagstaff, AZ);
• dinner meal;
• fees to obtain a passport (if traveling from outside the US);
• excess baggage fees;
• personal expenses such as, room service, alcohol, or additional beverages, laundry, phone service, activities or meals not listed on the itinerary;
• travel insurance (strongly recommended).

→ To get the most of your images, a good quality DSLR is strongly suggested. Single point-and-shoot cameras often result in disappointment and frustration.

For our landscape scenes, we usually recommend a lens with a range of 24-105mm. You'll also need a wide angle lens for a couple of locations, including Lower Antelope Canyon and Horse Shoe Bend. For wide angle, we recommend 16-35mm on a full frame camera, or 11-16mm on a crop sensor. If you don't have any lenses in this focal range, we recommend companies such as, www.borrowlenses.com, who offer outstanding products are reasonable prices.

Graduated neutral density filters are strongly recommended. These types of filters come in hard and soft step/grad. They are also available in different densities. We suggest a 3 stop soft grad if you're only purchasing or bringing one GND.

Polarizing filters are also strongly suggested. While we have a few GNDs to loan out, we do not have any polarizing filters to loan. Circular polarizers are best, and these filter styles thread on to your lens. Be sure to look at the size of the lens on which you will be placing the filter, to ensure it fits. You can check out the following websites for filter purchases: www.adorama.com, www.BHphotovideo.com, www.amazon.com.

A sturdy tripod is a necessity. The lower light experienced at sunrise and sunset require longer exposures, of which cannot be hand held. If you don't currently own a tripod, we can suggest the Induro brand, or Manfrotto. You can purchase a good tripod, that will last years, for under $400.

If you tend to be heavy on the trigger finger, make sure you bring sufficient memory cards. Multiple 16gb and 8gb cards are a good idea, as is an external hard drive to back up your images (500gb minimum), with your laptop. If you want to view your images, get feedback and photo editing skills, your laptop is a must-have.

→ It's a mix of both. We do expect you to be familiar with the basic settings of your camera, because you don't want to be fiddling around with how to set the exposure when the once-in-a-lifetime sunrise color display is fleeting. That would probably not be the best situation for getting the "shot," nor for learning. However, our instructors will be available in the field with suggestions about exposure, composition and technique. But, in general, it's best to come with a working knowledge of your camera gear. If you're unsure, we highly recommend you sign up for one of our one-day workshops (such as San Francisco/Marin Headlands) prior to taking this trip, to get you comfortable and familiar with your camera. Once back at the hotel though, we have options that are more of a workshop format, and we can offer you image critique and post-processing skills instruction.

→ For breakfast on the go, we'll offer breakfast bars and fruit. For lunch you can expect sandwiches, chips and fruit. If you have special dietary needs, just let us know, so we can be sure to accommodate you. Dinner will not be included.

→ Check with your individual airline, as they vary. General rule of thumb is to pack as light as possible. Carry your camera equipment with you onboard, as a carry-on. Do not include your camera gear with your checked baggage, with the exception of your tripod. Please bring 1 soft-sided suitcase, as there is limited room for luggage during ground transportation days.

→ The overall temperatures are fairly moderate. Mornings in some destinations can be in the low 40s, with afternoons in the mid to high 70s. Dressing in layers is always recommended for optimal comfort. Mornings can be brisk, while afternoon can get quite warm. For this reason, we'll have plenty of water for you... but it's your job to drink it. (Don't worry, we'll keep reminding you.)

→ No, you don't. However, tour price is based on double occupancy, so we will place you with other solo travelers of the same sex. However, if you prefer your own room, we can make arrangements for single accommodations for a supplemental charge.

→ YES! We recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover any non-refundable registration fees, travel, lodging, equipment rental or any other related expenses.

No problem! Our instructors are happy to answer them: Email Scott Davis or Email Ellie Stone

The workshop fee is $3,495. A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your space. Balance is due by June 1st, 2013. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:

• Refundable Balance: 150 days (five months) or greater (not including deposit).
• No refund within 149 days or less of the start date.
• Seats are transferrable.

Please Note: Returning student discounts are not applicable to Sojourn Series workshops.

The workshop/tour price includes:

• Lodging (for single supplement, add $700)
• All guide and instructor services
• Park fees and permits
• Breakfast and lunch

The workshop/tour price DOES NOT include:

• Transportation (flights) to/from Las Vegas and Flagstaff
• Dinner
• Alcoholic beverages
• Driver/local staff gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Additional/optional excursions not listed in the itinerary