Located in the Mojave desert of California lies a quirky little town called Joshua Tree. Next to that quirky little town is a National Park of the same name. The park and town get their names from the oddly shaped trees that grow in the region. While the trees are odd, they are certainly photogenic. This brings us to the Aperture Academy photo workshop!

This year's workshop started off just like any of our workshops, with an orientation of course. Once we got to know one another the group quickly went off to bed so we could be rested for the early morning shoot the following day.

We left the hotel well before sunrise to ensure that we had plenty of time to set up and get prepared before the good light. I informed everyone that Joshua Tree can be a little tricky to shoot because it is lacking iconic waterfalls and mountains. That means you have to do a little work for your composition. We worked a variety of scenes in the morning until it was time for a midday break. That afternoon we went back into the field and were greeted with a beautiful sunset.

The following morning we left the hotel around the same time. We once more hit up a variety of locations before heading back to the hotel for our midday break. After the break, the group headed back out to photograph a new sculpture just outside of town. We then headed back into the park to photograph some cholla, ocotillo and you guessed it. More Joshua trees!

At the end of the day, we all said our goodbyes and parted ways.

Until Next Time,

Mike and the rest of the Aperture Academy Team

P.S. If you'd like to join us at one of our workshops, you can find the schedule/sign up here.

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