Join us for a four-day workshop in the high desert of Eastern California that includes a special night of photographing historical Bodie Ghost Town at night! That's right! Photographing this very special Ghost Town at night is an exclusive opportunity for very few workshop companies, so we're very excited to have the park all to ourselves, and be able to offer this opportunity to our students! We'll be visiting other exciting locations such as Mono Lake, Convict Lake, Bristlecone Pine Forest, Sabrina Lake and the Alabama Hills.

This workshop is one of our most diverse. We will spend time shooting landscapes during the day, and the stars once it gets dark. The extreme contrast of the Eastern Sierra is a photographer's paradise, from mountains and streams to the alien landscapes of the Alabama Hills. The Eastern Sierra mountain range runs almost 400 Miles in length, so the photographic possibilities are endless. Long before this area was a beacon for landscape photographers it was a hub for rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts who knew of a grand landscape filled with endless possibilities to explore, all under one of the state's most amazing views. Spend a few days with the Aperture Academy as we photograph some of the best this area has to offer!

Orientation: We will meet for a very important orientation the evening before our workshop starts. At that time we will review everyone's camera gear, and talk about the locations we'll visit and what to expect.

Day 1:

We'll begin our day with a sunrise shoot over the beautiful and other-wordly Tufa formations at Mono Lake, moving on to our next planned stop, June Lake.

After a break back at our hotel, we'll set out for Bodie Ghost Town where we will be met by our docents and guided into the park! Very few workshop companies have the opportunity to bring students into Bodie after hours to photograph, so we're thrilled to be able to share this experience with our students. Plan for a late night, but we promise it's worth it!

Day 2:

We'll be up early for sunrise at Convict Lake, one of the most picturesque alpine lakes in the area, and ready ourselves for departure to Bishop, CA to continue our adventure.

After our transfer to Bishop, we'll explore the surrounding area, photographing the hidden gems that only exist in the Eastern Sierras, finishing up with our visit to shoot way up high in the White Mountains with photography in the Bristlecone Pine Forest.

Day 3:

Starting with a sunrise shoot, our instructors will guide you from location to location within this vast and very photogenic area, helping you capture images you'll be proud of! Since our instructors know all the hot spots for photography in this region, we'll continue well into the evening, chasing the best light!

Day 4:

We'll start the day with a sunrise shoot in the Alabama Hills, returning to the hotel for our post processing session. We'll be using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, along with other editing tools to help you get the most from your photos we've captured during our trip. We'll wrap up post about 1pm, getting you on your way home with your memory cards full of images you can be proud of!

While lodging during the workshop is not provided, we recommend two specific hotels for the duration of the workshop. While you may stay wherever you wish, please remember that we will be returning/departing from these hotels each day!

For our first two evenings we recommend the Mammoth Creek Inn in the town of Mammoth, CA. We will have a group block set up at a discounted rate for our students. Upon check-out, we will travel as a group to Bishop, CA.

For the final two evenings we recommend the Holiday Inn Express in Bishop. The town was named after Bishop Creek, which was named after Samuel Addison Bishop, a settler in the Owens Valley. This hotel has a heated pool, whirlpool and sauna, so feel free to bring a bathing suit and relax! Again, we will have a block set up with the hotel for your convenience.

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.

My name is Mike Wardynski, AKA Nature Mike.

I’m a landscape and travel photographer based out of Oakland California. Although the city is where I live, nature is where I feel at home. Growing up in rural Michigan, I had the desire to travel and document my adventure along the way.

After graduating with a broadcasting degree and realizing I was a much better photographer than musician, I packed up my van and headed out west to a little park known as Yosemite. There I would spend the next three and a half years working in the wilderness department for The Yosemite Conservancy. It was during those years that I deliberately made the decision to dive headfirst into the photographic rabbit hole for good. While working in the park, I spent much of my time lugging camera gear around the high country and hanging out with my friends at the Ansel Adams Gallery.

I currently reside in the SF Bay Area where I work as a photography instructor. My travels have given me the opportunity to photograph the erupting Kiluaea volcano from air, as well as document dolphins in the Pacific Ocean. I’ve witnessed unbelievable light unfold before me and in an instant disappear. Those are the moments that I live for. I love sharing my passion for photography and nature with others and I’m grateful for the path that has lead me here.

Scott Donschikowski is a professional photographer, speaker and instructor of photographic arts and digital darkroom techniques. He is a master of the digital workflow, is an Adobe Certified Expert and has taught and lectured all over California about the benefits of becoming proficient in the digital darkroom.

Scott is a versatile photographer, specializing in architecture, lifestyle and landscapes but also having completed work in weddings, editorials, events and product photography. He has worked extensively covering events for the City of San Jose and has contracted his work out to a number of local businesses providing them with his own unique style of photographic imagery.

A tech geek at heart, when Scott is not out taking pictures in his native California, he spends his time writing for numerous blogs, maintaining several websites, reviewing photography gear, and refining his digital darkroom craft. He is also an avid astrophotographer and when the available light runs out, he brings out his telescope and captures images of the heavens above.

The workshop fee is $1,695. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:

• 100% refundable: 150 days (five months) or greater
• No refund within 150 days or less of the start date
• Seats are transferrable

The workshop/tour price includes:

• Professional photography instruction by one or more professional photographers
• Post-processing session

The workshop/tour price DOES NOT include:

• Transportation
• Lodging
• Food
• Alcoholic beverages
• Instructor gratuities
• Travel insurance

• Sierra Day & Night 4-Day Workshop - Oct. 2021
• Sierra Day & Night 4-Day Workshop - Aug. 2019
• Sierra Day & Night 4-Day Workshop - Jul. 2018
• Sierra Day & Night 4-Day Workshop - Sept. 2017
• Sierra/Bodie Day & Night 4-Day Workshop - Sept. 2016
• Bodie/Mono 2-Day Workshop - August 2015
• Eastern Sierra 2-Day Workshop - August 2015
• Bodie/Mono 2-Day Workshop - August 2014
• Eastern Sierra 2-Day Workshop - August 2014
• Bodie/Mono 2-Day Workshop - August 2013
• Eastern Sierra 2-Day Workshop - July 2013
• Bodie/Mono 2-Day Workshop - August 2012
• Eastern Sierra 2-Day Workshop - July 2012