Discover the Badlands of Utah
April 18-22, 2025
Instructor: Forest Barkdoll-Weil
Class size: 4 (3 Spots Open)
Tuition: $3299
The Utah Badlands are a photographers paradise, filled with unique formations, otherworldly canyons, hidden arches and more. In the workshop, you’ll join professional landscape photographer, Forest Barkdoll-Weil, as he guides you around one of his favorite locations in the southwest. If you’ve ever imagined stepping foot on a different planet, this region of Utah provides that experience…and the oxygen to do so! For five days and four nights, you’ll be treated to a landscape like no other, walking away with unique images and a growth in your photography. This region also provides fantastic opportunities for those wanting to grow in their drone photography skills as well.
What You Will Learn:
How to create compelling landscape compositions.
How to create beautiful aerial landscape images.
How to use your camera to its fullest capabilities.
How to utilize a variety of lenses to think “outside the box.”
An understanding for light and how to take advantage of it in all conditions.
The basics of Lightroom and Photoshop.
How to create stunning drone images and videos.
How to find simplicity in complex scenes.
What You Will Need:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera body and an assortment of lenses. A wide angle is highly recommended as well as a zoom lens.
A drone is recommended, by not required.
A sturdy tripod.
A headlamp or flashlight.
At least the trial version of Lightroom or Photoshop on your laptop.
Multiple batteries.
A desire to learn, have fun, be flexible, and explore nature!
Note: a 10 or 6 stop neutral density filter for your wide angle is recommended, as well as a circular polarizer.
What's Not Included:
Travel to Hanksville, Utah.
Rental vehicle and fuel.
Meals & beverages.
What's Included:
Accommodations, based upon double occupancy.
Travel within the workshop.
All park entrance fees and permits.
Access to Forests’ mind 24/7.
Post-workshop editing tutorial videos.
Where are we staying?
For this workshop, we will be basing out of some wonderful cabins in the Hanksville, Utah region. Cabins are double occupancy.
Physical Requirements:
There will be some short hikes to our shooting locations. Although these walks are shot (< 1/2 mile ), they will be over terrain that can be a bit rocky. Please know your physical limits.
Arrival / Departure
You will want to fly into and out of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Rental Vehicle
Transportation within the workshop will be provided, but you will need a rental vehicle to get to Hanksville from Grand Junction. Once the workshop is sold out, we will be more than happy to help coordinate with participants in possibly sharing a rental vehicle.
Your Instructor
About Forest
Forest Barkdoll-Weil is a fine art nature photographer and videographer whose passion for the natural world has led him into desolate badlands, remote mountain passes, sinewy canyons, and lush forests. An avid adventurer, Forest can be found chasing storms and auroras, summiting high peaks, and capturing the twinkling night sky – all with the goal of sharing nature’s beauty and wonder with the world.
Forest has found a love for teaching photography/videography and sharing the knowledge and skills he's accumulated over the years. His goal is to help others create art that they are proud of and want to share with the world or hang on their walls.
