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CAPTURE THE UTAH BADLANDS
Capture the Night 2026
April 19-22, 2026 (sunday-wednesday)
$2,695 all inclusive
Get inspired and hone your skills on a three-day/three-night, adventure filled,
Landscape and Milky Way workshop, with some off-road excitement,
as we explore some of the southwest’s most iconic locations!
(Limited to Five Students)
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Utah Badlands and Capitol Reef in cooler spring temperatures, and with stunning Milky Way alignments. This adventurous Nightscape & Landscape Photography Workshop will visit prime locations in the southwest that create opportunities to capture both nightscape and landscape images. The geological features are truly unforgettable! Our small group of five will capture the gorgeous night sky as a backdrop to stunning foregrounds.
WHERE WE WILL TRAVEL
Utah Badlands
The Utah Badlands feature countless geologic features ranging from spires and rock buttes to the nearby San Rafael Swell. The Mars Society operates a facility (Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS)) in the badlands. Here, interplanetary travel can be simulated with a crew of 6 to 8 people for several months at a time. Note the MDRS is a closed scientific facility and is not open to the public, so please respect their work and do not wonder onto their campus. The numerous geological features are a product of extensive weathering, and highly eroded rock that are composed of a harder rock above layers of softer, less resistant strata. The formations, colors, and textures offer a wide range of photographic compositions at all times of day, and provide fascinating foregrounds for nightscape photography.
Capitol Reef National Park
What’s so special about this park? You discover the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic wrinkle on earth! Located in south-central Utah, in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. It’s not a large park, but it packs a visual punch, offering numerous locations for stunning nightscapes. Capitol Reef National Park has been an International Dark Sky Park since 2015, so, it’s safe to say the night sky in Capitol Reef will be a pitch-dark canvas where stars shine brightly.
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Allow Me to Introduce Myself
It is my privilege to share with you my knowledge of photography, which was instilled during my childhood by my late father and mentor, Lowell Anson Kenyon, Chief of the Office of Photography for the Smithsonian Institution.
My style is upbeat, and enthusiastic, and l provide a positive learning environment that nurtures your art, and grounds you in best practices through personalized instruction. My tips and time-tested techniques will help you pursue your brand of photography with greater purpose and with more intentional creativity.
I hope to share with you my passion, not only for capturing compelling photographs, but also for allowing yourself to be “captured” by the beauty and awe of this place – to connect with nature, and appreciate the relevance of our great western treasures.
These workshops are adventurous, and you will enjoy maximum time in the field.
There is no arguing that golden hour light is wonderful, but you will also learn how to maximize any lighting scenario, simply because we don’t always have the luxury of creating images in golden hour, or under perfect light for that matter. You will also be encouraged to use all of your lenses, whether that be a macro for Autumn still life compositions, or a telephoto to capture intimate landscape details otherwise far from view. Remember, you can always rent lenses if you don’t already own them.
To ensure you receive a well-rounded educational experience, following this workshop, I provide you with two-hours of HD video content from my Digital Darkroom series. The series is suitable for all skill levels in post processing, and use both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. If you are uncomfortable with Photoshop, please know there will be content processed solely in Lightroom.
So join me on Capture the Night, where filling you with memories is as important as filling your memory cards with unforgettable images.
Trip Overview
WORKSHOP SNAPSHOT
Dates: April 19–22, 2026 (Sunday-Wednesday); Three-Days/Three-Nights under dark skies
Price per person: $2,695 (Includes all lodging) Deposit of $1,395 to hold your place, with final payment due approximately 120 days prior to the trip.
Group Size: Limit 5 Students
Photography Level: Beginner-Advanced
Terrain: Sandy and rocky terrain, with dangerous cliffs in some areas; hilly with loose footing at times
Altitude: 4,300’
Activity Level: Moderate activity with treks approximately two miles round trip on sandy/rocky and hilly terrain
Climate: Typically clear skies. Avg. Daytime temps: Capitol Reef H: 64˚ L: 37° –– Hanksville H: 71° L: 37°
Nearest Town(s): Hanksville, UT
Airport(s): Salt Lake City, Canyonlands Regional Airport
Vehicle: Note: A stock high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is required, since the road to Temples of the Sun and Moon can be quite sandy. A Jeep or Toyota Tacoma (or similar) is recommended for this leg of our journey.
Accommodations: Your room reservation awaits you at the Whispering Sands Motel in Hanksville, UT. Please request Christine Kenyon Workshop when you check in.
itinerary snapshot
TRIP VITALS:
We will Meet & Greet at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 (TBD) in Hanksville, UT
We will leave promptly at 3:30 p.m., after check-in, on April 19, to begin our scouting
Expect late nights, and one early morning to catch sunrise. I will give you ample daytime hours to rest
On Wednesday morning, April 22, we will say our goodbyes after shooting our last sunrise in the Badlands
Detailed itinerary is emailed to you approximately 30 days in advance of our start date
SHOOTING SCHEDULE: Our featured locations are all within 1.5 hours (one way) of our accommodations. At this time of the year, the Milky Way rises in the early hours of the morning (see info below). Be sure to dress for the temps (it will be in the mid-upper 30s at night), bring snacks, and stay hydrated!
LODGING: Accommodations are reserved at the Whispering Sands Motel in Hanksville, UT. Please request Christine Kenyon Workshop when you check in.
astronomical snapshot (approximate)
MORNING
Blue Hour: 6:04 a.m. - 6:15 a.m.
Golden Hour: 6:15 a.m. - 7:09 a.m.
Sunrise: 6:32 a.m.
EVENING
Golden Hour: 7:45 p.m. - 8:38 p.m.
Sunset: 8:21 p.m.
Blue Hour: 8:38 p.m. - 8:49 p.m.
Milky Way: 12:11 a.m. - 4:51 a.m.
We plan to explore breathtaking scenery,
I can’t wait to share some of my favorite locations!
Hope you join us!
This Workshop Includes
I love sharing my knowledge of photography, and I trust these amazing places will inspire you. So come and enjoy an exciting, educational, and fun western adventure, all the while knowing that I am there to guide you through each photographic opportunity.
PLEASE NOTE: We will schedule a pre-trip Zoom meeting within 30 days of the workshop
We Will Explore (subject to change):
Factory Butte
Moonscape Overlook
Bentonite Hills
Chimney Rock
Instruction will Include
I will guide you through my workflow in the field, the art of approaching the scene, compositional techniques, scouting and strategy, and some creative philosophy to help you elevate your photography to new heights. From scouting and planning using my recommended phone apps, to my complete Milky Way workflow in the field, you will come away equipped with the knowledge, creative insight, and practical applications to achieve your goals.
instructional nightscape GUIDE
You will receive, via email, my “Capture the Night” guide to nightscape photography (PDF). This guide will review camera setup and settings that optimize your photography for both daytime and night photography.
Digital Darkroom INSTRUCTION
At no additional charge, each workshop attendee will receive two-hours of virtual post processing (via Zoom) as part of a group session. All attendees of your workshop will have the opportunity to join the meeting, and an effort will be made to accommodate the group’s schedule,.
FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN
RECEIVE A DISCOUNT WHEN YOU BOOK
PRIVATE VIRTUAL SESSIONS WITH ME.
This Workshop Does Not Include
No ground transportation, or transportation to or from the workshop.
No food/beverages will be provided
There is no insurance provided to cover your travel, trip, your gear, or your vehicle. (Trip insurance is recommended)
No camera gear is provided
There may be little or no cellphone coverage in the workshop locations
What to Bring
GEAR
Camera: DSLR or mirrorless with a wide aperture (i.e., f/2.8 or wider) lens.
Lenses: Wide angle: 14-24mm, Mid-range: 24-70mm, Telephoto: 70-200mm, 80-400mm, etc.(as noted in full frame focal lengths)
Solid tripod and head
Wired shutter release or wireless remote release, for long bulb-mode exposures (if camera is not equipped)
Extra batteries for everything that takes batteries. You’ll thank me.
Extra memory cards, so you don’t miss a single shot
Lens cleaner/blower to save you from dust gremlins
Circular Polarizer (if you only have one filter in your bag, this is it)
3-stop or variable neutral density (nice to have, but not required)
Laptop, or other system to backup your images each day
PERSONAL
Headlamp (did I say bring extra batteries?)
Camera bag + rainfly (yes, even in the desert)
Bring layered, warm, breathable, clothing, including a waterproof shell
Comfortable supportive footwear, wicking socks (wool or synthetic) (keep your feet happy)
Dress for the temps. Layers are recommended. Always check the local forecast as it varies.
Bring snacks and stay hydrated (hydration especially important at altitude)
Consider hand warmers for those early morning shoots, plus warm gloves or fingerless mittens
Trekking poles (better safe than sorry)
Bug repellant (highly recommend Picaridin by Sawyer for the local DEET-resistant night gnats)
Sun Glasses, hat, handkerchief (Desert sand especially hard on the eyes, handkerchief for dusty wind)
Toiletries
Requirements
You are responsible for knowing your way around your camera and its menu system. My time with each of you will be spent learning to capture great images. Please do not burden others, and get less out of this event yourself – know and practice your camera, especially if you will be using any new gear on this trip.
Ability to shoot in a variety of weather and environmental conditions from bright sun to summer storms and at elevations ranging from near sea level to over 10,000 feet in elevation, depending on the workshop.
The ability to hike one to two miles per day over uneven, hilly, and at times rough terrain, however, most locations do not involve much hiking at all.
The ability to remain flexible to make the most out of the often changing environmental conditions.
The ability to work well with others in a group setting.
Our group must stay together. Please do not wander off without telling me of your where abouts. We will be in areas with potential hazards that include exposed cliffs, unstable terrain, and wildlife.
You are responsible for knowing and following all park or jurisdictional rules. Leave No Trace. Let’s leave it better than it was! Thank you!
PLEASE NOTE: All deposits/payments received are non-refundable. Should you cancel your trip for any reason, your deposit (workshops only) may be used as a credit toward another workshop* (minus a $250 cancellation fee), for the current or following year, and 50% of any unused credit may be used for up to two years from the first day of the cancelled workshop.
Trip/travel insurance is highly recommended as no refunds are provided.
*Please refer to my Terms & Conditions when you click on the Book Now button.
