Mystical Mojave & Drone Photography 2027

April 8 – 12, 2027


A close-up of a cactus with vibrant pink flowers in a desert landscape, featuring rugged rock formations in the background.
View of a rocky mountain peak through a natural rock arch, showcasing desert terrain and a colorful sky.
A beam of sunlight streaming through a narrow opening in a rocky cave, illuminating the ground covered with stones.

Overview

Join us on an epic road trip across the mystical Mojave desert. We’ll be photographing jagged peaks, exploring unnamed slot canyons, and taking incredible aerial photographs across the gorgeous high desert.

This ALL-INCLUSIVE photography workshop has been timed for moderate temperatures and potential wildflowers.

Group Size

Small group of 5 guests

Location

Nevada & California

Investment

$3200

Fitness

Moderate Hiking

What Should You Expect?

Despite covering a massive area over 3 states, most peoples only experience of the Mojave consists of either Death Valley or Joshua Tree National Park. We want to show you a side of the desert that most people don’t know exists.

This workshop will take us across southern Nevada and California where we will be chasing the light across a wide variety of desert landscapes.

During mid-day, when lighting is harsh, we will have informal Photoshop processing sessions, as well as review each other’s photos and offer critique. These sessions will be recorded for your personal viewing.

A desert landscape at sunrise featuring Joshua trees and sun rays shining through the branches, creating an illuminated scene with a soft sky.

A desert landscape featuring a foreground of spiky cactus plants with a dramatic rock formation in the background under a colorful sky at sunrise.
Aerial view of a rugged mountain landscape during sunset, showcasing layered rock formations and diverse terrain.
Sunset over a mountainous desert landscape with cacti in the foreground.

Itinerary

Please note, the exact itinerary is subject to change.

April 8: We’ll meet at 11:00 am for an early lunch and orientation before departing Las Vegas to explore several slot canyons. After checking into our hotel in southern Nevada, we will explore around an area with jagged peaks and spires.

April 9: For sunrise, we wake up early to photograph a beautiful cholla garden and the most rugged mountains in the southwest. After some mid-day photoshop lessons, we head out to explore a thick forest of Joshua trees.

April 10: After breakfast, we leave from our hotel and drive deep into California, stopping at a few quirky places along the way. For sunset, we’re going to take some incredible aerial photos of multicolored hot springs.

April 11: This morning, we have an early start to capture the stunning patterns of a dried lake bed. The compositions here are endless. After lunch, we’ll stop to photograph the sunset with mountains and mud cracks on the way back to Las Vegas.

April 12: For our last day, we wake up extra early to capture geologically-stunning ridge lines from above. After our morning shoot, we head back to the city for breakfast before saying goodbye. The workshop will conclude no later than 11:00am.

Education

We’re covering a LOT of variety on this workshop. We’ll be covering focus stacking, unique drone panorama techniques,

Aerial view of river systems meandering through a snow-covered landscape, with flowing orange-brown water contrasting against the white terrain.

Logistics & Important Info

The workshop will start and end in Las Vegas, NV. We will be meeting at the La Quinta, Airport South at 11:00 AM before leaving for an early lunch and orientation. The hotel has paid parking if you need to leave a car there.

Consider arriving to Las Vegas one day before the workshop starts in case of travel delays. The workshop will conclude after a final group breakfast on April 12th.

April temperatures can range from mid 50’s in the morning to mid 80’s in the afternoon.

Sample Gallery

  • Wide angle lens (12 – 16mm at the widest)
  • Telephoto lens (200+mm)
  • Sturdy tripod (preferably without a center column)
  • Rocket blower for dust
  • Camera backpack
  • Drone + extra batteries
  • Sturdy, thick hiking shoes
  • Long sleeve shirts & pants
  • Sun hoodie
  • Trekking poles
  • Hat & sunglasses
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Headlamp

You will need to be in moderate physical fitness to attend this workshop. We expect to hike around 3 miles per day. Some locations require steep hikes on loose, uneven terrain with a maximum elevation gain of 300ft. Many places we go won’t have any trails or shade.

  • All transportation for the duration of the workshop
  • Single occupancy lodging
  • All foods and snacks
  • Photographic guiding and instruction
  • In-depth photoshop sessions (Recorded)
  • Transportation to and from Las Vegas
  • Lodging in Las Vegas before and after the workshop
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal Items
  • Travel Insurance

A $1000 non-refundable deposit will hold your space for this workshop. Please make the remaining payment at least 90 days prior to the workshop. Sharing a room with a friend or partner will result in a $400 discount.

Any cancellation request more than 100 days before the start of a workshop will receive a full refund minus your deposit, which can be applied toward a future tour. If you decide not to attend a future workshop, this deposit is forfeited. If you cancel within 100 days, no refunds of any kind will be issued. If you cancel your reservation within 100 days and we are able to fill your space on a tour, we will provide a full refund. Once a tour has started, no refunds will be given for missed outings, delays, weather related events, or elements beyond our control. In the event of an emergency, I’m more than happy to work with you. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance, which covers non-refundable fees and travel expenses. Cancellation requests must be made in writing by emailing me at nickolas.warner@gmail.com