Monument Valley
March 27 - April 2, 2025
Monument Valley offers photographers some of the most striking and iconic views of the American Southwest. We will be accompanied on each of our twice-daily outings by experienced local Navajo guides. Familiar with the interests and needs of photographers, they will help us explore areas in and around Monument Valley not easily accessible to the average visitor.
We will be rising early to photograph the spring Milky Way arched low in the southeastern sky. On our morning shoots, we will also photograph breathtaking sunrises that typically turn the Valley’s ancient butte formations golden brown. Following late breakfasts each day, we will then spend the bright white mid-day hours resting, and processing and reviewing images. Recharged and and well fed, we will again head out to photograph the Valley in afternoon and evening light, followed by late dinners.
One full day will be devoted to photographing the Valley from Hunts Mesa. We will head out quite early in order to be positioned on the Mesa to photograph sunrise, and to witness the early morning light transform the Valley into a sight to behold. We will have breakfast, lunch and a steak dinner on the Mesa, returning to the View Hotel after sunset.
Our workshop will include exploration outside the Valley in the Mexican Hat area, the Corque Screw Slot Canyon, a visit to Mystery Valley led by a Navajo guide who is a cultural ambassador for Utah State University and an author of several books on Navajo culture and tradition. Mystery Valley houses thousands of Anasazi archaeological sites. We will also explore along the Oljato Road loop, including Eye in the Sky and the North Window. Additionally, we will be photographing at Moki Dugway and nearby overlooks including Muley Point, taking in a unique view down on the Valley from the north.
To maximize every opportunity to capture striking images of the Milky Way arching over the Valley, and to make the most of our day on Hunts Mesa, our exact itinerary will be adjusted in consultation with our Navijo guides.
The registration fee of $6895 includes workshop tuition, single-occupancy accommodations, meals, (excluding alcohol), from dinner on March 27th through breakfast on April 2, transportation during the workshop, and gratuities for local guides. (As your workshop leader, I do not expect or accept gratuities.) Couples and friends traveling together can share a room at a $850. discount per person. This workshop is limited to six guests.
Not included: airfare and transportation to Monument Valley, travel insurance, which is recommended, but not required.
A deposit of $1,500 is payable upon registration, with the balance due 90 days prior to the workshop. For more information, or to register, contact me at mark@schumannphoto.com, or call 505.901.2544. If I am unable to answer your immediately, please leave a voice message and I will return your call as soon a possible.
In-field assistance: My priority is to offer each participant the assistance they want and need to make good images, and to get the most out of their workshop experience.
Itinerary
March 27 - After checking in to our rooms at the View Hotel at 3:00, we will meet for an orientation, followed by an early dinner, and then an evening photo shoot including sunset.
March 28 - April 1 - Except for the full day we will spend on Hunts Mesa, each day will include and early morning photography outing, followed by a late breakfast. Late morning to mid afternoon each day will be devoted to personal time to rest and process images, have lunch at the View Hotel, and meet for image reviews. Afternoon and evening photography will be followed by a late dinners.
April 2 - Our workshop and time together in Monument Valley will conclude following breakfast.
Getting to Monument Valley: The Valley is approximately a five-hour drive from either Albuquerque, Phoenix, or Grand Junction, and approximately a seven-hour drive from Salt Lake City.
Client Reviews:
“Mark was proactive, asking me about my own photography and what I wanted out of our excursion, and offering hands-on tips the entire time.” - Matt
“Spending the day with Mark was a pleasure. He is an engaging, intelligent and talented man. I am a novice photographer and learned a great deal about the functions of my digital camera as well as photo composition in landscape photography.” - Philip
“My husband is a past-pro and now hobby photographer, and I have some (but limited) photography experience. Mark did a great job of meeting both of us at our ability and comfort levels. He was able to switch between working with my husband and his mirrorless DLSR and me and my iPhone when I got tired of shooting with my DSLR! Mark checked in with us on what we were interested in shooting, and customized our site visits accordingly.” - Stephanie
To see more client reviews, visit my Trip Advisor page: Mark Schumann Photo Tours.