The Great White Sands: Photographing Autumn at White Sands National Monument

Join Eloquent Light for an unique opportunity to visit one of award-winning photographer Craig Varjabedian’s favorite places to make photographs – White Sands National Monument. Understand for yourself why Craig has been returning to these beautiful dunes over and over again and why he was compelled to create a book dedicated to them: Into the Great White Sands.

THE WORKSHOP |
Explore the dramatic and fairy–tale like terrains of White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico, while fully immersing yourself in the legendary allure of rolling sand dunes and the stark beauty of landscape and sky. White Sands is a place that will not only leave you breathless, but also most certainly will inspire a whole new energy and passion within you while taking your photography to the next level.

THE PLAN |
Our incredible journey will be based in Alamogordo in south central New Mexico, as we spend four days at White Sands National Monument exploring the rolling white sands. The challenge of this workshop will be in capturing the high-low contrast of this remarkable landscape. Autumn is beautiful with the cottonwood trees turning sparkling gold and the temperate weather. The intrepid photographer will be rewarded with indelible images of dream-like scenes and lost eras when a different aesthetic prevailed. Craig will provide hands-on one-on-one guidance in the field as needed.

During the workshop, we will be out photographing in both morning and evening light. As we have time and upon request, during mid-day hours we can be look at images on your laptop computer to provide feedback and further your progress.

Southern New Mexico is known for its great nighttime skies, especially for photographers. One evening we will be out late on the dunes photographing the night sky, weather permitting.

BACKGROUND |
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that live here.

SKILL LEVEL |
This workshop is a terrific for all digital photographers who are essentially familiar with their cameras. You should be able to download, edit and manage images on your laptop computer. You need to be able to carry your own camera gear and tripod and be capable of walking and light hiking on sand, rocks and somewhat varied terrain. You will need to know, before you get here, how to set and use auto bracketing on your camera, if your camera has this feature.

TESTIMONIAL |
“I’ve just returned from my second workshop with Craig at Eloquent Light Workshops. I love the small intimate groups which give many opportunities to work one-on-one with Craig and his assistant.

Craig’s extensive knowledge of White Sands National Monument made the vast landscape manageable as he guided us to the ideal locations at the perfect light to compose and capture its beauty. He shared his viewfinder to teach and train our eye to compose pictures with impact and interest.

The results were beautiful images that expressed the feeling and grandeur of White Sands to me. Craig has renewed my love for photography and taught me a new way of seeing light’s play on the land. I look forward to more. Thank you.”

― Leslie H., VA, 2017 Workshop Participant

INSTRUCTOR |
Craig Varjabedian, the founder and main instructor at Eloquent Light, is an award-winning photographer who explores the back roads of the American West, making profound pictures of the land and the people who live on it, telling stories. . . one photograph at a time. A gifted teacher, Craig has taught photography to people from around the world for over thirty years.

https://www.eloquentlight.com/autumn-at-white-sands-national-monument-photography-workshop