UTAH
April 29 – May 10 2022
Let’s hop on the 4WDs and venture off the beaten path! Your destination is Utah’s “The Mighty 5” and other national parks. You will capture unimaginable scenes in the desert and canyons and valleys. You will explore the lesser known remote areas and immerse yourself in absolute serenity. Let’s chase the beam of light at sunrise and sunset and try astrophotography in the middle of nowhere.
You start the trip in Salt Lake City and drive through the Wild Wild West, then finish it in Las Vegas. Let’s begin the journey together again.
PROGRAM DATES:
April 29 (Fri) – May 10(Tue). 2022
(11 nights/ 12 days )
RATES:
Program rates per person:
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double occupancy TBA($5500-$5800)
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single occupancy TBA($7000-$7300)
I am working on the detail of the trip and please let me find out the final cost very soon.
Included in the fee are all accommodations, the entrance fee to the national parks and other area. Airfare and rent-a-car, gas and meals are not included.
Arches
SAFETY OF THE TRIP:
It is still unique and challenging time for everyone to travel due to the COVID-19 issue.
My priority is the safety, health and comfort of the guests and I will take every necessary step to manage the issue.
Although we are allowed to travel domestically and all the national parks in Utah are open, we will follow the guidelines and regulations at any parks and facilities we visit.
Face masks would be required at some places and physical distancing might be needed at certain situation.
I would also request every participant to get vaccinated before the trip.
VEHICLE:
I would like you to arrange your own rent-a-car as we do not use a mini-van or any larger vehicle to share the space during the trip. This is a unique style of traveling but I believe it will make everyone feel more confortable.
4WD vehicle is recommended as the road condition could be rugged at some places. Most of the rent-a-car company would allow you to drop the vehicle at Las Vegas when we finish the trip and you do not have to return the car to Salt Lake City, although additional cost may occur. Please check with the rent-a-car company.
DAY 1:
Please fly in Salt Lake City and check in our first hotel, The Grand American Hotel.
Let’s meet at dinner and talk about the upcoming adventure.
DAY 2:
Depart morning and drive southeast to Moab (3.5 hour drive), the city at the foot of the Arches National Park, most popular national park in Utah with thousands of sandstone arches. Check in Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn.
After lunch and some rest, you head to the park and drive through the astounding geological formations. North & South Window Arch and Double Arches, are the first arches you will capture up close.
DAY 3:
Depart early morning to sunrise shoot at Dead Horse Point State Park, (45 min drive). Towering 2000 feet above the Colorado river, you can capture a breathtaking panorama.
A lecture will be given at the hotel, all about astrophotography; camera setting, milky way shoot, star trail, light painting, etc.
After lunch, you head back to Arches National Park. Stopping by at many viewpoints and take photos of balancing rocks, soaring pinnacles, wide variety of landscapes. Late in the evening, you start setting up the cameras to be ready for the spectacular night shoot!
Capitol Reef & Badlands
DAY 4:
After breakfast, check out and depart to Torrey (2.5 hour drive), the town near the Capitol Reef National Park. Check in your next hotel, Capitol Reef Resort.
Late afternoon, depart for astonishing sunset at Moonscape Overlook in the Badlands.
Shooting the Badlands is one of the highlights of the trip, less known remote area in South Utah. You spend next couple of days here.
DAY 5:
Early morning departure and capture the sunrise over Factory Butte, signature summit in the Badlands - one of the most stunning landscapes in Utah!
Back to the hotel for breakfast and some rest.
Early afternoon, drive through the scenic road and photograph Capitol Reef National Park, another geological wonder with canyons, cliffs, and unique rock formations.
Night shoot in the Badlands is an option, depending on the weather condition.
DAY 6:
Full day expedition to Cathedral Valley, a scenic drive in the rugged and remote district of Capitol Reef National Park. The area is filled with sandstone monoliths, red-colored hills and vast desert scenery, fantastic place for photos with full of adventure.
Night shoot in the Badlands is an option, depending on the weather condition.
Bryce Canyon & Zion
DAY 7:
Good rest in the morning.
Check out noon and depart to Escalante (1.5 hour drive).
After lunch, check in Yonder Escalante, unique hotel with full of surprise!
You might try sunset shoot at Bryce Canyon National Park or take a rest and recharge for the next half of the trip.
DAY 8:
Depart early morning to Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its crimson-colored hoodoos, for sunrise shoot. Practice HDR, Panorama, HDR Panorama to capture stunning yet challenging light over the deep valley.
Back to the hotel for breakfast and check out noon.
Depart hotel to Kanab (2 hour drive)
Check in Comfort Suites Kanab National Park Area.
Arizona
DAY 9:
Depart early morning for the sunrise shoot at Zion National Park, the park with massive cliffs and narrow slot canyons.
Back to the hotel for breakfast and some rest.
Depart afternoon to White Pocket in Vermilion Cliffs National Park (2.5hour drive).
White Pocket is the hardest area to reach, yet absolutely the photographer’s dream place. Swirling and waving rocks with white, pink and yellow sandstone are all around, an ideal location for night shoot as well.
(local guides and their vehicles will take us to this place)
DAY 10:
Morning rest and we head to Antelope Canyon (1.5 hour drive), world’s famous slot canyon with awe-inspiring sandstone sculpture and stunning colors. Local Navajo guide will take you through the upper canyon (90 min tour).
* Antelope Canyon entrance fee (about $90) is not included in the program fee. Canyon is open now but they make the decision monthly basis.
After lunch, head for the sunset at Horseshoe Bend, perfect spot for the grand finale of your adventure!
DAY 11:
Good rest in the morning.
Depart hotel noon and drive to Las Vegas (3.5hour).
Late afternoon, we check in our final hotel, Bellagio at the heart of Las Vegas Strip.
If you like (and still have energy left…), we can go out and shoot the cityscape of Sin City!
Final dinner at hotel.
DAY 12:
Breakfast together and depart to the airport depending on your flight time.
“The itineraries are subject to be modified and changed. I will try all my effort to operate programs as planned, but alterations may still occur based on the weather and other conditions.”
TESTIMONIALS:
“ Simply if you want to learn about photography in practical on the ground fashion then just go with Katsu. You will benefit from his decades of experience and knowledge. “
(Shailendrra Guptaa, Michigan, USA)
“ I thoroughly appreciate your planning and research. You consistently put people in the right place at the right time for wonderful, memorable images. You push people out of their “comfort zone,” into manual shooting techniques, early morning shoots for sunrises and late night opportunities for the Milky Way and star trails. “
(Scott Masey, Washington, USA)
“ Your planning style is very detailed, that you know exactly where and when we need to be placed to get the best shots, and that you try very hard not to leave anything to chance. I think this sets you apart from other programs, and your students get the best shots as a result. I have enjoyed each of the trips I have taken with you and hope to go on more. "
(Amanda Lovette, Colorado, USA)
“ AMAZING!!! You can read about it. You can fly over it. You can see it in magazines and in movies and television, but you cannot appreciate it until you actually see it first-hand. “
(Chuck Zellmer, Ohio, USA)