UTAH WILDERNESS PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION
- a workshop for the truly adventurous at heart -
DATES: MAY 1 - 7, 2026 (LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS, 4:1 GUIDE RATIO)
PRICING: $3,425 per participant
RESERVER YOUR SPOT:
To reserver your spot please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. Once I’ve received that I will call you to talk through the workshop, your questions and to ensure this will be a good and enjoyable fit for you.
Cancellation policy:
- If you cancel 90 days prior of the workshop, your deposit will be refunded minus $300.
- Cancellation 90 to 31 days of the workshop date, your deposit of 25% of the workshop total will be kept. If I can fill your spot, you will receive a full refund minus $300.
- Cancel within 30 days of the workshop and no refund will be issued. Unless your spot gets filled, in that case, a refund will be issued minus $300.
WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP?
Ready for unique? And I mean really unique. There is no photo workshop in Utah like this one, and I mean that with great sincerity. This is a workshop designed by 2 extremely driven Utah explorers who also happen to be professional landscape photographers. Myself (Seth Hamel) and my good friend and colleague Hunter Page who is based out of Capitol Reef National Park. This workshop is for the adventurous at heart, for those who long for an in-depth, real wilderness photography adventure that is way off of the beaten path. On this workshop we will be traveling into some of the very deepest backcountry areas of Southern Utah to chase amazing landscape scenes that very few have visited, and are well off of the radar of the landscape photography community. These are all areas that myself and my colleague Hunter Page have discovered over the past decade of obsessive backcountry exploration, willing to travel far into the unknown to fulfill our thirst to know what is out there and where most are unwilling to go. Unknown to most, even the locals of this region, these are areas where we will have the place to ourselves. No cars, no people, no sticking to the trail…. because there are no trails… this is the wilderness, real deal, way out there, and we’ll be doing it expedition style. We will camp for 5 nights in a row on this workshop as we travel around in our capable Toyota 4runners and sleep in tents under the beautiful night skies of Southern Utah. We will be visiting one of the most beautiful slot canyons in Southern Utah which is seldom visited due to its remoteness, we’ll photograph desert towers at golden light, colorful hills as if they were painted by an artist greater than any human, and we’ll share a true adventurous journey to photograph Utah badlands as far as the eye can see. If you want something unique, if you aren’t afraid to get dirty and sleep in a tent and submit to the elements of the wilderness, this will be an experience of a lifetime. I hope that you can join Hunter and I as we share with you our favorite approach and our passion to landscape photography; adventurous journeys into the backcountry, epic scenery, laughter and camaraderie and a connection with nature that is unobtainable by sleeping in hotels and driving up to easy to access photography areas. Let’s get into it. Super far out there. Completely wild and free places. You’ll experience the rawness of the wilderness that will inspire your images and your soul. This workshop is far beyond image creation, this is a full immersion into existing with the wilderness. This is the other “real world". Come on out and connect with it. Ready for adventure? Let’s go get it!!!!
✅ What’s Included in the Workshop
All meals and drinks provided throughout the workshop (excluding alcohol, which you are welcome to bring your own)
Transportation throughout the entire workshop
Airport pick-up and drop-off at Grand Junction
High-quality camping gear including tents, sleeping bags, and pads
Full days of instruction on composition, technique, and creative process
Carefully selected locations timed for the best light
❌ What’s Not Included
Flights to and from the workshop
Lodging in Grand Junction near the airport the night before the workshop
Rental car costs (if arriving outside of scheduled pickup)
Travel insurance
Gratuities for your instructors
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Because this workshop is based out of all remote and deep wilderness areas, we do not have a set itinerary. This is because we will chase the best locations based on safety concerns, recent weather, group dynamics, and upcoming forecasts. For those who are interested in joining this workshop, it is critical to understand that on this sort of expedition, we are subject to the wilderness, and not the other way around. We adapt to what nature gives us, and that’s all part of the great adventure! Bring it on baby!!!
Day 1: Into the Wild
We’ll pick you up from hotels in Grand Junction, CO. After loading up our gear, we’ll hit the road for a six-hour drive deep into the backcountry. Upon arrival, we’ll set up camp and head out to explore and photograph one of the most breathtaking slot canyons on the planet—far from the beaten path.
Day 2: Sandstone Giants & Hidden Canyons
We’ll start the day with a hearty breakfast, followed by a half-day of photography inside a majestic slot canyon. After lunch, we’ll move even deeper into the wilderness, arriving in time to set up camp, and capture sunset light on towering sandstone formations in a place few have visited.
Day 3: Big Views & Remote Exploration
Dawn brings a sunrise session in a location that offers sweeping views of red rock cliffs and endless canyon country. Midday will take us on a hike through deep canyons with fun, hands-on scrambling. The scrambling is not technical (meaning no ropes necessary). The day wraps with sunset photography at yet another secluded and awe-inspiring desert scene.
Day 4: A Canyon Like No Other
We’ll begin the day with another sunrise, then pack up and make a short two-hour drive to a completely different environment. The landscape shifts dramatically here, revealing a wild, intricate slot canyon unlike anything Hunter and I have seen so far during our lives in the Southwest. Sculpted walls, twisting passages, and ever-changing light make this a dream location for creative photography. It is endless.
As the day winds down, we’ll shoot sunset at a place so strange and visually striking, it feels like it belongs on another planet. Expect something truly one-of-a-kind.
Day 5: Rugged Roads & Untouched Beauty
This morning’s sunrise happens right outside your tent—no commute, just roll out and shoot. We’ll take some time to relax before setting off on a rugged two-hour journey in Toyota 4Runners through some of the most challenging terrain of the trip. Expect teamwork, maybe even building rock ramps over ravines—but the payoff is massive: a sunset location that might never have been photographed before, and it’s as epic as it gets.
Day 6: A Place Unknown
We’ll stay in the same area as last night’s jaw-dropping sunset. Hunter and I are both convinced—after years of exploring—that this place was entirely unknown to photographers until recently. It’s staggering in its uniqueness. That evening, we’ll check into a nearby hotel, unwind, and begin post-processing some of the incredible images we’ve created together.
Day 7: Wrap-Up & Return
An early departure will take us back to Grand Junction. We’ll get you to the airport or your preferred hotel, wrapping up an unforgettable week of adventure, creativity, and remote discovery.
YOUR GUIDES: Seth Hamel and Hunter Page
As I’ve mentioned above, this is both mine and Hunters favorite approach to landscape photography; adventure in the backcountry to photograph, and to have impactful life experiences. Both Hunter and I have spent our entire adult lives aggressively pursuing passions in wilderness areas, through photography, rock climbing, river rafting, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, snow sports, off-grid living, and the list goes on. Through that, we’ve developed a good bit of wisdom and knowledge about how to stay safe, while having a great adventure. We’re no slouches when it comes to knowing how to recreate in the wilderness and you are in good hands as we calculate each decision on the workshop from moment to moment designed to keep you safe, and to facilitate a great experience. You can completely trust us to keep you safe.
SETH HAMEL - OWNER OF ENLIGHTEN PHOTOGRAPHY EXCURSIONS (ZION AREA)
For me, photography is more than just a passion and an activity that brings me joy; it's a way to connect with the world around me. Being outdoors, immersing myself in the beauty and solitude of nature, reminds me of our shared human existence and our place in this vast, interconnected world. Through my work, I strive to help people connect with the natural world in a way that is both profound and personal.
HUNTER PAGE - OWNER OF HUNTER PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY (CAPITOL REEF AREA). WWW.HUNTERPAGEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
From Hunter:
I'm Hunter Page, a professional nature photographer and experienced wilderness guide with a lifelong passion for the outdoors. For well over a decade, I’ve dedicated my life to exploring and photographing the remote landscapes of the American West.
My background includes years as a backpacking guide and photography instructor, and when I’m not guiding others, you’ll find me deep in the backcountry, often days from the nearest road, chasing light and solitude with my camera and a pack on my back. Off-grid, immersive experiences aren’t just what I offer—they’re where I thrive. This is my element.
Recommended Camera Gear
* Sturdy Tripod and Ballhead.
* Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
* Wide-Angle Lens.
* Mid-range Lens.
* Telephoto lens.
* Circular Polarizer Filters.
* Extra batteries, battery charger, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
* Shutter Release Cable.
Personal Gear List
* Sturdy Footwear; Hiking Boots.
* Footwear for camp (flip flops or light shoes)
* Hiking Socks.
* A Rain Jacket.
*Clothing for warm sunny weather.
* Several Warm Layers.
* Thermals / Cold Layers.
* Headlamp
*Charging cables
* Sunscreen, Sunglasses, wide brimmed sun hat.
*Winter Hat.
* Water bottle or hydration bladder.
* Nalgene Water Bottle (reusable).
* Miscellaneous Snacks.
* Any Medical Devices or prescriptions that are needed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the physical fitness requirements?
We will hike every day with around a couple of miles per day, and at most 8 miles in a single day. Some of the terrain will be challenging going uphill, downhill or scrambling through canyons using hands and feet. Good balance is a must for this workshop.
What is the camping arrangement?
Each participant will have their own tent to themselves. We will teach people how to set up their own tents, and participants will be responsible for setting up, taking down and packing up their own gear everyday.
What food is provided on the workshop?
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Our good friend and fellow photographer/backcountry enthusiast Andrew Hertel will be our chef and logistics assistant throughout the trip. Breakfast and dinners will be hardy meals. For breakfast, expect eggs, bacon, potato type of meals, as well as fruit, yogurt, nuts and grains. Dinners will range, but will be hardy cooked meals with good protein to sustain our daily energy needs. Lunches will mostly be sandwiches.
Will we have cell service?
Mostly no. We are WAY out there my friends!!!! With that being said, we will have a starlink system that will be ran periodically each day for people with communication or internet needs.
I want to join the workshop, but I don’t have all of those days available. Can I join just for part of the workshop?
Yes! However, you would need to arrange a rental vehicle for the workshop so you could drive yourself back to the airport.
How do we go about charging batteries?
We will have a portable battery with very large storage capacity. It will have enough juice to charge peoples phones, camera batteries and rechargeable small items.
I’ve never camped before, is this trip appropriate for me?
Yes, with a caveat. It would be up to you to determine your grit factor. Some grittiness very much required. If you can roll with the punches with a good attitude, no problem! If some levels of discomfort bothers you, it is not a good fit.
I have all of my own gear, can I bring that?
Yes, and you will also receive a discount on the workshop since we will not be needing to rent for you. Bringing your own gear is encouraged.
Do we camp every night of the workshop?
Yes, except for our very last night where we will lodge in Hanksville, Utah. This will get people a night to get freshened up and regrouped before driving back to the airport the next morning.
I have someone who wants to come with me on this workshop, but they aren’t a photographer, can they join?
Absolutely! While this workshop is about photography, it is even more so about the experience. We would love to have them come relish in the journey with you.
