SOLD OUT | Night Photography at Great Sand Dunes National Park

Date  |  Workshop: Friday October 1 – Sunday October 3, 2021

Orientation: Saturday September 25 at 1pm

Optional Online Image Share: Tuesday October 12 at 6pm

Time  |   1:30pm Friday October 1st – 9am Sunday October 3rd

Location |   Great Sand Dunes National Park

Saturday September 25th Orientation is at CPAC

Instructor  |  Frank Varney

Skill Level  |  All Levels – we ask that you have a basic understanding of your camera

Cost  |  $650 | Members  $680 | Non-Members

We need 4 participants registered by August 23, 2021 in order to run the workshop.

Includes  |  Camp site for either tent or RV (no electric hookups)

Travel to/from the National Park is not included. Equipment, gear, food, water and other necessities are the responsibility of the participant, if you do not have certain items, we can help you find a place to rent or purchase them.

All persons participating in the workshop must be registered in the class. 

Important Information:

We will ask you to read and sign an Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release upon registration in order to participate.

Insurance. Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance is strongly recommended.

Cancellation and refund policy. When cancellation is requested by the participant, the following policies apply: Initial deposits, per person, are non-refundable. 50% of the remaining balances will be refunded if written notice is received by Colorado Photographic Arts Center at least 120 days prior to the first day / date of the workshop. For cancellations made less than 120 days prior to the first day / date of the workshop, no refunds can be made. If CPAC decides to cancel due to inadequate minimum enrollment, all client payments received for the workshop will be fully refunded. In no case will CPAC be responsible to reimburse participant’s airfare or other transportation costs, hotels, or other costs associated with travel to – and / or from – the workshop destination site.

Join us for a guided two night camping trip to one of Colorado’s best dark sky locations, the Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa. Weather permitting, photographic opportunities include photographing the dunes during the day, at sunrise and sunset, the Milky Way, star trails, and a waning crescent moon moonset. If we get lucky we might even see a meteor or two as the minor meteor shower the Southern Taurids happens during this time. One-on-one help is provided for this small group experience limited to 7 people.

Reservations for camp sites have been made at the Pinon Flats campground inside the park. Participants who do not want to camp must make their own lodging reservations. No meals are provided. You must be able to walk 2-3 miles a day and stay up late. A list of suggested equipment will be provided upon registration or inquiry. The average October temperature for the Park is 62° to 34° with 3 days of rain. An orientation meeting will be held on Saturday, September 25 from 1:00 to 3:00pm. Cost of the workshop includes instruction, permits required, camp site, and entrance fee to the Park. Workshop participants are encouraged to car pool.

Open to all photographic technical levels.

Itinerary (subject to change due to weather conditions):

• Friday
  • Meet outside of park 1:30pm
  • Campground check in 2pm
  • Photograph in Sand Dunes park 3:30pm-1:30am (includes sunset, moon set, and milky way)
• Saturday
  • Photograph Sunrise 6am-8am
  • Free time 8am-3:30pm
  • Photograph in Sand Dunes park 3:30pm-2:30am (includes sunset, moon set, moon rise, and milky way)
• Sunday
  • Optional: Photograph Sunrise 6am-8am
  • Workshop ends 9am
  • Campground checkout 1pm

Workshop Materials Needed:

• Camera
• Batteries for camera
• Memory or Flash Cards
• Tripod
• Pen & paper for notes
• Camping equipment
• Food & Water for weekend