Eagle’s View — Arizona

Day 1. September 19. Saturday

Arrival in Phoenix, Arizona. We will meet around noon at the rental car facility of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and begin our journey north toward one of Arizona’s most visually striking badlands landscapes.

Our destination is a remote expanse of colorful badlands known for its intricate network of ravines, ridges, and branching formations that resemble veins, roots, or river systems when seen from above. Bands of terracotta red, ochre, cream, and soft magenta create a natural abstract canvas, especially beautiful in low-angle light. This area offers endless opportunities for both classic landscapes and drone-based abstract compositions.

Drive time: approximately 3.5–4 hours.

We will arrive in time to scout compositions and photograph sunset, when long shadows reveal the depth and texture of the terrain and the colors become especially rich and saturated.

Overnight: Holbrook, Arizona.

Day 2. September 20. Sunday

We begin the day before sunrise in a remote section of Bentonite Hills a quiet, little-visited landscape of rolling badlands, layered clay hills, and branching erosion patterns. In the soft morning light, muted blues and violets settle into the shadows while warm bands of red, peach, and cream emerge along the ridgelines. From ground level, the terrain feels vast and otherworldly; from above, it transforms into intricate abstract compositions of line, texture, and color.

After sunrise, we’ll have breakfast, check out, and begin our drive through Petrified Forest National Park. Drones are not permitted in the park, and we will pass through outside prime light — but the surreal badlands, ancient petrified logs, and painted mesas make this a worthwhile and memorable stop.

Continuing north toward Kayenta, we will pause along the way to photograph isolated buttes and stone monuments rising abruptly from the desert floor — classic forms of the Colorado Plateau that glow beautifully in sidelight.

By late afternoon we arrive in Kayenta, where several striking formations await:

• Agathla Peak — A dramatic volcanic plug rising sharply from the desert, its sheer walls and fractured summit create a powerful silhouette, especially in warm evening light.
• Little Agathla Peak — A smaller companion formation with elegant slopes and layered textures that complement the main peak in compositions.
• Church Rock — A sculpted sandstone formation resembling a weathered cathedral, with rounded domes and vertical fluting shaped by centuries of wind and erosion.
• Observer Rock — A massive, fortress-like butte with horizontal strata and commanding presence over the surrounding desert.

We will photograph these formations in the soft light of late afternoon and sunset, when long shadows emphasize their form and scale.

Overnight: Kayenta, Arizona.

Day 3. September 21. Monday

We begin the morning at sunrise near one of the striking formations photographed the previous evening. In early light, the desert reveals subtle color transitions and long, sculpting shadows that emphasize the scale and geometry of these isolated rocks.

Afterward, we drive toward Flagstaff, making several stops along the way to photograph solitary buttes, layered badlands, and expansive high-desert vistas. This stretch of the Colorado Plateau offers endless variations of form — from soft, eroded hills etched with delicate lines to bold stone towers rising from open plains.

By late afternoon we reach the volcanic landscapes north of Flagstaff — a dramatic shift in scenery.

Ancient volcanic terrain introduces a completely different visual language: cinder cones, hardened lava flows, and high-elevation textures that feel almost extraterrestrial. From the ground, the rough basalt surfaces and fractured lava create powerful foregrounds; from above, the patterns become graphic and abstract, revealing the true scale of these eruptions frozen in time.

We will photograph sunset among these craters and lava fields, when low light enhances texture, deepens contrast, and brings out the rich reds and charcoals of the volcanic rock.

Overnight: Flagstaff, Arizona.

Day 4. September 22. Tuesday

We start the day with sunrise and golden hour in the volcanic landscapes near Flagstaff. In soft morning light, cinder cones, lava flows, and textured basalt surfaces reveal intricate patterns and subtle color shifts — ideal conditions for both ground compositions and aerial abstracts.

After the session, we return to the hotel for breakfast and rest.

Midday — Optional Lightroom Session

An informal, hands-on session focused on aerial image editing:

• Efficient Lightroom workflow
• HDR blending for high-contrast scenes
• Panorama stitching
• HDR panoramas for maximum dynamic range and detail

In the afternoon we head to a seasonal waterfall tucked within a high-desert forest landscape. Reaching the viewpoint requires an easy 0.5–0.7 mile walk along a flat, sandy forest road and short footpath through juniper and ponderosa pine. The trail is mostly level, with minimal elevation change, making it accessible while still feeling remote.

This falls is a broad, multi-tiered cascade that flows only after rains or snowmelt. When active, water spreads across the rock ledges, creating elegant lines and reflective surfaces; when dry, the sculpted limestone shelves and surrounding canyon still offer compelling textures and compositions. From above, the geometry of the falls and surrounding forest forms striking patterns.

We will photograph here through sunset, when warm light filters through the trees and enhances the layered rock formations.

Overnight: Flagstaff, Arizona.

Day 5. September 23. Wednesday

We return at dawn to the volcanic craters and lava fields near Flagstaff. This vast and varied landscape offers countless compositions — from sweeping views of cinder cones to intimate textures in hardened lava flows. With changing light and multiple vantage points, we’ll explore new perspectives and refine both ground-based and aerial approaches.

After the morning session, we return to the hotel for breakfast and check out.

Return to Phoenix

We begin the drive back to Phoenix, with an expected arrival around 1:00 PM at Sky Harbor Airport.

Workshop concludes upon arrival.