Arizona Photography Adventures

Thursday, November 29 2007 @ 08:36 PM MST

Don’t stand on the outside looking in … instead join one of the talented guides at Windwalker Expeditions to get deeper into the beautiful Sonoran Desert and enjoy a true Arizona wilderness experience.

Windwalker’s professional photographers — Jack McAward, Dan Cotton and Gil Gustavsen — specialize in “private only” photography workshops. It is just you, your group of friends and family and some of the sharpest eyes in the Southwest. They will make sure you have plenty of photo opportunities and help you capture the true spirit of the West, plus they are delighted to share the tips and tricks of photography that they have learned in their 75 combined years of experience. You will be assured of some amazing photos of Arizona scenery and the Sonoran Desert as well as enjoy a fantastic learning experience.

You can choose from these amazing workshops and take home some terrific photos of the Desert Southwest.

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix (2 – 2.5 hours) walk/amble
The Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park, Phoenix, is one of the finest botanical gardens in the country. It covers about 50 acres, and in addition to the vast array of native plants on display, the garden is home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world. Windwalker guides say that even the lizards will stop and pose for your camera!

Sonoran Desert Magic (2 – 2.5 hours) hiking
Capture the pristine beauty of the Sonoran Desert through the lens of your camera. In this workshop, you will capture cactus flowers, towering Saguaro, Gambel Quail, choose from several dozen species of lizards, panoramic scenery and much more. Windwalker guides are fearless and have even been known to get nose-to-nose with the tamer varieties of snakes.

Lake Pleasant Loop (3.5 – 4 hours) off-road and hiking
The Lake Pleasant Loop will take you to the area surrounding one of the largest desert lakes in Arizona. Set against a backdrop of the Bradshaw Mountains, you will experience the Desert Southwest at its most amazing. Journey past unusual geologic rock formations and explore a narrow slot canyon formed eons ago by wind and water. Hold on tight as the jeep creeps along a narrow ledge high above the slot canyon. Stop and take photos any time you see something of interest and be sure to take advantage of Windwalker’s professional photographers and the knowledge they have accumulated.

Superstition Wilderness (3.5 – 4 hours) off-road and hiking
The Superstition Mountains have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many showing signs of former habitation by a number of different Native American groups. The Superstition Wilderness is supposedly the location of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, which is still lost. With a little luck, perhaps you and your Windwalker guides will be the first to locate it! The towering mountains provide numerous photographic opportunities and short hikes will take you to even more remote areas and amazing scenery. Let our guides reveal the mysteries of these mountains through the lens of your camera.

Verde Canyon Railroad (Full Day) ride the rails – book this adventure at least two weeks in advance to be sure of train tickets for your chosen date
Join our professional guides in an amazing workshop where you will capture red rock canyons, cliff dwellings, American Bald Eagles and more aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad. Before boarding, Windwalker guides will start the workshop and assist you in getting some great photos of the train and depot. Once aboard, the four-hour trip into the canyon will provide you with numerous photographic opportunities, all under the experienced eye of your professional guide. Be sure to capture a photo of the train as is passes over the trestle bridge spanning S.O.B. Canyon or as it disappears into the 550-foot long pitch-black tunnel. After the train ride, stop in Jerome or Prescott (both were once early mining town) for a snack and let the guide work with you to review and critique your photos.

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Photo Credits:
Chuckwalla – Dan Cotton
The Desert in Bloom – Gil Gustavsen
Window Arch – Jack McAward

See The Southwest
http://seethesouthwest.com/article.php/arizona-photography-workshops