Joining the WPA (Worldwide Photo Adventures) for this creative adventure in the USA offers several compelling reasons. Firstly, the photo adventure is led by veteran professional photo guide Darran Leal, accompanied by special guest tutor Julieanne Kost from Adobe. Both are renowned creative experts in photography. Additionally, the team is further expanded by young professional photo guides Pearce and Frazer Leal, whose knowledge and experience will enhance your journey, providing valuable insights and guidance to help you capture stunning images.

The itinerary for this adventure is carefully crafted to offer more than just the standard tourist locations. The WPA team has curated a route that takes you to the best spots at the right timing, optimising your photo opportunities. This unique itinerary allows you to explore lesser-known gems and experience the true beauty of Death Valley.

Death Valley is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, including expansive salt pans, impressive sand dunes, and rugged mountains. The creative possibilities are endless, providing opportunities to capture unique images showcasing lines, form, and texture. If you have a passion for landscape and creative photography, this adventure will be a dream come true.

The WPA team understands that photography is not just about capturing images, but also about the creative process and post-processing. They offer a combination of indoor and field workshops that will expand your vision, help you discover new perspectives, and improve your shooting techniques. Additionally, processing workshops will enhance your creative journey and take your images to new levels.

Unlike rushed tours, this photo adventure allows for quality time at each key region. You'll have ample opportunity to immerse yourself in the surroundings, explore the landscapes, and truly appreciate the natural beauty. This balance between photography and experience ensures that you can fully enjoy and make the most of each location.

JULIEANNE KOST

Named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Julieanne Kost is a Principal Evangelist at Adobe Systems, responsible for fostering relationships with customers through meaningful and inspirational Photoshop and Lightroom instruction. As a highly sought-after speaker for the industry-standard Digital Imaging franchise, she devises and presents motivating and educational training sessions, sharing original techniques and tutorials worldwide — via live events, Adobe.com, her own website (jkost.com) and blog. She is also the author of “Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking,” and “Passenger Seat: Creating a Photographic Project from Conception through Execution in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom”, an accomplished photographer and fine artist, and creator and host of the popular Photoshop CC Essential Training and the Art of Photoshop Compositing for Lynda.com.

Julieanne is well-known for her unique approach to instruction, infusing practical tips and tricks with an equal amount of humour and creativity that keeps audiences entertained and engaged. She often serves as a guest lecturer at distinguished photography workshops, industry events, and leading educational institutions around the world. She’s a contributing columnist and author for a variety of print and online publications and has created over 500 instructional videos as the host of Adobe’s “The Complete Picture” featuring Lightroom and Photoshop, serves as producer and instructor of the “Lightroom Getting Started” and “What’s New in Lightroom,” training courses, as well as the “Revitalize your Workflow with Lightroom” seminar on CreativeLive.

Julianne holds an AA in Fine Art Photography and a BS in Psychology.

Julieanne’s blog is - Blogs.adobe.com/jkost

THE COST INCLUDES

• All land tour costs as per itinerary.

• Accommodation - lodge/hotel.

• Entrance fees to parks as per itinerary.

• Professional photo guide.

• Local expert driver/guide.

NOT INCLUDED

• International Air tickets & flights.

• Personal expenses.

• Items not included in the itinerary.

• Meals, Tips and Drinks.

• Travel Insurance.

• Visa - check Visalink - www.visalink.com.au (If not a US citizen.)

DAY 1 - LOS ANGELES December 2

We meet today at 4pm at our accommodation, for a briefing on the adventures to come. We include a workshop (mixed Darran and Julieanne) to maximise your photo interests for the tour. Option to join your guides for dinner tonight. Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 2 - LOS ANGELES TO DEATH VALLEY December 3

We depart LA early, driving over the famed Sierra Nevada mountains. The drive is about 5 hours without stops. However, we may stop opportunistically today. Beautiful forests give way to alpine country and eventually to desert. What a diverse day! We make our way to one of the most unique landscapes on earth - Death Valley. We book into our accommodation and head out for a sunset shoot. The light offers fantastic visual patterns and your tutor team are keen to help you maximise this. After dinner, a workshop by Julieanne on creative concepts. Accommodation: Hotel

DAYS 3/4/5 - DEATH VALLEY December 4/5/6

Three full days exploring the wonderful and weird landscapes of Death Valley. We target light that suits each location that we will visit. From glorious sand dunes in the morning, to towering peaks, the best landscape photo opportunities. Early starts - workshops - siesta - late light shoots are the order. We will also look at astro shoots, depending on the weather. We return to some key locations more than once. We will switch time of day for different light. What a special place to explore - the lowest location in the USA - at 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is a surreal landscape that tricks the senses. The stark space and unearthly vistas will amaze you! We add in a couple of more workshops with Julieanne and the WPA team. These workshops will help you with concepts, visualisation and the best processing. Julieanne will offer you simple but very effective processing techniques. Plus, she will offer the rare chance to enjoy some one-on-one time. Accommodation: Hotel

DAY 6 - DEATH VALLEY TO LAS VEGAS - TOUR ENDS December 7

Morning shoot to target a final key location. We then depart, driving about 3 hours to Las Vegas, with opportunistic stops. We arrive about mid-day and the end of the tour. Services end here, or you can link up with our next amazing adventure. Again, Julieanne joins us! No meals are included for this tour. This will offer you flexibility of choice and best timing for shoots. The WPA tour leader will help optimise meals for the group. Itinerary and price is subject to change.

SCENIC FLIGHTS

Note that we will ask group members about interest to undertake optional activities like scenic flights about 4-5 months before the tour departure.