Colorado in Autumn

September 30 to October 6, 2024

Southwest Colorado in autumn is one of America's best kept secrets for great landscape photography. Aspen trees turn golden yellow, shimmering in sunlight. Mountain sides are covered in color, and in the higher elevations there will most likely be a frosting of snow to contrast beautifully with the changing leaves. Split rail fences, old cabins, picturesque streams, and historic western towns serve as perfect foreground elements. Sunrise and sunset lighting are breathtaking on the aspens; everywhere you look there are stunning images. All of the beautiful locations Jim takes you to on this tour are accessible by our van, so the physical exertion is negligible while the joy at capturing nature at its finest is at a maximum!

What you will learn on this photo tour:

-- Composition by using the 'classic landscape technique'

-- How to expose with the sun included in the frame

-- Factors that influence HDR

-- How to replace a sky in Photoshop

-- Using focus stacking for complete depth of field

-- Choosing the right white balance setting for sunrise and sunset

-- How to capture the Milky Way under a clear sky

Itinerary

Day 1, Sept. 30, Monday

Fly from home to the Montrose Regional Airport (airport code MTJ) in southwestern Colorado. This airport is serviced by American, Southwest, and United among others. Jim will offer a group transfer to the hotel at 4pm. If you miss this, you can take an Uber to the hotel in Ouray which is about 40 minutes by car. We meet in the lobby at 6pm to discuss the upcoming tour, talk about photography, and enjoy a welcome dinner.

Days 2 - 6, Oct. 1 - 5, Tuesday thru Sunday

For the next five full days, we photograph stunning landscapes in Southwestern Colorado. One hotel in Ouray is our base of operations, and we take advantage of the best lighting conditions to capture shimmering golden aspens, dramatic mountains with rugged cliff faces, reflections in glassy lakes, split-rail fences framing perfect compositions as well as endless macro possibilities of colorful leaves carpeting the ground. We drive through famous mountain passes like the Dallas Divide, the Million Dollar Highway, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and Owl Creek Pass that leads to the astonishing monolith, Courthouse Rock. From these elevated heights we'll photograph unparalleled vistas far below of an unbelievable palette of color and form. It will simply take your breath away. Overnight in Ouray, Colorado, which is situated in a geological bowl at 7800 feet surrounded by 12,000 to 13,000 peaks. During one of the evenings in the hotel we will have a critique session in which Jim will give you professional feedback on the images you want to share.

Day 7, Oct. 6, Monday

After breakfast we transfer back to the airport in Montrose for the return flight home, knowing we've captured some of the best landscapes ever in one of the most beautiful places in America!

Tour cost: $4650. Includes 6 nights lodging on a shared basis, all ground transportation, transfer from the airport in Montrose to the Ouray hotel and return, all breakfasts, all dinners, all entrance fees, and photo instruction.

Single room supplement: $750

Not included: Transportation from your home to Montrose, Colorado, all lunches, trip cancellation insurance, medical evacuation insurance, alcoholic beverages, and items of a personal nature.