BADLANDS

April 19 - 23

DRAMATICALLY DIVERSE LANDSCAPE

Lakota people have called this area mako sica, which literally translates to 'bad lands'. When early French fur trappers passed through this area, they called the area les mauvaises terres a traveser (bad lands to travel across).

We are going to the Badlands for many reasons. The rock formations are stunning, unique and breathtaking. The wildlife is prolific and easy to photograph. And, it is very dark at night! There will be a new moon during our Road Trip so we will certainly be hanging out, late, to photograph the Milky Way. Wooohooo!! Aren't dark skies fun?

The colors and textures of the many outcroppings and rock formations reflect many colors with different light throughout the day. The shape and form of these "sharp formations" are inviting and awe-inspiring. The lines, textures and patterns are truly sensual and alluring. You truly have to see and photograph this place. It's a must do Road Trip!

The South Unit is a beautiful part of Badlands National Park, and this drive around its perimeter offers spectacular sights.

Sage Creek Rim Road features a number of overlooks and pull-offs to park safely and enjoy the view. From east to west, the overlooks on Sage Creek Rim Road are:

Hay Butte Overlook
Badlands Wilderness Overlook
Roberts Prairie Dog Town
Sage Creek Basin Overlook

We’ll capture sunsets and sunrises of these amazing landscapes. The Badlands is a dark skies location meaning its a great place to photograph the Milky Way. We'll even spend an evening "after hours" photographing the Milky Way since there is a new moon during this Road Trip.

Here are some of the beautiful locations we will be visiting:

Big Badlands Overlook (sunrise)
Door Trail (sunrise)
Panorama Point (sunrise)
Pinnacles Overlook (sunset)
Conata Basin Overlook (sunset)
Bigfoot Pass Picnic Area (sunset)

Another great feature of the Badlands are the bison, Bighorn sheep, coyotes, deer and many, many prairie dogs we can photograph. And just because I can . . . I will be offering image critiques and Photoshop tips and tricks to show you how to enhance your newly acquired images into works of art!

Bring your favorite camera gear, tripod, shutter release, filters and laptop with Photoshop and Lightroom already installed and working.

ITINERARY
Friday April 19th

6p - Dinner, get acquainted and chat about the workshop. I'll share the itinerary with you and what we will be seeing and photographing.

Saturday April 20th
5a - Yep, that early! We'll meet in the lobby for a trip to the Door Trail for an amazing sunrise over a very curious landscape. We'll shoot for the morning then return to the hotel for late breakfast/lunch.

Noon - Image critique and talk composition.

7p - Sunset at the White River Valley Overlook. We'll hang around until skies and darkness permit us to shoot the Milky Way. There is no moon (very little) during this trip so we can take advantage of dark skies!

Sunday April 21st
5a - Sunrise session! Then Breakfast and conversation.
3p - Head into the Badlands for an afternoon session on shooting textures, patterns, form and shape. Black & White photography will be our topic as we use the midday bright sun to our advantage!

Monday April 22nd

5a - Another glorious sunrise awaits us at the Cliff Shelf near Cedar Pass. Return to hotel for late breakfast/lunch

1p - We will buzz across the South Dakota / Wyoming border for a fun visit to Devil's Tower. We will leave Wall, SD right after breakfast, it's only a couple of hours drive. We'll lodge in Hulett, WY. for the night. We can capture a sunset this evening and a sunrise of the tower the next morning. If the sky permits, maybe a Milky Way, too.

Tuesday April 23rd - THE BIG BONUS!
5a - Sunrise at the Tower

9a - Breakfast

11a - Go home now!

What do you say? All in? I thought so!

WHEN & WHERE
April 19 - 23, 2024
Wall, SD & Hulett, WY

ARRIVAL
Wall, SD

START TIME
4pm MST

END TIME
Noon MST

LODGING
3 nights in Wall, SD
1 night in Hulett, WY

TRANSPORTATION
We will carpool in Badlands & Devil's Tower

INCLUDED
4 days of hands-on photography instruction classroom education & zoom meeting after the Road Trip
4 nights lodging (3 in Wall, SD & 1 on Hulett, WY
First night welcome dinner
Last day brunch

NOT INCLUDED
Transportation to/from Wall and Devil's Tower
Breakfast, lunch & dinners
Alcohol & Souvenirs

INVESTMENT
$1900

DEPOSIT

$500

SAVE $100

Pay in Full $1800

WORKSHOP CANCELLATION, DEPOSIT, PAYMENT

& REFUND POLICIES

We must rely on your confirmed attendance to make important arrangements, reservations and payments in advance for your workshop to be a positive and pleasant experience. If you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible.

DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS . . .
Your initial deposit is fully refundable within 72 hours of making the deposit. After 72 hours, your deposit becomes non-refundable. The balance of the workshop is due 30 days before the first day of the workshop. If your initial deposit is made inside of 30 days from the first day of the workshop, full payment may be required in lieu of the usual deposit. A payment schedule may be arranged if this makes attending a Soul Road Trip more possible for you. Contact me directly for an installment payment opportunity. EMAIL

CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS & TRANSFERS . . .
Sometimes you need to cancel a trip. Plans and desires change and we understand that. We also hope that you understand certain arrangements, reservations and plans must be made weeks if not months out from a workshop. Deposits are used to make these arrangements to make your experience a pleasant one. Of course, we wish you to come again and again and to tell your friends about your wonderful experience.

However, if you must cancel, please be aware of these policies. After the initial 72 hours after making a deposit, that deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel after 72 hours and 30 days before the first day of the workshop, any additional monies are refundable less a 15% administration fee. If you must cancel within 30 days before the first day of the workshop, all funds are non-refundable so we recommend travel insurance. Check out allianz.com or squaremouth.com for trip insurance opportunities.

Workshop registrations are usually NOT transferable. We will take each situation on a case-by-case basis. If Soul Road Trips needs to cancel a workshop, we will let you know as soon as possible and at least 14 days prior to the first day of the scheduled workshop, and immediately refund your full tuition. However, we will not be responsible for non-refundable airline tickets or lodging reservations. Please do not purchase airline tickets or make non-refundable deposits on lodging that cannot be canceled before the trip.