Our photography workshop prices are going up next year.  But you can lock in 2010 prices and additional discounts if you register before December 31, 2010.  So if you’re considering attending a workshop in 2011 check out our offering of six extraordinary workshop opportunities.  But hurry.  With this offer, they’re already starting to fill up.

Click here for the 2011 Ralph Nordstrom Photography Workshop Schedule

Please not that the prices quoted on the website are for 2011.  Subtract $50 for 2010 prices.  And, by registering early you qualify for an additional 10% early bird discount.

To see more of my photographs click here.

Every year I lead a photography workshop in Death Valley.  We offer personalized instruction and photograph some of the many exciting locations there.  Click here for more information.

Now, the only time you want to be in Death Valley is late fall through early spring.  Otherwise it’s just too darn hot.  Personally, I like February.  It’s kind of a quite time and we’ve had some mighty good luck the last couple of years with major rainfall in the weeks leading up to the workshop.  What this has meant for us is some of the playas were flooded.  When that happens you have lakes six inched deep that spread for miles in every direction.  It doesn’t take a lot of rain to flood the playas either.  Generally an inch will do.

There are some locations in Death Valley that I really love and I’d like to share them with you.

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You’ve spent a lot of money and are about to invest a lot of time in an upcoming photography workshop. It’s natural you’ll want to make the most of it. And there are several things you can do before hand and during the workshop to maximize your experience.

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The Eastern Sierra photography workshop is in two weeks and there are still a few spaces left.  The dates are June 5-10.  Well be covering the Sierra from Lone Pine to Lee Vining.  If you’re interested, it’s not too late.  Send me a message on Facebook or leave a comment on the blog.  Here’s a link for more information.

2010 Eastern Sierra Photography Workshop

One of the attendees of the Death Valley photography workshop back in February posted this on Squidoo.  He got some really great photographs.

Death Valley workshop on Squidoo.

“… nature – unadulterated and unimproved by man – is simply chaos.” Edward Weston.

There’s no argument that Edward Weston was one of the finest photographers that ever tripped a shutter.  And one of the aspects of his photography that he is most revered for is his compositions.  He was the absolute master in his studio but when it came to photographing nature he admitted that it was the most difficult of all.  Why?  Because nature is chaos.

Nature is Chaos

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We wrapped up the 2010 Death Valley photography workshop this morning and most everyone is on their way home now.  The grand finale was photographing Telescope Peak from Bad Water.  How was it?  See for yourself.

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On the morning of day 3 of the Death Valley photography workshop, the weatherman called for rain and wind.  With that in mind we decided that Zabriskie Point would present the best opportunities for sunrise and hoped to get a few good black and white photographs of the badlands.  When we left for Zabriskie at 5:15 it was windy as anticipated.  But overhead it looked like a few stars were twinkling although it was hard to tell for sure in the dark night sky with the Stovepipe Wells Village parking lot lights shining in our eyes.

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Yesterday morning our photography workshop shot sunrise from Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley National Park.  One of the really fun aspects of sunrise out there is trying to arrive on site before the sky starts to get light.  In other words, we start heading out to the dunes while it’s still dark, very dark.  We strike out into the desert without being able to see our destination.  It can cause a bit of trepidation amongst the attendees.

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The days have gotten by and here’s the first posting from during the workshop.  So far, we’ve covered Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Dunes and Artist’s Palette.  I’ve spent way more time helping the attendees than shooting myself.  And virtually no time working on images.  But last night at Artist’s Palette I came away I came away with a couple of images that I’d like to share.

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