March 31st-April 3rd 2016 in the Big Bend region of West Texas
with Scott Martin and Lance Keimig
Scott Martin and Lance Keimig team up again to present a four day/night photography workshop in the Terlingua ghost town in the Big Bend region of West Texas. The Big Bend region is 300 miles away from the nearest city and feels every bit of it. It’s one of the country’s best kept secrets, full of history and pristine landscapes. Terlingua was a rough and remote mining town during the late 1800’s to the point it was abandoned in the 1940’s. Today a small number of people live there and many of our favorite locations for night photography lie in and around this ghost town. In addition to the famous Starlight Theater, Terlingua is right between the Big Bend State and Big Bend National parks. It’s dining options, coffee shops, great shooting locations, classroom facilities and affordable lodging make it an ideal base of operations for this workshop. Terlingua’s charm makes for a uniquely soulful experience when staying there.
This workshop will take place during the moon’s waning last quarter, which means there won’t be a moon during most of the night and the skies will be at their darkest. This workshop is intended for people who have some previous experience with digital night photography, and can get around in near total darkness. If you are new to night photography, please contact us to see if this workshop would be appropriate for you. Topics covered will include: light painting, controlling the ratio between ambient and added light, timelapse, and image stacking combined with light painting to create dramatic images with long star trails. Techniques and inspiration will be constantly discussed, demonstrated and put into practice. We hope to push you to step outside your comfort zone, to test the limits of what you and your camera can do.
These medium altitude (~2700 feet) locations will be around 64 degrees (F) at night while we are shooting and 77 degrees (F) during classroom hours. Combined with low humidity, we will be quite comfortable. If you’ve never been to this part of the world before, you are in for a surprise. The Big Bend region is stark, dry, primitive and majestic.
This workshop will have both field and classroom instruction. We will be in the classroom each day until we leave for the field before sunset. Participants can stay out shooting as long as they, or their camera’s batteries, hold out. While in the field each day, photographic techniques and creative inspiration will be discussed, demonstrated and put into practice. During classroom sessions we will focus on developing our images sharing our work and ideas with each other. Each day will have a critique of the previous nights work.
We expect that beginners and seasoned digital imaging professionals alike will benefit from the course. Participants should expect to share some of their images for review, as the goal of this workshop is to enjoy the creative process, be inspired and make some great images.
Accommodations
Workshop participants are encouraged to stay at one of the following options (in order of preference):
The Holiday Hotel – has several suites right around the Starlight theatre in the center of Terlingua ghost town. $160/night. Consider sharing the Candililla House with a friend. Call Jeff 432-386-7831 or Gretchen 360-713-3408 for reservations.
Terlingua House – a short 2 minute drive outside of ghost town, Terlingua House is one of the neatest places in the area to stay. It is remote and private with 3 bedrooms and several beds. Lance and I will be staying here but would like to make an extra bed or two available for $100/ night in a shared room or $175/night with private room. Email me to reserve a room.
La Posada Milagro – Picturesque 4 room hotel with shared bathroom. $185+/night 432-371-3044
El Dorado – Nothing fancy at the base of ghost town ~$90/night 800-371-3588
Chisos Mining Co Motel – the Chisos mining company Motel is a 10 minute drive from ghost town but has lots of basic accommodations including the Easter Egg Village cottages and lots of houses scattered around in the area. Creek house is a funky 2br, 1 double, one twin bed, plus bunk. Reservations are 90 days on advance. 432-371-2254 $60-$180/night
Getting there
Terlingua, Texas is located on highway 170 between the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend Ranch State Park. There are several ways of driving to the Big Bend region. Here are route recommendations for those coming from Austin, El Paso, Houston, Midland/Odessa and San Antonio. Those flying into Texas can consider flying into Midland/Odessa (MAF) which is the closest airport, or El Paso (ELP) or San Antonio (SAT).
Registration
The price for the workshop is $1250 plus lodging. For a workshop with two great instructors and a small number of participants, we hope you’ll find this to be an excellent value. You can secure your spot by paying a $250 deposit with the button below.
After reserving your space in the workshop, call one of the above mentioned hotels to reserve a room. We will send you a request for the remaining $1000 5 weeks prior to the workshop. The deposit is non-refundable. Of course, if the program is cancelled for any reason, you will receive a full refund.
This is going to be a really fun workshop in a very unique and inspiring setting. Hopefully you can come early or stay late and visit some of our favorites places in the area like the big National Park or nearby Marfa. Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts about this workshop or about traveling to this location.
One Last Thought
Since our night photography video came out, we’re flattered that others are starting to imitate our workshop. :-] But intense familiarity with the area, it’s inhabitants and business are needed to make this an exceptional workshop. We don’t stay at the lousy Big Bend Motor Inn trailer park nor do we shoot in the National Park (which, as lovely as it is by day, really isn’t great at night). Our locations are fantastic, unusual, inspiring and off the beaten path. Knowing this area well is a life-long passion that we’re looking forward to sharing with you.