ICONS OF COLORADO

FALL COLORS PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

OCT 2 - 6 2025

Book Now!

October 2-6, 2024
Thurs, Oct 2 - 3pm - Mon, Oct 6, 11 am
$4,795 Per Person 50% Deposit at Time of Booking
or

Take advantage of our new Easy Pay - Monthly Plan!

OurEasy Pay Plan allows you to enroll in our photography workshops with
ease and spread the cost over manageable monthly payments. ( see detailsin the cart )

Includes 4 nights double-occupancy lodging at the luxurious Peaks Resort and Spa in Telluride (single occupancy is available at for an additional $900), 4x4 transportation throughout the workshop. **Please note that we cannot guarantee the double-occupancy rate.

Photograph brilliant fall foliage against stunning mountain peaks as you explore the backroads of Colorado with Ryan Smith. The San Juan Mountains offer some of the most breathtaking backdrops for photographing fall color in the entire country, and you will experience it all on this one of a kind adventure on our Colorado Fall Color Photography Workshop!!

Interesting and unique compositions are endless as golden aspen trees sparkle against rugged mountain peaks. We will spend our days driving dusty country roads that wind their way to unmatched fall scenery. It's not uncommon to spend all morning photographing aspen groves, perfectly still pond reflections bursting in color, or jagged mountain ranges above a tapestry of turning leaves. Each day as the sun rises, the light creeps across the landscape slowly illuminating the vibrant yellow aspens and we will make sure you are in the right locations to capture the magic! With a bit of good fortune we may even catch some early season snow on the peaks! We will visit some of the most beautiful areas in the San Juans, along with seldom photographed, off the beaten path locations. You will receive expert instruction on how best to capture the light and interesting compositions. The goal of the workshop is to give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune your photography skills both in-field and during post-processing to bring your images to life.

LOGISTICS

The sun rises at approximately 7AM and sets at 7PM, making for early mornings and late nights. Departure time in the morning could be as early as 4:30AM and we may not arrive back in Telluride until after 10PM. We will do our best to make sure we have a good meal before setting out for the evening. Temperatures can range from 20 degrees in the mornings to 80 degrees during the day, so be sure to pack layers, a warm coat, rain jacket or wind shell, under layers, water resistant hiking boots/shoes, hats, gloves and hand warmers. A headlamp will also come in handy.

Physical difficulty is easy to moderate. We will be at a high elevation to start out (Telluride sits at 8750 feet) and may drive or hike to higher elevations. While many locations will be a short distance from a parking lot, there is a possibility for some hikes with an elevation gain of a thousand feet.

Four nights double-occupancy lodging at the Peaks Resort and Spa in Telluride, 4x4 transportation during the workshop. An add-on helicopter flight is optional and more details will be provided. The resort offers convenient access to the gondola, restaurants, and local attractions. Meals and beverages will be at your own expense and are not included in the workshop fee. Please Contact Us if you have questions about accommodations.

We will be traveling the rugged dirt roads in Ryan's 10 passenger van throughout the workshop. Carpooling or driving yourself is also an option. Transportation to and from Telluride is not included, so if you intend to explore the area on your own, a 4WD is recommended.

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking vistas of golden aspens, standing tall and majestic against the backdrop of rolling hills. Marvel at the charm of iconic relic barns, each telling a story of a bygone era, their rustic beauty adding character to the landscape.

Feel the nostalgia as vintage trains chug along, their timeless elegance transporting you to a simpler time. Explore these and many more picturesque scenes, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience.

UPSCALE LODGING INCLUDED

Experience the beauty of Telluride in style with 4 nights of luxury accommodations at The Peaks Resort and Spa!!

ITINERARY

The workshop begins at 3PM on September 26th in the lobby at the Peaks Resort and Spa in Telluride with a brief orientation and introductory session before heading out for sunset. For the remainder of the workshop, we will depart well before sunrise to be on location for first light, and continue shooting throughout the early morning hours. Our morning sessions may be extended by finding small scenes or backlit aspen groves to photograph while the sun rises in the sky. We will take a mid-day break to eat and rest up for our afternoon/evening photography session. This time could also be utilized for post processing instruction in both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. We will gather several hours before sunset to take advantage of the late afternoon sun and mountain shadows and continue photographing until the last light of the evening fades. This recipe calls for early mornings and late nights, which is why it's important we rest up in the middle of the day.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Golden Aspens everywhere! The workshop is timed for optimal fall colors, and we will take full advantage traveling through the mountains and valleys between Ridgeway, Ouray and Telluride. There are countless groves of aspen trees that are photogenic in their own right or make wonderful foregrounds for grander landscape scenes. Crisp mountain air, winding dirt roads and beautiful mountain scenery will be a daily experience, all in an effort to capture breathtaking and memorable images. We will provide tips to capture images correctly "in camera" so the technical part becomes second nature and you can focus on the creative aspects of landscape and nature photography. Post processing instruction will be start to finish to help you create print-worthy images.

What's Included

• 4 nights double occupancy lodging at the Peaks Resort and Spa in Telluride, Colorado. **Single occupancy is available for an additional $900. Please note that we can never guarantee double-occupancy, and there's a chance you may have to pay the single rate if we are unable to pair you with a roommate of the same gender.
• All transportation during the workshop
• A great time, good memories, and a lot of laughs!!

What's Not Included

• Meals, snacks and beverages
• Transportation to and from Telluride
• Optional Add-On Helicopter ride over the San Juan Mountains

In-Field Instruction

• Creating compelling compositions and storytelling through images
• Controlling your camera in manual mode
• Understanding and using the Histogram
• Finding foregrounds
• Filters - when and how to use them. Avoiding their pitfalls
• How lens selection affects the scene
• Technical Tricks: Bracketing, Focus Stacking, Perspective Blending
• Understanding and using light.
• Capturing difficult scenes

Post-Processing Instruction

• Lightroom and Photoshop Techniques
• Importing and organizing
• Using the clone tool, warping, stretching and eliminating distractions
• Blending images in Photoshop
• Dodging and burning
• Using layers and masks
• Image critique

• DSLR or mirrorless camera (full-frame preferable)
• Lenses ranging from wide angle (16-35), mid-range (24-105), and a long telephoto (100-400).
• Memory cards
• Sturdy tripod & ballhead (strong winds are a possibility)
• Remote shutter release
• Circular polarizer and ND filters
• Lens cloths
• Extra batteries, and memory cards
• Cleaning supplies
• Rocket blower
• Laptop with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
• Protection for your camera gear & backpack

Recommended Personal Gear/Clothing

• Quick dry, lightweight long pants and shirts
• Warm/water resistant hiking boots/shoes
• Warm jacket
• Fleece underlayers
• Headlamp
• Refillable water bottle
• Hat, gloves, hand warmers
• Sunglasses
• Rain coat and/or wind shell
• Insect repellent
• Sunblock
• Umbrella

---

Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith developed a love and passion for the outdoors early on in life, which fueled an obsession for landscape photography. Growing up in the beautifully diverse state of Utah, Ryan has consistently traveled through the west and beyond capturing iconic views, which spark emotion and tell a story. Ryan's artistic style is unique and unmistakable which has led to prestigious awards and work featured within publications. His work is also found within various high end galleries throughout the west including Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Park City, Utah; Telluride, Colorado; Aspen, Colorado & Sedona, Arizona.

Combining his professional experience as a corporate trainer with his passion for photography, Ryan has a knack for sharing the technical aspects of photography in an easy to understand way through various workshops, tours, and events through the west and the Hawaiian Islands. He enjoys adapting to the various needs of his attendees whether it's in the field learning the technical side and composition techniques, or if its in the classroom focusing on perfecting post editing techniques and helping achieve a print ready images.

MARK DENNEY

Mark Denney is a North Carolina based outdoor & landscape photographer. His affection for travel, photography, and the great outdoors is something that's matured over the past 12 years into what is today, a full time photographic career. Outside of the technical and creative aspect of photography, he enjoys teaching the storytelling ability of photographs and encouraging others to not focus solely on the the end result, but to appreciate the overall photographic experience.