Workshops & Tours

* This workshop is designed for more advanced photographers -- those who have acquired a fundamental knowledge of equipment and a grasp of exposure from a previous Rod Planck workshop or who have other photographic workshop experience. There will be some time devoted to instructional slide programs, but the main focus of the workshop is using classroom knowledge in-the-field. There will be a strong emphasis on landscape photography. This workshop also offers classroom instruction in time-honored photographic field techniques along with instruction in digital capture and workflow.

An autumn visit to Badlands National Park in South Dakota offers unparalleled creative opportunities for the nature photographer. Rod Planck has spent countless hours over his career exploring this fascinating landscape. Join our Autumn Grasslands and Badlands National Park Workshop and take advantage of Rod's vast knowledge of nature photography and extensive experience capturing images of the badlands.

The unique formations for which the badlands were named are among the most striking geologic features in North America. They are also among the most varied, with sharp craggy peaks and gently sloped hills. The bold contours of this land combine with horizontal stripes of soft, warm colors to provide a mix of drama and subtlety. Sunrises and sunsets in this bizarre landscape are frequently spectacular. Buttes silhouetted against twilight skies create striking and memorable images.

The badlands are not a land of high mountains, but a stark desert of hills, canyons, and an endless variety of formations in rock and sand. Rain, wind, and frost have slowly carved steep canyons, ridges, gullies, and spires out of the land. A whitish layer near the top of many of the badlands' formations is the result of ash ejected from distant volcanoes long ago. The processes of erosion that created this landscape are still at work, slowly changing the land and exposing fossils, for which the area is justly famous.

Capturing the many moods and emotions evoked by this wilderness is a challenge any nature photographer would welcome.

The rugged desert country of the badlands is sparsely vegetated, yet the largest mixed grass prairie to be found anywhere in North America surrounds it. Extensive grasslands once covered much of the center of the North American continent, and the land surrounding the badlands is a remnant of this heritage.

Excursions into this habitat will provide a varied array of interesting subjects. Looking out over sweeping landscapes of golden autumn grasses and ever-changing sky, the nature photographer will find many opportunities to create breathtaking images. While landscapes are the main focus of this workshop, you will also be able to search out close-up images of the interesting plant and insect life.

We can expect wide variations in temperature during the course of each day and over the course of the week. We could wake up on some mornings to find a coating of frost over the grasses. At the other extreme, mid-day temperatures could soar into the nineties. Rain is also a possibility at this time of year.

Participants must be in good health. Our daily excursions into the field will involve short hikes over uneven terrain with loose footing. Participants must prepare for temperature extremes, intense sun exposure, and the possibility of encountering prairie rattlesnakes.

$995 per person (includes instruction, slide critiques, and workshop handouts. To reserve a space, please send a deposit of $250. The balance of $645 is due 90 days before the workshop begins. If you cancel with less than 90 days notice, we will issue a refund only if we are able to fill your space. All cancellations incur a $50 processing fee.

Accommodations are available at the Days Inn in Wall, South Dakota. The motel features queen-size beds and air-conditioned comfort. There are several restaurants located a short distance from the motel. Our group-rate for lodging is approximately $59.75 per night, plus tax (single occupancy) during the workshop. Reservations must be made directly with the Days Inn, contact information to be provided in your confirmation letter. We will send a detailed confirmation letter outlining check-in time, directions, film processing, suitable photographic equipment and recommended clothing. In advance, we'll also provide a directory of participants to facilitate joint travel arrangements.

High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are a must to reach some of our backcountry destinations. If you are willing to use your vehicle during the tour, please let us know. If we do not have enough participants bringing their own four-wheel drive vehicles, some participants will be required to subsidize the rental of additional four-wheel drive vehicles and gas during the workshop (Costs have ranged from $75 to $100 in the past.)

Cost: $995 per person (includes instruction, slide critiques, and workshop handouts). Deposit of $250 is required with registration. Balance of $745 is required 90 days prior to the beginning of the workshop. 90-day advance notice is required for refund of deposit. If you cancel with less than 90 days notice you will receive a refund only if we are able to fill your space. All cancellations incur a $50 processing fee.

Participants are responsible for lodging, meals, film processing, transportation and sharing the cost to rent a 4x4 vehicle during the workshop.

Reservations: Early reservations are recommended.

If you prefer to register online, you can do so using using Paypal or credit card by clicking the "Add to Cart" button below. You do not need a Paypal account to pay by credit card.

You can also register by downloading and completing a registration form and mailing with payment to:

Rod Planck Photography
PO Box 100
McMillan, MI 49853

By Phone: Call (906) 293-3339. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9a.m. to 5p.m. EST. For reservations made by phone, we accept credit cards (for deposits only), or we'll hold your space for 7 days, while awaiting your check.

• Utah Wild (April 26 - May 2, 2009)
• Utah Mild (May 3 - 9, 2009) - Full (Waiting List)
• New! Summer Safaris - Bugs and Blooms (June 7 - 12, 2009)
• Old Growth Forest, Foggy Landscapes, Close-ups and Waterfowl (August 2 - 8, 2009)
• Foggy Bogs and Dewy Insects - Tahquamenon Watershed (August 16 - 22, 2009)
• We Love the Badlands! (August 30 - September 5, 2009) - Just Added!
• We Love the Badlands! (September 6 - 12, 2009) - Full (Waiting List)
• Ultimate Autumn Forests and Lake Superior Shoreline (September 27 - October 3, 2009) - Full (Waiting List)