Workshops & Tours

We have designed two special tours of the spectacular slickrock country of southern Utah. Our Utah Wild tour is designed for those who are willing and able to take long all-day hikes, with many stops along the way to photograph. Our Utah Mild tour will also include hikes, but they will be shorter and less strenuous. Neither tour involves backcountry camping.

Over the years we have spent months exploring places to photograph within the region of SE Utah. During that time we developed an appreciation for the stark contrast of colors and habitat that the area is known for. The slickrock country of southern Utah contains some of the wildest areas remaining in the lower 48 states. Landscapes and close-up subjects in this fascinating land are the focus of these tours. This is an exciting land of buttes, arches, mesas, deep canyons and vast desert vistas. We'll examine the subtle striations of Navajo sandstone and the brighter red hues of Wingate sandstone. The low sunlight of morning and evening saturates the spectacular slickrock formations, intensifying the multiple shades of beige, orange and red.

We'll explore dry canyons with gnarled cottonwoods which have withstood late summer flash floods for hundreds of years. Here you'll photograph the intricate patterns of Navajo sandstone, the purple stains of desert varnish on Wingate sandstone, giant cottonwoods and if it has rained recently, canyon reflections in small pools of water.

We also will photograph in Long Canyon in slickrock wilderness of the Grand Staircase / Escalante National Monument. Here is where we'll discover how the phenomenon of "canyon kick" bounces warm light off one side of a canyon to another. We'll also work within the spectacular Chimney Rock Canyon and Fluted Hills areas in Capitol Reef National Park, among many other options.

The patient nature photographer using a longer focal length lens may even be able to capture images of side-blotched and desert spiny lizards scampering over the rocks. If the weather is warm enough we may see the more reclusive collared lizard.

Wildflowers require optimal weather to bloom in this dry country. If we're fortunate conditions could provide slickrock paintbrush, penstemon, desert primroses, and prickly-pear and claret-cup cactus to photograph. Even without wildflowers, there is other plant life in the canyon country, such as the extensive stands of budding quaking aspen in the higher elevations of the Dixie National Forest which we will visit. Opportunities to make spectacular images are limited only by your imagination as we explore the varied and remarkable terrain of southern Utah.

These tours are designed to provide maximum time in the field when weather conditions are good for photography. Since these are photographic tours, not workshops, Rod will be making photographs alongside the participants. However, Rod will share his photographic expertise in the field and will conduct question and answer sessions as well. (There will be no instructional presentations or film processing service.)

These photography tours are designed for advanced students - those who have previously attended a Rod Planck workshop or have other photographic workshop experience. If you're not sure if one of these tours is right for you, contact our office and we'll discuss it with you.

Participants for both tours must be in good general health. They must be agile enough to hike over uneven terrain at an average elevation of five thousand feet.

The Utah Wild Tour includes two or three hour long hikes over uneven, rocky terrain. Parts of these hikes may be steep, and there will be some small rivers to be crossed. Participants must be able to complete these hikes while carrying all of the food, water, and camera equipment they will need for the day. Limit 12 participants.

The Utah Mild Tour also involves hiking, but the pace will be slower and the distances shorter. Participants must still be capable of hiking up to one mile round-trip over uneven, rocky terrain while carrying their camera gear and water. Limit 12 participants.

$995 per person. A deposit of $250 is required with registration. The balance of $745 is due 90 days prior to the tour. If you need to cancel with less than a 90 day advance notice, we will issue a refund only if we are able to fill your space. All refunds incur a $50 processing fee. Participants are responsible for transportation to Torrey, Utah, and for lodging and meals. Before the trip we will send a detailed confirmation letter outlining check-in time, directions, suitable photographic equipment and recommended clothing. Prior to the tour we will provide a list of participants to facilitate joint travel arrangements. Due to logistics, we are not offering a reduced fee for a non-participating spouse on these tours. Your spouse may share this experience with you as a fully-paid participant.

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 in addition to splitting the cost of fuel for the tour. (Costs have ranged from $65 to $125 p/p in the past.)

We've negotiated a group rate at the Days Inn in Torrey, Utah. (We will inform you on how to take advantage of this special rate in your confirmation letter.) Our group rate is $55 per night, plus tax (single occupancy; double occupancy may be higher).

A signed release and assumption-of-risk form is required prior to the tour. We reserve the right to make changes in itinerary based on weather and other conditions beyond our control.

Cost: $995 per person. A deposit of $250 is required with registration. The balance of $745 is required 90 days prior to the beginning of the tour. If you cancel less than 90 days prior, a refund is issued only if we are able to fill your space. ALL cancellations incur a $50 processing fee. Participants are responsible for lodging, meals, and transportation costs.

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)