Monument Valley & Upper Hunts Mesa Photography Workshop

Note: Ask about available Discounts. We do accommodate Active and Retired Military. We also offer an early-bird discount for these bookings made prior to May 14th for session #1 and May 21st for session #2. Discounts DO NOT Stack.

Note: Email me at info@driveonphoto.com for any questions.

There are few places on Earth that feel as timeless and powerful as Monument Valley. Rising from the desert floor, the towering sandstone monoliths have stood for millions of years—shaped by wind, light, and history. This is a land deeply rooted in Navajo heritage, where every formation tells a story and every horizon feels sacred.

At sunrise, the first light gently brushes across the mesas, igniting deep reds, burnt oranges, and soft golden tones that seem to glow from within. As the day unfolds, shadows carve depth and dimension into the landscape, revealing textures that photographers dream about. And when the sun begins to set, the valley transforms once again—dramatic skies, long shadows, and rich color palettes create a scene that is nothing short of breathtaking.

Then there’s Upper Hunts Mesa—a location few ever experience. Perched high above the valley floor, this vantage point offers sweeping, unobstructed views of Monument Valley that are simply unmatched. As the sun dips below the horizon, you’ll witness layers of monoliths fading into the distance, bathed in warm light and endless atmosphere. And as night falls, the sky comes alive—stars stretching across the desert in a way that reminds you just how vast and quiet this world can be.

This workshop is intentionally designed as a small group experience, allowing for a more personal, hands-on approach to your growth as a photographer. You won’t be just another participant—you’ll receive direct guidance, real-time feedback, and one-on-one coaching throughout the journey.

Led by a professional photographer and educator with decades of experience, you’ll learn how to:

• See and shape light in dynamic environments

• Compose impactful, story-driven images

• Capture the essence of the landscape—not just the scene

• Refine your work through thoughtful post-processing

Whether you’re looking to elevate your technical skills or reconnect with your creative vision, this experience is built to meet you where you are—and take you further.

This is more than a photography workshop. It’s an opportunity to stand in a place of history, capture moments of incredible beauty, and walk away with images—and memories—that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Note: Pricing is based on Double Occupancy with two queen beds in each room. There may be single rooms available at an additional cost. We will try to accommodate everyone to the extent possible based on availability.

Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve your photography skills while experiencing the wild beauty of the American Southwest. Secure your spot now for this exclusive workshop, limited to just 12 participants, and embark on a journey that promises to be both educational and inspiring. Reserve your place today and get ready to capture the magic of Monument Valley through your lens! 

For more information or questions, contact us at info@driveonphoto.com. 

Spaces on the waitlist are filling up quickly, so act fast to secure your participation in this incredible adventure. Greg has established a waitlist in case someone needs to drop out, and if we have sufficient numbers, we could run a second workshop for the waitlist.

How to Secure Your Spot: Spaces for this exclusive workshop are limited to ensure a high-quality, personalized experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to photograph the wonders of Monument Valley under the guidance of a seasoned professional.

Click the green "Select" button and follow the booking instructions. We look forward to seeing you in Monument Valley.

To ensure all participants and experience levels have the best opportunity to successfully capture their own stunning images, Greg will hold a series of Zoom or Google training sessions in the months leading up to departure. This is an added price-included benefit that our competition does not currently offer. You will be fully prepared.

In these training sessions, you will have the opportunity to see pre and post-edit images, camera settings in various lighting conditions, and other helpful insights. You will be able to ask specific technical or trip-related questions. At Drive On Photo, our motto is "We Aim to Freeze." We want you to capture stunning images that tell your personal story and demonstrate your ability to do so through your photography.

Pre-Departure Zoom Meetings:

Once the workshop begins to fill up, Greg will hold an Initial Meet-and-Greet Zoom meeting to allow for introductions. Greg will review many aspects of the trip to ensure you are fully prepared for the workshop. International travel is not difficult, but you do need to understand the various requirements that can trip you up.

MEDICAL RELATED:

Health Conditions: If you have a medical condition that could pose an issue for a roommate, please contact us or consider the single-room upgrade. Our workshop is not designed to be strenuous, but we will have some long periods outside. These trips can be fatiguing, and everyone needs a good night's sleep.

Contact Info for your Photo Safari: 

Email us at: info@driveonphoto.com

Instagram: @driveonphotography

Welcome to Monument Valley—one of the most iconic and inspiring landscapes in the world. Today marks the beginning of an unforgettable experience, where photography, adventure, and connection come together in a truly special way.

As everyone arrives, we’ll kick things off with a relaxed meet-and-greet session, giving you the opportunity to connect with fellow photographers who share your passion for capturing meaningful images. One of the greatest strengths of this workshop is our small group setting—it allows us to build real connections, move efficiently, and create an environment where everyone receives personal attention and guidance throughout the journey.

Following our introductions, we’ll gather for a group dinner to talk through the plan for the days ahead, discuss shooting strategies, and begin setting the tone for what will be an incredible few days together.

We’ll also take time to coordinate our carpool arrangements for entering Monument Valley. By minimizing the number of vehicles, we can travel together as a group, stay on schedule, and maximize our time in the field. This also allows for a smoother, more cohesive experience once we’re inside the park.

As the day winds down, we’ll head out for our first sunset shoot—a perfect introduction to the dramatic light and rich colors that define this landscape. Watching the sun dip below the horizon as it casts warm tones across the monoliths is something you’ll never forget—and it’s just the beginning.

Get ready—your journey starts now.

NOTE: We highly recommend booking flights that will allow you to arrive at our lodging by 3:00 PM. From personal experience, we recommend flying into Phoenix or Albuquerque. Plus, the drive from both has other fantastic photography opportunities along the way.

Day Two begins before first light, as we prepare to experience one of the most unforgettable moments Monument Valley has to offer. After a quick breakfast (time permitting), we’ll head out together for a sunrise shoot, positioning ourselves to capture the iconic Mittens and Merrick Butte as they come alive in the early morning glow.

As the sun rises over the horizon, warm light will begin to spill across the valley floor, illuminating the towering monoliths in deep reds, rich oranges, and soft golds. We’ll spend 2–3 hours in the field, moving between carefully selected vantage points to fully take advantage of the changing light and composition opportunities. This is where the magic happens—and where you’ll be guided in real time to elevate your images.

After our morning session, we’ll return to the hotel for a short break before transitioning into one of the most valuable parts of the workshop—our editing and image review session. Here, you’ll not only refine your photos, but also gain insight from others in the group. You’ll have the opportunity for one-on-one instruction with Greg Johnson, owner of Drive On Photography, who brings decades of experience photographing Monument Valley and the surrounding region. His deep familiarity with the landscape ensures you’re always in the right place at the right time—and that you understand why.

Later in the day, we’ll continue exploring the surrounding area at a relaxed, enjoyable pace. Through coordinated carpooling, we’ll visit nearby locations such as Mexican Hat and the famous stretch of highway where Forrest Gump ended his cross-country run. These stops offer additional creative opportunities while allowing everyone to fully take in the beauty and atmosphere of the Southwest.

As we look ahead to the evening, we’ll begin preparing for our overnight stay in Monument Valley. For those interested in astrophotography, this is where the anticipation builds. Our campsite is located in a region classified as Bortle Class 1–2, meaning some of the darkest skies in the United States. With minimal light pollution, high elevation, and remote desert surroundings, you’ll have the opportunity to witness—and photograph—the Milky Way in stunning clarity.

Weather permitting, what awaits you is nothing short of extraordinary: a sky filled with stars, silence stretching across the desert, and the chance to capture images that few ever experience.

We will use this evening to capture another stunning sunset in the Valley and take some test shots of the Milky Way and star trails.

Day Two is about more than photography—it’s about slowing down, learning, exploring, and preparing for something truly unforgettable.

Day Three is all about preparation, refinement, and building toward one of the workshop's most unforgettable experiences—our overnight stay deep within Monument Valley.

As always, we’ll begin the day with an eye on the weather and light conditions. If conditions align, we’ll head out early once again to take advantage of the ever-changing morning light. Viewing Monument Valley from the Utah side offers a unique perspective, where the rising sun gradually illuminates the buttes, revealing subtle tones, textures, and shadows that shift moment by moment. This is where patience pays off—learning to see those small changes in light can make the difference between a good image and a truly powerful one.

We may also revisit the iconic stretch of highway made famous by Forrest Gump, giving you another opportunity to refine compositions or capture a completely different mood under new lighting conditions.

Late morning, we’ll return to the hotel for lunch, followed by another editing and image review session. This continued feedback loop is a key part of your growth—allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in the field and refine your creative vision. As always, you’ll have access to one-on-one guidance from Greg Johnson, ensuring you get the most out of both your shooting and post-processing workflow.

After some well-earned downtime to rest and recharge, we’ll begin preparing for the highlight of the trip—our overnight experience inside Monument Valley.

We will depart the hotel and drive approximately 20–30 minutes to our designated meeting location, where we’ll meet our Navajo guides. From this point forward, please note that we cannot take personal vehicles into the camp area.

Access to this remote and exclusive location is only permitted through authorized Navajo guides, who will transport us safely into the valley.

This transition marks a shift in the experience—from visiting Monument Valley… to truly being immersed in it.

Additional details and preparation guidance will be covered during our Zoom sessions leading up to the workshop, ensuring everyone feels confident and ready for this incredible next step.

Day Three sets the stage. What follows is something few ever get to experience.

This morning begins in a place that very few people on Earth will ever stand—high atop Upper Hunts Mesa.

Before the sun rises, you’ll step out into the quiet stillness of the desert, where the air is crisp, and the world feels untouched. Then, slowly, the first light of day begins to reveal itself. From this elevated vantage point, Monument Valley unfolds beneath you in layers—towering monoliths, endless desert, and distant horizons stretching farther than the eye can see.

As the sun rises, the landscape transforms in real time. Warm light pours across the valley floor, igniting the sandstone formations in deep reds, glowing oranges, and soft golds. Shadows carve depth into the scene, creating dimension and contrast that is simply impossible to replicate anywhere else. The scale, the silence, the perspective—it all comes together in a way that is nothing short of breathtaking.

This is not just another photo opportunity.

This is the moment—the one you’ll remember long after the trip is over.

Very few photographers ever get the chance to experience Monument Valley from this perspective, and for many, this may be the only time in their lives they’ll stand in a place like this. It’s the kind of experience that changes how you see both photography and the world around you.

After capturing this incredible sunrise and enjoying breakfast on the mesa, we’ll make our way back with our Navajo guides to our vehicles and then return to the hotel.

The remainder of the morning is yours to rest, refresh, and recharge—a chance to take a shower, relax, and reflect on everything you’ve experienced so far.

We’ll regroup for a final group lunch to share stories, favorite moments, and the images that meant the most to each of us. Following lunch, we’ll hold our final photo editing session, where we’ll focus on refining the powerful images captured from atop Upper Hunts Mesa. This is where everything comes together—your vision, your technique, and your experience.

As our last full day together, this is a time to not only elevate your images, but also to appreciate the journey you’ve been on with a group of like-minded photographers.

You’ll leave with more than just incredible photographs.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of your craft, lasting connections, and the memory of standing in one of the most extraordinary places on Earth.

And that… is what makes this experience truly unforgettable.

As our time together comes to a close, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank each of you for being part of this experience. You didn’t just attend a workshop—you committed your time, energy, and passion to growing as a photographer, and it has been an absolute privilege to be part of that journey with you.

Over these past few days, we’ve shared more than just incredible locations and unforgettable light—we’ve shared ideas, stories, challenges, and breakthroughs. Watching each of you develop your vision and create meaningful images in a place as powerful as Monument Valley has been truly rewarding.

As you head home, I hope you carry more than just great photographs. I hope you take with you a renewed sense of creativity, confidence in your abilities, and a deeper appreciation for the art of seeing.

And remember—once a student, always a student.

This workshop doesn’t end here. I’m always available to you. Whether you have questions, need feedback on your work, or just want to talk through an idea, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me anytime by text or email—I’m here to support your continued growth long after this trip is over.

Thank you again for trusting me to be part of your journey.

Until next time—keep shooting, keep learning, and always… Drive On.