Badlands National Park Photography Workshop
Sculpted terrain, big skies, and subtle light in one of America's most dramatic landscapes.
Workshop overview
About the Badlands National Park photography workshop
A fine art experience in one of America's most dramatic landscapes.
The Badlands can look obvious at first. Big overlooks, big skies, big shapes. Then you get home, review the images, and realize how quickly the frame filled up with distractions. This workshop is designed to work through that complexity by choosing effective camera positions, refining focal length choices, paying attention to frame edges, and letting structure and light carry the image.
In May, the park offers long evenings and a wide range of light. We work the transition from late light through golden hour and into blue hour, when ridges and gullies become more sculptural and tonal separation increases. A few sunrise outings are on the schedule as well, with additional mornings added if weather requires it, but the natural rhythm here favors the late day.
Whether you're newer to landscape photography or have years of experience, the goal is the same: making better decisions in the field. That includes knowing when to go wide and when to narrow the frame, how to simplify scenes that pull in multiple directions, and how to respond when conditions are subtle rather than dramatic. Participants leave with strong photographs and a clearer process they can apply in other complex landscapes.
Workshop highlights
Untangling composition
The Badlands are a masterclass in structure, with layered ridges, erosion patterns, repeating angles, and sedimentary bands that can either hold a frame together or pull it apart. We focus on making strong compositions, with clear foreground-to-background relationships, clean edges, and fewer “almost” elements that weaken the subject.
Decisions at the tripod
Andy is present in the field, not to make his own images, but to help participants at the tripod. That help might involve refining a composition, adjusting exposure, thinking through focus strategy, or talking through why a scene is not quite coming together yet. Guidance is available as much as you want it, with room to work independently when you're in a flow.
Off-the-beaten-path locations
We include a few classic overlooks, but most of the workshop takes place in lesser-known areas such as small ridges, side pulls, and less obvious terrain. These locations reward patience and attention, and they tend to produce stronger images than the most photographed viewpoints.
From field to final image
Each day includes time for image review and help with post-processing. We work through practical workflows such as exposure blending, tonal refinement, color adjustment, and panoramas so the finished image stays consistent with what you were responding to in the field.
Workshop itinerary and schedule
Overview
The daily schedule reflects the way the Badlands are best photographed, with flexibility built in for changing conditions.
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Monday, May 10
— Welcome and introduction session in the hotel breakfast room, then depart for the first sunset shoot.
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Tuesday–Friday, May 11–14
Field sessions, image reviews, help with post-processing, and time to rest or explore.
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Friday, May 14
The workshop concludes after the final sunset session.
Lodging
Best Western Plains Motel712 Glenn Street, Wall, SD 57790
Lodging website · 605-279-2145
Meals and dining
Wall, SD is a small gateway town with limited evening dining options and a local coffee shop that offers light breakfast fare. We recommend bringing some snacks or breakfast items, especially if you have dietary preferences. You'll have access to a small grocery store in town for basic provisions.
What to expect
- Morning: While the emphasis is on late light, we do photograph on select mornings. When conditions are right, we arrive before sunrise and photograph through early light.
- Midday: Midday is spent indoors for rest, image review, and post-processing help. This time can be used to review recent work or work through processing questions. Bring a laptop if you'd like to work on your own images.
- Evening: Most days center on extended evening field sessions. We head out well before sunset and photograph through changing light, sometimes we may return to a location for additional work as conditions change.
Registration
Join us in South Dakota this May.
→ Register for the Badlands workshop
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Workshop details
- Experience level
- Beginner to advanced. Participants should be comfortable working independently at times, as the group often spreads out while shooting.
- Group size
- Small group (target of 8 participants).
- Effort
- Easy to moderate. Most locations involve minimal hiking along roadsides, trails, or through grass. One key location includes a ~1.25-mile walk (each way) over mostly level terrain, plus gentle hills while exploring for compositions. Participants should be comfortable walking a few miles per day over uneven ground.
- Conditions
- Expect variable spring weather. Mornings can be very cold and thunderstorms are possible. Dress in layers and bring hats, gloves and rain gear.
Getting to the workshop
Air travel
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is the most convenient airport for the workshop. It's approximately one hour from Wall, South Dakota, where lodging is based.
Driving and carpooling
Expect paved highways and well-maintained dirt roads that may be muddy at times. Carpooling during the workshop is encouraged to foster camaraderie and simplify logistics. Locations are spread out across the park, so plan for an average amount of driving each day.
Recommended gear
Lenses
A useful range is roughly 16mm to 400mm (full-frame equivalent) (account for crop factor if you're on a smaller sensor). This covers wide, foreground-driven work and tight telephoto compositions across ridges and patterns. Many participants also find ultra-wide lenses (12mm or 14mm) helpful for emphasizing texture and perspective.
Filters
A polarizer can help manage glare and haze, while improving color and contrast.
Footwear and safety
Expect uneven ground, cacti, and the possibility of prairie rattlesnakes. Sturdy, ankle-high hiking boots are recommended. Snake gaiters are required, especially when walking through tall grass and returning after dark.
Water
Tap water in Wall may not be to everyone's taste. Plan to bring bottled water or purchase some locally so you can stay comfortably hydrated.
Workshop community
FAQ
- Is this workshop more about learning or photographing locations?
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It's both, with an emphasis on decision-making in the field. You'll photograph strong Badlands locations, but the focus is on how choices come together, including where to place the camera, what to include in the frame, and when to wait for light. Andy is present throughout the day to talk through those decisions as conditions change. Instruction is available without being forced, and participants can work at their own pace.
- How fast-paced are the days?
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The rhythm is steady rather than packed. Most days are built around late light, with time mid-day for rest, image review, or post-processing. Locations are spread out, so there is some driving, but we stay long enough to work scenes as light changes rather than rushing from overlook to overlook.
- What experience level works best for this workshop?
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A wide range fits well. If you're newer to landscape photography, you'll get help with fundamentals like exposure, focus, composition, working with a tripod, and managing contrast. If you're more experienced, the input shifts toward refining judgment, simplifying complex scenes, and adapting when conditions are subtle rather than dramatic. The Badlands tend to favor careful observation and the ability to simplify, which makes this workshop effective at many experience levels.
- How much post-processing instruction is included?
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Image review and post-processing help are built into slower periods, typically mid-day. You're welcome to bring a laptop with Photoshop installed if you want hands-on guidance with exposure blending, tonal control, color adjustment, or panoramas.
- What are the physical demands and conditions like?
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The effort level is generally easy to moderate. Many locations are close to roads or parking areas, but one key location involves a longer walk over mostly level terrain, followed by gentle hills while exploring compositions. Weather in May can be variable—cold mornings, wind, and the possibility of thunderstorms—so warm layers and rain gear are important.
- What makes this Badlands workshop different from others you offer?
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The Badlands rely less on obvious icons and more on how structure, scale, and light work together. This workshop is designed to spend time in places where those relationships can be explored and refined, rather than moving quickly between overlooks. The emphasis is on helping participants recognize when a scene is coming together and how to shape it into a strong photograph.