Mastering Light: A Photographic Journey
September 26–28, 2025
Creative Expression, On Land Retreats, The Natural World
Program Start Date & Time: September 26th | 5:30 pm
Program End Date & Time: September 28th | 12:30 pm
Let light become your language and photography your expression. Mastering Light: A Photographic Journey is an immersive workshop designed for passionate photographers who are ready to elevate their craft. Through hands-on field sessions, guided critiques, and expert instruction, you will learn to harness the full potential of your camera and your artistic expression.
What You’ll Learn:
- Techniques for working with natural light in varied conditions
- Strategies for controlling contrast, exposure, and white balance
- Using diffusers for on-location shoots
- Post-processing tips to enhance mood, drama and depth
- How to see light creatively and tell powerful visual stories
This workshop will give you the tools and confidence to see the world with new eyes—and capture it with purpose.
Who It’s For:
This retreat is for all levels of photographers who want to deepen their understanding of light and refine their visual voice. You should have an understanding of how your camera functions. While you can benefit from instruction if you primarily use a phone camera, this course is geared towards SLR/ DLSR based cameras.
Recommended Equipment:
- DLSR Camera: Strongly recommended
- Removable lenses are not required for this class
- Tripod: Strongly recommended
- Medium to wide-angle lens (24-70) range (this is not required, just adds flexibility)
- Telephoto lens, 70-200 range (this is not required, just adds flexibility)
- Remote for camera (this is not required, just adds flexibility)
- No special filters are required, polarizer can be beneficial
- We will be out early and late, so warm layers are always helpful
- Sturdy shoes. We won’t hike long distances, but feet get cold with light shoes early in the morning/late at night
- If you have an interest in shooting starts at night, a tripod, wide angle lens, and remote are required. A small flashlight with a “red” cover can help with night vision
- Notebook and writing instruments to take notes
- Computers:
- Though computers are not required, a laptop with lightroom would be great.
- If you are using a cell phone, I recommend using a program called Snapseed to edit
Tentative Program Schedule
Friday Sept 26th
2:00 – 5:00 PM | Registration
5:30 – 6:00 PM | Orientation
6:00 – 7:00 PM | Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 PM | Program Session
Saturday
6:15 AM | Sunrise Shoot (Sunrise is at 6:50 AM)
8:00 AM | Breakfast
9:00 AM | Class
12:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 PM | Field session or free time
3:00 PM | Critiques
5:00 – 6:00 PM | Dinner
6:30 PM | Sunset Shoot (Sunset is at 6:50 PM)
8:00 PM | End for the night, “campfire discussion” if available
9:30 PM | Nighttime Star shooting if clear
Sunday
6:15 AM | Sunrise Shoot (Sunrise is at 6:50 AM)
8:00 AM | Breakfast
9:00 AM | Class/Critique
12:00 PM | DMC Discussion
12:30 PM | Lunch and Departure
Retreat Faculty
David Snyder
Master Photographer | CPP | Award-Winning Landscape & Wildlife Photographer David Snyder is a Colorado-based photographer whose work celebrates the raw beauty of the American West. Living in Colorado Springs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, David draws daily inspiration from the dramatic landscapes that surround him. As the founder of Mountain West Photography, […]
