White Sands to Santa Fe: Discovering the Enchantment

with Rick Allred

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Course Description

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment and has drawn artists and curious visitors for more than a century. There is much to explore in this unique and magical state and state of mind—and you don’t need a passport!

Photographer, teacher, and long-time resident of New Mexico, Rick Allred leads you on a 5-day workshop adventure to his very favorite locations in the state—White Sands National Park and the historic city of Santa Fe.

Our journey begins at White Sands National Park near Alamogordo. This extraordinary location covers nearly 275 square miles of nature’s undulating landscape (don’t worry, we are only exploring a small portion of it.) White Sands provides opportunities to discover lines, curves, and the graphic design that nature shares with us. The light is alluring and yields endless moments of wonder to capture.

After two days in White Sands, we head north to Santa Fe—the oldest capital city in the United States. Often referred to as The City Different, Santa Fe’s unique adobe architecture, artistic vibe, and high-desert landscape is our visual playground for the second half of our time together.

Rick encourages your photographic practice and empowers your creative self-expression throughout the week. Daily assignments and image reviews help focus and hone your image-making skills as well as builds your confidence as a creative person.

You may ask, what is the best camera for this workshop? YES, is the answer. Bring your DSLR, or your mirrorless digital camera, or your iPhone (or other smart phone). These are all useful photographic tools. We discuss the benefits and limitations of these tools as we explore the majestic dunes of White Sands and the landscape and architecture of Santa Fe. This spirited journey in the historic Land of Enchantment will be visually rewarding and inspiring.

Additional Information

COVID-19 Update: For all in-person workshops and trips in 2023, Santa Fe Workshops highly recommends that all participants, staff, and instructors attending be up to date with Covid vaccinations (per definition of the CDC).

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Amateurs, Advanced Amateurs

What You Should Know:

Working knowledge of digital workflow and your digital cameras or smartphones. Participants must be able to transfer images to their computer and copy selected images to their own jump drive for class each day.

Participants should be able to engage in moderate outdoor exercise for up to an hour or more at a time including off-trail walking on uneven terrain including sand, dirt, and loose rock. Location work is likely to include early morning and/or late evening shoots during the long days. You must be able to carry all of your own photography gear.

Activity Level:

To get the most from your workshop experience, participants should be in good physical (mobility, stamina) and mental health. Come prepared for the high elevation of Santa Fe, long days, and seasonal weather. You must be able to carry your own photographic and personal gear at all times, both on campus and on location. You are responsible for being open and honest about your physical fitness, and we reserve the right to remove you from the workshop if we find your fitness to be less than that which you have described.

Policies:

View Payment, Refund, Withdrawal, and Transfer Policies for domestic workshops.

about

Rick Allred

Rick Allred has been passionate about photography since 1986, continuously seeking to go beyond the snapshot and capture the essence of each moment. In 1996, he jump-started his digital career by helping launch the digital program at The Workshops. After five enriching years as the head of the photography department at the Hui No’Eau Visual Art Center in Maui, Rick returned to New Mexico to lead The Workshops’ state-of-the-art digital lab. Holding a master’s in fine art from Maine Media College, Rick currently teaches Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, iPhone, and digital photography. He is dedicated to empowering people to live great lives through creativity. As a patient and generous instructor, he creates a supportive environment where students can not only tackle technology with ease but also break through their creative boundaries.

A popular workshop instructor, Rick is also part of our Mentorship Program »