Utah Southwest Landscape & Astrophotography Workshop (USA)
A premium small-group workshop built around dark skies and iconic desert landscapes — new moon Milky Way sessions across Goblin Valley and the Factory Butte badlands, sunrise at Mesa Arch and Delicate Arch, and a repeatable Lightroom Classic + Photoshop workflow you'll use on every trip after this.
Leave with a portfolio of finished desert and Milky Way images, a clean astro workflow in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, and the planning framework to pull this off solo the next time you're in the US Southwest.
Note: final dates confirmed once permits, logistics and work authorisation are locked in. Specific session timing always subject to conditions, access approvals and safety. Some locations have timed entry or permit requirements that can change — we verify with official sources (NPS, BLM, Utah State Parks) and pivot if needed.
Who this is for
- All skill levels who want Utah's iconic landscapes + Milky Way in a small group with hands-on coaching from 2 instructors
- Photographers who want a repeatable astro workflow — not just pretty shots they can't replicate at home
- Anyone who wants to shoot bucket-list locations (Delicate Arch, Mesa Arch, Goblin Valley) with planning, access, and editing support built in
Not the right fit if…
- You're not comfortable with 4:30–5:30am starts most days, or occasional 10pm–1am astro sessions
- You can't manage 2–8km on uneven sandstone, sand, or desert terrain in low light
- You expect guaranteed Milky Way conditions regardless of weather
What you'll shoot
- Arches NP: Delicate Arch at sunset, Double Arch, Windows Section (North + South Window, Turret Arch), Landscape Arch
- Canyonlands NP: Mesa Arch sunrise, Island in the Sky overlooks, Grand View Point
- Dead Horse Point SP: sunrise/sunset/blue hour layers over Colorado River canyon
- Goblin Valley SP: hoodoo formations, foreground design, prime dark-sky astro
- Hanksville/Factory Butte: bentonite badlands, desert textures, scale compositions, astro foregrounds
What's included
- Small-group tuition (max 6) — guided sunrise, sunset, and astrophotography field sessions
- Twin-share accommodation across all 9 nights (single upgrade available)
- Salt Lake City (SLC) airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Ground transport throughout — air-conditioned van, all locations
- 5× 2-hour editing sessions (Lightroom Classic through to Photoshop blending + panoramas)
- National Park entry fees (Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley)
- Breakfasts Days 2–10
- Free gear advice before and after the workshop
- Access to discounts on Nikon, NiSi, and Leofoto products
Not included
- International flights (Australia to Salt Lake City return)
- ESTA visa authorisation (~AU$30, required for Australian citizens)
- Travel insurance (mandatory — minimum AU$100, "cancel for any reason" recommended)
- Lunches and dinners (self-funded on the ground)
- Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (Lightroom / Photoshop)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Payment + cancellation
- AU$3,000 deposit secures your place; balance due 60 days before start
- Payment plans available on request
- Early-bird pricing for first 2 bookings once workshop opens
Cancellation policy (locked)
60+ days before start: refund of monies paid less $100 admin fee
30–59 days: 50% refund of monies paid
Under 30 days: no refund unless seat is filled; if filled, refund less $100 admin fee
ACL rights apply regardless
Full policy: dylanknight.com.au/cancellation-policy
Accommodation + transport
- Fly in/out Salt Lake City (SLC) — transfers included both ways
- Ground transport throughout in an air-conditioned tour van
- Route: SLC → Moab (Arches/Canyonlands/Dead Horse base, ~3–4 nights) → Goblin Valley/Hanksville region (~3–4 nights) → SLC return
- Twin-share accommodation across all 9 nights (motel/lodge style, photography-practical)
- Altitude ranges 1,200–2,400m — altitude awareness advised if you're susceptible
Astrophotography approach (conditions-led, 5+ nights scheduled)
This workshop is scheduled around a new moon window (typically late April to mid-May) to maximise dark-sky conditions for Milky Way core work. We schedule 5+ astrophotography opportunities across different locations — Goblin Valley and the Factory Butte badlands are the primary astro foregrounds.
Astrophotography is not guaranteed. It depends on clear skies, weather, and safe access. If any night is unsuitable, time is replaced with extended field coaching (composition, exposure, focus) or deeper editing sessions — you don't lose that time.
Why multiple locations? Spreading astro attempts across Goblin Valley and Hanksville hedges against localised cloud or haze. Different foregrounds also mean different compositions — you're not repeating the same shot.
Team
Meet your instructors
Two working landscape and astrophotographers — one Australian, one based in the heart of Utah. Between them: years of small-group teaching, deep Southwest location knowledge, and a shared obsession with dark skies.
Owner-operator (DKP) + workshop leader
Dylan Knight
Dylan Knight is the owner-operator of Dylan Knight Photography and founder of Chasing Light Collective, with a focus on landscape, seascape and astrophotography across Australia and New Zealand. Now in his 10th year behind the camera, Dylan has led small-group workshops for seven years — including time living in Utah, where his connection to the American Southwest began. A Certified Professional Photographer (CPP, PPAQ) with recognition across multiple international competitions, including IPA and Epson Pano Awards. He is a NiSi Filters authorised reseller and Leofoto tripod reseller, and lectures for Nikon School Australia.
Co-leader + Utah Southwest specialist
Joshua Snow
Joshua Snow is a Moab-based fine art landscape and astrophotographer who traded an engineering career for a life on the road after a four-day Utah trip changed everything. Over the last decade he's built one of the most respected workshop operations in the American Southwest, leading immersive overland and backcountry experiences across Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. His imagery earned him 2nd Place at the International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2020, and his audience of 87k on Instagram reflects a rare combination of world-class work and genuine teaching credibility. A NiSi Optics USA and Really Right Stuff ambassador, Josh brings the kind of deep location knowledge that only comes from a decade of living, scouting, and shooting the terrain we'll be working in.
What past participants say
Real feedback from real workshops.
"Incredible workshop — Dylan has so much knowledge and experience and is so willing to share it all. I learnt so much, but at a rate I could understand and didn't feel overwhelmed. Would highly recommend and would participate in future workshops in a heartbeat."
"Dylan has put a lot of time and effort into this workshop. He is easy to understand and ensures each student gets the time they need to grasp the concepts. I really appreciated that there were only four students — Dylan spent plenty of time with each of us."
"I considered myself a capable photographer before the workshop, but it surprised me how much I still had to learn — and how quickly small adjustments improved my results. You gain so much more than just photos — you leave with practical skills, creative direction, and genuine confidence in your vision."
"Dylan's astro photography session was an amazingly transformative and immersive experience as a beginner photographer. I came back with marvellous photos and newfound confidence."
"Even with the constant rain, Dylan kept me up to date and gave me peace of mind. The workshop clarified so many things that YouTube never could. Highly recommended."
"Dylan was an attentive and knowledgeable instructor who made sure to check on all photographers and provided tailored advice. Went over and above to ensure we all had a great experience."
Logistics, locations, and how it runs
Exact session choices are conditions-led. Location access verified against NPS, BLM, and Utah State Parks requirements.
SLC arrival → transfer to Moab → optional sunset
Coordinated SLC pickup. ~4-hour drive to Moab. Settle in, group intro and workshop overview. Optional roadside sunset session if energy and light allow.
Mesa Arch sunrise + Dead Horse Point sunset
Pre-dawn: Canyonlands Mesa Arch for sunrise glow through the arch (timed entry — booked in advance). Breakfast + rest. Sunset layers at Dead Horse Point State Park overlooking the Colorado River canyon.
Windows Section sunrise + editing session 1 + Delicate Arch sunset
Pre-dawn: Arches Windows Section (North Window, South Window, Turret Arch) for sunrise compositions (timed entry). 2-hour editing session: Lightroom Classic fundamentals, culling, colour, exposure. Delicate Arch at sunset (timed entry, 3km return hike).
Double Arch morning + editing session 2 + astro option 1
Morning: Double Arch, Balanced Rock, Landscape Arch. 2-hour editing session: local adjustments, blending, and workflow consolidation. Astro opportunity #1 — Arches or Canyonlands dark-sky zone (conditions and access permitting).
Moab buffer / second-attempt day + astro option 2
Flexible: revisit whichever Day 2–4 location had the toughest light or crowds, or explore roadside compositions and less-crowded viewpoints. Full rest option if the group needs recovery. Astro opportunity #2 to close out the Moab phase.
Transition day → Factory Butte roadside stop → Goblin Valley sunset + astro option 3
~2-hour drive west to Hanksville via I-70 and US-24. Factory Butte visible from the road — stop for compositions en route. Check in at Hanksville base. Goblin Valley sunset (hoodoo formations, Utah State Parks). Astro opportunity #3 — prime dark-sky location.
Factory Butte sunrise + editing session 3
Pre-dawn Factory Butte — bentonite badlands, desert scale, foreground design for astro (BLM land, high-clearance vehicle required for close access). Breakfast + rest. 2-hour editing session: Photoshop blending, panoramas, and astro processing fundamentals. Free afternoon.
Moonscape Overlook + Hanksville badlands sunrise + editing session 4 + astro option 4
Early start: Moonscape Overlook and Hanksville bentonite hills — layered colour, alien terrain, scale compositions. 2-hour editing session: workflow consolidation, clean Milky Way processing. Astro opportunity #4 (conditions permitting).
Buffer / second-attempt day + editing session 5 + astro option 5
Flexible: revisit best location from Days 6–8 based on conditions, or explore Goblin Valley and Factory Butte alternates. 2-hour finish-your-edits session — polish 3–6 hero images, full Q&A. Astro opportunity #5 if earlier nights were clouded out.
Return to Salt Lake City + departures
~3.5-hour drive north to Salt Lake City via US-6. Drop-off coordinated with flight departure times. Optional portfolio review on the drive. No early start — rest and pack the night before.
Planned locations · Moab region
- Arches NP: Delicate Arch (timed entry, sunset), Double Arch, Windows Section (North + South Window, Turret Arch), Balanced Rock, Landscape Arch
- Canyonlands NP: Mesa Arch, Island in the Sky overlooks, Grand View Point
- Dead Horse Point SP: sunrise/sunset/blue hour Colorado River canyon views
Arches NP operates a timed entry permit system (typically April–October). Entry times confirmed with NPS before finalising session scheduling. If timed entry windows shift, session order is adjusted — not skipped.
Planned locations · Goblin Valley + Hanksville
- Goblin Valley SP: hoodoo formations, foreground design, dark-sky astro (Utah State Parks entry fee included)
- Factory Butte (BLM land): bentonite badlands, desert spires, scale compositions, Milky Way foregrounds
- Hanksville area: layered bentonite hills, desert textures, less-crowded alternatives
Factory Butte and surrounding BLM land is generally open-access. Goblin Valley is a Utah State Park — entry fees included. If any location is inaccessible on the day (weather, closures), we move to a verified nearby alternative.
Gear expectations
- Camera with manual controls (full-frame ideal, crop sensor fine)
- Solid tripod — non-negotiable for astro and long exposure
- Ideal lens range: wide-angle 14–24mm for astro; 16–70mm covers most landscape compositions
- Telephoto optional for Dead Horse Point compression and canyon layers
- Spare batteries and cards — long astro sessions drain batteries fast
- Headtorch with red-light mode for dark-sky sites
- Closed shoes with grip for desert and sandstone terrain
- Voltage adapter (USA 110V vs AU 240V)
- Laptop strongly recommended for daily editing sessions
Weather + conditions
Late April to mid-May is the sweet spot for the Utah Southwest: temperatures comfortable (15–28°C days, cool nights), pre-summer crowds, and new moon window for astrophotography. Afternoon thunderstorms possible — all field sessions planned for morning and evening to avoid peak heat and storm windows.
Plan B always exists. If a primary location is unsuitable — weather, access, or crowds — we have pre-scouted alternatives nearby. You keep shooting. You don't lose the session.
FAQs
Direct answers before you register.
How much does it cost and what's the deposit?
A AU$3,000 deposit secures your place. Full balance due 60 days before the workshop start date.
What does "all-inclusive on the ground" mean?
Not included: International flights (Australia → Salt Lake City return), ESTA visa authorisation (~AU$30), travel insurance (mandatory), lunches and dinners (self-funded), Adobe Creative Cloud, and personal expenses.
Can I pay in instalments?
What experience level do I need?
How fit do I need to be?
Is astrophotography included?
Do you guarantee Milky Way conditions?
What happens if weather or access is bad?
Do I need a visa for the USA?
Do I need a laptop for editing sessions?
Is single accommodation available?
What's the cancellation / refund policy?
30–59 days: 50% refund of monies paid
Under 30 days: no refund unless seat is filled; if filled, refund less $100 admin fee
ACL rights apply regardless
Travel insurance with "cancel for any reason" coverage is strongly recommended.
Full policy: dylanknight.com.au/cancellation-policy
Ready to register interest?
Dates and bookings confirmed once permits and logistics are locked. Register now to be first notified.
