Photography Workshops & Tours Group & Private Death Valley, California

"My workshop with Michael was simply spectacular - on every level - his knowledge of Death Valley, his willingness to go "the extra mile" when needed, his ability to roll with all the changes in weather, his energy and enthusiasm never flagging for one moment, his technical expertise, his willingness to work with each participant in coming up with the best shot possible - I would give him the highest grade possible in each of those categories - and I look forward to taking another workshop as soon as possible."
Susan B. Landau - Los Angeles, California

Michael offers intensive and exciting group and private workshops in extraordinary settings year-round. With 35 years of experience behind the camera and more than 20 years teaching the medium, his style is one of experience, passion, and inspiration. While the camera and post-production tools are vital components of the photographic process, Michael's teachings emphasize concept, composition, and creative intent. Fun is a key component of all workshops and tours.

Click here for testimonials from many of Michael's satisfied workshop and tour participants. Please subscribe to stay informed of future workshops, tours, and other offerings.


Group Photography Workshops and Tours

November 23, 2024: Meet-Up in LA: El Matador State Beach
This Los Angeles Center of Photography hosted outing meets in-person on Saturday, November 23, for four hours, directly on location, at El Matador State Beach. During this fun four hour session, we will study and experiment with techniques ideal for seaside nature and landscape photography. We'll conclude after sunset and watching the sun sink into the Pacific Ocean. The subsequent Tuesday session (November 26) will meet online via Zoom, providing students the opportunity to review and discuss work taken during the Saturday shoot.

This course is open to beginning and experienced photographers alike. Come partake in this two-part meet-up class, open your eyes to a cornucopia of photographic opportunities, and enrich yourself in this marvelous, beckoning metropolis that is Los Angeles. Please click here for more information and registration


December 11-14, 2024: Death Valley National Park Photography Workshop
Death Valley National Park, California
. Hosted by the Los Angeles Center of Photography, we will explore and photograph some of the park’s most photogenic locations for this workshop, combining outstanding photographic opportunities with inspirational, creative, and technical discussions. Michael works individually with all students to address their technical and creative challenges. This will be an intensive adventure! Expect long days, outstanding locations, and great fun and camaraderie. Please click here for more information and registration


January 6-9, 2025: The Artful Process & Print
Death Valley National Park, California
, with Michael E. Gordon and Chuck Kimmerle. Join us for this unique process and print focused photography workshop (color and monochrome), where every participant returns home with a fine art print! This workshop offers an excellent mix of location photography (we’ll enjoy three field shoots during the workshop) with three and a half days of intensive classroom work (processing and printing using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop) in one of the most visually compelling locations in the world. Our workshop topics include Precise Field Capture Techniques for Printing; Digital Studio Setup; Processing Considerations and Workflow, Lightroom Printing, Photoshop printing (including selections, non-destructive adjustment layers, layer masks, selections, blended exposures, dodging/burning, B/W conversion…); Color Management; Printers, Papers & Printing; Black & White Output; Finishing & Display; and much more! Two Epson printers will be on hand during the workshop. Please click here for more information and registration


March 10-14, 2025: The Artful Black & White Landscape
Death Valley National Park, California
, with Michael E. Gordon and Chuck Kimmerle. A great photography workshop provides you the tools and inspiration needed to create a lifetime of intentional and creatively-conceived works of art. Photographers of all experience levels are invited to join Chuck Kimmerle and Michael E. Gordon for this unique black and white focused photography workshop. Michael and Chuck are not only experienced photographers, they are inspirational, passionate, and patient instructors whose priority is your creative confidence and artistic growth. This workshop offers an excellent mix of location photography, group and personal instruction, image review sessions, field discussions, and post-production classroom work in one of the most unique and visually compelling locations in the world, Death Valley National Park. Please click here for more information and registration


March 19-22, 2025: Death Valley National Park Photography Workshop
Death Valley National Park, California. Hosted by the Los Angeles Center of Photography, we will explore and photograph some of the park’s most photogenic locations for this workshop, combining outstanding photographic opportunities with inspirational, creative, and technical discussions. Michael works individually with all students to address their technical and creative challenges. This will be an intensive adventure! Expect long days, outstanding locations, and great fun and camaraderie. Please click here for more information and registration


June 8-13, 2025: West Coast School of Photography Nature and Landscape Photographers Masterclass
Hosted by Professional Photographers of California, this five-day workshop will cover every needed skill to make creative and expressive nature and landscape photographs in natural settings. Some of our topics and sessions will include Creative Composition; The Expressive vs. The Representational; Precise Field Capture Techniques; The Aesthetics of Light; Interpreting the Landscape (What Do I Do With This?); Focus Stacking for Ultimate DOF; Nature Close-Up’s and Macro; Using Light Modifiers in the Field; Seeing and Working in Black & White; Working Thematically; Working in Projects/Portfolios; and so much more. The workshop offers an intensive mix of group and personal instruction (in both field and classroom), daily field shoots, field discussions and practice, post-production classroom work (using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop), and image review sessions. Please click here for more information and registration


Private Photography Workshops and Tours

"The weekend was the most intensive photo experience since one of my NZ trips about 10 years ago.
I was especially impressed with your conscientious preparation and attention to my aims and needs.
It was a rare display of professionalism.
" David Fisk, California

Michael is pleased to offer private photography workshops and tours for one or more persons. Workshops are focused on learning, skills, and camera techniques. Tours are ideal for experienced photographers who want to be in the right place at the right time. Private tours may include technical instruction upon request. ALL instruction and lesson plans are custom-tailored to your interests, skill and fitness levels, and camera format. Tour locations and itineraries are planned with your direct input. More ground can be covered in private tours than is typically possible in group workshops. 100% of Michael's attention is focused on you alone. The workshop/tour pace can be intensive or relaxed - it's all your choice. Please contact Michael by email or telephone to discuss availability and rates.


October - April (annually): DEATH VALLEY PHOTO TOURS
Michael leads the only private photography tours into Death Valley National Park October through April of each year. All Death Valley Photo Tours are customized to your personal goals and fitness, and all private tours include expert location guiding, supplemental technical support and instruction, engaging conversations, unforgettable experiences, and Death Valley's famous star-filled night skies. Please click here for more information.


INTRODUCTION TO LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY Workshops
View video excerpts from previous Introduction to Large Format Photography workshops
This course is currently taught by appointment only (send us an email with your inquiry) and is designed to accommodate all skill levels (including those who have previously worked with large format and have struggled with it). My teaching methods and techniques are direct, uncomplicated, and easy to comprehend. At the completion of this intensive two-day workshop, you will be able to efficiently and confidently compose, focus, meter, and expose your own large format photographs. NO PREVIOUS LARGE FORMAT EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED! These workshops are sponsored by Chamonix View Cameras, and all workshop participants are eligible for discounts on all Chamonix cameras and accessories.

"Having just finished a Death Valley photo seminar with Michael Gordon, I can sum the experience up pretty quickly: I learned more about large format photography in our two days spent together than I had in the fifty-plus years of photography that preceded them. Michael not only taught me how to be effective and efficient when shooting large format, he reinvigorated my desire to shoot pictures purely for personal enjoyment. Now if I could only get a Chamonix camera….” Jim Shepherd, Murfreesboro, TN


Additional Private workshops and tour options include:

• Locations: Death Valley National Park; Mojave National Preserve; Joshua Tree National Park; Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; High Sierra; and more. Michael has explored and photographed extensively in these locations;

• Fundamentals of photography (digital and film: expert exposure, Zone System, composition & design, and more);

Please contact Michael by email or telephone to discuss availability and rates.


"Michael is a walking encyclopedia of the Eastern Sierra geography and conditions." Balaji Venkatachari


Consultation | Digital Darkroom | Fine Art Digital Printing

Do you want to make better prints? Do you want to learn Adobe Photoshop for photographers? Michael provides in-person and online consultation (via Zoom or Skype) for many photographers and print makers in the U.S. and abroad. His consultation, training, and printing services include:

• Color management
• Digital Darkroom Workflow and Techniques: from RAW file or film scan to fine art print
• Printing options and techniques (printers, papers, and inks): RGB printing; Epson Advanced Black & White; Piezography
• Fine art exhibition printing: Michael creates exhibition-quality fine-art prints from your film and digital originals. Includes all necessary and creative darkroom manipulation of your image: color balance; global and local contrast control; burning and dodging; cloning/spotting, sharpening. For optimum output and accuracy, all color prints are made with Michael’s own custom RGB printer/paper profiles, and all monochrome prints are made with the beautfiul Piezography K7 Sepia carbon pigment inkset. Proof prints, exhibition prints, CD burning, and shipping charges are additional.

Michael's consultation rate is $100 per hour. Please contact him via email or telephone (562/201-0856) for for additional details and booking.

Please contact Michael via email or telephone (562/201-0856) for Instruction, Tours, Consultation, and Fine Art Printing availability and rates.