Photography Workshops & Tours in Death Valley National Park
Michael offers intensive and exciting group and private workshops in extraordinary settings year-round. With more than 35 years of continuous experience behind the camera and almost 25 years teaching the medium, his experience and passion has inspired hundreds of students over the years. 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 his workshops and tours.
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, California
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
December 9-12, 2026: 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 shoots, with great fun and camaraderie. Please click here for more information and registration
January 18-22, 2027: Out of Yosemite
Yosemite Valley, California. Out of Yosemite brings together an extraordinary team of 14 accomplished landscape photographers for five days of hands-on instruction and field experience. You will work directly with every instructor throughout the week, rotating through field sessions and classes that explore a wide range of creative approaches, from composition and working with winter light to advanced post-processing and personal vision. In addition, four legendary photographers anchor the experience with evening keynote presentations that share decades of insight, inspiration, and hard-earned perspective. All four of our photography Legends worked as an assistant under Ansel Adams. With this depth of talent assembled in one place, the conference delivers an immersive, high-impact learning environment and a truly unforgettable Yosemite photography experience. Please click here for more information and registration
February 8-12, 2027: The Artful Black & White Landscape
Death Valley National Park, California, with Michael E. Gordon and Chuck Kimmerle. An artful black and white photograph does far more than document beauty - it communicates vision. It reveals the photographer’s imagination, curiosity, and creative intent, transforming place into personal expression. This workshop is dedicated to exploring how to see, interpret, and photograph in black & white with intention, artistry, and depth. Offering an outstanding mix of field shoots, group and personal instruction, daily presentations, field discussions, post-production classroom work, and a workshop-concluding image review session, our course work covers all B&W craft and practices, including Precise Field Capture techniques, Visualization, Fundamentals of Black & White Photography, Editing/Processing and Workflow, and much more. Please click here for more information and registration
February 22-26, 2027: 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 digital inkjet workshop (color and monochrome), where every participant returns home with a handful of fine art prints! This workshop offers an excellent mix of location photography and 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, exposure blending, 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
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.
Jim Shepherd, Tennessee
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, California
Consultation | Digital Darkroom | Fine Art Digital Printing
He is very knowledgeable and eager to share his knowledge with me. He often sends me supplemental information to help in areas where I’m weak. If I encounter problems with anything (including my weird computer), he diligently researches the solutions for me. He goes beyond being merely helpful, and I always look forward to and enjoy our sessions.
Sara Melzer, California
Want to learn expert techniques and tips in Photoshop? Want to make better prints? Michael provides Zoom consultation for many photographers and print makers in the U.S. and abroad. Consultation, training, and printing services include:
- Digital Darkroom Workflow and Techniques: from RAW file or film scan to fine art print
- Printing options and techniques (printers, papers, and inks)
- Closed loop color management
- Fine art exhibition printing: Michael creates exhibition-quality fine-art prints from your film and digital originals, including all necessary and creative darkroom manipulation of your image (color balance; global and local contrast control; burning and dodging; cloning/spotting, sharpening for output). For optimum output and accuracy, all color prints are made with Michael’s own custom RGB printer/paper profiles. 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.