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Death Valley Dunes, Ron Wisner 1991
DEATH VALLEY WORKSHOP
This workshop always fills up fast. Don't delay
THE VENUE Death Valley National Monument is an utterly enormous landmark in the American southwest, on the eastern edge of California, and on its northeast corner jutting into Nevada. Running north and south for over one hundred miles, the entire dry lake-bed of the valley floor and the mountain ranges which gird it on the east and west are visible from the 5,000 foot overlook of Dante's View in the eastern range of the Black Mountains, where we will shoot our first sunrise. Directly across the valley from Dante's View, on the west, the majestic Panamint Range reaches 11,000 feet and forms the rain shadow which leaves Death Valley one of the driest places on earth. Telescope Peak, summit of the Panamint Range, remains snow capped half the year, and presents an ironic mimicry to the oven-hot salt flats of nearly the same color in the bottom of the valley directly in front of it, below sea-level. Throughout Death Valley are the manifestations of the changing continent, which remain as silent, vestigial commentary to the forces which created the enormous three-state area called the Great Basin. There are thrust vaults, volcanic craters, whole mountain ranges of sedimentary deposits, borax and other striking mineral deposits of every shape and color. Also left behind are the younger vestiges of human activity such as the old borax works, the abandoned gold mines and the masonry ruins of the early twentieth century boom-town of Rhyolite.
TUITION & ENROLLMENT, QUESTION: 800-848-0448 Attendance is limited and in order to reserve a spot we recommend that all reservations be made by early January. This is our most popular workshop and it fills up quickly. Tuition is $995.00 per person, and does not include meals or lodging. You may reserve space in the workshop by making a deposit or full payment by check made payable to WISNER WORKSHOPS or credit card, by mail or by telephone, 800-848-0448 (508-748-0975 in MA). Full payment is two weeks before the workshop. Non-photographing spouses or companions may attend the workshop free of charge. In the unlikely case that insufficient attendance requires that the workshop be canceled, the decision will be made two weeks in advance and all participants will be notified by telephone and their tuition refunded. The extent of liability of the Death Valley Workshop, the Wisner Company, Inc. or any instructors shall be limited to the return of fees paid for tuition by that date. After that date, if a paid participant can not attend for any reason, their payment will be applied to a future Wisner Workshop of their choice.
LODGING AND ACCOMMODATIONS We have arranged for group accommodations at the Furnace Creek Ranch in the Valley. Participants are responsible for their own lodging and meals. Arrangements can be made by calling the Furnace Creek Ranch at 760-786-2345. Be sure to mention that you are part of the Wisner Group so you get our group rate. Check-in will be any time after 12:00 NOON on Saturday.
GETTING STARTED We will gather at the front office Saturday at 3:00 P.M., conduct registration, pass out schedules and other information, and introduce the instructors. The workshop will officially end at 12:00 NOON on Wednesday.
EQUIPMENT Bring your large format outfit (4x5,5x7,8x10 or 11x14) with film holders, meters, film, and convenient means for carrying your equipment. Be prepared for serious field work. Backpacks! (No wheeled carts.)
CLOTHING Death Valley is a hot place. During the day, even in the dead of winter, the temperatures can easily reach into the 80s. At night, the temperatures can drop dramatically, and especially outside the Valley proper, it can be downright chilly. Plan to dress in layers which can be removed as the day progresses. I also recommend that you wear shoes which are comfortable for hiking, because we will be doing some hiking to and from our locations.
CARS Because we will be doing a good deal of driving to our locations, a car is part of our equipment. We may do a certain amount of car pooling to improve logistics.
TRAVEL Death Valley is reached by automobile in approximately 2 1/2 hours from Las Vegas by driving North on Rt. 95. As there are several roads into Death Valley, I advise that you obtain a road map from your rental company. McCarran International Airport at Las Vegas is a facility with many car rental services available. A few listed for your convenience: Avis (800-831-2847), Budget (800-527-0700), Hertz (800-654-3131).