Desert Meetup

I’m super stoked for this adventure together. Here are a few things to prep for this experience.

  • Access the map here. This will highlight every spot below, with exact locations linked in the agenda if needed.

  • There will often be little to no phone service in many of these spots. Plan accordingly and be on time for our first meetup. If you miss the group and cannot get up with anyone, just follow the agenda and hopefully find us.

  • Pack snacks and food options for yourself. These are intense days of shooting and few stops. Plus, there are very few places to actually stop.

  • Bring enough water for yourself. At least half your body weight in oz. is a safe way to plan each day in the desert.

  • Some of these places have the potential to be dangerous landscapes. We’ll also be around some towns that don’t love outsiders. Please be smart & kind.

  • Be flexible. Some of these sites may not work out, or maybe we have to skip something here or there because another stop took too much time. We’re going to follow this agenda as close as possible.

  • If we’re going into a site like Alabama Hills or Trona Pinnacles, consider parking and carpooling into the largest vehicles.

  • A couple of photographers are bringing models for portrait shoots. Please discuss with those photographers prior to just jumping into a session with them.

  • All attendees will get a free download of their choice of ANY product from Very Good Presets. You’ll just need to let me know which one you want.

  • This is not a workshop, and my hope if that everyone can learn from one another.

  • Ultimately, this meetup is to build community and simply have fun. If you’re doing anything contrary to that, trying to control the experience, or not being kind and humble with the group, you may be asked to leave the group.

THURSDAY, FEB 20

  • Meet at Hot Creek Geological Site at 615am for a sunrise shoot of Hot Creek. We’ll meet in the parking lot, then walk over to Brees Lookout. Should be an epic morning!

  • We’ll head to Owen’s River soon after sunrise, while the morning light is still on the Sierra’s. The exact spot is here, and it’s a 20min drive from Hot Creek.

  • We’ll hit the harsh-mid-morning light at Crowley Lake Stone Columns. This place is really wild. This is a 35min drive from Owen’s River.

  • We will return to Bishop for a lunch break after the stone columns. This is a 45min drive from Crowley Lake.

  • PLAN #1 ALT

    • We’ll kick the afternoon off by driving to Aspendell, with a stop on the road for an incredible view of the Sierra’s and the road. We’ll park when the road closes. This is 20mins from Bishop.

    • We’ll leave the cars and start the 2 mile hike, potentially in snow, on the closed road all the way to Sabrina Lake. We’ll plan an hour for this hike, so bring water and warm clothes. Once at Sabrina Lake, we’ll walk around for epic views, a boat house, docks, and potentially a frozen lake to explore. This will be very secluded.

    • We’ll hike back to the car, planning another hour back. Then we’ll head to Owen’s Valley Observatory. This will be a 45min drive from when we get back to the car.

  • PLAN #2 ALT

    • After lunch in Bishop, we’ll head back north again a few miles to Vista Overlook.

    • We’ll then a 1m hike to the abandoned Adams Main Hydro-electric Plant in Owens Gorge.

    • Once we pass back through Bishop, we’ll drive 168 a few miles to a pull off with an awesome view of the mountains and the road into them.

    • Finally, we’ll walk around Laws Railroad Historical Site. Incredible western portrait opportunity!

    • Then we’ll head to Owen’s Valley Observatory. This will be a 45min drive from when we get back to the car.

  • If we still have light at the end of our time at Owen’s Valley, we’ll stop off at the Manzanar Airport. This is a 40min drive from the Observatory.

  • We’ll hit Lone Pine for dinner, hangs, and an evening photo walk if the neon signs are on. This is a 15min drive from Manzanar.

FRIDAY, FEB 21

  • Meet at Alabama Hills at 615am for sunrise. Exact location here. There are several spots we’ll hit in this region throughout the morning, including two iconic spots near where we park, and then a quick hike to Mobius Arch.

  • We’ll then head to Alabama Spillway. This is a 30min drive from Mobius Arch.

  • After this shoot, we’ll hit Lone Pine for brunch and coffee. We’ll then walk over the Trails Motel, where there is a cool shot with the pool and the Sierra’s. Lone Pine is 15mins from the Spillway. Grab something for lunch on the road.

  • Next up will be Keeler, including the cemetery and the town. This is an abandoned town with very few residents. Very important to be respectful here. This is 20mins from Lone Pine.

  • Once we leave Keeler, we’ll head to Walker Creek Falls. Exact location here. This may or may not be interesting, depending on if there is water or not. We won’t know until we hike, but it’s a quick hike. This is 35mins from Keeler.

  • Once we are stoked or disappointed here, we’ll hit the Salt Lake Lava Field. Very cool area, red sand and lava rocks. Exact location here. 40mins from Walker Creek.

  • We’ll head towards Ridgecrest and through town (stop for coffee if we have time), and then hit the road to Trona Pinnacles. RECOMMENDATION: Carpool to this spot in the largest vehicles. This drive is best for SUVs and trucks. Ridgecrest is 45mins from the lava field, and Trona is 45mins from Ridgecrest. We’ll stay here through sunset.

  • Following sunset, we’ll have dinner and hangs in Ridgecrest.

SATURDAY, FEB 22

  • Meet for coffee in Ridgecrest at 730am.

  • We’ll drive over to Randsburg. Very small town with residents, but insanely persevered buildings from over a hundred years ago. 25min drive from Ridgecrest.

  • Next stop will be Red Rocks Canyon State Park. This is 20mins from Randsburg. Very small park, but some really cool spots!

  • We’ll conclude our meetup at Red Rocks, and everyone can either head to something on their own agenda or head home!