Introduction to Landscape Photography: Capturing the Beauty of the Rockies

Landscape photography blends the joys of photography and hiking into one adventure-filled outing. This two-day course will take a look at how to plan landscape destinations, how to predict weather for impactful photographs, and how to set up once in the field. We will discuss gear, composition, and lighting as we venture into Rocky Mountain National Park on a hike each day. Field instruction will include how to photograph flowing water, how to compose lake and mountain scenes, how to capture sunbursts, and how to select photogenic views along a hike. This course can be completed with a DSLR, mirrorless, film or mobile phone camera. Each afternoon, we will end the day in the Fall River Visitor Center classroom reviewing and editing photos.

Who: Participants ages 16 and up.

Program level: Moderate – These programs are most appropriate for those with some hiking experience. Expect to travel 2 to 6 miles each day with your camera equipment and to be on your feet for several hours at a time. Participants should be comfortable navigating both maintained trails and unmaintained meadows or wooded areas. Prior experience hiking or walking above 8,000 feet is recommended.

This two day program has classroom sessions and field sessions.

When: Thursday, August 14th, 2025 from 8:00am to 2:00pm and Friday, August 15th, 2025 from 8:00am to 2:00pm

Where: Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517, and travel together to various locations within RMNP in Conservancy vehicles. All required fees and permits for park entry are included in your registration.

What to Bring:

• 10 Essentials for Field Institute Courses.
• Camera
• Wide-angle lens
• Camera battery (make sure it is charged)
• Memory cards for camera as appropriate
• Tripod that can hold your camera (optional but highly recommended)
• Circular polarizer for wide-angle lens (optional)
• Remote shutter release for camera (optional)
• Method to carry the supplies (backpack, camera sling bag, messenger bag, etc.)
• Laptop or mobile device and editing software if you would like to edit in the classroom after each hike.

About Your Instructor: Dawn is a professional, award-winning nature photographer who specializes in photographing the wildlife of high latitudes and high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Recognized as one of the top-ten female nature photographers to watch by Wild Planet Photo Magazine, her work has been published in numerous regional and national publications, including Wyoming Wildlife, Outdoor Photographer, and Nature’s Best Photography. She frequently presents about photography to camera clubs and outdoor organizations around Colorado and is a master naturalist with the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas. She published her first book in 2011—Colorado: Flora, Fauna and Landscapes From the Perspective of Women—and recently published an ebook titled Preparing for the Next Shoot: Ten Tips to Get You to the Right Place at the Right Time.

Refund Policy:

Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the course are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days in advance are not eligible for a refund.

Our programs proceed rain or shine, and participants should be prepared for inclement weather. However, should we decide to cancel a program due to unsafe weather or emergency conditions, we will notify participants by email and automatically issue full refunds.

Conservancy members get 10% off individual registration when you use the discount code in your membership email! Limit 2 per membership.

Not a member of the Conservancy? Learn more and join here:

If you have questions about this course, please contact the Field Institute by email at [email protected] or by phone at 970-586-3262.

Host or Publisher Rocky Mountain Conservancy Education Team