Session 1: Nov 29-Dec 3, 2023 SOLD OUT
Session 2: Dec 4-8, 2023 SOLD OUT
Location: Socorro and Alamogordo, New Mexico
Times: Wednesday midday, meet at 2 pm – final morning, depart after morning shoot
Cost: $1599 See Trip report from 2021
Details: Bosque del Apache in New Mexico is one of the best places in the world to photograph sandhill cranes. The cranes fly into Bosque’s “Crane Ponds” each afternoon, sometimes silhouetted on a blood red sky. This is the perfect time to photograph the birds parachuting into the ponds…..they look like they are suspended in air. During the morning first light, the Bosque “blast off” provides the chance to shoot thousands of snow geese all taking off at once.
Tom and Cree have been photographing at Bosque for years. During their visit in 2021, there were 16,000 sandhill cranes and thousands of snow geese at the refuge. There are also frequent sightings of Gambel’s Quail, Pintail Ducks and Bald Eagles.






White Sands National Park
For the second part of the trip, we will travel to White Sands National Park to photograph stark yucca plants on dazzling white dunes of gypsum sand. The monument includes 265 miles of sand. There is plenty of space to roam looking for the perfect desert landscape.







On this course you will learn about:
- Photographing birds in flight
- Wildlife photography with low shutter speeds
- Landscape composition
- Speed lights to create drama in landscapes
- Ten Must Know Techniques for Better Bird Photography
Hotels: We will spend the first two nights in Socorro, New Mexico in the Holiday Inn Express in Socorro. The last two nights we will be at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Alamogordo, New Mexico. After a morning shoot on the last day, the workshop will end.
Socorro for Days 1-2 We have a block of rooms set aside for our group at the Holiday Inn Express in Socorro.
Alamogordo for Days 3-4 We have a block of rooms set aside for our group at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Alamogordo with rooms for $119.
Closest Airport: There are two options for accessing this workshop either Albuquerque International Sunport or El Paso International Airport. Drive time from ABQ Sunport to Socorro is 1 hour. Alamogordo to ABQ Sunport is three hours. From El Paso it is 2 hours and 45 minutes to Socorro. Alamogordo to El Paso is 1.5 hours.
Recommended camera gear:
- Camera body
- Lenses ranging from wide angle 24mm to 600 mm
- Tripod
- Polarizing filter
- Speed light (optional)
- Laptop for editing and review sessions
Included in the fee:
- All instruction
- Location knowledge and scouting
- Copy of Tom’s ebook Create Better Photographs
Students will provide their own:
- Hotel accommodation
- Transportation, airfare, rental car
- All meals
Know Before You Go: Rated Moderate. This workshop requires walking 1-3 miles per day, sometimes in thick sand. A wildlife lens is recommended.

Deposit for Bosque 2023
Dates: Nov 29-Dec 3
$500.00

Deposit for Bosque 2023
Dates: December 4-8
$500.00