OFF THE BEATEN PATH

JANUARY 22-25, 2026

Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida is a hauntingly beautiful place. There is so much to explore in this area, and on this workshop, we will have the opportunity to see a variety of incredible wildlife, as well as unique landscapes.

THE DETAILS

Price - $2200 which includes your pre-workshop materials and Skype Q&A, 4 days of photography instruction, all park fees, 3 nights lodging (Thurs. - Sun.), breakfast, bottled waters and snacks in the field, and photo feedback and discussion sessions.  Transportation once the workshop begins is also covered, however, travel to and from Naples, FL, lunch, dinner, and any other expenses are not included.

Deposit - A refundable* $500 deposit is required to secure your spot.

Class Size - This class will have at most a 6 to 1 ratio of students to instructor.  A minimum of 3 participants is required for this workshop to occur.  Discounts may be available for multiple people in one party, and friend referrals.

Travel - Our “home” base will be near Naples, FL . There are several airports within a reasonable driving distance. The closest airports are Southwest Florida Intl (RSW), which is 25 miles away (45 min drive) and Miami International Airport (MIA) which is 85 miles away (2 hr drive).

Lodging - Double-occupancy lodging is included. Private rooms may be available at an extra charge. We will stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Naples South for proximity to our early morning locations

Meals - Snacks and water are provided, but meals are the responsibility of the student.  We will tend to eat as a group, so please make arrangements if you have special dietary needs.

Transportation – Once at the hotel, transportation is provided for the duration of the workshop. Transportation to/ from airports is not included.

Extras – We may have an opportunity to embark on a canoe journey in to a famous and beautiful section of the Big Cypress.

* Please see Terms and Conditions page for refund policy.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Pre-workshop Personal Skype Session – Before all of our destination workshops, you can benefit from a personal Q&A Skype session at your convenience with Andrew, to ask any questions you might have about your upcoming trip. This is immensely helpful to gat to know your instructor, and to making sure you feel prepared for the great adventure ahead!

• Welcome Packet - You will receive your personalized welcome packet 2-6 weeks before the workshop with maps, helpful local info, nature facts, FAQ’s, technical photography information on what we will be discussing, a comprehensive list of what to bring, and more.

• Park Related Fees – We believe in and support our public lands, so we are proud Commercial Use Authorization Permit holders in many of our public parks. This provides us good standing with the Park and the rangers, and it helps to fund fantastic conservation projects that would not be possible without special use educators and their students.

• Numerous Guided Hikes – We will embark on at least one hike per day through the intensely beautiful landscape of the Big Cypress ecosystems. We will explore the myriad flora and fauna of both ecosystems, shooting anything and everything in nature, discussing a wide range of photographic tips and techniques.

• Astro Photography - We plan to stay out after sundown navigating the exciting night sky with our cameras. We will discuss and execute several techniques including night landscapes, star trails, painting with light, and more.

• 3 Nights Lodging, water, and snacks - We will be staying as close to our hero locations as possible at the Hampton Inn & Suites Naples South All included rooms are double occupancy, however, private rooms may be available. A continental breakfast, and plenty of bottled water and snacks throughout the day will be provided.

• Image Reviews + Post-Processing Instruction - We will spend some good time on image critiques plus help with post-processing and workflow.

• *BONUS! - Stretch out those sore muscles! One complimentary yoga session per day, with our lovely resident, certified yoga instructor, Ellen Slaton. *Ellen makes every effort to join us on every workshop to lead any interested students in a healthy, centering hour of yoga, but is not guaranteed.

What’s NOT Included? Meals are not included, though we will try to eat together as much as possible, since it's a great chance to continue talking shop. Transportation to and from our hotel in Naples, FL are also not included, as well as anything not specifically listed above. Travel insurance can be purchased separately, HERE, but not necessary.

ROUGH ITINERARY

Due to unpredictable changes in weather and movement of wildlife, etc., our schedule remains flexible and subject to change.  However, our start and end times are set in stone so each student can plan their travel accordingly.

Thursday -  We will be meeting in Naples at the Hampton Inn & Suites Naples South promptly at 2:00pm, we will then head out into the field as quickly as possible to have some fun! Please be sure to give yourself enough time to get to the hotel, as we will hit the ground running and not finish until later Thursday night, after an introduction to night photography.

Friday - Rise early to photograph sunrise in Big Cypress. Search for wildlife throughout the morning. Break for lunch together with discussion. Regroup at 3 to head to the next location to shoot afternoon/ evening light.  Break for dinner together.  Head out to shoot star pictures.

Saturday -  Shoot at several locations throughout the morning.  Break for lunch together with discussion & post-production instruction. Regroup at 3 to head to the next location to shoot afternoon/ evening light.  Break for dinner together.

Sunday - Rise very early again to photograph dawn.  Shoot at several locations throughout the morning.  Break for lunch together with our laptops to discuss and critique our work from the trip. The workshop officially ends after the critique at 12PM.

Itinerary subject to change by Slaton