California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range drops off dramatically into the high desert country of the Eastern Sierra. From towering granite peaks, to picturesque lakes, to fantastic forests, the scenic and varied landscapes are a photographer’s delight. This photo tour will visit such icons as Mono Lake, the Alabama Hills, the Owens River Valley, groves of quaking aspens, and much more.
On this photo tour you will be able to create beautiful photos of the breathtaking and varied landscapes of the Eastern Sierra. During this tour we will be photographing dramatic granite peaks, snowmelt-fed alpine lakes, fascinating rock formations and arches, cascading streams, the ancient Bristlecone Pines, and otherworldly Mono Lake tufa towers. On top of that, early October is the best time to photograph aspen trees as their leaves turn blazing gold and crimson.
The Full Moon. We timed the beginning of this trip to coincide with the October Full Moon. Just imagine: moonlit granite spires, the moon rising behind a stately Bristlecone, or setting beyond the magnificent Sierra Crest. These are all things you might experience on this tour.
The Milky Way. With the full moon occurring at the beginning of the tour, the final day of the trip will allow for beautiful dark night stars.
There is no set itinerary on this trip. Instead, we make a call each day where and when to go depending on conditions. The tour is 7 days, giving us tons of opportunities to shoot. We spend the first three nights in Bishop, and the last three nights in Mammoth. We’ll set a relaxed pace on the trip, with emphasis on shoots during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, with breaks in the middle of day for meals, optional side-trips, or transit between locations.
Our sunrise excursions will run approximately 5:30 am till 8:00 am.
Our sunset excursions will run approximately 3:00 pm till 7:00 pm.
Any Milky Way excursions will run approximately 8:00 pm till 10 pm.
All times will be updated daily depending on conditions and shooting locations.
Day 1, Arrival Day.
Arrive in Bishop, California, prior to 2 pm. Meet at our group’s hotel for orientation and introductions. We will plan to shoot sunset this night.
Days 2 – 6.
We will spend the next five days exploring the most beautiful locations in the region. You can expect to see certain iconic locations, such as South Tufa, Silver Lake, Minaret Vista, McGee Creek, and the Alabama Hills. But there will also be plenty of off-the-beaten path spots that are unique to this tour.
The full moon is October 6th, and we will plan some of our shoots around it. These rare experiences are not to be missed!
Day 7, Last Day and Departure.
After a final morning shoot somewhere in the beautiful Eastern Sierra we will enjoy a last brekfast together before the tour disbands at approximately 10 am.
This Eastern Sierra photo tour is appropriate for photographers of most fitness levels. You should have good balance and mobility. Hiking is minimal, perhaps up to 2 miles total each day. However, we will be at elevations as high as 11,000 ft on this trip. Expect walks of up to 1/2 mile each way to reach certain shooting locations.
Walking in the mountains can be strenuous at elevation and we recommend preparing for the trip by walking at least a few miles per week leading up to the tour. You also may wish to arrive a few days early to acclimate to the altitude. All participants are expected to carry their own camera, personal gear, and water during the tour.
Due to variable conditions, we recommend bringing multiple layers of non-cotton clothing, like Merino wool, fleece, or synthetic fibers. Specifically you should bring:
Early October is the peak time to experience fall color in the Eastern Sierra. Aspen leaves are changing from green to gold, and sometimes even crimson. The Eastern Sierra escarpment gives us effortless access to 6,000 feet of elevation change throughout marvelous granite canyons, ensuring endless options for finding beautiful fall foliage.
October also marks a time of seasonal change in the weather, as late summer’s stable atmosphere begins to break up. Expect a wide range of conditions, from partly cloudy, to sunny, to possibly even rain and snow.
Overall, temperatures could range from 75°F down to 20°F, so be prepared for a range of conditions. Expect wind (and possibly lenticular clouds) at any time.
This tour meets in Bishop, and disbands in Mammoth Lakes, California.
For this trip we recommend flying into into Reno, Los Angeles, Burbank, or Las Vegas, each approximately 4 hours by car from Bishop.
Participants are responsible for transportation to, from, and during the tour. However, during the tour we carpool as much as possible so that you can spend time with your fellow photographers, as well as minimize our impact on the landscape.
Most of our locations are within a 30-60 minute drive, though some locations can be as far as 90-100 minutes each way. Trust us, they are well worth the journey.
Lodging is not included in the price of the tour. However, we have reserved a block of rooms, and you can let us know if you’d like the group booking or if you’d prefer to make your own arrangements.
All our hotels have complimentary, high-speed WiFi. Expect good cell coverage in all towns, with hit-or-miss coverage at our shooting locations.
Deposits are non-refundable. Additional payments toward your balance are fully refundable up to 90 days before the tour. If you withdraw from the tour and we are able to fill your spot, we will refund your payments (including deposit), less a $200 administrative fee and any discounts given to fill the space. If we cancel this tour for any reason, your entire tuition fee will be transferred to another tour or refunded to you at your discretion.
We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance to cover your costs in case of cancellation or withdrawal. If you have a personal emergency such as a medical emergency or a death in the family, please contact us. We are willing to work with you to reschedule or refund your fee on a case-by-case basis. This tour requires a minimum of 5 participants. In the case of under-subscription we reserve the right to cancel the tour, in which case your registration will be transferred to another tour of your choosing. Or we may conduct the tour with a single instructor.
Weather Policy
We make no guarantees regarding clouds, clear skies, rain, sun, or Milky Way visibility. Because we plan to photograph no matter what the conditions are, no refunds will be given if you withdraw for weather-related reasons.
We do not currently have any COVID-19 requirements. That being said, if you feel sick before the class, please stay home and let us know. We will transfer your registration to another class of your choosing.
This policy will be updated as CDC, WHO, Federal, and state guidelines change.
Please download and sign this form, and bring it with you to the initial meeting. You can also email us a digital signed copy.
During this tour we may take behind the scenes photos and videos of the participants. These photos are used to share among the group, as well as for promotional purposes on our website or other marketing materials. If you would prefer to not have your image appear in these materials, please let us know.
Joshua Cripps is a renowned landscape photographer who has garnered worldwide acclaim for his breathtaking images of our planet’s wild places. His photos have been published by the likes of National Geographic, NASA, CNN, BBC, and Nikon Global.
The Mt. Whitney Gallery was founded in 2023 by Joshua Cripps as a way to share his passion stunning landscapes of the Sierra Nevada and beyond.
Set at the foot of the breathtaking Sierra with a view of the range’s highest peaks, the gallery features large format, museum-caliber fine art prints of Josh’s signature photographs.
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