Some places don’t fade quietly — they weather into something more haunting and more beautiful. This workshop takes you deep into the high desert of Central and Eastern Oregon, where sun-bleached homesteads, abandoned mining outposts, and empty main streets sit frozen in time against a landscape of sagebrush, basalt cliffs, and impossibly wide skies. We’ll wind through the region’s most evocative forgotten towns — weathered wood structures leaning into the wind, rusted machinery reclaimed by grass, false-front buildings that once held saloons and general stores now holding only silence and light. This is a landscape built for photographers who love texture, decay, and the stories written in peeling paint and broken glass.

Expect long, open drives between stops, small-group energy, and plenty of time to wander and shoot at your own pace with guidance always close at hand. Along the way, you’ll hear the histories behind these towns — boomtowns that busted, railroad stops bypassed, communities the desert slowly reclaimed — context that will change the way you compose every shot.

This isn’t a workshop about pretty landscapes. It’s about finding beauty in abandonment, and learning to photograph the past as it quietly disappears.

Limited spots available — come document what’s left before the desert takes the rest.

No strenuous hikes. We will be close to our vehicles and all locations should feature short, gentle walks with some uneven terrain. Please reach out if you have any questions about gear or preparedness.

You can fly in directly to Portland Oregon with many airlines. There is ample rental car choices at this airport as well.  We will begin our workshop in The Dalles which is 84 miles East of Portland.  We will meet at our hotel in The Dalles on Wednesday April 28th at 4pm for a Meet and Greet.  More information will be sent to you after registration.