Desert Wildflowers & More Regional Event (March 12-16, 2025)

Registration is now open

PRICE:

Early Registration: $1115 NANPA/ASMP Members, $1315 non-members by January 31, 2025

After January 31, 2025: $1125 NANPA/ASMP Members, $1415 non-members

If you are not currently a member, you may want to consider joining NANPA to take advantage of member pricing on all regional events (1 year membership $100)

Maximum number of attendees: 10

Last date to register: February 11, 2025

DATES:

• Tuesday February 11, 2025 7-8 pm (Eastern Time) Pre-Event Webinar for Participants (optional)
• Wednesday March 12, 2025 at 4 PM to Sunday March 16, 2025 at noon
• Wednesday April 2, 2025 7-9 pm (Eastern Time) Post event Image Sharing and Feedback Webinar for participants (optional)

Registration and Meet & Greet
Wednesday March 12, 2025 at 4 pm in the hotel meeting room. Plan to have dinner on your own after the meet and greet.

EVENT OVERVIEW:

Springtime in the desert offers a change from its typical landscape. Winter rains can trigger the germination of desert wildflowers making for some fantastic desert wildflower photographic opportunities. Join John Pedersen exploring the Sonoran Desert to photograph wildflowers, saguaro cacti and the vast desert landscape.  This event will begin in Phoenix where we will visit several locations in the area known to have the most prolific wildflowers in the area. We will also visit the famous Desert Botanical Garden in downtown Phoenix to photograph the best specimens of desert flora.

From Phoenix we will travel south to Tucson, photographing along the way.  Once in Tucson, we will visit several locations including Saguaro National Park. Unlike some other regional events, during this event, photographers will have the chance to photograph subjects beyond nature. In addition to landscapes, in Tucson we will spend time photographing the colorful Barrios (Hispanic historical neighborhoods) within the city.

Seeing the desert in bloom, is unlike any other time of year and worth the trip. This event offers opportunities for wildflower and landscape photography, as well as photography of the shapes, colors and textures inherent to classic southwestern architecture.

NANPA is an authorized permittee of the National Parks Service.

YOUR EVENT LEADER:

John Pedersen–

John Pedersen is a full-time professional photographer, workshop leader, author and creative educator based in Portland, Oregon. John has been leading domestic and international photography workshops for many years to some of the most beautiful and iconic locations for photography. John has a passion for teaching and helping others grow their photographic knowledge and skills to fulfill their creative passions. He provides in-depth teaching and tutoring on a wide range of photographic topics.

John has led past NANPA regional events to the Oregon Coast and the Palouse region of Washington State. We’re pleased to have him return as a regional event leader, this time to the desert southwest, a location where he has offered multiple photography workshops over the years.

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

In the Phoenix area, we will spend our time North of the city, pursing photographs of wildflowers and desert landscapes including amazing cacti which can grow over 30’ tall.  We will visit several locations, some on forest lands and some park-like areas and walk gravel paths amongst the landscape, searching for inspiration and the perfect composition.  We will focus on both the grand landscape of the desert scene as well as narrow our vision down to the small details and repetitive patterns in the cacti which make for fantastic photographs. At each stop there will be photos close to our vehicles and perhaps small hiking trails for folks wanting a bit more diversity.  We will also have the chance to visit the Desert Botanical Gardens which is an award-winning garden that features prime examples of the native plants of the desert, allowing us to capture photos of all the main species of plants.  There is also a fantastic butterfly enclosure that folks can wander through with their cameras.

Leaving Phoenix, we will travel south towards Tucson, roughly a 2-hr drive.  Depending on conditions, we will stop along the way to photograph the wildflowers and desert landscape at a few parks that are known for their wildflower abundance.

Once in Tucson we will spend a little time exploring Saguaro National Park which lies right next to the town of Tucson.  We will spend a sunset and a sunrise in the park, spending our time photographing the colorful sky along with the massive saguaro cactus, barrel cactus and other specimens.  Most of the shooting in the park will be close to the car with limited walking along the various trails.  During one afternoon we will visit the colorful Barrios of Tucson, focusing our work on colors, patterns, shapes and textures amidst this iconic location.

While this event is scheduled to coincide with the typical timing of the desert bloom, the extent of the bloom cannot be predicted months in advance and is dependent on the amount and timing of winter rainfall among other factors outside our control.

NEAREST AIRPORT:

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Tucson International Airport (TUS)
  

Since we are starting in Phoenix and ending in Tucson you may want to consider flying into Phoenix and departing from Tucson. However, you may find less expensive roundtrip flights if you fly in/out of Phoenix.

EVENT TRANSPORTATION:

Transportation to and from the hotels and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility. A rental car is necessary for this event and can be rented from the airport. A regular vehicle is sufficient, a 4×4 or high clearance vehicle is not necessary. 

Ride Sharing: We will depart daily from the hotel. Ride sharing is recommended. You are welcome to either drive or ride with someone. This is a great way to meet and have fun with fellow photographers during the event. If you are a passenger in another participant’s car it is customary to offer the driver some gas money and chip in towards the daily vehicle admission fee as a courtesy.

Note that NANPA, and John Pedersen, do not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assume no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

PARK PASS:

Anyone entering the Saguaro National Park will be required to have a park pass.  If you have an Annual, Senior, Military or Access Pass, bring it with you. If you don’t have one, please buy one in advance.

LODGING: 

We will be based in two locations during this regional event. We will be starting in Phoenix, AZ and ending in Tucson, AZ

Phoenix

NANPA is holding a block of hotel rooms for event participants at a hotel in Scottsdale, AZ.

Tucson

NANPA is holding a block of hotel rooms for event participants at a hotel in Tucson, AZ

Hotel details and reservation procedure will be shared with registered participants.

MEALS:

All meals except the group brunch are on your own.  The group brunch location will be announced at the Meet & Greet.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION:

Your leader is familiar with the areas that you’ll be visiting, and locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time along with weather conditions. The location choices will be finalized closer to the workshop based upon current conditions.

We will visit both iconic and lesser-known locations for this event. Some of the locations that we will most likely photograph include: Wild areas north of Phoenix in search of wildflowers and desert landscapes, the Desert Botanical Garden, Picacho Peak State Park, and Saguaro National Park.

If you wanted to extend your stay in the area, other worthwhile photography sites include: Tucson Barrios, Saguaro National Park, and San Xavier del Bac Spanish mission south of Tucson.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

Please note schedules are fluid due to weather conditions, recent wildlife sightings and other variables. Sunrise is roughly 6:40 am and Sunset is roughly 6:30 pm

Wednesday March 12, 2025

• “Meet and Greet” at 4 pm in the hotel meeting room.
• Plan to have dinner on your own after the meet and greet.

Thursday March 13, 2025

• Sunrise location
• Park area nearby
• Lunch
• Regional Park
• Back to Hotel

Friday March 14, 2025

• Desert Botanical Garden
• Lunch
• Leave for Tucson
• Picacho Peak along the way
• Tucson Mtn Park or Saguaro National Park
• Arrive at Hotel

Saturday March 15, 2025

• Saguaro National Park
• Lunch
• Saguaro National Park or Tucson Barrios
• Back to Hotel

Sunday March 16, 2025

• Tucson Barrios
• Check-out of hotel
• Group Brunch at 11 am (included in fee)

The event wraps after Brunch at noon

HEALTH AND FITNESS:

There will be no excessively strenuous hiking unless required by the site itself. Most photo locations will be close to where we park, and some hikes can be up to 1/2 mile. The length of the walk will be up to the participant and how much they wish or are able to explore, there will be photographic possibilities along the way. The trails are considered easy to moderate

WEATHER

This time of year in Phoenix/Tucson features comfortable temperatures in the afternoon and only a slight chill in the morning. Average high temperatures are in the mid-to-upper 70’s and the average lows are around 50 degrees. The weather is typically stable this time of year with no rain/thunderstorms, however, we should always be prepared just in case.

CLOTHING

• Hiking shoes/trail shoes
• Long Pants
• Long sleeved shirt to protect from sun
• Short Sleeved shirts
• Sun Hat
• Light gloves for pre-dawn times
• Sunglasses
• Lip Balm
• Layers for warmth
• Warm or windproof jacket

CAMERA GEAR:

• Camera – DSLR or mirrorless camera body. Also, bring the camera manual should you need to consult it. If you have a second body to have as a backup, please bring that as well. Cellphone camera as backup is better than no camera and good for snaps of your group.
• Lenses – There will likely be photo opportunities for your full range of lenses, from extreme wide angle to telephoto and macro. Most used focal ranges will be 16mm – 200mm for landscape, plus macro.   You can find a use for longer lenses, but it is up to you whether you want to bring them or not
• Non-abrasive Lens Cleaning Cloth and Wipes.
• Tripod – A tripod is needed for morning and evening shoots in the low light.
• Lots of Memory Card Storage – We use fast 64GB cards, good for stills & video.
• Camera Battery Charger and Extra Batteries.
• Sensor Cleaning Tools
• Polarizing filter(s) to fit each of your lenses.
• Laptop Computer – for downloading and viewing your images.
• Image Processing Software – Good choices include Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Elements.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

• Flashlight and/or Headlamp
• Battery-powered Alarm Clock/Watch – In case cell phone service isn’t available. It’s better to bring your own alarm than miss a morning shoot!
• Cell Phone
• Water and snacks during the day

GENERAL:

We will be based in Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson, AZ during this regional event.

This event is designed for nature photographers at all levels of experience. For the best experience, please know your camera before you arrive, and bring your manual in case we need to look up something.

Assistance will be available in the field for those who wish to improve their photographic skills. If you already have plenty of photography experience, John will ensure you get to the best locations at the best times to capture those perfect shots.

Please keep in mind this NANPA Regional Event is designed to be a photo tour, not a photo workshop. In other words, there are no formal instruction sessions planned, there are no assignments, you will not be receiving any handouts or the like. That being said, your leader, John, has experience as a photography workshop leader and is available to answer questions and give you guidance. If you need help, please advocate for yourself and speak up and ask for help – John is happy to help. Be aware that many of your fellow participants may also be accomplished photographers and may be able to help you too.  Part of the regional event experience is the camaraderie that comes from sharing experiences and lessons learned among participants. If you notice someone with the same or similar camera, perhaps they can help you with an issue you’ve been wondering about, and maybe you can return the favor.

Attendance and participation at NANPA Regional Events is limited to registered attendees only.  Anyone wishing to participate in any portion of, or travel with a registered attendee during the group event must contact the NANPA office and pay the full registration fee.

 

Regional Event Cancellation and No Refund Policy:  

NANPA will not offer any refunds for registrations for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. NANPA will offer refunds if NANPA has to cancel the event. It also has the right to substitute presenters if those originally scheduled cannot attend. Registrants may purchase event insurance as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration.

NOTE:  If you do not purchase event insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services