DESERT SOUTHWEST MONSOON
1-6 AUG, 2024
with Jeremy Woodhouse & Jason Weingart
(6 Days/6 Nights)
What to Expect on your Southwest Monsoon Tour
This workshop is great for those who love storms and weather, but who want to be able to spend more time focusing on photographing these processes. Chasing tornados is inherently more intense due to the presence of destructive hail and violent storms. Monsoon storms are a little more relaxed in nature. They tend to move more slowly and are less severe. We will see some awesome storms, but it will be more focused on lightning, landscapes, haboobs, storm structure, golden light and vibrant sunsets.
It's hard to say where exactly we will be shooting for the workshop. It will most likely be the Tucson, Arizona area (ground zero for monsoon storms) but we could end up in New Mexico or West Texas, depending on how the monsoon is shaping up. The landscapes of the Desert Southwest can change very quickly, from wide open plains to mountains and valleys in just a few miles. We will have plenty of interesting foreground opportunities.
Education
We want you to learn as much as possible during your adventure. We will hold classes and demonstrations how to forecast severe storms, positioning safely around them, reading weather radar, and documenting these phenomena with high quality stills and videos. The longer the duration of the tour, the more a guest can expect to learn. You will walk away with a solid foundation of how to predict and document severe weather.
About the Tour
This monsoon adventure is a relatively easy workshop. These storms are very predictable and drives to shooting locations are typically less than an hour. Most days we edit in the morning for a few hours, grab a lunch, and head out as storms begin to form in mid afternoon.
The goal each day is to be in the most photogenic location as possible as the sun sets and brilliant lightning can be easily captured with exposures of several seconds.
This adventure is held during the climatological peak of monsoon storm season. On the off chance we have a down day, we will still do a ton of shooting. Think astrophotography, golden hour, and sunrise/sunset.
You will leave this workshop with a thorough understanding of what it takes to track down and document monsoon storms. You will be taught everything you need to know, from forecasting storms, to positioning yourself around them, successfully capturing your images, and how to bring the images to life with post processing software.
We will also touch on some other genres of photography throughout the course of the trip, including astrophotography, sunsets, and more. If there happens to be a day of inactive weather, we will still make the most of our time by shooting scenic images and improving your techniques.
Itinerary
Pre-tour—Arrive Tucson
O/N Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport
Day 1—Aug 1, 2024: Tucson
We will meet at 8AM at the base hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport for a briefing at 8:00AM on 1 Aug, 2024. Here we will give a short presentation on what you can expect for the duration of your adventure and answer any questions you have. We will also cover very important safety information. If we have to travel for storms for the next day, we will then begin the trip to get into position for the next day. If storms are in the forecast for the Tucson area, we will begin to chase the first afternoon.
O/N Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport
Day 2—Aug 2, 2024: Tucson or NM or TX
Digital Photography techniques. Afternoon/Evening Storm Chasing
Day 3—Aug 3, 2024: Tucson or NM or TX
Digital Photography techniques. Afternoon/Evening Storm Chasing If we are dropping off guests and picking up new guests, we may need return to our base hotel.
O/N Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport
Day 4—Aug 4, 2024: Tucson or NM or TX
Digital Photography techniques. Afternoon/Evening Storm Chasing
Day 5—Aug 5, 2024: Tucson or NM or TX
Digital Photography techniques. Afternoon/Evening Storm Chasing
Day 6—Aug 6, 2024: Tucson or NM or TX
Digital Photography techniques. Afternoon/Evening Storm Chasing
O/N Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport
Day 7—Aug 7: Transfer to the Tucson Airport
Arrive/Depart Dates
Each guest will need to be at the base city hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Tucson Airport, or within reasonable driving distance by 8:00AM on Thursday, Aug 1, 2024, the arrival date. If you are flying in, it is recommended that you arrive the day before. You will need to book an extra night at the base hotel or another hotel nearby.
The tour ends by the end of the day on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2024 (your room for this night is included in the fee). You may book your flight to return home on 7 Aug, 2024.
2 SPOTS OPEN
$4,200 DUE NOW
$0 DEPOSIT
$0 SINGLE
Online Registration
Please complete the online Registration Form and agree to the Participant Agreement and Waiver when prompted on the form
Tour Information
What’s Included
Registration covers your shared lodging throughout the duration of the workshop. We stay at clean and reputable hotel chains whenever possible. All lodging is vetted by reading reviews or past personal experience. Recent Tornado Adventures primarily stayed in chains by Holiday Inn, Best Western, Hampton, Hilton, Aloft, Fairfield, and Wingate.
Transportation to and from shooting locations
One-on-one instruction if needed.
What to Bring
Plan to pack a medium sized suitcase for your 6-day adventure. You may also bring one small to medium size camera bag and one tripod. Please do your best to pack a reasonable amount of clothing for the length of your adventure. Make your best attempt at packing lightly. No large coolers please.
Chase Vehicles
Our tour is conducted in state-of-the-art 15-passenger vans which include free continuous wifi for guests, signal boosters to help maintain a strong data signal in remote areas, and stations for viewing radar and other crucial weather data.
Helpful Severe Weather Links
Paying by check
If you would like to pay your deposit and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:
Paying by Wire Transfer
If you would like to pay by Wire Transfer please contact nicole@pixelchrome.com for bank account details.