COWBOYS & CANYONLANDS, 30 NOV-5 DEC, 2024

COWBOYS & CANYONLANDS
30 NOV-5 DEC, 2024

(6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS)

with Jeremy Woodhouse & Russell Graves

Highlights

Saddle up for a West Texas adventure! The Cowboys and Canyonlands itinerary is a unique one. Come and join professional photographers Jeremy Woodhouse and Russell Graves as we explore the rugged cattle country of the Texas Rolling Plains.

When people think of Texas, this is the part of Texas they invariably think of—big, wide open skies, fat cattle grazing on grass, and rugged landscapes that you see in Western movies. As such, this workshop is full of photographic opportunities. For five days, we'll photograph austere canyon lands, wildlife such as prairie dogs, bison, and maybe the distinctive Texas horned lizard (horny toad to the locals). We'll explore small towns that time has forgotten. We'll take in the night skies in a part of Texas that's dark and mysterious. You'll see stars so plentiful; you can almost reach out and grab them!

Finally, we'll explore the cowboy culture by photographing real working cowboys as they go about their daily chores. To add to the charm of this one-of-a-kind workshop, we'll even treat you to an authentic chuck wagon meal served out on the range.

Based in the Texas Panhandle town of Childress, you will have five days packed full of photographic opportunities. You'll get great shots, learn a lot about photography and the area's culture, and, most importantly, make friends with like-minded people from around the country.

So come and join us! If you have any questions about he tour, please feel free to call Russell (806) 280-8007 or Jeremy at (469) 371-5310.

Chicken-Fried Steak at the Traditional Chuck Wagon Dinner

Itinerary

We will keep the itinerary flexible in order to take advantage of the best landscape conditions and to deliver the best possible photography experience. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and shooting locations as needed. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

Day 1: 30 Nov — Arrive DFW

Arrive in the Metroplex and head to the hotel near the airport (TBD). At 5:00PM, we’ll get together for a pre-trip dinner and orientation where we’ll fill you in on all of the details and get to know one another.

O/N TBA (D)

Day 2: 1 Dec — DFW - Childress

We will begin our journey after breakfast departing the hotel at 9:00AM en-route to Childress. Along the way we will stop off to photograph classic Texas icons including Rosston General Store, Pecan Shed in Henrietta, Medicine Mound and more

After check-in at the hotel and an early supper, we’ll head out for some evening landscape photos.

O/N Surestay Hotel by Best Western (or Similar) (B,L,D)

Day 3: 2 Dec — Childress - Caprock Canyon State Park

We’ll get up early and head to Caprock Canyons State Park on this day. This is a gem in the state park system. Red rock canyons with towering spires are evocative of places like Monument Valley in Arizona. Here you’ll also see prairie dogs and bison roaming the rangelands in an area that may be one of the best-kept secrets in the Southwest.

On the way out, we’ll explore Turkey, Texas. It’s the home of Western Swing music legend Bob Wills and is full of the kind of Americana that you’d expect to see on Route 66.

In the evening, we’ll head out to a local ranch where a couple of cowboys will wait for us. We’ll photograph them on horseback and can direct them so we can make the most of our time with them. Expect to get shots plenty of shots that will round out your Western lifestyle portfolio. But the cowboys won’t be with us for a single evening. We’ll have them again for the following day.

O/N Surestay Hotel by Best Western (or Similar) (B,L,D)

Day 4: 3 Dec — Childress

This morning we’ll focus a bit on cowboy portraiture. Rustic characters in rustic places will undoubtedly elevate your photography skills. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “people” photographer, you can add another skill set to your repertoire after you are done here.

At midday, you can either hang around the hotel for a post-processing session or explore downtown Childress. With quaint shops and interesting people, you’ll likely find something of interest in the town named after the author of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

In the evening, we’ll head out for another landscape shoot. Bring your drone, as we’ll have the chance to shoot some rugged landscapes from the air. Then, we’ll head over to Clarity Tunnel. It’s an abandoned 900-foot-long railroad tunnel home to thousands of Mexican Free-tailed bats who exit the tunnel each night on the way out to feed on insects in the badlands. Once the sun goes down, we’ll be in a genuinely dark part of Texas. Therefore, stars (and the Milky Way) abound, and we’ll take advantage of the enormous skies through light painting at Gray Mule Cemetery, Caprock Canyons, and other locations with great foregrounds.

O/N Surestay Hotel by Best Western (or Similar) (B,L,D)

Day 5: 4 Dec — Childress

After a late night out on the Llano Estacado, you can sleep in a bit before we convene for some post-processing and a show and tell of your favorite images so far.

Later in the day, we’ll head out to another local ranch to treat you to an authentic chuck wagon supper and another cowboy shoot. This is authentic as authentic gets, and in addition to a delicious meal, you’ll learn a lot about the history of the area and will have the opportunity to get some memorable photos.

O/N Surestay Hotel by Best Western (or Similar) (B,L,D)

Day 6: 5 Dec — Childress - Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River

On the final morning, we’ll do a quick landscape shoot on the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River. This is another excellent drone photography opportunity. This historic river cut through the Comanche homeland and was the haunt of tens of millions of bison. The photography doesn’t stop there. On our way back to the Dallas Fort Worth area, we’ll make a few stops like the Old Doan’s Store downriver, where millions of head of cattle passed during the era of the great cattle drives, and if there is time we will check out a relic of the cold war era.

Drive back to DFW. We should be back at DFW by around 2PM so if you are planning on flying out that day, please allow enough time to make your flight (B,L)

END OF TOUR

Cowboy Sunset

Arrival, Departure

Arrival & Meeting Place

Arrive in the Metroplex and head to the hotel near DFW airport (TBD). At 5:00PM, we’ll get together for a pre-trip dinner and orientation where we’ll fill you in on all of the details and get to know one another.

Departure

We will leave the Panhandle after our morning shoot on 5 Dec and head back to the Metroplex. We will arrive back by 3:00PM at the latest. If you are planning on flying out the same day, please allow enough time to make your flight.

Weather

In the Texas Panhandle, November marks the transition from autumn to winter, so the weather can be quite variable. Typically, you can expect:

Temperature: Average high temperatures can range from the upper 40s to mid-60s Fahrenheit (8 to 19 degrees Celsius), with overnight lows dropping into the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit (-2 to 4 degrees Celsius). However, colder weather systems can occasionally bring temperatures below freezing, especially towards the latter part of the month.

Precipitation: November can bring a mix of rain and snow to the Texas Panhandle. Snowfall is not uncommon, especially towards the end of the month, but it is generally light and often melts quickly.

Wind: The region is known for its strong winds throughout the year, and November is no exception. Be prepared for gusty conditions, especially during cold fronts passing through the area.

Daylight: The days are shorter in November, with fewer hours of daylight as winter approaches.

Dress for the Weather
No matter the time of year, a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes or boots are necessary for anyone planning to explore outdoors. Sunscreen is a must and hikers should always carry plenty of water; one gallon per person per day is recommended.

Summer visitors should be aware of heat safety, such as wearing clothing that protects from the sun and avoiding activity during midday.

Aerial View of the Red River

Portrait of a Cowboy

Night Photography at an old Grain Elevator

1 SPOT OPEN
$3,995
$1,000 DEPOSIT

GROUP SIZE: ONLY 6-7

PAY TOUR FEES

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Tour Price Includes

Photography guiding during the trip
Lodging in a single room (if you wish to share, please give us a call)
Entry Fee into the State Park
Cowboy Modelling Fees
Post-processing and image critique sessions were time permits.
All meals including a typical Texas chuck wagon dinner
Group transport from the hotel near DFW (TBD) on Day 1 to Day 5 in a Ford Transit passenger van (or similar).

Tour Price Excludes

Transportation to/from your home to DFW

Alcoholic Beverages

Travel and hotel costs beyond trip dates
Souvenirs

Dress for the Weather

Personal Gear List

Sturdy hiking footwear, and long pants if you want to avoid being stuck by a cactus
Hiking poles to assist on the rocky terrain. I cannot stress how useful these are
Layers. The days will be warm but you may feel a chill in the air at night so bring appropriate layers
Headlamp for when we are hiking in the dark
Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat
Water bottle

Photo Equipment Checklist

Sturdy tripod and ballhead
Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
Wide Angle Lens. Full frame—aim for 16-35mm range or wider. Crop sensor, 10-22mm. A fast, super wide prime would also be great (14mm or 16mm). f/1.4 -2.8 is an ideal aperture
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
Telephoto lenses will come in handy especially if we see some wildlife, including prairie dogs and American bison, or simply for telephoto landscape images—anything in the 70-400mm range (or longer).
Circular polarizer filters are useful. Bring any ND filters if you have them.
Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
Remote cord for your camera.
Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

About Russell

Raised in rural Texas, Russell is the product of a modest, blue-collar upbringing, a stalwart work ethic, and a family who put no bounds on his imagination and creativity.

When he was 19, he had his first photographs and article published in a magazine. When he was 20, he earned his first magazine cover.

After earning a degree in agriculture education from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce), Russell went out to the sparsely populated Texas Panhandle, where he was hired to teach agriculture science for the Childress Independent School District. In his 16-year teaching career, he was named Texas Agriscience Teacher of the Year on three occasions, a finalist for National Agriscience Teacher of the Year twice, and won just about every major award conferred on those in his former profession. He also built a solid reputation as a top Texas photographer and writer during that time.

Upon leaving teaching in 2009, Russell continued his life's work by capturing the people and places outside of city limits in innovative and authentic ways. In the ensuing years, he continued to build on his experience and churn out content for clients through magazine pieces, advertising campaigns, television projects, and numerous books.

In 2018, Russell started leading photographic workshops and sharing his knowledge and love of the outdoors and photography. Since then, Russell has led nearly 500 guests on adventures worldwide.

Russell says he feels like he's come full circle by combining his love of photography with his teaching ability.

When he's not in the field teaching or doing projects for one of his clients, Russell is found on his beloved Hackberry Farm driving his tractor and doing tasks that benefit the land and her denizens therein. He now lives a mile from the small stock farm on which he was raised. Black dirt and creek water is a powerful poultice.

His parents are still proud of him.