A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY
EXPERIENCE
Are you looking for What You Get? Or Testimonials? How about the Image Galleries?
CREATIVE INSPIRATION
Join Andy on this incredible trip! Picture this: 66 miles of untouched wilderness along the Green River. No city lights or busy streets. Just you, the river, and the beautiful solitude of Desolation and Gray Canyons.
Capture the beauty with your camera as we raft down the river, surrounded by stunning formations and desert landscapes. Marvel at the sun painting the canyon walls, spot eagles and bighorn sheep, see ancient petroglyphs, and explore the side canyons.
We camp under ancient cottonwood trees, and each night offers a photo-worthy spectacle as the stars emerge.
Photograph this magical place, from wide-angle vistas to the macroscopic details. You won't capture it all in one shot, but the adventure lies in the attempt. Come and be awestruck!
“This trip, these classes, and the people I met inspired me to pick up my camera and do what I should have done a long time ago - shoot for myself. I came back from the trip with a new portfolio, new friends, and most importantly, a new love for the craft.”
—Paul Wood
CREATIVE RENEWAL
Seeking a creative retreat? Look no further. This trip offers a chance to break free from the ordinary and immerse yourself in creativity. Picture this: floating down the river, surrounded by beauty, a moment of clarity strikes—all you need to do is float downstream. With fellow photographers and our fantastic guides, each river mile brings camaraderie, delicious meals, and breathtaking scenery. "Rivertime" sets in, and your only task for eight glorious days is to capture the world through your lens. No matter your experience level, this is your ultimate photography gift. Join us for this inspiring journey!
THE CLASSROOM
Our classroom is the landscape. There's no "one way" to be a landscape photographer—there are as many interpretations as there are artists. No matter how you see it, Desolation and Gray Canyons will inspire you.
Our nightly discussion sessions, nestled among ancient cottonwoods, create a supportive space for growth. While on the river, Andy will lead work-in-progress reviews, providing constructive feedback and encouraging you to push your photography further. We'll also look at a portfolio of carefully curated photography to inspire and challenge your ideas of what landscape images are.
Andy rafts with a different photographer daily to answer questions, provide guidance, and help with their photography. The entire trip is built to be responsive and flexible, attuned to your skill level and needs.
TESTIMONIALS
“Through nightly relaxed and conversational explorations—on the nature and ways of seeing landscape through the human lens, on historical photographers of the Green and Colorado Rivers, on varied renowned landscape photographers and their diverse perspectives and processes— as well as through supportive, growth-oriented, well-timed group reviews of our photographs, my photographic awareness and skill increased by layers as numerous as the folds of earth’s history revealed in the canyon walls!
During the day, Andy gently nudged us to try techniques and frameworks we may have neither previously tried, and was present and ready to answer questions we found during our travels across the land with lens.
The river, Apakoa Rivers Rafting, and Andy not only brought Desolation Canyon and its monumental landscape up close, but brought me closer to focus the landscape of raw earth, its brilliant highlights, and our fleeting shadows passing momentarily along its bend.”
- Sean Stanley, amateur photographer
“Photo Float gave me a great deal of inspiration and enthusiasm that had been missing in my photography for a while. My creative rut disappeared the moment I saw the landscape from the Green River airport.
Andy’s evening riverside presentations showed a variety of diverse viewpoints on photography, and gave me a lot to consider while photographing. I found lots of fresh ideas to experiment with.
The enthusiastic and supportive group of photographers and guides helped keep the creativity flowing with helpful thoughts when sharing photos with the group.
The inspiration from this trip has carried over after the trip, and my photography has been more interesting and productive as a result of my days on the river.”
—Mike Floyd, fine art photographer
“On this trip, I felt reconnected with the reasons I started photographing in the first place. With Andy's prompts and image reviews, I made photographs that feel freer and more unconstrained than any I've made in years. Being so remote, surrounded by great people, and free of modern responsibilities was soul cleansing. I'd recommend it to anyone artistically stuck."
- Zac Goodwin, fine art photographer
“Andy, thanks for an amazing trip! The scenery was amazing, the food and river support were great, but most importantly, your photo classes and personalized coaching throughout the week brought my amateur photography skills to a new level.
You taught me how to see light and dark in a new way - now I can see how the light flows through a scene as I set up a photo. Many thanks and I hope to join you for another workshop in the future!”
—Elise Hewitt, amateur photographer
“I have been a professional photographer for over thirty years, and after awhile you get a little burnt out on the prices, the clients, the industry. I found that I wasn’t going out and photographing for myself nearly as much. This trip, these classes, and the people I met inspired me to pick up my camera and do what I should have done a long time ago - shoot for myself. I came back from the trip with a new portfolio, new friends, and most importantly, a new love for the craft.
Andy, Sarah, and the staff are amazing. By the second day I got it - what these classes, the journey, and what the Green River is all about. You will too - this will change your life.”
—Paul Wood, professional photographer
WHAT YOU GET
ANDY BATT, PHOTO EDUCATOR
This workshop takes you down the river and gives you the opportunity to relax and spend your time making photographs. I do this with hands-on guidance, dialed into your specific level, both creative and technical. Whether you are a dedicated amateur or a seasoned pro, I’ll offer you the support you need
-
Every photographer is different—we’re all united by our camera use, but our backgrounds, creative vision, goals, methods, techniques, and reactions to the land are all unique. I’m here to support you—from advancing your camera techniques to pushing you to take your creative vision farther. This trip isn’t about where to put your tripod or what you should be taking photos of. It’s a guided creative exploration.
-
We set up a sandy classroom every night with a digital projector and screen. Twice, we'll have an image review night where we see what we've all been working on. These will provide positive, useful feedback designed to help you make better images right away. On other nights, I'll showcase a number of inspirational photographers, to engage your heart and your head. There will be nightly round-table discussions about a wide range of photography topics.
-
On our last night together, back in Green River (after showers and clean clothes!) we’ll get together for one last meal and an image “best of” review, a chance to see what we’ve all been working on during the week. It’s a great way to wrap up the trip.
-
Andy spends time with every photographer, whether it’s in a patch of shade at camp, floating down the river, or while we’re hiking. He’s dedicated to providing you with the kind of workshop you need.
-
For more about who I am and what I do, you can visit my commercial photography site at andybatt.com
APAKOA RIVERS RAFTING
Sarah Hammond, the owner of Apakoa Rivers, has guided on the Green River for over 55 trips and provides us with the most amazing combination of service, safety, and fun. Sarah and her crew will be taking care of us on our week down the Green. Apakoa provides all of our logistics, both on the water and in-camp.
-
We start with an informal meetup in the town of Green River the night before we launch. Once we are on the river, you get eight days and seven nights of rafting and camping in a place that's wild and scenic.
-
Redtail Aviation flies us up river at dawn and lands at the Sandwash airstrip. Along the flight, you get an amazing preview of our week along the river. From the landing strip, we hike down to the launch site, with incredible views of the valley.
-
Apakoa Rivers provides us with amazing meals every day we’re on the river. They can accommodate any restrictions or allergies. Our guides cook and clean every meal so you can relax or head out for some sweet light photography.
-
Our guides are the best! They are solid, professional, and deliver on every aspect of our trip — from a deep well of bad jokes, geology nerd facts, wildlife & mildlife aficionados to being excellent raft guides! They are there to make your trip great.
-
Apakoa is the Samoan word for Albacore. Head to Apakoa Rivers website at apakoa.com.
GALLERIES
"I find it inspirational to work alongside other photographers in the same places and discover how they "see" differently. Everyone's creative take on the landscape is unique, revealing things often hidden to others."
—Andy Batt
