Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

I'm looking for a tour photo tour company that has trips to Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada or Colorado. I'm looking for a company that you have used. I love this area but want to go out with a group as hubby doesn't want to come & just stand around.

FredCDobbs Loc: Los Angeles area.

I dont know if you have some reason for traveling with a bunch of other photogs but it would drive me crazy to be driven around and told to stand on the yellow Kodak feet to take a picture. It guarantees you will not be at many places in the morning or afternoon when the light gets interesting.
I suggest doing some research, Find your locations, fly to Phoenix or wherever, rent a car, get the insurance, and have fun. I've traveled all over the US and I love NM and Az. Just one state would probably be great for a vacation. Colorado is great but Nevada, the photo opportunities are slimmer and far in between. Valley of Fire, Lake Tahoe, and Vegas if you like bright lights, etc.. Plan on a spring or fall trip to the southwest. Check www.city-data.com for weather. In the summer Phoenix can get so hot, airplanes can't get proper lift to take off.
People in the office used to love me because I scheduled my south west vacation times off peak summer vacation to guarantee some inclement weather therefore interesting skies.
I believe there are some tour books designed just for photogs that can steer you to the proper places, there are literally too many to list here. Just NM and Az will be a treat and expose you to a really interesting and different culture and many interesting visual experiences.
California has many pretty spots but Phoenix is the same virtual distance from LA as San Francisco so I used to travel east a lot.
I'd also do a little reading on the interesting history of the area. I recently read Blood and THunder by Hamton Sides, basically the story of Kit Carson and his life in New Mexico. Have fun and eat some great Mexican food.

Two shots of Mission San Xavier De Bac in Tucson


Fall Aspens on the way to Taos NM ski area


New Mexico River Bottom

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

National Geographis has some photo tours of the sothwest. I have never been on one (too expensive) but I'm sure they are excellent. Here's a link to a four day trip in Tucson.

http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/tucson-photo-workshop/detail

jcradford Loc: Shoreview Minnesota

I tend toward being my own travel guide, along with another photographer from time to time. We've done the entire Southwest, Alaska, Calif., Minnesota, etc. where there is always spectacular scenery -- especially in the canyons of national parks. Here's a link to a recent visit:

http://www.radfordpictures.com/Locations/Southwest-USA/20655782_pSsBP5#!i=2135512753&k=nkBqpVH

Optionally, check out Naturescapes.net which has a great upcoming trip to Socorro, NM for the annual migration of cranes and geese, with top pro instructors.

Arches National Park - Utah

Denisedancer Loc: Sydney Australia

Next year I'm doing a tour with Insight that goes from Denver to Las Vegas via lots of the National Parks, like Arches, Mesa Verdi, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon etc. The appealing thing about this tour is they overnight within the National Parks, hence you are able to take sunrise and sunset photos. It has been thoroughly recommended to me by a serious photographer from the Photography Society we belong to. I'm really looking forward to it. Its not a specialist photography tour but seems like a good option if you are travelling on your own.

Denisedancer Loc: Sydney Australia

jcradford, love your photo of Arches NP, really looking forward to our trip next May.

sodacreek Loc: Ocala, FL

I have made several trips with this group into Yellowstone and they are great. Bob and Diane offer trips all over the world and a trip into Arizona.

http://www.naturephotographyadventures.com/workshop.photo.monument.htm

crimesc324 Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

I used Caravan Tours, www.caravan.com, for a 10 day tour in Costa Rica this past June with my son. It was fantastic and very reasonable. They offer tours in Panama, Costa Rica, Guatamala, Northeastern US, Canada and northwest US. Very reputable and 5 star accomadations, All inclusive except for airfare and tips for guide and driver. We had 46 people in our group but not at all like a cattle car trip.

Outdoorsafe Loc: Colorado Springs

You might also check into the many photo tours organized by Arizona Highways Magazine - very well run. Not only do they have an instructor or two on a trip but there are always "instructor helpers" along to deal with the logistics. This frees the prime instructor(s) to concentrate on teaching you how to be a better photographer. Highly recommend them.

jsleszynski Loc: Overland Park, Kansas

Another option might be to travel alone but hire a local guide. In places like Yosemite there are many well known photographers available, just search for "Yosemite photography".

gumeng Loc: El Paso, TX

I agree that if you go on your own, Phoenix is the perfect hub to start from. Also agree that Blood & Thunder is a great book and good read for some NM history.

jcradford Loc: Shoreview Minnesota

We had plenty of golden hour shots using motels last month; no guide but relied on our own research. Camping is ok too but kills time with setup if moving around. Where I use a guide is for tough logistics or specialty photos. Alaska comes to mind where I've booked fishing and grizzly bear expeditions using Alaska Charters and Adventures with Brenda and John Yeager out of Wrangell, providing jet boat, nature expertise and security. Based at Sourdough Lodge. Below John was packing "heat" while being tracked by two juvenile grizzlys over a bridge. Incredible trip with plenty of keepers and memories.

Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands, UT


Guide John Yeager tracking grizzly, or vice versa?


Salmon for dinner at Anan River, Ak

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

Try Arizona Highways. They offer a variety of photography trips in the southwest. The instructors I have met or taken courses with are excellent and the people who run the program are very helpful. They identify the different levels of physical activity required. This may not be important for you but is for some of us. Just check the Arizona Highways magazine web site. They have online catalog and will send paper catalog if you wish.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like that third mysterious shot. It could have been taken from a plane, or it could be a macro.

FredCDobbs Loc: Los Angeles area.

It was on a tripod with a portrait lens. I was driving back roads in NM and found a bridge over a wash, The creek below had been frozen over night and was thawing out. I took a bunch of shots before the sun turned it into mud and I thought I should get out before falling with camera in the gathering muck. Here's two more.