klattimer

I hired Susie Reed for 5 hours of shooting time and 3 hours of editing time when I was in Sedona at the end of last month. I did learn a few useful techniques for shooting landscapes as well as a several new tricks with Lightroom and Photoshop. In addition, she graciously accommodated my request to twice reschedule our days when exceptionally bad weather played havoc with the rest of my schedule. However, overall, it was not an very enjoyable experience working with her nor a good value for my money ($75 / hour). She watched the clock to avoid giving me even a few minutes of extra time, yet she herself was not ready at any of our three appointment times, making me wait between 15 and 30 minutes while she finished a phone conversation, walked the dog and/or dealt with computer issues. In addition, when we went out to shoot, she was also shooting and, therefore, equally preoccupied with what she was doing as with instructing me. At one point I had to wait 5 minutes to take a shot because she was blocking it with her own equipment. In fairness, I will restate that the weather was very bad. That may have affected her temperament. We spent a lot of time huddled under an umbrella with ziplock bags over our camera in the freezing rain/sleet!

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Thanks so much for sharing the experience you had with her. I did speak with her for a long time over the phone. I realized early on in the conversation, that I know more about photography, equipment & well known photographers than she knew. I don't need the instruction, I just need the location. She does know some good places to shoot, especially at night.

I did comment to her, that I had a problem with paying someone for a private shoot/workshop, and they are shooting along side me. I pointed out that Denise Ippolito does tours all over the world, she works very hard to be sure people who are paying her, are getting the help they need. Often she doesn't even have her camera with her. John Barclay is the same, when he does a workshop, he doen't have a camera with him, he is 100% with his participants. I have also been with other tours, where the photographer, I have paid for, didn't even come to ask if I needed help. This is often the difference between a tour and a workshop. She didn't know of Denise or John.

Thanks again for your input.

klattimer

If you want to find someone who can get you to the best places to shoot and is pleasure to work with, give me a call. He has a powerful jeep and knows all the good places to shoot. 317-407-8289

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Maybe give them a call?
Mark
http://www.sedonaredrocktours.com/sedona-photography-tour/

Kuzano

I am going to suggest the Jerome trip. It's an old mining town, literally hanging on the side of a mountain. Suspect it's mostly art community by now. It's up high and you can see miles of valley below where Sedona, Oak Creek, and Camp Verde are located.

Slide Rock... if I recall is up Oak Creek Canyon north out of Sedona, and if you go farther up the Canyon road to the parking lot at the top of Oak Creek Canyon you will find native americans who have licenses to sell hand made jewelry on blankets around the parking lot. The Canyon road starts down to Sedona off the highway from Flagstaff to Phoenix, about 15 miles So of Flagstaff.

I purchased a couple of hundred dollars, and took enough home to a friend with a "new age" book store. She easily sold the items I took her for five times what I paid, and in no time at all. That was in Cincinnatti.

Then, there is Prescott... which has one of the finest environmental colleges in the US. My step daughter went to Prescott College.... Man! I never want to spend that kind of money on education again. She is now working in Marine Biology.

The area you will be traveling and shooting is diverse and fascinating. Never figured out if the energy vortexes were real, but there is definitely something happening in that part of the country. Hope you plan on spending a couple of weeks.

I've been there a half dozen times and would go back in a minute. Red Rock Country, and Ocean Coast both draw me.

Scottsdalle......Meh! Seen one ungodly expensive town, you've seen em' all. Only thing I saw in Scottsdale was conspicuous consumption and wealth. One time, that's it!

Kuzano

No Golden Arches at the McDonalds in Sedona. Turquoise.

When McDonalds approached Sedona to put up their brand, Sedona said, "Sorry but the Golden Arches are repulsive to the character of our community."

A negotiation resulted in a Stucco building style and Turquoise Arches.

Be sure to get that picture. It's rare. Then have a Grande Mac!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/06/08/the-only-mcdonalds-in-the-world-where-the-golden-arches-arent-golden/

Mickey Jetpur Loc: California

Spent 2 weeks in Sedona last year. My friend and I hiked everywhere. We got really lucky with cloudy stormy weather and I was able to get some great shots. I did a lot of panoramas. You can go up easy trails, you really don't need a guide if you do your homework re: hiking trails in Sedona. There is plenty of info on the web. There are some really nice restaurants where you can have a cocktail during the golden hour. I got some great nighttime shots from this Mexican restaurant. I can't remember the name but the locals will be able to tell you about restaurants with great views. We hiked till 4pm and then hit the bar! What can be a better day than that?!

custodian Loc: New York

please take me with you! LOL

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Not sure why Scottsdale was chosen to go to but here goes:
Taliesin West is a must, Old Town has many fun tourist shops and restaurants. Out of Scottsdale but in the Metro area: Mesa AZ Temple, Heritage Square in Phoenix, Papago Park has incredible rock formations and were used by the indians, Pueblo Grande Ruins, Phx; Fire Museum, Tempe; South Mountain Park, Largest city park in the USA, Downtown Tempe and ASU campus with the The Arboretum at Arizona State University; Too bad the only decent steak house there closed unless recently reopened but as I last knew Monti's La Casa Vieja is closed. The Arizona Biltmore Hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is beautiful for photos and to stay in as well.
There are lots of day trips out of town like the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park: Superior, Arizona, Casa Grande Indian Ruins. Globe and Miami, Roosevelt Dam by way of the infamous Apache Trail.

linelink

Don't forget a hike to Devil's Bridge for some fine photos.

Photocraig

This is the best set of Where TO:?? responses I've seen so far on UHH. Great to see the quality of the community. Of course the destination just might have something to do with it. Good job Hogs!

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Yikes, not for those fearful of heights!!!

dmagett Loc: Albuquerque NM/Sedona AZ

I volunteer at Red Rock State Park. I don't appreciate the "Nazi" comment. We are an environmental park and nature preserve.The native animals make their habitat here. We have deer, javelina, mountain lion, bobcats and many wild birds. Dogs in the park would disturb this. Horses are allowed only on road through the park, not on all the trails. It is a beautiful and serene place to enjoy nature.

Kuzano

Yeah, Right. The airport at Sedona is high up on a mesa. You take off and as you approach the end of the runway, the mesa just drops off at a cliff, and the next thing you know, the ground drops away and you are a few hundred feet over Sedona. (It was just a small general aviation field when I flew there) When that ground dropped away, so did your stomach!

Driving around near Sedona, I saw a movement in the trees beside the road. I stopped. A wolf walked out of the woods into the road and stopped in front of me. He just watched me while I snapped off a few shots. We parted friends... I think!

He simply walked off the other side of the road and sauntered away.... looking back at me occasionally. Lot's of wild life in the whole area, but only if you are observant.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

A nice source for information for photographers is Robert Hitchman's Photograph America newsletters. He produces 11-12 page, double column guides to specific areas with detailed information about good places to shoot, how to get there, suggestions for equipment that will work best for the shot, and info on nearby lodging, cafes, etc. They are inexpensive and can be downloaded as PDF files for $8 each. [They are also available in hardcopy form for those who prefer to hold paper] I keep them loaded on my smart phone so as to be able to access them when in the field.

I've used his guides (including the one about Sedona) on numerous occasions and found them quite helpful. As a photographer writing for other photographers, he includes information on many locations that are often left out of larger guides and books which just discuss the more well known shots of an area. Worth a look. Here is a link to the Sedona newsletter:

http://shop.photographamerica.com/Sedona-Arizona-p/067-pdf.htm