Big Bend Magic: Sunsets & Stars Workshop

Day 1 – Arrival & Night One

4:00 PM
Meet and greet at The Summit at Big Bend. We'll cover camera setup, individual goals, skill levels, and the techniques we’ll be using throughout the workshop.

6:30 PM
Head to a scenic overlook on Summit property to photograph sunset.

9:00 PM – Late
Stay local for our first night of astrophotography on and around The Summit property. The goal is to ease into the workshop and get everyone dialed in without long drives.

Day 2 – Editing + Field Work

11:00 AM
Hands-on editing session (location TBD based on what's open — typically The Summit or nearby café). We’ll go deep on color grading your RAW files, Photoshop, blending, stacking, and our personal workflows.

6:00 PM – Late
Field shoot for sunset, blue hour, and Milky Way. Location selected based on weather, sky conditions, and group interest.

Day 3 – Field Day & Final Night

11:00 AM
Group editing session and 1-on-1 support.

6:00 PM – Late
Head to our final sunset and night shoot location. Optional hikes or accessible drive-ups based on group needs.

Day 4 – Wrap-Up & Departures

10:00 AM
Checkout time. You're free to explore on your own or make your way home.

3 nights of lodging at The Summit at Big Bend

Guided sunset and night photography outings

Daily classroom editing instruction

A small group experience (max 5 guests)

Travel to and from Terlingua, Texas

Camera gear, tripods, memory cards, or editing software

Laptops for post-processing sessions

Meals (besides what may be shared casually at the lodge)

Snacks, drinks, and alcohol

Personal medical or travel insurance (highly recommended)

Transportation during the workshop (unless prearranged)

Any emergency costs or incidentals

Come prepared like you’re heading out on a camping trip with your camera and we’ll handle the rest.

Terlingua has some amazing restaurants, but in the summer, hours can be unpredictable. Even locals don’t always know what will be open until the day of. While there’s usually something open on weekends, you’ll want to be prepared just in case.

Think of it like camping:

Bring easy meals, trail snacks, and drinks. The Summit has two large outdoor kitchens with propane grills, microwaves, and shaded seating. Every dome also comes with its own private fire pit and cooking grate.

Come ready, and you’ll have a great time no matter what’s open in town.

Nope. This workshop is designed for all skill levels, from brand-new shooters to seasoned photographers looking to refine their technique.

A camera with manual controls, a sturdy tripod, a wide-angle lens that is at least as fast as F2.8.

A laptop with Lightroom and Photoshop is highly recommended for editing sessions.

The rest should be treated like a camping trip: bring a cooler with water, drinks, and easy meals or snacks. You'll have access to outdoor kitchens, grills, and fire pits at The Summit, but food options in town can be limited or unpredictable in summer — it’s always better to be self-sufficient.

We’ll send you a full recommended packing list after you register.

July in Big Bend means mid day heat — and the possibility of summer storms. That’s part of what makes this time of year so unique. We’ll spend most days indoors editing, reviewing, and staying cool, then head out for golden hour and night shooting when conditions are best.

It’s also the region’s rainy season, which can bring incredible desert storms, and AMAZING sunsets. If one rolls in, we’ll do everything we can to safely chase and photograph it — some of the most powerful images come from monsoon season skies.

Please note: We can’t offer refunds for weather-related conditions, but if the weather makes it impossible to conduct the workshop as planned, we’ll do our best to reschedule you for a future one.

You’ll need to get yourself to Terlingua, but once the workshop begins, we try to keep things flexible. I can fit up to two participants in my vehicle, and it’s common for others to carpool during the workshop. We won’t be doing any serious off-roading on this trip, but some locations are down rough or uneven roads — so a high-clearance vehicle (like an SUV or truck) is recommended if you’re driving your own.

We’ll coordinate rides on day one so everyone is taken care of.

The friendly version:

I know life happens — but because space is very limited and plans are locked in well in advance, bookings are non-refundable. If you can’t make it, I’ll do everything I can to help you move your payment to a future workshop, as long as I have enough notice and space allows. If I ever have to cancel, you’ll get a full refund, no stress.

The Official Policy:

1: Full payment is required at the time of booking to reserve your spot. Due to the small group size and advanced planning involved, all payments are non-refundable under any circumstance outside the control of Tony Maples Photography.

2: This includes, but is not limited to, weather, illness, injury, personal emergencies, travel delays, cancellations by airlines, or any other reason a participant may need to cancel.

3: If Tony Maples Photography cancels the workshop due to an issue within our control, participants will receive a full refund unless a reschedule is mutually agreed upon.

4: Requests to transfer your payment to a future workshop must be made at least 60 days in advance and are not guaranteed. Transfers made fewer than 60 days before the workshop cannot be honored.

5: No refunds or credits will be given for late arrivals, early departures, missed days, or partially attended workshops.

6: No refunds will be given due to weather, including rain, cloud cover, high temperatures, or wildfires. We always do our best to adapt and deliver a valuable experience no matter the conditions.

7: A liability waiver will be required prior to participation. This confirms that you are attending voluntarily and accept the risks of hiking and photographing in remote outdoor areas.

8: Tony Maples Photography is not responsible for injury, lost or damaged gear, or expenses related to travel, accommodations, or transportation before or after the workshop.

9: We are not responsible for disruptions caused by events outside of our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, wildfires, government shutdowns, or global pandemics.

10: We strongly recommend travel insurance that includes both trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage.

11: We reserve the right to remove any participant whose behavior is disruptive, disrespectful, or unsafe — with no refund issued.