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9. /10
Great Photo Tour! Death Valley & Monument Valley Photo Tour was perfectly organized and Vieri taught me new interesting techniques. Looking forward to joining him for another great experience. Highly recommended!
Below you will find our THE SOUTHWEST USA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP reports, covering all our Workshops there from 2018 and including our Alumni's Testimonials and photographs. Enjoy!
QUICK JUMP: FEBRUARY 2018 | FEBRUARY 2019 | FEBRUARY 2022 | DECEMBER 2022| NOVEMBER 2025 (1)| NOVEMBER 2025 (2)
In mid-November 2025 we returned to the Southwest USA for our sixth Workshop there, our second for 2025, and the last one for the foreseeable future. This time we ran a 9-day group Workshop with a full group of three participants, one of which a returning Alumnus on his second trip with us and the other two both newcomers. Unfortunately, one of them unexpectedly had to undertake eye surgery and had to cancel - we were very sorry not to be able to work together in the Southwest this time over, but happy to hear that his surgery went well.
For someone loving the Southwest USA's landscapes as much as I do, it's always such a treat to be able to share them with like-minded photographers. While it was bittersweet to know that this Workshop would mark our last time there, I was really privileged in that I could go back twice on our last year there!
During these 9 days of Workshop I really enjoyed taking our group to photograph - and seeing myself one last time - such spectacular and iconic locations as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, the Valley of the Gods, Balanced Rock, Turret Arch, Mesa Arch, the Colorado river, Horseshoe Bend, Dead Horse point and more. After nine days together I found both our Alumni much improved, both in their confidence working in the field and in their attention to composition.
During all our Workshops, if at all possible I like to revisit locations, something I always find inspiring, stimulating and useful. During this trip, we revisited Monument Valley, photographing it both at sunrise and sunset, and Agathla Peak, photographed in daytime and at sunset.
Finally, the social side of the Workshop, which is always fundamental for us. During our last Southwest USA Workshop, we really enjoyed seeing our returning Alumnus again, and we had a great time working with him in and out of the field; as well, we enjoyed meeting our newcomers, a perfect gentleman and a very accomplished photographer whom we are looking forward to seeing again in Iceland, for a truly great Workshop!
At the beginning of November 2025, we returned to the Southwest USA for our fifth Workshop there and the first of two planned for 2025, which would also mark the last two Workshops in the Southwest USA for the foreseeable future. On this 9-day Workshop we had a full group of three participants; one of them was a returning Alumnus on his ninth trip with us joining us with his lovely wife as a non-photographing spouse; the second a gentleman on his third trip with us; the last one a newcomer Alumnus, whom we were looking forward to meet for the first time.
As a tutor, I enjoy both working with returning Alumni, something that allows me to keep developing the work started on previous Workshops, as well as embracing the challenge of meeting new landscape lovers and start working with them. One of the things we pride ourselves the most, here at Vieri Bottazzini Workshops, is fostering camaraderie and creating a family of like-minded Alumni who enjoy traveling and working together in harmony.
The iconic, spectacular landscapes of the Southwest USA hold a special place in my heart and in my career; as always, during these 9 days of Workshop I truly enjoyed taking our group to photograph such locations as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Balanced Rock, Turret Arch, Mesa Arch, the Colorado river, Horseshoe Bend, Dead Horse Point and more, including my secret ones which very few Workshops ever go to. After nine days together, I found the group much improved, someone more than others.
During all our Workshops, if the conditions allow, I always enjoy revisiting locations. Being able to photograph a place a second time, either under the same light or at a different time of the day, is something I find very useful and something that nearly inevitably results in better photographs from the group the second time around. During this trip, we revisited Monument Valley, photographing it both at sunrise and sunset, and Horseshoe Bend, which we photographed twice at sunrise.
Finally, the social side of the Workshop, which is truly important for us. During our Southwest USA Workshop, we really enjoyed seeing our returning Alumni and working with them in the field. Unfortunately, our newcomer didn't prove such a good match for the Workshop's atmosphere, but despite that we enjoyed our time with the group in the Southwest USA, for a great Workshop together!
In early December 2022 we returned to the Southwest USA for our fourth Workshop there and the second for 2022, this time a 8-day group Workshop. On this tour we had a full group of three participants, one of which a returning Alumnus on his eighth trip with us joining us with his lovely wife as a non-photographing spouse. The other two participants were a couple of photographers, husband and wife, whom we were looking forward to meeting for the first time.
As a tutor, I enjoy both working with my Alumni, which allows me to keep developing the work started on previous Workshops, as well as embracing the challenge of meeting new landscape lovers and start working with them.
I love the majestic landscapes of the Southwest USA, and during these 8 days of Workshop I truly enjoyed taking our group to photograph such spectacular and iconic locations as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Balanced Rock, Turret Arch, Mesa Arch, the Colorado river, Horseshoe Bend and more. After eight days together, I found the group much improved: one of the two new-coming Alumni started working with filters and truly enjoyed the results; the second newcomer found our image review sessions of great use to pay more attention in the field at his compositions. Last but not least, we truly enjoyed meeting our long-time Alumnus for one more trip together, working on developing our landscape photography while shooting some of the world most iconic landscapes.
During all our Workshops, if the locations allow, I always like to revisit locations, something I find truly inspiring, stimulating and useful. During this trip, we revisited Monument Valley, photographing it both at sunrise and sunset.
Finally, the social side of the Workshop, which is truly important for us. During our Southwest USA Workshop, we really enjoyed seeing our Alumnus again for his eight Workshop with us, and we had a great time working with him in the field as well as a lot of fun during our downtime and social times. As well, we enjoyed meeting our newcomers, for a truly great Workshop!
One of the participants in our The Southwest USA 2022 Workshop kindly sent me a short testimonial to share with you. See what they had to say about our Workshop together!
I appreciate your efforts to improve our photography. My wife is a better student than I and I really want to thank your wife for all the time she spent helping her with the filters. After our review sessions, I found myself watching the corners of my photos much more. That alone was a nicely reinforced point that I so often neglect in my love of the primary subject.
In early February 2022, we returned to the Southwest USA for our third Workshop there, this time a 8-day group Workshop, with a full group of three participants. One of the participants was a returning Alumnus, on his sixth trip with us, while the other two were newcomers, a couple of lovely ladies joining us for the first time.
Working with a returning participant is always a pleasure, it allows me to keep developing the work started on previous Workshops while applying the knowledge gained to a completely different set of landscape and challenges. At the same time, I always love to meet new landscape lovers, enthusiastic about photography and nature, and start a path of photographic growth with them.
During these 8 days together, we worked on some of the most iconic Southwest USA locations such as Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Balanced Rock, Turret Arch, Mesa Arch, the Colorado river, Horseshoe Bend and more. I always try to revisit locations during our Workshops, something I find extremely inspiring and creatively stimulating. During our Southwest USA Workshops we revisited Monument Valley and Horseshoe Bend, photographing them both at sunrise and sunset.
Last but not least, the ever-important social side of the Workshop. During our Southwest USA Workshop, we really enjoyed meeting our newcomers, both truly wonderful people, and seeing our Alumnus again. We had a great time working in the field, despite a not always cooperating weather, and we enjoyed our conversations for a truly great Workshop!
In early February 2019, we went back to the Southwest USA for our second Workshop there, this time a 3-day Private Workshop with a returning Alumnus. After exploring Glencoe & Isle of Skye with us, she booked one of our 2019 Death Valley Workshops and decided to add this Southwest USA Private Workshop before our trip to Death Valley with the group.
Doing a Private Workshop with a returning participant allowed me to fully customise the Workshop on our Alumnus’ level and requirements, giving her my undivided attention and choosing the best locations both for great photography and to continue the work we started in Scotland.
During these 3 days we covered a lot of ground, working on some of the most iconic Southwest USA locations such as Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Balanced Rock, Tower Arch, Mesa Arch and The Watchman in Zion. I was very happy about the work we did in the Southwest, especially in seeing our participant continuing enthusiasm and openness to learning new techniques as well as her ability to put them into practice immediately.
Last but not least, the social side of the Workshop, always very important for us. During our Southwest USA Private Workshop, first and foremost we really enjoyed seeing our Alumnus again after less than a year. We had a great time working in the field and enjoyed our conversations about photography, politics, dogs and life in general, for a truly great short Workshop!
The participant in our The Southwest USA 2019 Private Workshop kindly sent me a short testimonial together with a selection of images to share with you. See what they had to say about our Workshop together and enjoy their work in the Southwest!
This was my second small group workshop and it didn't disappoint. In crowded National Parks, once again, Vieri showed the high level of preparation and planning that goes into each workshop as went to incredible locations not as common in the park. And those famous locations? Vieri found his own path to explore them with fewer people (often none) and better photographic opportunities. Educational, fun, well executed and a wonderful way to explore and photograph the many unique landscapes in The Southwest USA & Death Valley.
I look forward to my next workshop!
In early February 2018, I had the pleasure to lead our first Workshop in the Southwest USA, this time a 3-day Private Workshop.
Doing a Private Workshop allowed me to fully customise the Workshop on my Alumnus’ level and requirements. Upon his request, during these 3 days we covered a lot of ground, working on some of the most iconic Southwest USA locations such as Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley and The Grand Canyon, and I was very happy to see our participant’s interest in learning new techniques and applying them immediately to his photography in such a short time.
Last but not least, the social aspect of the Workshop, always very important for me. During our Southwest USA Private Workshop, I truly enjoyed our social times together and our lengthy conversations about equipment (Nikon vs. Leica!), about photography, art and the facts of life, about politics and economics, for a truly fun Workshop!
The participant in our The Southwest USA 2018 Private Workshop kindly sent me a short testimonial together with a selection of images to share with you. See what they had to say about our Workshop together and enjoy their work in the Southwest!
Great Photo Tour! Death Valley & Monument Valley Photo Tour was perfectly organized and Vieri taught me new interesting techniques. Looking forward to joining him for another great experience. Highly recommended!
