Bosque Del Apache and the Very Large Array

(Soccoro, NM)

Two Workshop Sessions and Twp VLA Options

Workshop Session 1, December 7-11, 2026

VLA Option # 1, December 11, 2026

Flight – Light – Reflection

Immerse yourself in one of the most breathtaking wildlife spectacles in North America — the annual migration of sandhill cranes and snow geese across the wetlands of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico. This unique workshop combines hands-on field instruction, Lightroom and Photoshop editing, and faith-based reflection, all guided by Greg and Julia Johnson of Drive On Photography.

Each sunrise begins with the unforgettable sight and sound of thousands of birds taking flight as golden light spreads across the marshes. You’ll learn to master exposure, focus tracking, and composition techniques for capturing birds in motion, as well as landscape scenes that balance form, light, and storytelling. Between morning and evening shoots, we’ll gather for small-group editing sessions where Greg provides individualized coaching in Lightroom and Photoshop, helping you enhance color, contrast, and detail while preserving the authenticity of your images.

This workshop is about more than photography — it’s about connecting with the Creator through the beauty of creation. In quiet moments between the calls of cranes and the soft winds of the refuge, you’ll rediscover the peace and purpose that come from slowing down, observing, and creating with intention.

Early Morning: Sunrise sessions at iconic viewing decks and flight decks as thousands of birds lift into the sky.

• Midday: Classroom-style instruction on exposure, autofocus, and camera settings for birds in flight, followed by Lightroom and Photoshop editing tutorials.

• Afternoon: Guided exploration of refuge trails and reflective journaling or rest time.

• Evening: Golden-hour and sunset photography focused on reflections, silhouettes, and warm tones.

• Night: Optional group critique and faith-based reflection led by Greg and Julia.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful and fragile wetland in the New Mexico high desert. It is a rare section of the Rio Grande that performs much like it did historically before man altered the river, although it now requires intense management to do so. This oasis in the desert is worth protecting as it faces multiple challenges, including a shrinking water supply from the Rio Grande and problematic and inconsistent federal funding.

This Workshop will also offer an opportunity to experience an amazing feat of engineering. The Very Large Array (VLA) option will allow the workshop attendees to capture some amazing architectural images of the stunning landscape. Weather permitting, we may stay long enough to do some Astrophotography. The VLA is in the very high NM Desert, and it will be colder at this location. 

We have two separate sessions to choose from for Bosque Del Apache. This year, we are also adding a one-day extension to tour the Very Large Array (VLA), and, weather permitting, we may try for some astro photography as well at the VLA. The VLA is a fantastic tour, and with such an iconic site, you will certainly capture some stunning images. You may even try to do some timelapses as well.

Benefits of this Masterclass Workshop:

Amazing location: I'm not just going to take you to the prominent shoot locations, as you would with most workshops. Rather, we're most likely going to see several of my favorite "hidden places" that I found while serving in the Air Force. We will get off the paved roads for part of our time.

Flexible and advanced learning: This workshop focuses on making compelling landscape photos, emphasizing landscape and wildlife composition. We'll discuss both theory and practical application in great detail, and together, we'll take these concepts from the classroom and bring them to the field. We'll discuss various topics, including classic near-far landscape compositions, successful use of leading visual elements, visual progression, extreme perspectives, scouting techniques, depth-of-field, focus stacking techniques, and the importance of weather, light, and dramatic skies. Understanding animal behavior for this workshop is essential to capture stunning images. Please spend a few minutes observing the birds in their habitat. We'll also discuss digital darkroom techniques for optimizing your landscape photos. I aim to ensure that the photographic opportunities are intense and rewarding, the critique sessions are constructive, and the overall experience is friendly and enjoyable. 

Workshop location: The workshop is based in Socorro, NM, about 76 miles south of Albuquerque, NM, where we will conduct all classroom activities. We'll make several daily trips to the Wildlife Refuges for photography. You may choose to fly into El Paso, TX, but this will be a 190-mile drive. 

​Physical requirements: Since we will get a bit off the beaten path, we will be walking and standing a lot during this workshop. Although we won't go more than a few hundred feet from our vehicles, the terrain in Bosque Del Apache is mainly flat, but we may be in muddy or marshy conditions if we have rain. People in decent physical condition will find walking to be easy to moderate. People who are in poor shape or who have mobility issues will find this workshop somewhat more difficult, but this is primarily due to the amount of standing and walking. We will be waiting and watching the variety of birds that come to this location for the winter. You don't have to be an athlete for this workshop, but if you have physical limitations, please contact me before registering so we can discuss the basic physical requirements. 

Skill level: Photographers of all skill levels will benefit from this workshop, but if you are new to photography, you might want to spend some advanced time getting to know your camera settings and how to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO quickly. learn basic skills elsewhere before signing up for this class. You don't have to be an advanced photographer to take this workshop, but we're going to be focusing on the artistic aspects of visual design, so participants are expected to have a working knowledge of their camera and other photographic equipment.

​General schedule: Please note that each day’s schedule might vary according to which locations we visit that day, how long we shoot, and what the weather conditions are like (if the weather is conducive to photography on a particular day, we might stay in the field longer, and if not, we might emphasize classroom work that day instead). Flexibility is key to successful landscape and wildlife photography, so expect that plans might change. We will be getting up early to get to our shooting locations, so plan to be ready to leave no later than 5:30 am. We try to carpool to make it easy to stay together. 

Please consider the VLA Option. What an amazing place to visit. The VLA site is 50 miles west on Highway 50, in Magdalena, NM. There is a gift shop and a small fee for the tour, but it is well worth it. We will visit the site, and after our tour, we will drive around the perimeter looking for various shooting locations. You may consider having your telephoto lens for this visit, and we can also plan for some time-lapse and astrophotography, weather permitting.

Drive On Photography offers luxury and small-group photography workshops in the U.S. and international destinations, including Tanzania, Charleston, SC, Tucson, AZ, and Bosque del Apache, NM. Led by Greg Johnson, an award-winning photographer and retired Air Force Colonel, these experiences blend professional training, faith-based reflection, and adventure in unforgettable locations

📸 Explore All Workshops