reflection of colorful colorado fall foliage in a lake

Colorado Fall Color Photography Art Retreat (2026)

Colorado Fall Color Art Retreat

October 1–5, 2026

Led by Jess Santos and Ryan Oswald

This autumn, step into a landscape of golden aspens and jagged peaks in the heart of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Our 5-day art retreat invites you to slow down and see the land the way painters once did. From glowing groves and reflective ponds to mountain meadows alive with color, every session is designed to help you create not just single images, but a body of work that carries depth and story.

This isn’t just a workshop. It’s an immersive study of vision and process, where you’ll learn to shape images with intention, guided by the principles of classical art. Together we’ll explore how color, light, and composition can turn fleeting moments into timeless work that feels both personal and expressive.

Workshop Details

Location: San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Dates: October 1–5, 2026
Group Size: Limited to 8 students with 2 instructors
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate, no more than 2 miles through rocky or uneven terrain
Flexibility: Schedule adapts to the best light and weather. If storms roll in, we continue with critique, editing, and classroom learning.

What This Journey Looks Like

Each day blends morning and evening field studies with classroom sessions in between. You’ll practice developing concepts before heading into the field, then refine them through critique and editing. Lessons include color theory for photographers, visual pathways, balance, and storytelling with light.

The focus is on creating with intention. Whether surrounded by rows of white aspen trunks or watching sunset wash across mountain peaks, you’ll learn to approach photography as an art form, building cohesion and meaning into your images.

When weather keeps us indoors, we’ll continue learning through editing sessions, group discussions, and one-on-one guidance. There is always more to explore, both in the field and in the classroom.

Why This Retreat is Different

This retreat is about process over postcard. Instead of running from spot to spot, we slow down to study color, form, and light the way painters did. Small group size ensures mentorship and individual feedback, giving you the space to grow as both photographer and artist.

We’ll also include a post-retreat Zoom editing session, recorded for your convenience, to bring the entire process together from concept to final image.

Ideal For

Photographers who feel stuck and want to rediscover creativity
Artists who want to integrate classical ideas into modern photography
Those curious about color harmony, story, rhythm, and visual language
All levels of experience, with a focus on growth over gear

Ready to Create With Intention?

This retreat is more than a trip into the mountains, it’s an invitation to approach photography as an artist’s craft. If you’re ready to connect with the autumn palette of Colorado and create work that feels timeless and true to your vision, we’d love to have you join us.

Enrollment is limited to ensure an intimate, mentorship-focused experience.

Reserve your place today and begin your artistic journey.

Composition & Visual Design in Aspen Forests

How to read and design compositions in complex aspen groves

Using trunks, spacing and natural rhythm to guide the viewer’s eye

Creating flow in scenes filled with repeating shapes and patterns

Working with vertical lines, gesture and negative space in tall forests

Simplifying chaotic foliage into intentional visual pathways

Finding balance and harmony in meadows, ridgelines and forest edges

Color & Light in Peak Autumn

Understanding Colorado’s fall palette and how to use it with intention

Working with warm golds, cool shadows and high-elevation atmospheric blues

Using complementary and analogous color schemes found naturally in the landscape

Sculpting depth with tonal contrast in bright forests and reflective leaf litter

Capturing the emotional impact of backlit aspens and glowing leaves

Responding to rapidly shifting mountain light for mood-rich images

Storytelling in Mountain Landscapes

Creating images that feel like moments from an autumn narrative

Photographing intimate scenes that complement grand mountain views

Using color transitions and seasonal textures to build storytelling layers

Identifying “characters” in the landscape: unique trees, bends in the road, lone groves

Capturing the feeling of fall: crisp air, warm tones and quiet movement

🏔️ Fieldcraft in High-Elevation Environments

Scouting efficiently in mountain terrain with changing colors

Understanding elevation changes and how they affect fall timing

Finding compositions along forest roads, valleys, lakes and passes

Working safely and effectively in unpredictable mountain weather

Managing gear and light in tight forests and wide-open alpine spaces

Reading the land to find unique groves, carpets of fallen leaves and reflective ponds

Editing Workflow for Fall Imagery

Enhancing warm tones without oversaturating autumn color

Maintaining natural contrast and detail in bright aspen trunks

Balancing color harmony across golds, greens and high-elevation blues

Using selective tonal control to shape depth and atmosphere

Creating cohesive series that tell a story through color and season

Bringing out texture in bark, leaves and forest floors while keeping a soft, painterly feel
This workshop includes:

Airbnb Accommodation based on single occupancy rooms.

Photography Instruction, Post-Processing Instruction, Image Critiques

Permits, Park Fees and any entry fees

NEW! Post Workshop Zoom Editing Session

This workshop does NOT include:

Ground Transportation or Airfare from your home to Durango, CO and all shooting locations.

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Meals, drinks and snacks
You will need to bring the following with you:

DSLR or Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens

A wide angle fast lens, you will need a minimum of 24mm and f/2.8 lens (although I would recommend a 16mm)

A mid range lens (24-70mm or similar)

A telephoto lens (recommended 200mm at a minimum)

A sturdy tripod, if you'd like a recommendation on tripods, I use a Slik USA Pro CF 734 Legs with 200DQ Ballhead this is a great lightweight and sturdy option, it also gets low enough to the ground to create some great compositions. (Slik is giving 15% discount to anyone wishing to upgrade their gear, use code missjess15)

Laptop for post processing sessions

Memory cards, external hard drive

Extra Batteries and chargers

Rain fly for your camera & bag

Shutter release cable

Headlamp (white light recommended, preferably without a red light)

If you have filters please bring them as we can show you how and when to use them. If you'd like a recommendation on filters, I use the Cokin EVO System with Polarizer (Z Series), Soft Grad 3 Stop, Reverse Grad 3 Stop, ND 6, ND 10, Clear Sky Filter. Cokin is giving a 15% discount to those wishing to add their filter to their gear kit, use code missjess15)
You will need sturdy hiking shoes. Although most locations won't require an extreme amount of hiking you will still need sturdy shoes with good grip.

Lots of layers. Temperatures in the mountains vary widely, a lot of times it can be over 70F during the day and as low as 40F during the night, so layers are a must. Wind might also be a factor in the temperature.

A warm jacket. Again temperatures at night can drop significantly especially when it is windy.
Once a deposit is paid it is not refundable, it may however be transferred to a future workshop when a spot is available, if cancelled 60 days or more prior to workshop start date.

If moving to a different workshop the switch must be secured within a year of cancellation.

If cancelled less than 60 days before workshop start date the deposit is not refundable and cannot be transferred.

$2,999.00

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Colorado Fall Color Photography Art Retreat (2026)

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