THE AMERICAN WILD WEST

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER RONALD C. MODRA

THE AMERICAN WILD WEST

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER RONALD C. MODRA

PHOTO TYPE: Culture & landscape  TRIP LENGHT: 8 days  DATES: February 2020  GROUP SIZE: 8-12 guests   PRICE:  4 500 USD


Take the chance to re-live your childhood western movie dreams as you explore the American wild west – from the cowboy town in Old Tucson, Arizona to the adventure capital of the west, Moab in Utah.

Enjoy the heart of the American west on this photo adventure lead by legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Ronald Modra. America is home to many sights with fascinating history at every turn, and this western U.S. tour takes you to some of the best spots around. During the tour you will experience and photograph an action packed pro rodeo in Tucson as well as the grand rodeo parade. Marvel at the giant saguaro cactuses as the first rays of the morning sun turns their spines into gold and immerse yourself into the cowboy lifestyle of the surrounding area. You will photograph the iconic red desert landscape of Sedona and be guided by local Navajo tribal members to the best photo locations in Monument Valley while working on your camera skills together with Ron. Last but not least enjoy an unforgettable sunset at the awe inspiring Arches National Park as the landscape turns into a burning red paradise for photos while the sun hits the horizon. This tour, with its fun mix of western culture and incredible nature, will leave you refreshed and wanting to come back for more adventure.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Capture the life of cowboys in the wild west.
  • Photograph the grand Tucson parade with typical floats.
  • Experience one of the most famous pro rodeos in the west.
  • Re-live your favorite western movie in Old Tucson Film Studio.
  • Enjoy a sunrise jeep tour through the amazing landscape of Sedona.
  • Photograph portraits of Navajo tribal members in Monument Valley.
  • Visit some of America’s most incredible national parks.
  • Participation and personal tutoring by Ronald Modra.
    Book Now

    PHOTO TYPE: Culture & landscape

    TRIP LENGHT: 8 days

    DATES: February, 2020

    GROUP SIZE: 8-12 guests

    PRICE: 4 500 USD

    Take the chance to re-live your childhood western movie dreams as you explore the American wild west – from the cowboy town in Old Tucson, Arizona to the adventure capital of the west, Moab in Utah.

    Enjoy the heart of the American west on this photo adventure lead by legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Ronald Modra. America is home to many sights with fascinating history at every turn, and this western U.S. tour takes you to some of the best spots around. During the tour you will experience and photograph an action packed pro rodeo in Tucson as well as the grand rodeo parade. Marvel at the giant saguaro cactuses as the first rays of the morning sun turns their spines into gold and immerse yourself into the cowboy lifestyle of the surrounding area. You will photograph the iconic red desert landscape of Sedona and be guided by local Navajo tribal members to the best photo locations in Monument Valley while working on your camera skills together with Ron. Last but not least enjoy an unforgettable sunset at the awe inspiring Arches National Park as the landscape turns into a burning red paradise for photos while the sun hits the horizon. This tour, with its fun mix of western culture and incredible nature, will leave you refreshed and wanting to come back for more adventure.

    TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

    • Capture the life of cowboys in the wild west.
    • Photograph the grand Tucson parade with typical floats.
    • Experience one of the most famous pro rodeos in the west.
    • Re-live your favorite western movie in Old Tucson Film Studio.
    • Enjoy a sunrise jeep tour through the amazing landscape of Sedona.
    • Photograph portraits of Navajo tribal members in Monument Valley.
    • Visit some of America’s most incredible national parks.
    • Participation and personal tutoring by Ronald Modra.
      Book Now

      DESTINATION INFO

      DESTINATION INFO

      TUCSON AND SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

      Tucson, Arizona, is home to the nation’s largest cacti – the giant saguaro cactus. This plant is the state symbol of Arizona, appearing on all car license plates, and provides a universally recognized image of the Southwest. Saguaro National Park is the best place to see not only its namesake plant, but also hundreds of other species of cacti, grasses, shrubs, flowers, trees, birds, mammals and reptiles. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset amid a dramatic backdrop of terracotta-tinted mountains and an endless sky.

      SEDONA – RED ROCK STATE PARK

      Home of the some of the most photographed natural formations, like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, and featured in numerous movies, Red Rock Country is bound to leave you amazed and in awe. Red Rock Country is one of the most popular tourists’ sites in the United States and lies spread around Oak Creek and its magnificent canyon. Part of the Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Country offers incredibly divers scenery, ranging from ponderosa pine forests to red desert rock formation that gave it its name.

      MONUMENT VALLEY

      Monument Valley, Utah, an iconic symbol of the American West, is the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation and the ideal setting for photography. In some ways, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the definitive West. Ancestral spirits infuse the rugged, disruptive landscapes that have been filmed and photographed countless times over the years for movies, adverts and holiday brochures. Because of this, the area may seem quite familiar, even on a first visit, but it is soon evident that the natural colors really are as bright and deep as those in all the pictures.

      ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

      Giant sweeping arcs of sandstone frame snowy peaks and desert landscapes at Arches National Park, 5 miles north of Moab. The park has the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches, over 2,000 of them, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets. Administered by the National Park Service, the area was originally named a National Monument in 1929 but It was later redesignated as a National Park in 1971.

      CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

      Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah, and its diversity staggers the imagination. Known for its vast and unusual territory, Canyonlands National Park often remains unexplored due to the nearby and more accessible Arches National Park.  One of the most visited features in the park is Mesa Arch, known for sunrise views that can be recognized in many major photo galleries around the world.

      TOUR ITINERARY

      TOUR ITINERARY

      TOUR ITINERARY • FEBRUARY, 2020

      DAY 1 – ARRIVAL TO TUCSON
      Transfer to our hotel were you check in and get some to to relax before you meet the photographer, Ron Modra and tour leader from Zoom who will provide some information on the upcoming tour. In the evening we will get to know each other over a welcome dinner at a wild west restaurant, an original Cowboy Steakhouse. (D)

      DAY 2 – TUCSON AND SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
      We start off the day with a good breakfast before we head out to explore the fantastic Sonoran Desert in Tucson Mountain Park with breath taking views and a large number of amazing Saguaro Cactus, the largest of its species in the world. Here’s a good chance to warm up our cameras and get some great landscape photos and photography introduction by Ron. We then enter a playground for Western movie fans at Old Tucson film studios, the “Hollywood in the Desert”, a replica of Tucson in 1860 built in 1939 and thereafter. This is the perfect place to capture the old western cowboy lifestyle and you will be presented with a couple of photographic challenges as we walk around the area. Later on we drive to Saguaro National Park to capture the giant saguaro cactus silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset amid a dramatic backdrop of mountains. We end the day with a great dinner together. (B, L, D)

      DAY 3 – TUCSON – PARADE AND PRO RODEO
      Today is the big day of the Tucson rodeo parade and we will photographing this colorful event that keeps the spirit of the first parade back in 1925 and is now known to be the largest non-motorized parades in the U.S. Along the parade street you will have a great chance of capturing everything from classic western stage-coaches to traditional floats and cowboys. Lunch will be on your own today as you explore more of the activities surrounding the parade. In the afternoon we meet up by the Tucson rodeo grounds to attend one of the most famous Pro Rodeo in the West. This will be an action packed experience with bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping and much more. Before the rodeo Ron will give some expert advice on how to freeze the action and take the perfect rodeo shot. Dinner in the evening is on your own and we will later meet up for a post processing session of your photos together with Ron. (B)

       DAY 4 – TUCSON TO SEDONA
      We set out in the early morning for a sunrise photo shoot in Saguaro National Park. We then continue driving through the beautiful desert landscape towards Phoenix and stop for a lunch picnic at Papago Park. Here we can also walk up to the hole-in-the-rock which is the most prominent icon in Papago Park and carries evidence that the prehistoric Hohokam Indians settled this area thousands of years ago. Then we drive on to Jerome (2 hrs) and explore this historic gold mining camp high up on a mountain side and later on to Sedona were we check in at our hotel before we drive to a couple of Red Rock State park view points for some magic sunset photos. In the evening we will enjoy a nice burger and beers dinner in a nearby bar. (B, L, D)

      DAY 5 – SEDONA TO MONUMENT VALLEY
      In the morning we will enjoy a jeep tour that will take us off road and deeper into the park to some great sunrise locations were will will have a picnic breakfast. We leave Sedona after tour and explore Sunset Crater National Monument. Drive through fascinating landscape with stop at Wupatki ruins and lunch at Cameron Trading Post restaurant run by Navajo natives. This is the largest Trading Post of the West with great art but also kitsch and fun souvenirs. We then head on to Monument Valley were we will explore Golding’s Trading Post and the John Wayne Museum and take some photos of the surrounding area. During sunset we will have a wonderful dinner with a spectacular view over the valley where we can take amazing photos straight from the restaurant’s view point terrace. (B, L, D)

      DAY 6 – MONUMENT VALLEY
      Today will be a full day exploring the best photo locations in Monument Valley and you will be guided by your local Navajo tribal member through the area. During the day we will have different workshops in landscape photography as well as portraits as we get the chance to photograph a couple of Navajo people and take the classic shot of the cowboy on his horse at John Ford Point in front of the valley’s most classic rock features.  During the day you will also have the opportunity to go on an optional horseback ride through the valley. In the evening we will capture some amazing sunset photos as well as enjoying a Navajo style BBQ outside cooked by the locals. We will later have an optional post processing session of your photos together with Ron at the hotel. (B, L, D)

      DAY 7 – MONUMENT VALLEY TO MOAB
      We head out for a sunrise photo shoot in Monument Valley before we drive north towards Moab. On the way we will stop at the classic Forest Gump Point that’s on the road approaching the Arizona/Utah border from the north. This gives the most famous image of the valley, and possibly of the whole Southwest – a long straight empty road leads across flat desert towards the 1,000-foot-high stark red cliffs on the horizon. We will also take a photo stop at Goose Neck State Park for some epic vistas over the San Juan River. We get to Moab by late lunch time – lunch on your own at some restaurant downtown. In the afternoon we head out to Arches National Park to capture some of the 2,000 natural sandstone arches that are scattered over the park. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations as we trek out to the the most famous arch called Delicate Arch. Here we will enjoy our last evening shoot as the sun turns the landscape into a burning red paradise for photos. In the evening we will enjoy a nice good-bye dinner in a local steak house and Ron will award the best photo of the tour.  (B, L, D)

      DAY 8 – CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK – HOME
      We leave in early morning to drive to Canyonlands National Park, about one hour away. Here we will do a short trek up to the picture perfect Mesa Arch for the sunrise. Capturing this amazing rock formation in golden morning sunlight will be our last photo session on this trip. We later drive to the airport in Moab for our flights back home. (B)

      TOUR ITINERARY • FEBRUARY, 2020

      DAY 1 – ARRIVAL TO TUCSON
      Transfer to our hotel were you check in and get some to to relax before you meet the photographer, Ron Modra and tour leader from Zoom who will provide some information on the upcoming tour. In the evening we will get to know each other over a welcome dinner at a wild west restaurant, an original Cowboy Steakhouse. (D)

      DAY 2 – TUCSON AND SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
      We start off the day with a good breakfast before we head out to explore the fantastic Sonoran Desert in Tucson Mountain Park with breath taking views and a large number of amazing Saguaro Cactus, the largest of its species in the world. Here’s a good chance to warm up our cameras and get some great landscape photos and photography introduction by Ron. We then enter a playground for Western movie fans at Old Tucson film studios, the “Hollywood in the Desert”, a replica of Tucson in 1860 built in 1939 and thereafter. This is the perfect place to capture the old western cowboy lifestyle and you will be presented with a couple of photographic challenges as we walk around the area. Later on we drive to Saguaro National Park to capture the giant saguaro cactus silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset amid a dramatic backdrop of mountains. We end the day with a great dinner together. (B, L, D)

      DAY 3 – TUCSON – PARADE AND PRO RODEO
      Today is the big day of the Tucson rodeo parade and we will photographing this colorful event that keeps the spirit of the first parade back in 1925 and is now known to be the largest non-motorized parades in the U.S. Along the parade street you will have a great chance of capturing everything from classic western stage-coaches to traditional floats and cowboys. Lunch will be on your own today as you explore more of the activities surrounding the parade. In the afternoon we meet up by the Tucson rodeo grounds to attend one of the most famous Pro Rodeo in the West. This will be an action packed experience with bull riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping and much more. Before the rodeo Ron will give some expert advice on how to freeze the action and take the perfect rodeo shot. Dinner in the evening is on your own and we will later meet up for a post processing session of your photos together with Ron. (B)

       DAY 4 – TUCSON TO SEDONA
      We set out in the early morning for a sunrise photo shoot in Saguaro National Park. We then continue driving through the beautiful desert landscape towards Phoenix and stop for a lunch picnic at Papago Park. Here we can also walk up to the hole-in-the-rock which is the most prominent icon in Papago Park and carries evidence that the prehistoric Hohokam Indians settled this area thousands of years ago. Then we drive on to Jerome (2 hrs) and explore this historic gold mining camp high up on a mountain side and later on to Sedona were we check in at our hotel before we drive to a couple of Red Rock State park view points for some magic sunset photos. In the evening we will enjoy a nice burger and beers dinner in a nearby bar. (B, L, D)

      DAY 5 – SEDONA TO MONUMENT VALLEY
      In the morning we will enjoy a jeep tour that will take us off road and deeper into the park to some great sunrise locations were will will have a picnic breakfast. We leave Sedona after tour and explore Sunset Crater National Monument. Drive through fascinating landscape with stop at Wupatki ruins and lunch at Cameron Trading Post restaurant run by Navajo natives. This is the largest Trading Post of the West with great art but also kitsch and fun souvenirs. We then head on to Monument Valley were we will explore Golding’s Trading Post and the John Wayne Museum and take some photos of the surrounding area. During sunset we will have a wonderful dinner with a spectacular view over the valley where we can take amazing photos straight from the restaurant’s view point terrace. (B, L, D)

       


      DAY 6 –       MONUMENT VALLEY
      Today will be a full day exploring the best photo locations in Monument Valley and you will be guided by your local Navajo tribal member through the area. During the day we will have different workshops in landscape photography as well as portraits as we get the chance to photograph a couple of Navajo people and take the classic shot of the cowboy on his horse at John Ford Point in front of the valley’s most classic rock features.  During the day you will also have the opportunity to go on an optional horseback ride through the valley. In the evening we will capture some amazing sunset photos as well as enjoying a Navajo style BBQ outside cooked by the locals. We will later have an optional post processing session of your photos together with Ron at the hotel. (B, L, D)

      DAY 7 – MONUMENT VALLEY TO MOAB
      We head out for a sunrise photo shoot in Monument Valley before we drive north towards Moab. On the way we will stop at the classic Forest Gump Point that’s on the road approaching the Arizona/Utah border from the north. This gives the most famous image of the valley, and possibly of the whole Southwest – a long straight empty road leads across flat desert towards the 1,000-foot-high stark red cliffs on the horizon. We will also take a photo stop at Goose Neck State Park for some epic vistas over the San Juan River. We get to Moab by late lunch time – lunch on your own at some restaurant downtown. In the afternoon we head out to Arches National Park to capture some of the 2,000 natural sandstone arches that are scattered over the park. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations as we trek out to the the most famous arch called Delicate Arch. Here we will enjoy our last evening shoot as the sun turns the landscape into a burning red paradise for photos. In the evening we will enjoy a nice good-bye dinner in a local steak house and Ron will award the best photo of the tour.  (B, L, D)

      DAY 8 – CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK – HOME
      We leave in early morning to drive to Canyonlands National Park, about one hour away. Here we will do a short trek up to the picture perfect Mesa Arch for the sunrise. Capturing this amazing rock formation in golden morning sunlight will be our last photo session on this trip. We later drive to the airport in Moab for our flights back home. (B)

      PHOTOGRAPHER

      PHOTOGRAPHER

      RONALD C. MODRA • Sports and outdoors photographer

      Ronald C. Modra was a Sports Illustrated photographer for 25 years and has photographed for several of the most prominent magazines in the U.S. like National Geographic, Time and Playboy. He has seventy Sports Illustrated covers to his credit and several of his photographs were selected for Sports Illustrated’s 40 Best of All Time and The Century’s Best Sports Photos. Modra has also done commercial work for Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Reebok, Easton, Columbia Sportswear and Nascar Images among others. Ron has shot covers for some 200 publications worldwide and contributed to dozens of publications including Time, Newsweek, People, National Geographic, Playboy, New York Magazine, TV Guide, Philadelphia and Parade to name a few.

      PORTFOLIO:
      http://www.ronaldcmodra.com

      ACCOMODATION

      ACCOMODATION

      PRICES AND FACTS

      PRICES AND FACTS

      PRICE

      Price per person: USD 4500

      Included:

      • All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
      • Accommodation in shared double room.
      • Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
      • Water bottles and refills during the tour.
      • Tucson rodeo tickets for seats.
      • Tucson parade tickets.
      • All national park entrance fees.
      • Participation by Ron Modra during the entire trip.
      • Workshops by Ron Modra during the trip.
      • A tour leader from Zoom Photo Tours.
      • Hotel taxes and other local fees.
      • Travel documents and other travel information.

      Excluded:

      • Single room supplement. USD 610
      • Flights to Tucson and from Moab.
      • All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
      • Cancellation & travel insurance. For more details, click here.
      • Any other item not mentioned as included.

      FLIGHTS

      The airfare to USA and Tucson/Moab is not included in the price. But if you wish, we are more than happy to help you arrange all your flights. Just send an email to info@zoomphototours.com and we will respond with flight suggestions and prices.

      GROUP SIZE

      In order to for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer our groups are always small. On this tour the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8 / 12.

      PHOTO GEAR

      • A DSLR Camera
      • Wide-angle lenses, like a 24-70mm
      • Telephoto lenses, up to 300mm
      • A sturdy tripod
      • A Laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.
      • Extra batteries, chargers etc.

        TOUR LEADER

        Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure your having the best possible experience during your trip.

        TERMS & CONDITIONS

        For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.

        Photo: Ronald C. Modra & Charlie Malmqvist

        PRICE

        Price per person: USD 4500

        Included:

        • All ground transfers according to the itinerary.
        • Accommodation in shared double room.
        • Meals according to itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
        • Water bottles and refills during the tour.
        • Tucson rodeo tickets for seats.
        • Tucson parade tickets.
        • All national park entrance fees.
        • Participation by Ron Modra during the entire trip.
        • Workshops by Ron Modra during the trip.
        • A tour leader from Zoom Photo Tours.
        • Hotel taxes and other local fees.
        • Travel documents and other travel information.

        Excluded:

        • Single room supplement. USD 610
        • Flights to Tucson and from Moab.
        • All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
        • Cancellation & travel insurance. For more details, click here.
        • Any other item not mentioned as included.

        FLIGHTS

        The airfare to USA and Tucson/Moab is not included in the price. But if you wish, we are more than happy to help you arrange all your flights. Just send an email to info@zoomphototours.com and we will respond with flight suggestions and prices.

        GROUP SIZE

        In order to for you to get personal photo guidance and the best experience with our photographer our groups are always small. On this tour the minimum and maximum number of guests are 8 / 12.

        PHOTO GEAR

        • A DSLR Camera
        • Wide-angle lenses, like a 24-70mm
        • Telephoto lenses, up to 300mm
        • A sturdy tripod
        • A Laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.
        • Extra batteries, chargers etc.

          TOUR LEADER

          Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure your having the best possible experience during your trip.

          TERMS & CONDITIONS

          For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.

          BOOKING

          BOOKING

          BOOKING CONTACT

          If you want to book a Zoom Photo Tour you can either give us a call, send an e-mail or use the on-line booking form and you will receive a booking confirmation right away.

          BOOK THE TOUR BY PHONE: EUROPE +46 470-466 49  // USA +1(212) 203-0375

          BOOK THE TOUR BY E-MAIL:  hans.elmqvist@zoomphototours.com

          BOOK ONLINE