Enlighten Photography Excursions
Enlighten Photography Excursions
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About
Local professional landscape photographers Seth Hamel, Kate Hope and Christian Loya guide daily photography excursions for photographers of all levels. Far beyond your standard "photo tour", they will lead you to the best shooting locations based on current, past and future weather conditions. These areas offer opportunities to work with foreground, textures, colors and dramatic scenes. For those interested in learning or improving their photography skills, instruction will be a heavy emphasis during these trips.
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Enlighten Photography Excursions
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
266 reviews
Excellent
264
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Amy Allen J
4 contributions
Mar 2022
Great outing for a group of clients, even with basic to intermediate photography skills! Seth was an impressive leader and was able to guide our group of 10 through both a night photography session at Bryce Canyon and a Sunrise tour. He quickly assessed our individual interest and skill level, proposed and adjusted options to meet a variety of needs and we all ended the trips with more knowledge than we started and some awesome pictures. He was prepared and professional, fun and engaging and had a great knowledge of photography and the area. We got a great dinner tip and all felt empowered to take pictures. Would love to head on any travel expeditions he heads up, as you can guarantee you'll learn something and have fun! Thanks, Seth!
Written March 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review! You were such an awesome crew, and really enjoyed hanging out with you guys below the rim of the canyon enjoying that dark night sky. I hope you are all doing amazing out there, and it was great meeting you all!
Written January 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David P
Cheshire, CT2 contributions
Sep 2021
My day with Seth in Zion and the slot canyons was outstanding, I could not have asked for anything better. Seth's teaching skills are great, he is very patient and very willing to impart his knowledge of photography to his client. The day flew by, we spent the morning in Zion and the surrounding area, afternoon in a slot canyon and then back into the park later in the day and sunset. I would highly recommend Seth to everyone who would like to learn more about photography and would like to explore the beauty of Utah. I am hoping that he coming to New England next year in October for a workshop, I will be the first to register.
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul R
3 contributions
Oct 2020
First let me say that Seth is a great instructor and is very knowledgeable in the art of photography and the Zion area.
I started to look for a photography excursion about a month before my planned trip to Zion (3rd week of Oct 2020). I really wanted to do a nighttime photo excursion in Zion, but I didn't plan far enough in advance and it turned out the moon was a factor for the experience. So, I spoke with Seth and he suggested a sunrise tour (over a sunrise tour), which is what I booked. The booking process was easy and Seth and I conversed back and forth via e-mail before my trip and he was very attentive to my needs. I ended up booking a private tour for the wife and me.
The day of the tour, we arrived at the pre-set location as requested. Seth was on time and he asked me several questions to gauge my experience with the camera I was using (Canon 70D with a wide angle lens and tripod). I have used a Canon for quite some time but have always left the camera on auto mode and never really used the camera to its potential. He suggested we travel to a couple of different locations so he could get me comfortable using the manual setting on my camera.
Seth took us outside of Zion, to the south, to get a great overlook of Zion. He then taught me a lot about aperture, ISO and shutter speed. We went over basic concepts and by the time the tour was over, I had a great understanding of what the manual settings entailed.
He then drove us into Zion and we spent the next hour prepping the camera for the money shots of the Zion mountains under the glory of the sunset, which was absolutely amazing. We picked a spot down by the Virgin River and he taught me how to use a polarizer and filters for my lens to get different effects with the sky and water we were shooting near. The results were stunning and I felt like I had learned a great deal in a short amount of time.
Overall, we had a great experience! We really enjoyed Seth's company and his ability to explain the camera in the simplest of terms that I could understand and use immediately. I will be returning to Zion soon and will be doing my nighttime excursion with Seth. Thank you Seth for a wonderful experience, which was the highlight of our trip!
I started to look for a photography excursion about a month before my planned trip to Zion (3rd week of Oct 2020). I really wanted to do a nighttime photo excursion in Zion, but I didn't plan far enough in advance and it turned out the moon was a factor for the experience. So, I spoke with Seth and he suggested a sunrise tour (over a sunrise tour), which is what I booked. The booking process was easy and Seth and I conversed back and forth via e-mail before my trip and he was very attentive to my needs. I ended up booking a private tour for the wife and me.
The day of the tour, we arrived at the pre-set location as requested. Seth was on time and he asked me several questions to gauge my experience with the camera I was using (Canon 70D with a wide angle lens and tripod). I have used a Canon for quite some time but have always left the camera on auto mode and never really used the camera to its potential. He suggested we travel to a couple of different locations so he could get me comfortable using the manual setting on my camera.
Seth took us outside of Zion, to the south, to get a great overlook of Zion. He then taught me a lot about aperture, ISO and shutter speed. We went over basic concepts and by the time the tour was over, I had a great understanding of what the manual settings entailed.
He then drove us into Zion and we spent the next hour prepping the camera for the money shots of the Zion mountains under the glory of the sunset, which was absolutely amazing. We picked a spot down by the Virgin River and he taught me how to use a polarizer and filters for my lens to get different effects with the sky and water we were shooting near. The results were stunning and I felt like I had learned a great deal in a short amount of time.
Overall, we had a great experience! We really enjoyed Seth's company and his ability to explain the camera in the simplest of terms that I could understand and use immediately. I will be returning to Zion soon and will be doing my nighttime excursion with Seth. Thank you Seth for a wonderful experience, which was the highlight of our trip!
Written October 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Troy C
8 contributions
Jun 2021
Seth was great. He provided a wonderful experience from start to finish. He was professional and well-prepared. I never felt like we were wasting time or not getting the instruction necessary to be successful. Our group had different equipment and different skill levels and he was able to service all of us. I highly recommend doing a workshop with Seth. It was well worth the time and money.
Written June 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oscar
4 contributions
Jul 2022
It was a great pleasure working with Seth! His help started even before the workshop when he answered all my questions about the workshop, trip logistics, and camera equipment. When I arrived at the workshop, Seth patiently provided guidance from the very basics of tripod setup to camera settings, landscape composition, lighting, time lapse video, post-processing, and other aspects of photography. I'm a total beginner to photography, so he would also provide me with challenges that I worked on to test my understanding while he checked in with the more experienced photographers.
For the nights that were cloudy, Seth added other events to provide more opportunities to capture stunning images of Southwest Utah. After the workshop ended, Seth put together very detailed information that helped me go out on my own to capture more incredible night images while I was still in the area.
Overall, Seth was very diligent in providing the best experience before, during, and after the workshop, which is why I highly recommend Seth and look forward to participating in another photography workshop/tour with him in the future!
For the nights that were cloudy, Seth added other events to provide more opportunities to capture stunning images of Southwest Utah. After the workshop ended, Seth put together very detailed information that helped me go out on my own to capture more incredible night images while I was still in the area.
Overall, Seth was very diligent in providing the best experience before, during, and after the workshop, which is why I highly recommend Seth and look forward to participating in another photography workshop/tour with him in the future!
Written August 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Oscar for this awesome review!! It was really great having you out there, and super cool to have a fellow climber on the workshop. That pretty much never happens. I loved your enthusiasm for the craft, and how quickly you picked up on things, and how well you executed those climbing shots and time-lapse after the workshop. Great work. I hope you're doing great back home, and hope we get to meet up at some point. I'm soon going to be releasing a new adventure-based photography workshop here in the near future, and you've been in my thoughts because of your adventurous spirit. I'll be in touch with you about it!
Written January 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gary C
Elkhart Lake, WI3 contributions
Dec 2021
Steaming lava fields, waterfalls, glaciers, icebergs, and ice diamonds, an ice cave, ocean surf on black sand beaches, mountains and snowy landscapes, Icelandic horses and roadside reindeer, golden hour, blue hour, and night photography (3 nights of northern lights!!!), countless photo ops, laughter and road trip camaraderie - the Enlighten Photography (Seth Hamel) Iceland 2021 workshop was PHENOMENAL! It was 7 nights and 8 days of great photography and just plain fun. It was exceptionally well planned, organized, and executed by Seth. I particularly liked the comfortable guest house lodgings, which were strategically selected by Seth to keep us close to photo destinations along Iceland's southern coast. The relaxed pace of the workshop was perfect - we were busy each day, but never felt rushed. Seth provided exceptional photo instruction and was a great host. He quickly established and maintained a culture of kindness and respect within the group of men and women. Seth was attentive to each person's individual needs regardless of their photography skills. This was my third experience with Seth, which have included a night tour and two multi-day workshops. Looking forward to future workshops with Seth.
Written January 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Holy cow Gary!!! What an awesome review. Thanks a bunch my friend. That was a rock-star crew that we had on the workshop. Everyone so full of kindness and consideration, and loads of laughs and smiles. What else can you ask for right? Oh... I guess multiple nights of aurora.. ya, that was pretty dang good too. It was a great pleasure as always having you out. Can't wait for our grand adventure next year! More to come. Got some awesome stuff in the works. Have an awesome 2022, and I'm excited to get out with you again.
Written March 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mclbteitelbaum
West Hartford, CT190 contributions
Mar 2022
My wife and I were so impressed with Seth and Enlightened Photography. I've very glad we were referred by a friend. Seth was engaging and was there to coach you with photographic help to whatever extent you asked for by way of help. As a photographer I appreciated his coaching and his direction as to what to "Pass up" knowing what was coming up during our hike. My wife, as a non-photographer really enjoyed his engagement and his ability to explain what we were experiencing and viewing.
We will definitely travel and work with Seth again.
We will definitely travel and work with Seth again.
Written March 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Mark for the review! That was great spending the day in the canyon with both of you! That was a perfect day in there.
Written January 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Odyssey239178
2 contributions
Oct 2020
We had a great time with Seth from Enlighten Photography! We were in Bryce Canyon photographing the Milky Way with 4 other people in the group. Seth was very thorough in explaining how to set up for the shots we were taking, right down to the camera settings. He let us pick out our own compositions. I didn't feel rushed to "get the pic and move on". He allowed us to take as long as we needed to get the shots we wanted. We went to several different locations as well so we all were able to get varied compositions. In addition, Seth provided lighting to illuminate foreground objects to make the shots more interesting. He was very attentive to each of us as individuals in making suggestions and seeking feedback on his lighting and timing. He made very effective use of time, as there was only about a 2 hour window that nature allowed us for photographing the Milky Way. This was my 2nd trip out with Seth and Enlighten Photography (1st was 5 years ago in Zion NP). My experience with Seth in Zion is why I sought him and Enlighten Photography for my trip to Bryce Canyon. You can be sure I will return and go out with Seth again!
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow... what a kind and thoughtful review. Thank you. It was great being out with the two of you again. Your enthusiasm, passion and thoughtfulness towards photography is wonderful to be around. I'll see you two next time you're out!
Thanks,
Seth
Written October 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cheryl J
1 contribution
Feb 2021
I contacted Seth to arrange a surprise birthday present for my husband. My husband had enjoyed casual photography when he was young but never took any formal training (uses a Nikon d750). Seth took our family of 5 into a hidden slot canyon that was simply breathtaking. My husband resonated with the photo experience so much that he now calls photography a re-hobby. Seth taught (see the other reviews for technical stuff) the photo basics so that they became integral to the experience of the majesty of the subject matter. There is no doubt that nature sells itself out here; but there is equally no doubt that there is no one better to teach and "enlighten" you how to capture, compose, and dig into that wonder than Seth. Amazing knowledge and skill; Seth can handle every proficiency level (or not) and every camera. We never came close to scratching the surface of Seth’s ability in shooting and post production, but he humbly gave us all we could handle with patience and deference. All of us were constantly learning from him, whether we had a DSLR or a simple phone camera. In a spirit of high praise, I would consider Seth a chilled OCD – highly flexible, accommodating, and open; at the same time he is very passionate, precise, and well versed/researched in his trade. He represents the best of both perspectives operating in an 8th wonder of the world and will gladly showcase it to you. I highly recommend to book Seth for as long as you can.
Written February 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lyzokha
San Francisco, CA14 contributions
Mar 2021
Took this workshop with Seth and it was a fantastic experience. I had booked a night photography workshop. I have tried night photography several times, but never quite got the quality I have seen from other photographers. This turned out to be exactly the workshop I needed. Seth understood what I was missing in technique and focussed on those aspects. He helped me in not just understanding the new techniques and practicing them, but also gave a lot of useful information on tools designed specifically for post processing night photos.
I had a special request which was not originally a part of the workshop - star trails. I asked him if he can accommodate this; he did not hesitate in the slightest and took the time and effort to take us to a previously unplanned (slightly remote) spot to take the photos.
Overall, a great workshop and would highly recommend. My next time in Zion I would definitely book one of the other day-workshops with Seth.
I had a special request which was not originally a part of the workshop - star trails. I asked him if he can accommodate this; he did not hesitate in the slightest and took the time and effort to take us to a previously unplanned (slightly remote) spot to take the photos.
Overall, a great workshop and would highly recommend. My next time in Zion I would definitely book one of the other day-workshops with Seth.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you offer tours for semi-professional landscape photographers that aren’t familiar with the area? Thanks
Written December 12, 2022
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.