This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Ranchlands is seeking a large-scale ranch. Learn more!

Spring Photography Tour

reserve your spot

Zapata Ranch

March 6 – 11, 2022

Join us for a weeklong tour exploring the landscapes and wildlife of Zapata Ranch. Photograph bison, the migrating Sandhill Cranes, horseback riders at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and more.

The Program

Each day is spent photographing at different locations around the San Luis Valley, including at Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and our favorite locations on the Medano-Zapata. In addition to witnessing the stunning vision of the crane migration, you will also have the opportunity to photograph our resident bison herd, mountain landscapes, the daily morning horse wrangle, and horseback riders at the Dunes. Spend your first evening with staff photographer Madeline Jorden who will kick off the week with a welcome dinner and discussion. The rest of the week will be hosted by photographer Parker Fitzgerald who will be sharing his shooting philosophy as well shooting and editing techniques.

Make a reservation

About The Instructor

Parker Fitzgerald is a photographer and co-founder of Ransom Ltd.—a creative studio based in Portland, OR. Parker has contributed to campaigns and projects for many global brands including Honda, Nikon, Uniqlo, Nike and Shiseido. During his work as a photographer, he has formed relationships with makers and craftspeople all over the world. He is passionate about the preservation of culture, and lives in order to promote beauty in human purpose.

Sandhill Cranes

One of the oldest species of birds still living, the Sandhill Crane undertakes an epic migration every spring and fall between their wintering grounds in Mexico and the American Southwest and breeding grounds throughout the Rocky Mountains, Canada, Alaska, and even across the sea to Siberia. With an unmistakable call that can be heard from miles away, the Rocky Mountain population of these beautiful birds converges every March in Colorado’s San Luis Valley for several weeks. Enormous groups of cranes, numbering in the tens of thousands, create one of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles in North America.

This special week at the Zapata Ranch includes guided tours from Ranchlands staff to the nearby Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge and exclusive access to the Medano side of our ranch, where you might see cranes mingling and grazing amongst our conservation bison herd. The breathtaking sight of these two species together brings to mind a pre-human era when both of these animals would have roamed North America together.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Sunday, March 6

Arrive at the ranch and settle in to your rooms. At dinner, we’ll get to know each other and go over each participant’s goals for the week.

Monday, March

Grab a hot coffee or tea at the Lodge, then depart to the Medano side of the ranch for sunrise photography of the bison and other wildlife. We’ll return to the Lodge for a hot breakfast, then spend the morning and afternoon looking at photos and editing techniques. Later, depart to the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge to see and photograph the flocks of migrating cranes at sunset, then return to the Lodge for dinner.

Tuesday, March

Grab a hot coffee or tea at the Lodge, then depart to photograph the horse wrangle at sunrise. Return to the Lodge for breakfast, before departing on an optional day ride on the Medano side of the ranch, where you’ll see herds of conservation bison, elk, and sandhill cranes. After a lunch in the field, return to the Lodge in the afternoon and relax in your room and on the grounds. At dusk, depart for the horse pasture to photograph horses in the field, then return to the Lodge for dinner.

Wednesday, March

Grab a hot coffee or tea at the Lodge, then depart to photograph the horse wrangle at sunrise. Return to the Lodge for breakfast, before departing to the Medano, Great Sand Dunes National Park, or Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge to photograph. Return to the Lodge to look at photos and editing techniques and eat lunch. In the evening, depart for the Dunes to photograph horseback riders at sunset, then return to the Lodge for dinner.

Thursday, March 1

Grab a hot tea or coffee at the Lodge, then depart for the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge to photograph the sandhill cranes at sunrise. Return to the Lodge to look at photos and editing techniques and eat lunch. Sunset photo session wherever the group would like to return — the Medano, horse pasture, Dunes, or Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge.

Friday, March 1

We’ll spend the morning photographing wherever the group would like, then return to the Lodge for a send-off breakfast.

Rates

$2600 includes all activities, instruction, and meals. Tax and gratuity not included.

Check availability

Zapata Ranch

Set back in a shady cotton woodgrove beneath the majestic 14,000-foot peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains lies the historic Zapata Ranch headquarters and lodge, which was established in the late 1800’s. Elk, mule deer, migratory birds, eagles, and black bear also call this area home. The rooms are beautifully furnished and have an elegant southwestern decor that gives them the feel of home. All rooms have individual tiled bathrooms and views that are private, peaceful, and beautiful in any season.

learn more about Zapata

UPCOMING EVENTS

True West Horsemanship with Ben Longwell

April 21 - 28, 2024
Learn More

Painting Horses with Jill Soukup

May 5 - 10, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Spring Restorative Retreat

May 26 - June 2, 2024
Learn More

Ranch Vacation at Paintrock Canyon Ranch

May 26 - 31, 2024
Learn More

Poetry Retreat with Joy Sullivan

June 2 - 7, 2024
Learn More

Ranch Vacation at Paintrock Canyon Ranch

June 9 - 14, 2024
Learn More

Women, Horses, and the West with Dr. Bonney MacDonald

June 9-16, 2024
Learn More

Exploring Creativity with Mari Andrew

June 16 - 21, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Capturing the Western Landscape with Katie Rodgers

June 23 - 28, 2024
Learn More

The Past, Present, and Future of Ranching with Lesli Allison

June 30 - July 5, 2024
Learn More

Writing Workshop with Pam Houston

July 7 - 14, 2024
Learn More

Pack Trip

July 21 - 28, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Pack Trip

July 31 - August 7, 2024
Learn More

Pack Trip

August 11 - 18, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Foundations of Horsemanship with Cam Schryver

August 11 - 18, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Intermediate Horsemanship with Cam Schryver

August 18 - 25, 2024
Learn More

Pack Trip

August 21 - 28, 2024
Learn More

Food as a Doorway to Memory with Molly Wizenberg

August 25 - 30, 2024
Learn More

Harvest Weekend

August 30 - September 1, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Advanced Painting Horses with Jill Soukup

September 15 - 20, 2024
Learn More

Harvest Weekend

September 20 - 22, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Pack Trip

September 1 - 8, 2024
Learn More
Sold Out

Fall Restorative Retreat

October 2 - 6, 2024
Learn More

Equine Gestalt and Herbal Wisdom with Kelly Dukarski

October 9 - 13, 2024
Learn More

Writing Workshop with Pam Houston

October 13 - 20, 2024
Learn More

Cart

No more products available for purchase

Your cart is currently empty.

Join Ranchlands Collective
Benefits include:
  • Free shipping on today's order and all future orders from the Mercantile.
  • An exclusive monthly newsletter featuring essays, videos, and opportunities to interact with the Ranchlands team.
  • First access to events, workshops, new Ranchlands Mercantile products, and more.
Other