October 4-8, 2020 Sunday at noon through Thursday afternoon at 2:00

Standard $TBA | Alumni $TBA | Association $TBA | Early-bird Special @ Association rate but by check (see parameters)

Travel insurance is highly recommended. Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures is a small company that cannot be held liable for those who choose not to buy travel insurance to ensure protections against any unforeseeable events.  Sharon Erickson, our trusty travel agent, can help you with that.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is pretty spectacular. Combine that with Santa Fé and surrounding areas, considered by many to be the oldest cultural centers of the Southwest, perhaps even of the whole United States, and you have the makings of a full and diversified workshop. 

We will spend time in both. 

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Balloon Fiesta, is the largest in the world, with approximately 600 balloons and 1,000 pilots participating, a huge increase from a mere 13 balloons back in 1972 when it all began. We will take in such events as Dawn Patrol, Mass Ascension, and Balloon Glows. Arnie and Margo have gotten to know one of the pilots and have gained access to all sorts of information. That said, we encourage everyone to "adopt" his/her own crew and get to know them.

From taking in the Pilots' Meeting, to watching the crews unload the balloons and stretch them out away from the basket in long lines, to the firing up of the propane tanks and watching the balloons inflate, it is all very impressive and makes for some great photographs. Then, when the balloons lift off, that is the icing on the cake!

Santa Fé Area

Photographers and other artists have created stunning work from this area. Think of the beautiful pottery of the ancient and modern Pueblo Indians, the wonderful abstract paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe, the writings of Willa Cather and D.H. Lawrence.

Don't forget all the photographs made by such masters as Edward Weston, Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, Laura Gilpin, Timothy O'Sullivan, William Henry Jackson, and Edward Curtis, to name just a very few. In fact, it is hard to come to this area, with its plethora of subject matter, and not be artistically inspired.

Join us, as we show you our favorite locations, from the architecture of Santa Fé to classic adobe churches, artsy villages, broad landscapes, and intimate views.

Santa Fé boasts an amazing collection of museums and galleries, including two of the best photo galleries in the country. We will visit at least one of them. Movies have been made in this region, as it is full of historic buildings and some amazing landscapes.

When making your plans, it is critical that you plan on arriving for our first session on Saturday afternoon, as we will be heading out first thing Sunday morning to catch the pre-dawn activities at the Fiesta . Our newcomers should be ready to go at noon, while our seasoned alumni can wait until 12:30.

While we tend to stay over the night that the workshop ends, we have to leave Thursday afternoon to get back for our Key West's Fantasy Fest workshop.

Meanwhile, be sure to carefully read our FAQs, as well as the various links in the box above. They should hopefully answer almost any question you might have.