Date: Saturday, January 27

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (end time is approximate)

(Includes lunch, presentation, and field trip.) 

Location: Meet at ABF Office: 587 Palm Canyon Dr. #122, Borrego Springs, CA, 92004 (Different from the State Park store, but in the same shopping center. The office is next to Kendall’s Café.)  We’ll convene in the office to have lunch, get a presentation from Paulette, and then carpool and/or caravan to our field site.  

Cost: (includes lunch) Non-member – $85.00, ABF Member – $70.00, Student – $40.00 

Description: Join us for a chance to photograph Anza-Borrego during a beautiful desert sunset. This is the workshop you’ve all been waiting for, a chance to learn from and photograph with award-winning photographer, Paulette Donnellon. We’ll meet in the late afternoon at the Anza-Borrego Foundation Administrative Office for a catered lunch, and to hear a presentation from Paulette who will share pro-tips for capturing on camera the personalities of animals, the intricate details of plants, and the stunning landscapes of the desert. She’ll also walk us through how to process your photographs using Lightroom. We’ll have plenty of time for questions. Then we’ll hop in our vehicles and carpool and/or caravan to our field site at Mine Wash Ancient Kumeyaay Village, with ample time to catch the sunset.  

This is your opportunity to look at the desert like Paulette, who knows where and when to spot the perfect shot. She’ll discuss the timing of certain events, including the Golden Hour and the Blue Hour, and you’ll practice creating the perfect composition and cropping of photos. Paulette will also talk about safety when venturing out in the desert and how to respect all its creatures.  

Please bring plenty of water and your camera of choice, which does not need to be fancy (you could even do this workshop with a cell phone camera). There will be a small amount of hiking involved – please wear sturdy shoes and ensure you can hike at least 1 mile at a time. A high clearance vehicle is recommended but not required.  

Sold Out!

Please reach out to Samantha@theabf.org to be added to the waitlist.   

About the Workshop Leader: Paulette Donnellon is an award-winning photographer that enjoys taking pictures of nature and wildlife as a hobby.  Her image of an Eastern Collared Lizard is on the 2024 America the Beautiful National Park Pass.  When she isn’t taking pictures, she is employed by LEGO® Education and in her spare time serves as a trustee for the San Diego County Board of Education. Paulette is also on the Executive Board of Anza-Borrego Foundation and incredibly knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, and landscape features of Anza-Borrego.  Paulette also served nine years in the U.S. Army and was deployed during Desert Storm.  

Cancellation Policy: Notification must be received at least 7 days before the first day of the event if you need to cancel and wish to receive a refund. A $10 cancellation fee will be retained for each registration. For cancellations made after the 7-day deadline, we cannot issue refunds for any reason. We understand that unforeseen or emergency circumstances may arise, but our nonprofit organization operates on a limited budget and, while inconvenient, this policy enables us to sustain our programs even with last-minute cancellations. If ABF cancels a program, we will issue a full refund or credit.