Whitewater Draw Sandhill Crane Photograghy Workshop - 2026
Photographing Sandhill Cranes at peak season is one of the most unique and rewarding wildlife experiences in southern Arizona. From sunrise lift-offs at Whitewater Draw to sunset silhouettes at the Wilcox Playa, each moment offers its own timing, energy, and unforgettable photographic opportunities.
Our Whitewater Draw workshop will teach you how to photograph Sandhill Cranes in both morning and evening light, capturing lift-offs, fly-bys, and dramatic sunset silhouettes in scenic environments that let your compositions tell a powerful wildlife story.
There is nothing quite like the energy that fills Whitewater Draw at sunrise as thousands of Sandhill Cranes lift off at once. During this workshop, you’ll learn how to anticipate their movement, position yourself for the best angles, and capture both the chaos and beauty of these birds in motion.
Across two full days, you’ll photograph sunrise lift-offs, low fly-bys, and dramatic sunset silhouettes at the Wilcox Playa — building a dynamic set of images in shifting light and conditions.
Our programs cover:
Understanding crane behavior and movement so you know where to position yourself before the action happens.
Field strategies for sunrise and sunset shooting, including how to anticipate lift-offs, landings, and flock patterns to create dramatic and unique images.
Location and angle selection to emphasize clean backgrounds, strong light, and compelling environmental composition.
Camera settings for birds-in-flight, ensuring your images are sharp, well-exposed, and consistently timed — even in fast-changing conditions.
Techniques for tracking, timing, and focus acquisition, especially during the chaotic sunrise departures and sunset returns.
Post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop, including culling strategies, refining silhouettes, balancing color, and improving detail while keeping your images natural.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll be working toward photographing sunrise lift-offs at Whitewater Draw, low fly-bys in warming morning light, and dramatic sunset silhouettes at the Wilcox Playa. You’ll also have opportunities to capture Snow Geese, ducks, waders, and raptors such as Falcons, Hawks, and Owls. Every session brings new movement, new opportunities, and images that tell the story of southern Arizona’s winter migration.
We will photograph thousands of Sandhill Cranes as they lift off from the wetlands, glide over open desert grasslands, and return across wide, glowing Arizona skies. Along the way, we’ll capture the surrounding high-desert landscape — shallow wetlands, distant mountain ranges, mesquite stands, and the open playa — all of which create dramatic backdrops for birds-in-flight and environmental wildlife images. These are defining features of southern Arizona’s winter migration season and a beautiful setting to build a diverse wildlife portfolio.
We look forward to having you join us
About our Workshops
Two full days photographing Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, ducks, and wintering raptors in Southern AZ
What's Included
Award-winning, professional photography guides
Morning and afternoon shooting sessions at two prime locations:
• Whitewater Draw at sunrise (front-lit lift-offs)
• Willcox Playa at sunset (crane silhouettes and sky color)
Lessons on bird behavior, flight-pattern timing, and how to anticipate lift-offs and group movements
All Transportation to all locations
After the workshop zoom class, our "How to photograph breathtaking monsoon storms” E-book, Lightroom presets, and Photoshop actions
Snacks and Bottled Water
The experience of a lifetime
What's Not Included
Hotel Accommodations
Camera, Lens, Post Processing Software*
Lunch, Dinner and Alcoholic Beverages
Transportation to and from your location to the workshop
We typically bring spare long-lens support gear, memory cards, and other essentials. If you forget something, there’s a good chance we have you covered.
Recommended Equipment
DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
Long telephoto lens (400–800mm recommended)
Ideal for birds-in-flight and distant groups of cranes.
Extra batteries and memory cards
Cold mornings drain batteries faster than usual.
Sturdy Tripod with Gimbal Head
Second lens (70–200mm or 100–500mm)
Perfect for environmental shots, lift-offs, and flock formations.
Warm clothing layers
Sunrise sessions at Whitewater Draw can start in the 30s before warming quickly.
Lens suggestions below
Recommended Lenses
Second lens (70–200mm or 100–500mm)
Long telephoto lens (400–800mm recommended)
Mid-range zoom lens (24-70mm, full frame)
50mm Prime (Nifty Fifty)
Your Team
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Robert Gallucci
Founder
Robert Gallucci is an internationally recognized, award-winning photographer and writer portraying his life's journey in imagery and word. His work has appeared in major publications, numerous books, and on major television networks. He is currently the city of Wilcox night sky ambassador. He teaches photography and post-processing at Cochise College Center for Lifelong Learning and in private classes and workshops.
His photographic journey of discovering the world's beauty and diversity has brought him to three continents and many cultures. In all that, he has found that the southern Arizona high desert provides the most magnificent and unique visual experience - if a person allows themselves to see it. He is currently working on a book of images and stories highlighting his southern Arizona high desert home's beauty and adventure.
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Jim Hazen
Senior Instructor
Jim’s nickname could be “detail,” for he is a master of details. Whether it is in the planning for complicated shoots such as eclipses or Milky Way shots or shooting with unparalleled expertise, Jim brings the professionalism from a career as an Air Force Officer and the charm of an Iowa country boy to all our workshops.
As a master photographer who shoots a Canon system, he excels at Milky Way and Storm Chasing photography.