Three-Day Nature Photography Retreat with Paulette Donnellon

Master the Art of Nature Photography in Southern California’s Most Stunning Desert Landscapes 

Description: 

Join award-winning photographer Paulette Donnellon for an immersive weekend of breathtaking landscapes, golden hour photographs, and hands-on instruction in southern California’s most scenic desert places. 

 

 

Date: December 19-21, 2025 

Time: 3:00 p.m. Friday- 12:00 p.m. Sunday 

Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge  

 

Cost: 

ABF Member: $765 (Join for simply $35 and get the Member price! You’ll save $100!) 

Non-Member: $900 

 

What to Expect: 

• Sunset pictures session in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Friday night)

• Sunrise shoot in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Saturday morning)

• Saturday and Sunday morning picture workshop at Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge

• Expert steering on digicam settings, composition, and modifying

 

Who Should Attend: 

• Photographers of all ranges—newbie to superior

• Nature and wildlife lovers trying to sharpen their pictures expertise

• Anyone trying to be taught from an award-winning nature photographer

 

What Previous Attendees Are Saying about Paulette’s Workshops: 

• “…loved the location, the instructor, so knowledgeable and so talented! So passionate about the area and her photography! Paulette is a treasure!”

• “I was able to see the beauty of the desert in a new way. Plus, with Paulette’s help, I was able to capture the magic in photographs.”

• “Paulette was very generous about sharing her expertise. Her suggestions for compositions in the field and her immediate feedback onsite were terrific. I appreciated her sharing post processing techniques as well. It was stunning to see the amazing range of color and beauty in the desert. I look forward to attending more workshops in the future. Thank you for an amazing day.”

 

What to Bring: 

• Your most well-liked digicam and gear (may even be a cellphone digicam)

• Sturdy closed-toe footwear

 

What’s Included: 

• Happy hour drinks and charcuterie at Friday night time’s sundown pictures session

• Light breakfast Saturday and Sunday

 

What’s Not Included: 

• Lodging (we advocate staying in Borrego Springs Friday night and in Brawley Saturday night for shut proximity to discipline places)

 

Cancellation Policy: Please see our FAQs web page to learn our cancellation coverage.   

 

About the Instructor: Paulette Donnellon is an award-winning nature and wildlife photographer whose picture of an Eastern Collared Lizard is featured on the 2024 America the Beautiful National Park Pass.  When she isn’t out in nature taking images, she is employed by LEGO® Education and has served as a trustee for eight years for the San Diego County Board of Education and as an Executive Board member of Anza-Borrego Foundation. Paulette served 9 years within the U.S. Army and was deployed throughout Desert Storm. She is extremely educated in regards to the flora, fauna and panorama options of Anza-Borrego. You can try her images on Instagram at @photogpaulette.