In Collaboration With
Wilderness Photography Adventure Experience
Santa Monica Mountains
MALIBU | THOUSAND OAKS | OAK PARK | SIMI VALLEY
View Full Itinerary. . .
Get off the beaten path and photograph the wonders of Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve
Experience Overview
The very first thing you notice when your feet leave the pavement in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains is just how remote it all feels. . .
Nestled in the heart of northern Los Angeles County between the world-famous, star-studded beaches of Malibu and the Conejo Valley with its rich history of native Chumash Indian Tribes (and now the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks), this place immediately feels special. Like you just discovered a secret you don’t want to share for fear of spoiling it.
The pastoral landscape will soon fill your imagination with bucolic reveries and the simple delights of a sunset framed by old-growth Live Oaks and brilliant poppy blooms.
Copyright © Google Earth 2019 > CLICK ON MAP TO LINK TO GOOGLE EARTH
A hiking path extends towards the sunset in Thousand Oaks, California
Stay In Style
Need a place to crash before or freshen-up after your adventure? Airbnb® has got you covered…
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Airbnb® Listings - Pacific Palisades | Malibu | Topanga | Hidden Hills | Calabasas | Agoura Hills | Oak Park | Thousand Oaks...
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Focus on Wilderness Photography
A young woman sits beneath a shady tree reveling in the beauty of Malibu Creek State Park
There exists a place so near yet so far that the sprawling city - and even time - forgot. It's a place where the grass is always greener. The valley ever wider. And sunsets just a little bit brighter for just a few moments longer.
It’s a place where you can expect the unexpected - and marvel at what is spontaneously revealed.
They call it the land of a Thousand Oaks. But just a single glance will take your breath away. And leave the kind of impression that simultaneously inspires and amazes.
A beautiful multi-use hiking / biking trail sweeps up a grass-laden hillside in Cheeseboro | Palo Comado Canyon.
It’s a place where snapshots become memories that last a lifetime. And even the locals swing by to say “Hi” in their very own special way.
So slow down. Take a ride or a stroll. Come explore every nook and cranny. Every twist. Every turn. All the bends and every bump.
Because if you stay here long enough, you just might discover an ancient and secret space. Or perhaps, the very best version of yourself.
Skill-Share Modules
Wilderness Photography is mostly about using natural light to punctuate your subjects in an epic space.
The core concept I use for all my photography is what I call “Telling The Whole Story.” It’s all about anticipating or setting up multi-planar action. Foreground, middle and background details that give the full narrative in a single frame.
We’ll focus on the basics to get you started so the next time you frame up a shot, you’ll feel like a well-seasoned pro.
OPTIONS
Mobile Phone vs. DSLR Photography
Harnessing / Shaping Natural Light
Framing The Big Background
Telling The Whole Story
Snapping Perfect Pano’s (Panoramics)
No shortage of exciting subjects out here: Mountain eBikers enjoy the view along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains NRA.
Experience Itinerary
Sunrise | Sunset Drives, Rides, Hikes, Picnics & Swings
Rendezvous at Trailhead | Get Geared Up | Journey to Viewpoints | Snack & Skill-Share or Picnic & Swing | Back to Base
Combine | Convert
Your Adventure
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Ready to go?
A heavy layer of morning fog blankets the landscape as the diurnal shift sets the tone for the day in the Conejo Valley.
Morning Sunrise Excursions
7:30AM - 11AM
Morning Sunrise Excursions: The Santa Monica Mountains, especially in the canyons of the Conejo Valley, are known mostly for what wine aficionados call the “diurnal shift.”
As the sun rises and sets, the barometric pressure swings rapidly in coastal ranges - the warmer air rises through the canyons and is replaced by much cooler air flow from the ocean. This typically leads to heavy layers of fog that blanket the landscape and facilitate healthy, highly-saturated fruits.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area looks more like the Serengeti than Southern California. . .
But while the region does have a variety of micro-climates that host some vineyards like Malibu Wines (which is a great place for brunch by the way!) it is not primarily known for its local cellars.
Learn to snap compelling images by pre-framing your shots then allowing action to happen: Mountain bikers delight in the springtime wonders around every bend in the trail in Palo Comado Canyon.
Want a Pooch Pal?
These rolling hills and old-growth oak forests are very similar to what you might find on California’s Central Coast - only they’re right here in sunny Southern Cali!
When you slow down and take the time to watch and listen, you will soon see the landscape reveals its hidden mysteries in surprising ways. . .
Wildlife Subjects: A nesting pair of Golden Eagles display their fortitude while stalking a late-afternoon snack in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA.
Macro-Focus Subjects: California poppies bloom along a springtime trail in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Unique People Subjects: Hikers idle the afternoon away under endless waves of gorgeous green grasses in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve
Afternoon Sunset Excursions
2PM - SUNSET
Afternoon Sunset Excursions: Mid to late afternoon in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is when you get to enjoy “Golden Hour” at its finest.
As the shadows get longer, the sun seems to get even brighter…
A lone Live Oak stands like a silent sentinel overlooking the sunrise in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve.
A favorite staple food of the indigenous Chumash peoples, wild wheat is the first to sprout early in every springtime.
Endless subjects & stories to tell…
Learn how strong composition leads the eye through the frame: Sunset in Malibu Creek State Park
Want to stay overnight?
An engagement is always better with a sunset picnic toast… Mount Sandstone / Tri Peaks - Santa Monica Mountains
About Your Host/Guide
CERTIFIED TOUR GUIDE
Dan Smarg leads an expedition in Lander, Wyoming
National Outdoor Leadership School
Wilderness First-Aid Trained
Expertise | Access | Connection
When I’m not producing commercial content, I’m in the backcountry blazing new trails in my Jeep Rubicon, “Dollie Madison.”
Overlanding is like life: Not every road leads where you want to go, but it just might take you exactly where you want to be.
So let’s roll!
Dan Smarg leads groups of any number - from individuals seeking solitude to full-size families and even entire tribes of friends!
Gear & Services
Included with your Wilderness Photography Adventure Experience is a full professional setup: Canon 5D Mark III | 70-200mm Lens | 24-105mm Lens and all the accessories you’ll need to capture stunning images during your guided tour.
Cover more ground.
Rent an eBike.
If you opt to combine your biking and photography experiences, your Rad Rover eBike is equipped with 26-inch x 4-inch “Fat” tires to enhance stability and traction control in backcountry conditions.
An optional rental to help you explore every twist and turn of these majestic paths during your Wilderness Photography Adventure, you will have access to a brand new Rad Rover eBike. If you plan to adventure with a partner, you can easily rent a second eBike at POWER-UP Electric Bikes in Calabasas.
Need help transporting your bike(s)?
Multiple Options Available
Equipped with 26x4-inch “fat” tires that enhance stability and traction control in rough, wet or sandy backcountry conditions, this is the perfect “Whip” to get you from A to B.
Peace of mind…
Rest assured, I will guide you to all the coolest spots on my own full-suspension mountain bike or eBike so you never get lost or stranded with a flat.
REQUIRED PERSONAL GEAR
Warm, Waterproof & Weather-Appropriate Clothing
Sturdy Footwear
Snacks & Special Dietary Foods
Personal Care Items
PROVIDED GEAR & PROVISIONS
L-Series F2.8 70-200mm Image-Stabilized Telephoto Lens
L-Series F4 24-105mm Image-Stabilized Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
6X Batteries for All-Day Shooting
Color Polarizer Filter
Lowe Pro Camera Backpack
40-Inch Bounce Screen
OPTIONAL TERRAIN & VISTAS
Old Growth Oak Forest
Sweeping Rolling Hills
Coastal Ocean Cliffs
CLICK TO VIEW RENTALS
INCLUDED WITH ALL RENTALS
Helmet(s) for All Riders
Knee & Elbow Pads
Small Backpack
Water Bottle
All Bike Recovery Gear (Tubes, Air Pumps etc.)
FREE Hammock for “Tree Naps”
OPTIONAL SERVICES
Professional Photography Shoot
Professional Drone Shoot
Professional Video Shoot
Multimedia Shoot
OPTIONAL POOCH PAL(S)
Available Upon Request
OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPING | GLAMPING
Location & Weather-Dependent
LOCAL PARTNERSHIP DISCOUNTS
Let’s start snapping!
Young family enjoys an afternoon stroll in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve
