Epic Southwest and Slot Canyons 2020

Announcing our 2020 EPIC Southwest Tour! We have ADDED even more to the already awesome tour and we have made this a smaller group of 12 photographers This tour includes 2 days at Bryce National Park AND a special Cultural evening with Navajo Dancers performing for us at sunset at Horseshoe Bend Overlook on their PRIVATE access area! Plus we are driven to the exclusive overlook area saving us the mile hike each way! Horseshoe Bend, PRIVATE Slot Canyons, Horseshoe Bend W/Special performing Navajo Dancers, Zion National Park. Bryce National Park, Valley of Fire State Park Photograph America the Beautiful series! This tour only allows for a small group without exception. Once again, we are offering new tours with smaller groups! This tour will allow for only 12 photographers with 2 Instructors! This is exciting but also means our tours sell out even quicker now! We have gained INCREDIBLE, EXCLUSIVE, access to a Slot Canyon that you will find breathtaking. This is why we have to book this so far in advance in order to guarantee our exclusivity to this amazing slot canyon. See the info below! YES, we have amazing incredible EXCLUSIVE access. This is not Antelope and with good reasons. This is two plus hours of our group freely roaming with MPA teaching and shooting. YES, we are the ONLY group during our time. No one is able to do anything like this that we are doing because of our relationship with the slot and the people. Not to mention we are also working on some very special Navajo possibilities culturally. 🙂 Please do not hesitate to email with ANY questions you may have. We are here to help you make your dream tour a reality and will do what we can from our end to make that happen. All of the details, pricing, and scheduled itinerary are below. *Hiking- The hikes will be easy and short for the most part. Occasionally, a longer more strenuous hike may be optional and offered. For those that choose not to do such a hike, there is no problem as there will always be two groups and sets of instructors making this a tour almost anyone can do. Thank you! David and Ally McKay

Epic Southwest and Slot Canyons 2020

We have ADDED even more to the already awesome tour and we have made this a smaller group of 12 photographers This tour includes 2 days at Bryce National Park AND a special Cultural evening with Navajo Dancers performing for us at sunset at Horseshoe Bend Overlook on their PRIVATE access area! Plus we are driven to the exclusive overlook area saving us the mile hike each way! Horseshoe Bend, PRIVATE Slot Canyons, Horseshoe Bend W/Special performing Navajo Dancers, Zion National Park. Bryce National Park, Valley of Fire State Park Photograph America the Beautiful series! This tour only allows for a small group without exception. Once again, we are offering new tours with smaller groups! This tour will allow for only 12 photographers with 2 Instructors! This is exciting but also means our tours sell out even quicker now! We have gained INCREDIBLE, EXCLUSIVE, access to a Slot Canyon that you will find breathtaking. This is why we have to book this so far in advance in order to guarantee our exclusivity to this amazing slot canyon. See the info below! YES, we have amazing incredible EXCLUSIVE access. This is not Antelope and with good reasons. This is two plus hours of our group freely roaming with MPA teaching and shooting. YES, we are the ONLY group during our time. No one is able to do anything like this that we are doing because of our relationship with the slot and the people. Not to mention we are also working on some very special Navajo possibilities culturally. 🙂 Please do not hesitate to email with ANY questions you may have. We are here to help you make your dream tour a reality and will do what we can from our end to make that happen. All of the details, pricing, and scheduled itinerary are below. *Hiking- The hikes will be easy and short for the most part. Occasionally, a longer more strenuous hike may be optional and offered. For those that choose not to do such a hike, there is no problem as there will always be two groups and sets of instructors making this a tour almost anyone can do. Thank you! David and Ally McKay

Italy – Bellissimo 2020

Join us as we visit many of our favorite locations! We have led several tours to Italy and this marks our return after 6 years! We are excited to share our love of some of the most beautiful places in Italy including Venice, Tuscany, Lake Como , Cinque Terre and more! Italy Bellissimo VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY! Join us as we return to beautiful Italy! 10 day 9 nights – Main Tour – Venice – Tuscany w/Florence – Cinque Terra Optional 5 day/4 night Extension – Lake Como and the Dolomites! ONLY 13 Photographers plus 3 Instructors! We have been asked over and over to return to Italy. It is after all one of our favorite countries in all the world. We are announcing our return with an incredible tour exploring and photographing our favorite locations! After MUCH consideration, we have decided to do this tour in a much different way than our previous Italian tours. Each location we are going to savor and enjoy. Much like a great Italian wine, this tour is not about quantity, but QUALITY! We will be spending 3 nights in each location allowing us to really take in and explore and ENJOY these incredible places. You will understand why Ally and I love Italy and why these locations are our favorites. PLUS, we will be visiting our very favorite town in all of Italy, and very special for us personally, the small town of Camogli! A unique hidden gem that very few tourists know about. This is REAL Italy and a small coastal town where we will be staying and enjoying real Italian life! This tour is NOT a bus tour. This is a SMALL group tour. We will have two vans and drivers available to us so that we can get out and photograph those early sunrises and yet stay out and photograph amazing sunsets! This will be the perfect blend of a photography workshop and yet still allow for some local tour favorites such as a guided walking tour of Old Florence and of course David’s Michelangelo! We have found it is equally important to LEARN about locations as well as photograph them. In order to do this properly, we are not going to be moving from location to location each day, but rather making sure we truly enjoy these locations we have selected! Our tour will start in beautiful Venice! Venice is known around the world. We will be exploring Venice during the early mornings and later evening to avoid the tourist. So many people that go to Venice, arrive by cruise ship, take a quick tour of St. Marco square, by a shirt, and leave. This will be a completely different experience in the city known for love and romance! Plan on some beautiful early mornings and later evening with a break during the day for other sightseeing if you desire. This will give us fantastic opportunities to really get “lost” together in Venice! Don’t worry, a simple water bus (Vaporetto) from anywhere and you can get back to your hotel no problem. We will show you how! Burano Island is a unique town just a short water taxi ride away from Venice. You will LOVE the colorful homes and waterways! We have arranged a private water taxi to whisk us away to this special place for a few hours!

Italy – Bellissimo 2020

Join us as we visit many of our favorite locations! We have led several tours to Italy and this marks our return after 6 years! We are excited to share our love of some of the most beautiful places in Italy including Venice, Tuscany, Lake Como , Cinque Terre and more! Italy Bellissimo VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY! WOW…we have had to add a 2nd tour! The first tour sold out in ONE HOUR to our pre-list! This tour will follow the first tour and be an identical itinerary. See below! Join us as we return to beautiful Italy! 10 day 9 nights – Main Tour – Venice – Tuscany w/Florence – Cinque Terra – Pisa Optional 5 day/4 night Extension – Lake Como and the Dolomites! ONLY 13 Photographers plus 3 Instructors! We have been asked over and over to return to Italy. It is after all one of our favorite countries in all the world. We are announcing our return with an incredible tour exploring and photographing our favorite locations! After MUCH consideration, we have decided to do this tour in a much different way than our previous Italian tours. Each location we are going to savor and enjoy. Much like a great Italian wine, this tour is not about quantity, but QUALITY! We will be spending 3 nights in each location allowing us to really take in and explore and ENJOY these incredible places. You will understand why Ally and I love Italy and why these locations are our favorites. PLUS, we will be visiting our very favorite town in all of Italy, and very special for us personally, the small town of Camogli! A unique hidden gem that very few tourists know about. This is REAL Italy and a small coastal town where we will be staying and enjoying real Italian life! This tour is NOT a bus tour. This is a SMALL group tour. We will have two vans and drivers available to us so that we can get out and photograph those early sunrises and yet stay out and photograph amazing sunsets! This will be the perfect blend of a photography workshop and yet still allow for some local tour favorites such as a guided walking tour of Old Florence and of course David’s Michelangelo! We have found it is equally important to LEARN about locations as well as photograph them. In order to do this properly, we are not going to be moving from location to location each day, but rather making sure we truly enjoy these locations we have selected! Our tour will start in beautiful Venice! Venice is known around the world. We will be exploring Venice during the early mornings and later evening to avoid the tourist. So many people that go to Venice, arrive by cruise ship, take a quick tour of St. Marco square, by a shirt, and leave. This will be a completely different experience in the city known for love and romance! Plan on some beautiful early mornings and later evening with a break during the day for other sightseeing if you desire. This will give us fantastic opportunities to really get “lost” together in Venice! Don’t worry, a simple water bus (Vaporetto) from anywhere and you can get back to your hotel no problem. We will show you how! Burano Island is a unique town just a short water taxi ride away from Venice. You will LOVE the colorful homes and waterways! We have arranged a private water taxi to whisk us away to this special place for a few hours!

Bodie Ghost Town Exclusive!

Bodie Ghost Town Photography Tour! EXCLUSIVE PRE-OPENING AND AFTER CLOSING ACCESS featuring a session that includes access to many of the buildings and access after-hours for star photography and light painting! This is something new and an incredible EXCLUSIVE experience! May 26th-28th, 2020 This will sell out FAST WOW, Just WOW! EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to one of the best preserved Ghost Towns in the Nation! Bodie Ghost Town in the Eastern Sierras of California has long been considered one of the best-preserved Ghost Towns in the Nation. People come here every year to wander and explore and photograph. NOW, Imagine EXCLUSIVE access we have been able to obtain that will allow us to photograph and have the town all to OURSELVES after hours and under the stars from 6pm-1am! THEN, Imagine a morning in which we arrive at 6am before the park is open to the public and have access to enter many of the buildings to photograph! With special permits and fees paid to help fund the Bodie Foundation, we have been able to secure the ability to do this! HOW AMAZING!

Bodie Ghost Town Exclusive!

Bodie Ghost Town Photography Tour! EXCLUSIVE PRE-OPENING AND AFTER CLOSING ACCESS featuring a session that includes access to many of the buildings and access after hours for star photography and light painting! This is something new and an incredible EXCLUSIVE experience! May 29th-31st, 2020 This will sell out FAST 12 photographers PLUS 2 Instructors!! WOW, Just WOW! EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to one of the best preserved Ghost Towns in the Nation! Bodie Ghost Town in the Eastern Sierras of California has long been considered one of the best preserved Ghost Towns in the Nation. People come here every year to wander and explore and photograph. NOW, Imagine EXCLUSIVE access we have been able to obtain that will allow us to photograph and have the town all to OURSELVES after hours and under the stars from 6pm-1am! THEN, Imagine a morning in which we arrive at 6am before the park is open to the public and have access to enter many of the buildings to photograph! With special permits and fees paid to help fund the Bodie Foundation, we have been able to secure the ability to do this! HOW AMAZING!

Joshua Tree National Park 2020

This is a PERFECT tour for all levels. With hands-on instruction, no matter your skill level, we will have you getting awesome images, AND learning along the way! Sunsets, Milky Way, Starry Nights and Painting with Light! Part of the MPA "Photograph America the Beautiful" Tours! A tour for a specific purpose! One of our most popular tours returns for 2020! June 13th - 16th, 2020 with dark skies! 3 FULL NIGHTS DEDICATED to the sunsets, stars and learning how to photograph the nighttime skies and paint with light in one of the top places in the world to do so! PLUS - Learning to edit your images including how to star-stack for circles of stars! Join us as we capture amazing images, and truly learn many of the secrets of astral photography and painting with light! PLUS-A bonus day of learning to edit using Lightroom and Photoshop and how to star stack images to get the effects of the image above! Joshua Tree National Park has long been considered by many as the best place in the United States to photograph the night skies due to such low light "pollution". This tour is specifically set up for the dates when the dark skies should be at their best. This is an OPTIMUM time of year to do this. You do NOT NEED night time photography experience to do this tour! This tour is for you to learn and we are right there with you in a small group setting! *Hiking difficulty - There is very little hiking on this tour. Almost everything we photograph is within a VERY short walk to our vehicles and many times, just right outside of our vehicles! If you have any concerns or special circumstances, please do not hesitate to reach out with your questions.

The Adventure: Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Join us and a SMALL group of only 8 photographers as we travel via our PRIVATELY chartered vessel throughout some of the most pristine waters and locations in the world to photograph INCREDIBLE wildlife in Alaska including Brown Bears, Eagles, and Whales of all types! All, up close and personal but in a very safe environment with our private guide, chef, and Captain! These expeditions originate in Kodiak and proceed through beautiful fjords and bays to the Katmai Coast. This diverse expedition combines the spectacular bear viewing experiences of Katmai with the abundant marine wildlife you can only get in Kodiak. We will be aboard the Island C which holds the Coast Guard’s official Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) designation, and the highest safety rating available to commercial vessels of her class. This allows us to hidden gems and amazing locations and wildlife that not everybody can go to or see. In fact, we will be in locations very few have ever seen. Plus, as the ship has been chartered by us exclusively, we can stay as long as we want in any area OR move as we need to for the best wildlife opportunities! These expeditions originate in Kodiak and proceed through beautiful fjords and bays to the Katmai Coast. Each day will offer bear viewing and also offer whales, eagles, puffins and more to photograph! *Hiking difficulty - There is a little hiking on this tour. Almost everything we photograph is within a very short walk. If you have any concerns or special circumstances, please do not hesitate to reach out with your questions.

McKay Photography Academy Presents: Experience and Photograph the Naadam Festival, Eagle Hunters and more! NEW EPIC 2020 Photography Tour Announcement! Photographic Excursion for ALL LEVELS Including Beginner through Advanced! Great fun and learning at a great price! No matter what your photographic level, you can attend this tour. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways. You will be instructed personally by the MPA team! Camels, Yaks and more! Mongolia has recently been voted as one of the top 10 places to experience in travel by several leading travel publications and organizations. This year we have 2 sold-out tours and with good reason. We have just concluded our first tour to Mongolia and there truly are no words to truly express what this tour, the landscape, and the people are like. This is why we are already planning for a new return tour in July of next year 2020 for Naadam and The Great Eagle Hunters! Here you can ride a camel, yak or both! This tour is a smaller group and will sell out ASAP. Do not miss this once in a lifetime adventure! Every once in a while we do a tour that as much as we can hope to explain in words and images must simply be experienced for yourself! Mongolia is THAT TOUR! Naadam and Ulaanbaatar Most typical tours to Mongolia end up in the large city of Ulaanbaatar for the Naadam Festival which is the annual festival honoring the people and traditions of Mongolia. While the festival itself is filled with pageantry and traditions and is very awesome, most visitors never visit outside of the city and tend to stay in the comforts of their hotel. While this may be nice in many aspects, it is not truly fully visiting this incredible country. Although we LOVE Naadam in the city, the incredible celebration that goes with it, as well as the wonderful hotel we stay at.....this should not be your entire Mongolia experience. Experiencing Mongolia without a doubt should also be outside the city! Each village holds their own Naadam festival with wrestling, archery and ankle-bone playing. But beyond that, there is SO MUCH MORE to Mongolia to experience and Naadam is just one facet of Mongolia. The rural villages have absolutely incredible culture, scenery and tradition!

Glacier National Park 2020

Glacier National Park – Photography Tour! Part of the MPA- “Photograph America the Beautiful” Tours! Join MPA once again back to Glacier Natl Park after a 2 year break! VERY LIMITED Opportunity that we have to book EARLY! July 9th – 13th 2020 The famous “Go To Sun” road is only open on average 2 months a year…we are going at that time and therefore, HAVE to book early. See all details below! So now is your chance to photograph one of the most iconic locations in the U.S AND the World! Once again, we are now creating SMALLER more intimate tours. That is great but ALSO means they sell out even sooner! Do not miss out! Glacier National Park has long been considered the crown jewel of the national park system. With incredible scenery and locations that rival anywhere in the world. Virtually an unlimited scenic palate to photograph! Our tour is set for mid July which is PRIME photography time for wildflowers, and the opportunities to see and photograph wild-life including Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep, Bears, Moose and more! It also allows the high probability we will be able to drive and photograph along the “Go To Sun” road though the park. A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS including Beginner through Advanced! VERY LIMITED SPACE available on this tour! ONLY ONE TIME for 2020! As always, we expect this tour to sell out! Don’t miss it! Registration and more details below.

Arctic Adventure 2020

McKay Photography Academy Presents: Polar Bears, Fjords and the Russian Arctic! EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION - We are down to the last final remaining spots! The Adventure: This extraordinary expedition to Franz Josef Land is as unique and authentic as the place itself. Starting in Longyearbyen in the Norwegian territory of Svalbard, we cross the icy, wildlife-rich Barents Sea to the Russian High Arctic. In Franz Josef Land we discover unparalleled landscapes, wildlife, and history in one of the wildest and most remote corners of the Arctic. Back in Svalbard we have the opportunity to explore beautiful fjords and islands on the northwestern coast of Spitsbergen. Here we seek the full range of Arctic wildlife in one of the world’s most impressive polar desert environments. This exclusive offering NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE else is made possible due to our relationship with Poseidon Expeditions and their ship the Sea Spirit. Poseidon Expeditions in one of only a hand full of operators allowed to venture into the high Russian Arctic Archipelago of Franz Josef Land. Less than 1000 people a year visit this area and it is still as wild and beautiful as it sounds! We have been able to secure a LIMITED number of spots on the Expedition for McKay Photography Academy at a price that is less than if you were to book directly with the ship itself! Plus, of course, you get the McKay team as instructors alongside you on the journey!

Oregon Coast and Waterfalls Tour 2020

Oregon Waterfalls, Columbia Gorge and Coast! A weekend photography getaway for you! We are returning by popular demand after a 2 year break! A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS! Including Beginner through Advanced! Great fun and learning at a great price! No matter what your photographic level, you can attend this tour. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways. You will be instructed personally by David and Ally McKay, Toby Gelston of Photorec.tv and the MPA team! If you are a beginner, or unsure, you will fit right in with our personalized instruction! Each guest will be taught personally one on one at your pace and skill level! No need to feel intimidated at all. We've got your back! Everyone knows of Multnomah falls and it's beauty. However, there is SO MUCH MORE in the area to see that most people never know is even there! Tons of incredible waterfalls, nature scenes, and beauty! With the recent fires in the Eagle Creek and Gorge area, it's important to know how much is available to photograph that is untouched. We will be photographing Multnomah Falls and the surrounding Waterfalls in that area as well as stops around the beautiful Columbia Gorge. We will ALSO be photographing at Silver Falls State park and along the awesome Oregon Coast line! 3 FULL days of photography! Come explore and photograph with us in this awesome location!

Iceland - Fire, Ice and Northern Lights 2020

The Land of Fire and Ice! Iceland Photography Tour 2020 September 11th – 21st 2020 Westfjords Extension is ALSO available! See below! McKay Photography Academy is returning once again to one of our most popular destinations! This tour will sell out quickly. We are putting together our years of knowledge of touring Iceland and creating the most Ultimate Iceland tour we have ever done! We LOVE Iceland ! It is by far one of our favorite locations to explore and photograph in the entire world for nature photography. And part of why we keep coming back! This tour has sold out the last three times we have done it and we fully expect the same this time around. Join us and see why Iceland is considered by many photographers, as well as us, to be the best natural and beautiful location in the world to see and shoot! Especially if you LOVE waterfalls and glacier Lagoons! A few Icelandic facts: Weather: Iceland is NOT full of ice! During the time we go, temperatures average around 65-70 and it can be quite pleasant. Waterfalls: Some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world are in Iceland making it one reason it is such a photographic paradise. Volcanic activity: Iceland has incredible landscapes created by the diverse area and volcanic activity that has occurred. Truly a place of wonder. People: Some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They are welcoming and fun. Getting there: Simple! Direct flights occur daily from all over the world and prices for flights have been excellent! Elves: It is true…many Icelanders believe in Elves!

Zion Hiking and Photography Tour 2020

Zion National Park - Small Group Photography October 8th - 11th, 2020 Adventure Tour - Hike the Narrows! Group Size Limit 8! One Instructor, with a MAX of 8 participants. I am going to share my favorite Zion NP locations, along with awesome astrophotography opportunities and a Zion Narrows hike!* And, pack in an optional night of astrophotography just outside Las Vegas. Zion NP is gorgeous and wild and unlike any other park. Join me as we get away from the crowds and capture epic SW scenery in beautiful and peaceful locations. Transportation from Las Vegas to Zion NP is included. We will stay just outside the park. Amazing photographic opportunities right outside our door. This trip is designed to minimize drive time and maximize our time capturing amazing photographs in a friendly and supportive environment. Please note that this is a much more active tour than typical McKay trips - with longer & more strenuous hikes to beautiful destinations. See below for more details on the recommended fitness level for participants. *Conditions permitting A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS including Beginner through Advanced! This is also a FUN tour! VERY LIMITED SPACE on this tour! Adventure with Toby into the Narrows! Join me along with a small group of workshop participants for an adventurous tour of one of my favorite national parks! I first ventured to Zion NP in 1999 and fell in love with the unique beauty and stunning sandstone formations. On subsequent tours, I have explored the nooks and crannies and want to share with you this incredibly beautiful park. This tour will explore the Narrows of Zion NP - one of the most EPIC hikes on the PLANET! That’s not hyperbole. You will hike in a narrow, stream filled slot canyon with sandstone walls rising thousands of feet above your head. Beautiful scenes around each corner. We will also explore some lesser-known corners of the park offering amazing photographic opportunities. The Zion Narrows hike is weather and river flow dependent. This hike requires wading in cold water for hours but the rewards are simply amazing. We will rent appropriate shoes and walking sticks to make the journey safer. Waterproof bags for your camera gear will be available to rent too. We will also take the time to hike to beautiful vistas providing awesome scenery and multiple photographic opportunities along the way.

Zion Hiking and Photography Tour 2020

Zion National Park - Small Group Photography October 12th - 15th, 2020 Adventure Tour - Hike the Narrows! Group Size Limit 8! One Instructor, with a MAX of 8 participants. I am going to share my favorite Zion NP locations, along with awesome astrophotography opportunities and a Zion Narrows hike!* And, pack in an optional night of astrophotography just outside Las Vegas. Zion NP is gorgeous and wild and unlike any other park. Join me as we get away from the crowds and capture epic SW scenery in beautiful and peaceful locations. Transportation from Las Vegas to Zion NP is included. We will stay just outside the park. Amazing photographic opportunities right outside our door. This trip is designed to minimize drive time and maximize our time capturing amazing photographs in a friendly and supportive environment. Please note that this is a much more active tour than typical McKay trips - with longer & more strenuous hikes to beautiful destinations. See below for more details on the recommended fitness level for participants. *Conditions permitting A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS including Beginner through Advanced! This is also a FUN tour! VERY LIMITED SPACE on this tour! Adventure with Toby into the Narrows! Join me along with a small group of workshop participants for an adventurous tour of one of my favorite national parks! I first ventured to Zion NP in 1999 and fell in love with the unique beauty and stunning sandstone formations. On subsequent tours, I have explored the nooks and crannies and want to share with you this incredibly beautiful park. This tour will explore the Narrows of Zion NP - one of the most EPIC hikes on the PLANET! That’s not hyperbole. You will hike in a narrow, stream filled slot canyon with sandstone walls rising thousands of feet above your head. Beautiful scenes around each corner. We will also explore some lesser-known corners of the park offering amazing photographic opportunities. The Zion Narrows hike is weather and river flow dependent. This hike requires wading in cold water for hours but the rewards are simply amazing. We will rent appropriate shoes and walking sticks to make the journey safer. Waterproof bags for your camera gear will be available to rent too. We will also take the time to hike to beautiful vistas providing awesome scenery and multiple photographic opportunities along the way.

New England Fall Colors 2020

New England Fall Color Photography Tour! Join us as we journey together into the heart of New Hampshire and parts of Maine for some of the best Fall Color photography available! ! New England has long been considered by many as the best place in the United States to photograph fall color and covered bridges. This tour is specifically set up to maximize both and to avoid crowds by going at the end of the season. We actually LOVE the end of the season as we find that there are less crowds and awesome color! The last few years "PEAK" season has actually been later as well. We have also extended this tour because there is just so many opportunities and back roads to wander and photograph! We realize that part of the great journey of photography, is to just wander! So while out with us, we will look for new and awesome back-road hidden gems along they way. It will also allows ut o possibly have time for Image Reviews and Editing techniques! No matter what your photography experience, we have you covered. This tour is for you to learn and we are right there with you in a VERY small group setting! *Hiking difficulty - There is very little hiking on this tour. Almost everything we photograph is within a VERY short walk to our vehicles and many times, just right outside of our vehicles! If you have any concerns or special circumstances, please do not hesitate to reach out with your question A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS including Beginner through Advanced! This is also a FUN tour! VERY LIMITED SPACE on this tour! ONLY ONE TIME THIS YEAR! As always, we expect this tour to sell out! Don’t miss it! Registration and further details below.

Fairbanks Alaska Northern Lights 2020

A Photograph “America the Beautiful” Photography Tour! Symphony In The Sky! Northern Lights Photography Tour – Fairbank, Alaska A photographic AND bucket list experience of a lifetime! 3 nights specific to photograph Aurora! All 3 of our 2019 tours sold out in a few hours, we expect the 2020 tour to do the same! Availability is limited and WILL NOT LAST! This is a SMALL GROUP tour with only 10 clients and 3 instructors! HURRY as you do NOT want to miss out! Join us as we once again visit our dear friends Frank and Miriam Stelges at Aurora Bear outside of Fairbanks, AK. Frank and Miriam have been our host for the last few years, BUT this next tour we are planning something new! Beyond the 3 days of working to photograph the Aurora also are these highlights! This tour is limited to ONLY 10 people. PLUS we will have 3 instructors for amazing hands-on learning! YES, a VERY Small and intimate learning and friendship experience! Included will also be a day-time shoot in the area! This tour will take place at their private home with incredible Aurora opportunities and landscape. An official Alaskan outdoor Bar B Que is included! Learn light painting and have fun even when the Aurora is not out! Truly incredible art from nature we get the honor to see and photograph! Join us in Alaska for our Northern Lights photography tour. If you have ever wanted to see the lights and photograph them, this IS a tour to be on! A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS including Beginner through Advanced! Great fun and learning at a great price! No matter what your photographic level, you can attend this tour. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways.

Fairbanks Alaska Northern Lights 2020 Tour 2

A Photograph “America the Beautiful” Photography Tour! Symphony In The Sky! Northern Lights Photography Tour – Fairbanks, Alaska A photographic AND bucket list experience of a lifetime! 3 nights specific to photograph Aurora! This is a SMALL GROUP tour with only 10 clients! HURRY as you do NOT want to miss out! Join us as we once again visit our dear friends Frank and Miriam Stelges at Aurora Bear outside of Fairbanks, AK. Frank and Miriam have been our host for the last few years, BUT this next tour we are planning something new! Beyond the 3 days of working to photograph the Aurora also are these highlights! This tour is limited to ONLY 10 people. PLUS we will have 3 instructors for amazing hands-on learning! YES, a VERY Small and intimate learning and friendship experience! Included will also be a day-time shoot in the area! This tour will take place at their private home with incredible Aurora opportunities and landscape. An official Alaskan outdoor Bar B Que is included! Learn light painting and have fun even when the Aurora is not out! Truly incredible art from nature we get the honor to see and photograph! Join us in Alaska for our Northern Lights photography tour. If you have ever wanted to see the lights and photograph them, this IS a tour to be on! A Photographic excursion for ALL LEVELS including Beginner through Advanced! Great fun and learning at a great price! No matter what your photographic level, you can attend this tour. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways.

Winter Yosemite National Park 2021

Yosemite + Winter = BEAUTIFUL! ONLY 10 Spots for this SMALL group tour at a great price! Our first tour for the 2021 season is announced and it is one of our favorites! Yosemite is photographed more than any other National Park in the United States and with good reason. Join us as you learn photography and hang out with others that love photographing as much as you do in one of the most beautiful, iconic, locations in the world! We are continuing to work to bring you even better photographic experiences and tours with smaller group settings. That, of course, is awesome but ALSO means we SELL OUT EVEN FASTER then before! Join us in what was Ansel Adams playground! See and photograph Half Dome, El Capitan and some of the most famous photographic spots in history. PLUS, the many hidden areas of Yosemite and off the beaten path locations we know are just as beautiful. No matter what your photographic level, you can attend these tours. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways. You will be instructed personally by David and Ally McKay, as well as the amazing MPA team.

Antarctica Expedition 2021

McKay Photography Academy Presents: Antarctica the 7th Continent -Penguins, Whales and more! EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION - We are down to the last few spots remaining! The Adventure: This remarkable expedition departs from the far southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, Argentina. After a two day journey across the Drake Passage, we will come to the continent of Antarctica. For many, the last continent on their list to step foot on! YES, we DO make landfall and even have some very special items in store for you! THIS ADVENTURE IS TRULY INCREDIBLE! This is expedition cruising at its most authentic. Our route and exploration opportunities in Antarctica are heavily dependent on weather and ice conditions. Our experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. We take advantage of long daylight hours to exploit every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing, amazing scenery, and excursions via Zodiac. The Antarctic Peninsula region contains some of the world’s most impressive scenery and some of Antarctica’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Protected bays and narrow channels are surrounded by towering mountain peaks covered in permanent snow and immense glaciers. Icebergs of every size and description complete an image of incomparable beauty. Waters rich with krill are home to a variety of whale and seal species. The whole area is alive with penguins foraging at sea and forming large nesting colonies at special places on land. The area is also home to Antarctic research stations of various nationalities. Some stations have a gift shop and post office.

Patagonia Extension 2021

PATAGONIA ADVENTURE ADD ON OPTION! This tour is given priority to those on the Antarctica tour. However, we may have a few spots open for those that would like to do this as it's own tour. Please email hello@mckaylive.com for availability if you are interested in attending as just the Patagonia portion of the tour. January 19th - 25th 2021 We have been able to secure a pre-tour extension to beautiful and exciting Patagonia at a great price! This tour will be led by Tobias Gelston and he will also be on our Antarctic tour. Without a doubt, Perito Moreno Glacier is unlike anything you have ever seen. It is truly breathtaking and witnessing the giant pieces of ice come crashing into the water below will most certainly be an experience you will never forget. We have put together an amazing optional tour with some of the highlights of the region in both Argentina and Chile. Check out the details and full itinerary below!

Tanzania Photo Safari 2021 Tour 1

McKay Photography Academy Presents: Tanzania Wildlife and Culture Safari 2021 NEW EPIC 2021 Photography Tour Announcement! Photographic Excursion for ALL LEVELS Including Beginner through Advanced! Great fun and learning at a great price! No matter what your photographic level, you can attend this tour. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways. You will be instructed personally by the MPA team! Tanzania, Africa - March 13th - 22nd 2021 This immersive safari with McKay Photography Academy speaks to the animal lover’s soul: an exciting adventure that takes you straight into the heart of Tanzania’s best wildlife viewing areas. Venture into the plains every morning for full days of spectacular wildlife viewing, and unwind in luxurious, eco-friendly camps located in the middle of the wild. Each night, settle into comfortable, downy bedding and drift asleep to the nighttime sounds of safari. This world-class wildlife safari is further complemented by a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with the Hadza, Africa’s last remaining hunter-gatherer tribe. Join David & Ally McKay and the McKay Photography Academy Team along with our expert Tanzanian guides (personal friends and chosen by us) for a very exciting, very special, adventure that will be more than you can ever imagine! Guests with all levels of photographic experience, beginner through advanced are welcome! This tour will have an incredible 5-1 client-instructor ratio and even if you are brand new to photography, there is NO NEED to feel intimidated on joining us! Level of Photography If you are a beginner, fearful of travel, or unsure of photography settings, no need to worry! Our team is here to help you with any questions and you will fit right in with our personalized instruction! No need to feel intimidated at all. We’ve got your back! If you have more experience as a photographer, you will be able to work one on one with some of the top pros in the industry! Receiving very personalized instruction, catered to your needs. This tour is going to include an amazing line up of instructors and a min 5-1 Client/Instructor ratio! The Wildlife Tanzania Africa, without a doubt, is one of the premier wildlife safari destinations in the world. This tour is set during the prime Migration period of the Maasai Mara river crossing where thousands of Wildebeest and Zebra risk everything to cross the crocodile infested waters of the Maasai Mara between Kenya and Tanzania! Lions, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Leopard, Hippo, Cape Buffalo, Rhino and MUCH MORE are ALL possibilities to not only see and photograph, but to watch in action. As we are based in the heart of the prime of the Serengeti, we have access to locate the best wildlife the world has to offer. You WILL see wildlife and you WILL be blown away at it all. Words are not adequate to be able to describe what you will feel as you watch and photograph in this incredible place. Working with our personally selected group of guides we have worked with in the past, we will have the best of the best when it comes to scouts and knowledge on hand to get us to where the action is. We will leave early mornings and come back to camp late. This is NOT a run of the mill tour. This is a truly premier experience dedicated to getting you to the wildlife, and in the best positions possible to photograph it. Watch this video from a previous tour to get a sense of just some of what you will see and experience. The Culture and Eastern Serengeti Eco System This tour will be extra special. We have the ability to do some really awesome cultural exchanges as well. One of the most amazing experiences we have ever had was the ability to meet with members of various tribes. The Maasai tribe will all be a part of this tour. As you get to know this special place, you will probably come across a half-mile long creekbed lined by whistling thorn trees and umbrella acacias. The trickling seasonal stream is a humble, yet incredibly important part of this ecosystem and represents the spirit of symbiosis that makes this place so unique. Thomson Safaris works alongside the Maasai to conserve a vast pristine wilderness of wooded savannah and open grassland covering 12,600 acres within the Serengeti ecosystem. Habitats are being restored. Wildlife is being given greater refuge. Communities are becoming empowered through education, involvement, and direct benefits from tourism. It is becoming a place of happiness and harmony between wildlife preservation and community-based tourism that will one day be a model for similar efforts. During your stay at the refuge, you will have many opportunities to explore the wilderness and the culture of the Maasai.

Tanzania Photo Safari 2021 Tour 2

McKay Photography Academy Presents: Tanzania Wildlife and Culture Safari 2021 NEW EPIC 2021 Photography Tour Announcement! Photographic Excursion for ALL LEVELS Including Beginner through Advanced! Great fun and learning at a great price! No matter what your photographic level, you can attend this tour. Beginners through advanced will find this tour wonderful in so many ways. You will be instructed personally by the MPA team! Tanzania, Africa - March 23rd - April 1st 2021 This immersive safari with McKay Photography Academy speaks to the animal lover’s soul: an exciting adventure that takes you straight into the heart of Tanzania’s best wildlife viewing areas. Venture into the plains every morning for full days of spectacular wildlife viewing, and unwind in luxurious, eco-friendly camps located in the middle of the wild. Each night, settle into comfortable, downy bedding and drift asleep to the nighttime sounds of safari. This world-class wildlife safari is further complemented by a once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchanges. Join David & Ally McKay and the McKay Photography Academy Team along with our expert Tanzanian guides (personal friends and chosen by us) for a very exciting, very special, adventure that will be more than you can ever imagine! Guests with all levels of photographic experience, beginner through advanced are welcome! This tour will have an incredible 5-1 client-instructor ratio and even if you are brand new to photography, there is NO NEED to feel intimidated on joining us! Level of Photography If you are a beginner, fearful of travel, or unsure of photography settings, no need to worry! Our team is here to help you with any questions and you will fit right in with our personalized instruction! No need to feel intimidated at all. We’ve got your back! If you have more experience as a photographer, you will be able to work one on one with some of the top pros in the industry! Receiving very personalized instruction, catered to your needs. This tour is going to include an amazing line up of instructors and a min 5-1 Client/Instructor ratio! The Wildlife Tanzania Africa, without a doubt, is one of the premier wildlife safari destinations in the world. This tour is set during the prime Migration period of the Maasai Mara river crossing where thousands of Wildebeest and Zebra risk everything to cross the crocodile infested waters of the Maasai Mara between Kenya and Tanzania! Lions, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Leopard, Hippo, Cape Buffalo, Rhino and MUCH MORE are ALL possibilities to not only see and photograph, but to watch in action. As we are based in the heart of the prime of the Serengeti, we have access to locate the best wildlife the world has to offer. You WILL see wildlife and you WILL be blown away at it all. Words are not adequate to be able to describe what you will feel as you watch and photograph in this incredible place. Working with our personally selected group of guides we have worked with in the past, we will have the best of the best when it comes to scouts and knowledge on hand to get us to where the action is. We will leave early mornings and come back to camp late. This is NOT a run of the mill tour. This is a truly premier experience dedicated to getting you to the wildlife, and in the best positions possible to photograph it. Watch this video from a previous tour to get a sense of just some of what you will see and experience. The Culture and Eastern Serengeti Eco System This tour will be extra special. We have the ability to do some really awesome cultural exchanges as well. One of the most amazing experiences we have ever had was the ability to meet with members of various tribes. The Maasai tribe will all be a part of this tour. As you get to know this special place, you will probably come across a half-mile long creekbed lined by whistling thorn trees and umbrella acacias. The trickling seasonal stream is a humble, yet incredibly important part of this ecosystem and represents the spirit of symbiosis that makes this place so unique. Thomson Safaris works alongside the Maasai to conserve a vast pristine wilderness of wooded savannah and open grassland covering 12,600 acres within the Serengeti ecosystem. Habitats are being restored. Wildlife is being given greater refuge. Communities are becoming empowered through education, involvement, and direct benefits from tourism. It is becoming a place of happiness and harmony between wildlife preservation and community-based tourism that will one day be a model for similar efforts. During your stay at the refuge, you will have many opportunities to explore the wilderness and the culture of the Maasai.

This immersive historical, cultural and photographic tour with McKay Photography Academy takes you on a journey into Ancient Egypt where you will experience a unique modern age mixed with the ancient old in a culture unlike anywhere else in the world. Join David & Ally McKay and the McKay Photography Academy Team along with our expert guides for a very exciting, very special, adventure that will be more than you can ever imagine! Guests with all levels of photographic experience, beginner through advanced are welcome! This tour will have an incredible 5-1 client-instructor ratio and even if you are brand new to photography, there is NO NEED to feel intimidated on joining us! Some Highlights Include: A luxury Accommodation and Guided Experience! Small Group 14 Photographers/ 3 Instructors! Professional English Speaking Guides Tour of the Giza Pyramids and Sakkara area pyramids Tour of NEW Grand Egyptian Museum Tour of the Cairo Citadel Sound and Light Show at Giza Pyramids Flight from Cairo to Luxor Tour of Karnak Temple and Luxor Dahabiya 4 night Nile Cruise, Merit One Luxury Private ship for MPA Embark from Luxor Tour of Valley of The Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Memnon Statues Tour of Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple. Tour of Philae Temple and High Dam of Aswan Disembark in Aswan Softel Legend Old Cataract Hotel - One of the top hotels in the world! Optional temple tours, museum tours, or relaxing by the pool Flight from Aswan to Cairo Included