Andrew Hertel Photography - Images from Nature

09/08/2026

A little about the guy behind the camera.

There are a lot of new faces around here lately, and since I don’t show my mug all that often, I figured it was probably time to tell you a little about the guy usually hiding behind the camera.

I’m a photographer, teacher, traveler, occasional horse rider, professional wanderer, and apparently someone who now makes “about me” posts.

Most of the time I’m happiest somewhere outside with a camera, exploring, looking around and seeing what catches my attention. Sometimes that turns into a photograph. Sometimes it turns into a very long walk carrying entirely too much camera gear.
Either way, I’m glad you’re here.

Thanks for following along.

www.andrewhertel.com

08/29/2026

The badlands were still deep in blue morning shadow when a faint set of animal tracks caught my attention.

I couldn’t tell whether they belonged to deer or bighorn sheep, but I knew where I wanted to frame the scene. Now I just needed the sun to cooperate. I set up my camera and waited, hoping the rising light would skim across the top while leaving the rest in shadow.

And then it did.

The light held that way for only a few moments before the sun spread across the rest of the badlands and changed the scene completely. Our group had the entire place to ourselves that morning.

Later, we sat together at the edge of the cliff drinking coffee and taking it all in.

I can think of worse ways to start a day.

www.andrewhertel.com

08/23/2026

The slot canyon itself was incredible; shapes, textures, patterns and light all working together to create something magical. Around every turn, the walls changed shape and the light revealed something new. But this small section of sandstone made me pause and bring the camera up to my eye.

Light from the opening above caught the layers in the canyon wall, while sand had collected on the little ledges. It would have been easy to walk right past while looking for the bigger scene.

I didn’t find photography until later in life, and lately I’ve been thinking about how much it has changed the way I see and interact with the world, not just when I have a camera in my hand, but everywhere I go.

Photography has taught me to notice the smaller things. The way light falls across a wall. Patterns in the stone. Details I probably wouldn’t have given a second thought years ago.

It has taken me to some incredible places, but I think the greater gift has been learning to pay closer attention once I get there.

08/04/2026

I’m already looking forward to winter, when my hands are so cold I can barely work my camera controls. Hopefully this winter will deliver many days of post-holing around Southern Utah looking for quiet scenes like this.

08/01/2026

I’m all setup at Art Walk Liberty Station, I’m in booths 217 & 219. Friday 5-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5.
I have several new pieces on display and a few crowd favorites. Come on down and say hello.

07/27/2026

One of the days I look forward to most on my Kyrgyzstan workshop is our visit with the eagle hunters. It’s always a favorite among participants too, and for good reason.

Spending time with , his brother, and their magnificent golden eagles is far more than a photo opportunity. Watching the trust and partnership they’ve built over years together is something that’s difficult to put into words. The bond between hunter and eagle is quiet, patient, and deeply rooted in tradition. It’s a privilege to witness, and an even greater privilege to share that experience with others.

These portraits are a few of my favorite moments from our time together on this years workshop.

I’m excited to share that dates for my 2027 Kyrgyzstan Photography Workshop are now available: **July 9–19, 2027**. If photographing incredible landscapes, experiencing authentic Kyrgyz culture has been on your bucket list, I’d love to have you join us.

https://www.andrewhertel.com/kyrgyzstantour

07/03/2026

I wrote an article on my recent purchase of a new camera: why i did it, which camera and why it took me so long. Spoiler, I didn't buy the latest model..... I bought a new old camera.

After nearly seven years with the Sony a7R III, I finally added a new camera to my bag. A reflection on gear, responsibility, workshops, and why the right upgrade is not always the newest one.

06/04/2026

I’m excited to finally share something new.

Over the past several years, Death Valley has become one of my favorite places to photograph, especially in black and white. The scale of the landscape, the texture, the shifting light, and the quiet details hidden throughout the desert make it a place that constantly invites me to slow down and see differently.

This January, I’ll be hosting a new small-group workshop built around that idea.

The Death Valley Black and White Workshop is designed to go beyond post-processing and explore how to create stronger photographs through light, shadow, texture, composition, shape, form and learning to see before pressing the shutter.

Over four days together we’ll spend time both in the field and back at our hotel reviewing images, discussions, and conversations around the art and vision behind black and white photography.

🗓 January 4–7, 2027
👥 Limited to 3 participants
🏨 Single occupancy lodging included
🚙 Transportation within Death Valley included

For more information and to register https://www.andrewhertel.com/deathvalleyblackandwhite

05/25/2026

Every Memorial Day I think about what it actually means to give everything. Walking through Fort Rosecrans on a foggy morning makes it real.

We remember you today, and we are grateful.

05/12/2026

~The Arch Within~

Slot canyons never get old and will always amaze me.
The walls curve and fold in ways that don’t feel real, smooth sandstone layered with lines and texture that took millions of years to carve. The light inside moves constantly, catching the ridges, sliding into the shadows, pulling the patterns in and out as it shifts.
This scene stopped me in my tracks, made me smile, and I knew I had to create an image of it. The arch forming in the middle of the frame is rare in slot canyons, and with the light hitting it just the way it was, I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.
This was day two of the Utah Wild workshop with myself, and , deep in a small canyon in Southern Utah that most people haven’t found yet. Watching the group experience the magic of a slot canyon for the first time, hearing them go quiet and then try to find words, that was its own kind of reward and one of the reasons I love teaching workshops so much.
Can’t wait to bring next year’s group back.