About MPS
A different
kind of
photography
symposium.
MPS is not built around famous locations, gear recommendations, or guaranteed portfolio shots. It’s built for photographers who want to slow down, think more carefully, and make work that feels genuinely personal.
Over four days in Moab, a deliberately small group of photographers gathers for presentations, field workshops, and the kind of creative conversation that rarely happens at larger events.
Our philosophy
Built for depth, not volume.
MPS is not trying to be the biggest photography event in the country. It is trying to be one of the most useful — for the right kind of photographer.
That means keeping attendance small, curating a presenter lineup that goes beyond technique, and creating space for the kinds of conversations that don’t happen when there are five hundred people in the room.
There are no recipes here. The focus is on helping each photographer understand what they’re drawn to, why, and how to develop that more consciously — not on showing everyone the same techniques.
72 attendees. 9 per field workshop. These numbers are not arbitrary. Genuine creative exchange only happens at a certain scale, and we protect that scale intentionally.
Our presenters are chosen for the depth and distinctiveness of their creative thinking — not just for the quality of their photographs. Talks explore creativity, process, and meaning.
Attendees are not customers. They are participants. The PhotoJAM evenings, shared meals, and informal conversations are as important as any scheduled session.
How the symposium works
Four days. Four formats.
The symposium moves through four kinds of experience over its four days — each designed to complement and deepen the others.
Talks and discussions by each presenter — exploring creativity, vision, process, and the ideas behind the work. Not demos. Not tutorials. Conversations.
Two afternoon field sessions — Tuesday and Wednesday. Small groups of 9 depart from the venue with one leader. Walk a little, work a lot.
A relaxed community gathering each evening — food, drinks, and voluntary image sharing. Hosted by Mike Hayden. Loose, communal, and consistently one of the highlights.
Thursday’s final session. Participants work on a fresh image made during the symposium. Presenters circulate and engage. Closes with a shared viewing and discussion.
Why Moab
The landscape is the point —
and also not the point.
For landscape and nature photographers, Moab, Utah offers something rare: a place extraordinary enough to be genuinely inspiring without being so famous it becomes a distraction. The canyon country around Moab rewards close attention. It has scale and intimacy. Drama and subtlety.
We use it not as a backdrop but as a creative catalyst — a place to slow down and actually look, rather than rush to collect another version of a photograph you’ve already seen a hundred times.
Spring is a particularly good time to be here. The light is clear and warm. The crowds have not yet arrived. The desert is, briefly, in bloom.
A symposium with roots — and a future
Led by people who care
about what this is.
The Moab Photography Symposium was originally created by Bruce Hucko as a small, thoughtful gathering for photographers who wanted something more than a typical workshop experience. Over time, it has been supported by a close-knit group — including Steve, Lora, and Mike, who continue to help bring the event together. Today, the symposium is led by David Kingham and Jennifer Renwick, who carry forward the original spirit while letting the event grow in new directions.
Landscape and night sky photographer based in Colorado. David leads MPS alongside Jennifer with a focus on keeping the event creative, honest, and true to its founding spirit.
Photographer and educator who brings organizational clarity and creative warmth to MPS. Jennifer works alongside David to shape the program and the experience.
Arts educator, photographer, and long-time Moab resident. Bruce created MPS, and his vision shaped the spirit the event still carries. He joins the 2027 symposium as a presenter.
Photographer, writer, and educator based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Taught photography at Colorado Mesa University for 18 years; a longtime MPS friend whose quiet behind-the-scenes work helps the event run.
Native of Ouray, Colorado and an avid photographer inspired by the landscapes of the western San Juans. A longtime supporter whose work makes the symposium feel as effortless as it does for attendees.
Santa Fe–based photographer with a long career spanning Army leadership and the computer industry. Hosts the PhotoJAM evening gatherings — the relaxed image-sharing sessions that consistently rank among the symposium's highlights.
What’s new for 2027
Familiar in spirit. Refined in every detail.
Each edition of MPS is a chance to look carefully at what’s working and what could be sharper. Here’s what’s been refined for 2027.
Introduced in 2025 and refined again for 2027: Thursday’s final session is a collaborative, reflective group editing experience, with fresh images, all presenters in the room, and a shared viewing to close.
Mike Hayden returns to host the evening gatherings, with a more intentional format that makes sharing easier and the atmosphere even more welcoming for first-timers.
Last year had seven presenters and a guest closing speaker; for 2027 we've grown to eight presenters who each give a talk and lead two afternoon field sessions. One of those talks closes the symposium Thursday morning and opens into The Closing Process.
MPS runs biannually — a deliberate choice that lets the event remain special rather than routine. After 2027, the next symposium will be in 2029.
April 26–29, 2027
Interested? There’s room for 72.
Space is limited by design. Early bird registration is $1,795 through July 31, 2026; the standard rate of $1,995 begins August 1.