Phoenix Landscape Photography Workshops

The Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas Lights will be on display from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM each evening, offering a beautiful and festive atmosphere with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, life-size nativity scenes, and immersive biblical vignettes.

This annual display is a highlight for many in the community and beyond. You’ll experience a serene and spiritual atmosphere, with highlights including illuminated palm trees, citrus trees adorned with orange lights, and an array of nativity scenes spread throughout the grounds. One particularly striking feature is the life-size depiction of the wise men and their camels.

Meeting Spot:

Let’s plan to gather at 6:00 PM near the main entrance to the Mesa Temple grounds, located right on the corner of Main Street and LeSueur. I will be in a bright neon hat, you can't miss me. Please note that we will wait for approx. 10 mins before moving into the Temple Grounds.

Free parking is available nearby. We’ll kick things off with a very quick round of introductions to get acquainted, then move into the temple grounds together to start photographing the light displays.

You may photograph together or go your separate ways, there are no designated shoots.

Website with information:

https://mesatemple.org/christmas/

Gear:

When preparing for this event, consider bringing a tripod, especially if you want to capture crisp, long-exposure shots of the beautiful lights.

A wide-angle lens will also help you take in the expansive displays, while a 50mm or similar prime lens is great for portraits and detailed shots.

If you’re looking to capture bokeh effects with the lights, using a lens with a lower aperture (f/1.8 or f/2.8) can create those stunning blurred lights in the background.

Don't forget to dress warmly, as evenings in December can get chilly. Comfortable shoes are a must since we’ll be walking around the grounds. Also, bring extra batteries—cold weather can drain them faster!

Join us for on Sunday Dec 8th at 4:00 pm at the very end of Coon Bluff Road (off Bush Hwy & Usery Pass Road), where we’ll search for and hopefully find, the Salt River horses during golden hour.

We may be walking an un-even path for up to half a mile each way in search of the horses. There is no guarantee we will find them, but there may be other wildlife and even fall colors along the banks of the Salt River at this time.

Please be prepared for some walking in sandy and rocky areas and maybe even some wet areas.

I will be waiting by my Vehicle in the Rec Area parking lot at 4pm: Black Chevy Tahoe with a ton of stickers on the back window and I will be wearing a neon hat. We will wait about 10 mins max for stragglers and then we will head down to the river as we don't want to miss out on the golden hour. You may catch up to us on the trail if you are running behind.

Recommended:

Zoom lens
Long lens
Sturdy Shoes

Bring water and be prepared with warm clothes.