About phenakite.info
Landscape photography trip planning operating from Flagstaff, Arizona since 2015
phenakite.info is a landscape photography trip planning service founded in March 2015 by photographer Daniel Mercer and cartographer Ellen Voss. The company specializes in coordinating multi-day photography expeditions to panoramic viewpoints, natural landmarks, and scenic highway corridors across the United States. The office is at 2 South Beaver Street, Suite 160, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. Location notes for the Colorado Plateau are also collected around Moab, Utah. The business operates as a limited liability company registered in the state of Arizona. The core service offering centers on pre-planned and custom itinerary development for photographers seeking access to optimal landscape photography locations. Trip planning incorporates factors such as seasonal light conditions, weather patterns, road accessibility, and crowd density at popular viewpoints. The company does not operate as a tour operator in the traditional sense. Instead, it provides detailed route documentation, location data, and on-site coordination for self-directed photographers and small groups. Services are designed for individuals who already possess basic photography skills and require location-specific guidance rather than technical instruction.
Company History
The company originated from a personal project started by Daniel Mercer in 2013, when he began documenting optimal photography viewpoints along US Highway 89 from Arizona to Montana. Over an 18-month period, Mercer compiled location data for 340 distinct viewpoints, including GPS coordinates, seasonal accessibility information, and lighting condition notes for each site. Ellen Voss joined the project in 2014, contributing cartographic expertise and route optimization methodology. The two formally established phenakite.info as a commercial entity in March 2015, initially offering printed guide packets for three scenic highway corridors: US Highway 89, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. The first guided coordination trip was conducted in October 2015, covering 12 viewpoints across northern Arizona and southern Utah over four days. By 2018, the company had expanded its location database to 1,200 documented sites across 18 states. The Moab field office was opened in June 2019 to support increased demand for Colorado Plateau region trips. The location catalog covers photography sites across 24 states. Entries are updated from field notes and public land-access information; always confirm conditions before travel.
Planning Approach
The planning methodology used by phenakite.info is built around a structured location evaluation framework. Each potential photography site is assessed using 14 criteria, including sun angle calculations, foreground element quality, background composition options, parking proximity, trail difficulty, and seasonal accessibility windows. Sites are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 for each criterion, with composite scores determining inclusion in trip itineraries. Minimum threshold for inclusion is a composite score of 3.2 or higher. Route planning follows a sequential optimization process. Viewpoints are organized geographically, with driving times calculated using actual road conditions rather than posted speed limits. The company maintains a database of road conditions updated monthly, with real-time adjustments made for construction, closures, and seasonal restrictions. Average route planning time for a standard 5-day trip is 14 to 18 hours of staff time, producing an itinerary document of 25 to 35 pages. Itineraries include daily schedules with estimated arrival times, recommended camera settings for each location, alternative viewpoints in case of unfavorable weather, and contingency plans for road closures. The company does not guarantee specific weather or lighting conditions, as these factors remain outside operational control.
Team Composition
The company employs 11 full-time staff members and contracts with 8 regional field coordinators on a seasonal basis. Full-time positions include 4 route planners, 3 field coordinators, 2 cartographers, 1 meteorologist, and 1 office manager. Regional field coordinators are located in key photography destination areas: Moab, Utah; Jackson, Wyoming; Mariposa, California; Estes Park, Colorado; Page, Arizona; West Glacier, Montana; Springdale, Utah; and Bar Harbor, Maine. Route planners hold an average of 7 years of professional photography experience and have completed a minimum of 200 on-site location verifications each. The staff meteorologist, Dr. Raymond Hsu, holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington and provides specialized weather forecasting for trip coordination. Field coordinators complete outdoor first-aid training. Confirm current credentials with the office before a staffed departure. All staff members who accompany trips hold valid commercial driver's licenses and complete annual defensive driving training through the National Safety Council.
Geographic Coverage
The company's location database currently covers 24 states, with primary concentration in the western United States. Arizona, Utah, Colorado, California, Wyoming, Montana, and New Mexico account for 68 percent of documented locations. The remaining 32 percent is distributed across Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, Texas, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. Coverage density varies by region. The Colorado Plateau region, encompassing parts of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, contains 920 documented locations within a 190,000 square kilometer area. The Pacific Northwest corridor, covering Oregon and Washington, contains 410 locations. The Appalachian region, spanning from Maine to North Carolina, contains 520 locations. The company adds an average of 180 new locations annually, with expansion priorities determined by client demand patterns and seasonal accessibility research. Locations in Alaska and Hawaii are documented but not currently included in standard trip offerings due to logistical complexity and travel time requirements.
Operational Standards
phenakite.info operates under a set of documented standards covering trip safety, environmental impact, and client communication. All trip itineraries include risk assessments for each planned location, with ratings assigned for terrain difficulty, exposure to elements, wildlife encounter probability, and emergency evacuation complexity. Locations rated as high risk require additional safety equipment, including satellite communication devices carried by field coordinators. The company maintains a Leave No Trace certification through the Center for Outdoor Ethics, renewed annually since 2016. All field operations follow established protocols for minimizing environmental disturbance, including designated parking requirements, trail adherence policies, and group size limitations. Maximum group size for standard trips is 8 participants, with a minimum staff-to-participant ratio of 1:4. Client communication follows a structured timeline. Initial consultation occurs 30 to 90 days before trip departure. Pre-trip briefing documents are delivered 14 days prior to departure. Daily check-in protocols are established for each trip, with satellite communication backup in areas without cellular coverage. Post-trip debriefing is conducted within 7 days of trip completion, with written feedback collected from all participants.
Trip Planning Services
Destination planning around panoramic viewpoints, natural landmarks, and scenic highways
The service catalog at phenakite.info is organized into three categories: pre-planned corridor trips, custom itinerary development, and location-specific consultation. Pre-planned corridor trips follow established routes along scenic highways with predetermined viewpoint stops. Custom itinerary development involves route creation based on client-specified destinations, photography objectives, and time constraints. Location-specific consultation provides detailed information for individual sites without full trip planning. Pre-planned corridor trips are offered for 12 scenic highway routes, including US Highway 89 (Arizona to Montana), Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia to North Carolina), Going-to-the-Sun Road (Montana), Trail Ridge Road (Colorado), and the Pacific Coast Highway (California). Each corridor trip is structured as a 4 to 7 day expedition with 8 to 15 viewpoint stops. Custom itinerary development requires a minimum lead time of 21 days and accommodates trips ranging from 2 to 14 days. Location-specific consultation is available for catalogued sites, with information packets delivered within 5 business days of request. Pricing for each service category is detailed on the services page of this website.
Route Planning
Route planning at phenakite.info begins with a client consultation call lasting 45 to 60 minutes, during which photography objectives, experience level, equipment inventory, and travel dates are documented. The consultation also covers physical mobility considerations, as some viewpoints require hikes of 1 to 4 miles over uneven terrain. Following the consultation, route planners develop 2 to 3 itinerary options within 5 business days. Each option includes a primary route and 1 to 2 alternative routes for weather contingency. Routes are optimized for driving efficiency and lighting conditions. Average daily driving distance is limited to 220 miles to allow adequate time at each viewpoint. Routes exceeding 220 miles per day are flagged with a notation regarding reduced time at each stop. Turn-by-turn directions are provided for all route segments, including forest service roads and unpaved access routes where applicable. Vehicle clearance requirements are noted for routes involving unpaved segments. Routes are tested by field coordinators within 30 days of client departure to verify road conditions and access point accuracy. Any route changes discovered during testing are communicated to clients at least 14 days before departure.
Location Scouting
Location scouting is conducted by field coordinators who verify each site in the database on a rotating 36-month cycle. Verification includes GPS coordinate confirmation, parking availability assessment, trail condition documentation, and composition option cataloging. Each site visit produces a standardized report containing 8 to 12 reference photographs taken at different times of day, a site diagram showing recommended camera positions, and notes on seasonal variations in vegetation and water flow. The company maintains a minimum standard of 3 documented composition options per location. Sites with fewer than 3 viable compositions are flagged as secondary locations and included only as backup options in trip itineraries. Scouting reports also document potential hazards, including unstable terrain, wildlife activity patterns, and exposure to weather. Field coordinators use a standardized assessment form during each visit, with 22 data fields completed per site. Sites that undergo significant changes, such as trail closures, viewpoint obstructions from vegetation growth, or facility modifications, are updated in the database within 48 hours of discovery. Clients receive current scouting reports for all locations included in their itinerary as part of the pre-trip briefing document.
Timing and Lighting
Lighting condition calculations are performed for each location using sun angle data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration solar position calculator. The company calculates optimal photography windows for each site based on sun azimuth, elevation angle, and terrain orientation. Golden hour timing is calculated to the minute for each location and date, with both morning and evening windows documented. Blue hour timing is also calculated, providing a 20 to 40 minute window after sunset and before sunrise depending on latitude and season. The meteorologist on staff provides 72-hour weather forecasts for all trip dates, updated every 12 hours during the forecast period. Forecasts include cloud cover percentage, precipitation probability, wind speed and direction, and visibility measurements. Locations are categorized by lighting dependency. Category A locations require specific lighting conditions for effective photography and are scheduled during calculated optimal windows. Category B locations are less lighting-dependent and offer flexible scheduling. Category C locations are suitable for overcast or diffuse lighting conditions and serve as weather contingency options. Itineraries include both Category A and Category C locations to accommodate weather variability. The company does not guarantee optimal lighting conditions, as weather patterns remain unpredictable beyond a 72-hour forecast window.
Equipment Guidance
Equipment recommendations are provided based on location-specific requirements identified during the scouting process. Each location in the database includes a recommended equipment profile covering focal length ranges, filter requirements, tripod specifications, and accessory needs. Recommendations are categorized by photography objective: wide-angle landscapes, telephoto compression shots, panoramic multi-image composites, and long exposure work. The company does not sell or rent photography equipment. Equipment guidance is informational only, based on field testing conducted by staff photographers. Standard recommendations include a full-frame camera body, lens range covering 16mm to 200mm, sturdy tripod with ball head, circular polarizing filter, graduated neutral density filters, and weather protection for camera gear. Location-specific additions are noted in the itinerary, such as telephoto extenders for distant mountain compositions or neutral density filters for long exposure water effects. The company provides a packing checklist tailored to each trip, accounting for seasonal weather conditions and terrain requirements. Checklists are delivered 14 days before departure, allowing time for equipment acquisition if needed. Clients are responsible for bringing all recommended equipment, as the company does not provide gear rental services.
Group Logistics
Group size for all phenakite.info trips is limited to 8 participants per departure. This limit is based on parking constraints at many viewpoint locations, environmental impact considerations, and the practical limitations of providing individualized attention at each site. Minimum group size for pre-planned corridor trips is 4 participants. Trips with fewer than 4 registrations are subject to rescheduling or cancellation, with notification provided 21 days before the scheduled departure date. Custom itineraries accommodate solo travelers and groups up to 8. Transportation is provided in company-owned vehicles, including 4-wheel drive vans equipped for unpaved road access. Vehicles carry satellite communication devices, first aid kits rated for wilderness use, and emergency supplies for 48 hours of field support. Accommodation arrangements vary by trip type. Pre-planned corridor trips use pre-booked lodging at motels and lodges along the route, with reservations made 90 days in advance. Custom itineraries offer accommodation options ranging from camping to lodge stays, based on client preference. Meal arrangements are not included in standard trip pricing, though recommendations for dining options along each route are provided in the itinerary document. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated through restaurant selection but are not managed through meal provision services.
Experience and Track Record
Nine years of coordinated photography trips across 24 states
Since 2015, phenakite.info has planned multi-day photography trips. Typical trips last a few days. Viewpoint lists come from field notes rather than a guaranteed visit count. Participants range from amateur to experienced landscape photographers, and 10 percent are working professionals. The average participant age is 47, with ages ranging from 24 to 78 across all trips. Repeat client rate, measured as the percentage of clients who have participated in more than one trip, stands at 34 percent as of December 2024. Post-trip satisfaction surveys, conducted via email within 7 days of trip completion, are reviewed internally and used to revise later drafts, without a published score, since 2015. The survey response rate is 78 percent. Common feedback themes include appreciation for detailed itinerary documentation, satisfaction with location selection, and requests for expanded coverage in the Appalachian and New England regions. The company has maintained a perfect safety record over 9 years of operations, with zero reported injuries requiring medical evacuation and zero incidents requiring search and rescue services.
Operational Standards
Safety, environmental responsibility, and client communication protocols
The operational framework at phenakite.info is structured around three core standards: participant safety, environmental stewardship, and transparent communication. These standards are documented in the company operations manual, last revised in January 2024. The manual is reviewed annually and updated based on incident reports, client feedback, and changes in regulatory requirements at locations within the database. Safety standards exceed minimum requirements set by the United States Forest Service and National Park Service for commercial use permits. The company holds commercial use permits for 14 national parks, 22 national forests, and 6 bureau of land management areas. Permits are renewed on cycles ranging from 1 to 5 years depending on the issuing agency. Environmental standards follow Leave No Trace principles, with additional company-specific protocols for photography-specific impacts such as tripod placement on fragile terrain and group movement through restricted areas. Communication standards specify response times, information delivery schedules, and documentation requirements for all client interactions. The company maintains general liability insurance with coverage of 2,000,000 dollars per occurrence and professional liability insurance with coverage of 1,000,000 dollars per occurrence, both through Hartford Insurance Company, renewed annually in March.
Safety Protocols
Safety protocols at phenakite.info are structured around a risk assessment system applied to every location in the database. Each site is assigned a risk classification of 1 through 4, with Class 1 indicating minimal risk and Class 4 indicating elevated risk requiring additional safety measures. Risk factors evaluated include terrain stability, elevation, exposure to weather, distance from emergency services, wildlife presence, and water hazard proximity. As of 2024, the database contains 1,840 Class 1 locations, 620 Class 2 locations, 280 Class 3 locations, and 100 Class 4 locations. Class 4 locations are included in trip itineraries only when participants have documented experience with comparable terrain and weather conditions. All field coordinators carry Garmin inReach satellite communication devices during trips, providing 2-way messaging capability and emergency SOS activation. Devices are tested before each trip departure. First aid kits carried on all trips meet or exceed Wilderness Medical Society guidelines for groups of 8 in remote settings. Kits are inspected and restocked before each trip. Emergency evacuation plans are documented for each location, including nearest medical facilities, evacuation routes, and estimated response times. Plans are reviewed with all participants during the pre-trip briefing. The company has maintained zero reportable safety incidents across 412 trips since 2015.
Environmental Responsibility
Environmental responsibility practices at phenakite.info follow the seven Leave No Trace principles, with additional protocols specific to landscape photography activities. The company has maintained Leave No Trace organizational membership since 2016, with staff members completing trainer certification in 2018 and 2022. Photography-specific protocols address tripod placement, group positioning, and movement through sensitive areas. Tripods are not placed on biological soil crust, fragile alpine vegetation, or within 3 meters of watercourse edges. Group movement follows established trails, with single-file walking required in all designated wilderness areas. The company documents environmental conditions at each viewpoint during scouting visits, noting vegetation health, erosion patterns, and human impact indicators. Sites showing degradation are reported to the managing agency and may be removed from active trip itineraries until conditions improve. Between 2019 and 2024, 23 locations were temporarily removed from itineraries due to environmental damage, with 14 sites subsequently reinstated following recovery. The company participates in volunteer site maintenance through partnerships with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, contributing an average of 180 staff hours annually to trail maintenance and viewpoint stabilization projects. Carbon offset calculations are performed for all company vehicle travel, with offsets purchased through the Gold Standard registry at a rate of 15 dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Client Communication
Client communication at phenakite.info follows a documented timeline beginning with initial inquiry and extending through post-trip follow-up. Initial inquiries receive a response within 24 hours on business days and 48 hours on weekends. The initial response includes a consultation call scheduling link, a preliminary trip options summary, and a link to the company services overview document. Consultation calls are scheduled within 7 days of inquiry and last 45 to 60 minutes. Following the consultation, a detailed trip proposal is delivered within 5 business days. Proposals include 2 to 3 itinerary options, pricing breakdown, equipment recommendations, and a terms document. Once a proposal is accepted, a pre-trip briefing document is delivered 14 days before departure. The briefing includes final itinerary, daily schedule, location details, weather forecast summary, equipment checklist, emergency contact information, and meeting point instructions. During trips, daily check-ins are conducted each morning and evening, with satellite communication used in areas without cellular coverage. Post-trip follow-up occurs within 7 days of trip completion, including a debriefing call and a written satisfaction survey. Survey results are compiled and reviewed quarterly, with operational adjustments made based on identified trends. All client communication is documented in the company customer relationship management system, with records retained for 7 years.
Trip Customization
Trip customization at phenakite.info accommodates client-specified parameters including destinations, photography objectives, physical capability considerations, equipment preferences, and time constraints. Custom itineraries require a minimum lead time of 21 days, with 35 to 45 days recommended for trips involving remote locations or seasonal access limitations. The customization process begins with the standard consultation call, followed by a detailed requirements questionnaire completed by the client. The questionnaire covers 32 parameters, including preferred destinations, photography subjects, experience level, equipment inventory, mobility considerations, dietary restrictions, accommodation preferences, and budget range. Custom itineraries are developed by a route planner assigned to the project, with a meteorologist providing weather forecasting input and a field coordinator verifying route conditions. The development process requires 10 to 14 business days, producing an itinerary document of 30 to 50 pages depending on trip length and complexity. Custom trips accommodate 1 to 8 participants and range from 2 to 14 days in duration. Destinations can be selected from any location within the 24-state coverage area, with the caveat that some locations have seasonal access restrictions limiting availability. The company does not develop itineraries for locations outside the current database coverage area, as verification standards require on-site assessment by staff before inclusion in trip planning.
Post-Trip Support
Post-trip support at phenakite.info includes image review services, location data access, and follow-up consultation. Within 30 days of trip completion, participants may submit up to 20 images for review by a staff photographer. Reviews are conducted via a 60-minute video call, with written feedback provided on composition, exposure, and processing recommendations. The review service is included in the trip package at no additional cost. Participants retain access to their trip itinerary and location data through the company client portal for 24 months following trip completion. The portal includes GPS coordinates, site diagrams, reference photographs, and equipment recommendations for all visited locations. Follow-up consultation is available for 12 months post-trip, allowing participants to request additional information about visited sites or recommendations for return visits. The company also maintains a private participant forum where trip alumni can share images, exchange processing techniques, and coordinate informal meetups. Forum membership currently stands at 1,240 individuals. Post-trip support does not include image processing services, printing services, or portfolio review beyond the 20-image review included in the trip package. Participants seeking additional services are referred to independent providers specializing in those areas.