West Texas, particularly Big Bend National Park, is home to some of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States, which makes it an exceptional destination for stargazing and astrophotography.
Join this 3-day immersive workshop, led by Sony Alpha featured and published photographer, Erin Newman-Mitchell and the exceptionally talented, Charles McClain. Together they will guide you through how to plan, capture and edit astrophotography images using tools such as PhotoPills, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. They will introduce the various features of PhotoPills in a classroom setting, followed by hands-on practice in the field. Once on location, the instructors will demonstrate how they use PhotoPills in real-time, helping participants master the app, refine their planning techniques, and ensure they capture the shots they envision. In the days that follow, additional classroom sessions will focus on editing the images captured the previous night using Starry Sky Stacker/Sequator, Adobe Lightroom, and Photoshop.
The workshop features three nights of in-field shooting in the Big Bend area, complemented by in-depth classroom lectures and hands-on personal editing sessions. This workshop is designed for participants with beginner to intermediate skill sets. However, attendees should have a solid understanding of their camera's functions and the fundamental principles of photography. With a maximum of 12 participants, the course allows ample opportunities for one-on-one guidance and personalized support as needed. By the end, you’ll leave with images you’re proud of and the skills to confidently photograph astronomical events in the future.
**We're thrilled to partner with Far Flung Outdoor Center to offer our attendees discounted rates at their charming and comfortable casitas for $169 per night. We have reserved 12 rooms and encourage that you book as soon as possible after signing up for the workshop. Once registered you will receive further instruction on how to secure the discounted rate.
What’s Included in Your Cost:
In-Field Shooting: Three evenings and nights dedicated to hands-on shooting with expert guidance
Classroom Instruction: Daily comprehensive lectures on planning and capturing the milky way and star trails, followed by editing sessions on the previous night’s photos
Other: A complimentary lecture guide, access to lecture PowerPoints and other complimentary swag ;)
**Lodging & transportation to Big Bend are NOT provided.
See FAQ for questions regarding lodging. While lodging is not included in your cost, we are partnering with Far Flung to provide affordable lodging.
Topics Covered:
Camera settings for different types of astrophotography
How to use, plan and execute milky way alignments
How and why to use focal stacking
How to photograph and edit star trails, using Photoshop
Light painting
Editing: Stacking techniques, blue hour blending
Physical Requirements:
Due to the time of year, temperatures in Big Bend National Park will be extremely high. Our shooting techniques require arriving at each destination by sunset and while most locations involve minimal hiking, there are physical requirements in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.
Ability to hike over rough, uneven and unpaved terrain (particularly at night)
Tolerance for prolonged exposure to high temperatures outdoors
Capable of hiking a 2 mile out-and-back trail
**NOTE: We will NOT be out hiking between 10:00am-6:00pm due to intense heat warnings.
Necessary Equipment:
Digital SLR camera: A camera with the ability to manually adjust settings such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO is essential. This level of control is important and necessary for achieving accurate exposure of your image, especially when shooting in extremely low-light conditions.
Extra memory cards & batteries.
Lenses: A wide angle lens (~14mm-50mm) is strongly recommended. As the wider the lens, the more of the landscape you will be able to capture. (Caution: If you have a crop-sensor camera, 50mm translates to around 75mm, which is significantly more zoomed in than ideal for this type of photography). You will also want a lens capable of manual focus as autofocus will not be able to operate in these low-light conditions.
Sturdy tripod: A sturdy tripod is needed, particularly in the case of windy conditions, as it minimizes camera shake and make for a much sharper image.
Intervalometer (recommended, especially if your camera doesn’t have an in-camera timer): While many cameras have a built-in timer or intervalometer mode, if yours does not, it is highly recommended that you invest in one. Intervalometers also help reduce camera shake during long exposures.
Laptop capable of running editing software: Since much of the workshop will focus on editing techniques and working on your shots from the previous night, bringing a laptop is essential for participating in the editing sessions.
Lightroom & Photoshop Subscription ($19.99/mo, 7-day free trial also offered): These are the primary photo editing tools we’ll use during the workshop.
PhotoPills ( One time payment $10.99):A powerful photography planning app designed to help plan astronomical alignments and optimize your shots.
Starry Landscape Stacker (MacOS, One time payment $24.99)/Sequator (Windows, free): The stacking programs used to stack astro photos.
Check out the FAQ or please use this form to contact us if you have any questions!
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