Description

One-on-One Astrophotography Workshop

Astrophotography Workshops are scheduled year-round. 

Learn astrophotography on the gear you already own. This is a private workshop, not a group class and not a wide-angle Milky Way shoot. You will leave knowing how to focus at night, and capture star fields you can stack later — using a telephoto lens, a solid tripod, and an intervalometer. Using Stellarium Plus, SkySafari, or other similar astronomy apps to locate a Messier object to photograph. The technique you learn can be applied to comets, too!

No tracker required. No new lens required. You run the camera. The instructor is there to correct the three things that ruin most first nights: soft focus, a shutter that is too long, and a tripod that moves.

What you will do

• Set up a DSLR or mirrorless camera for night shooting: RAW, manual mode, live view focus.
• Focus on a star until it is a point, not a fuzzy blob, and lock that focus.
• Shoot a sharp star photo with an 85mm, 135mm, or 70–200mm lens.
• Use the exposure limit for your focal length so stars stay points.
• Run an intervalometer sequence for stacking: Pleiades, Andromeda, Orion, Lagoon Nebula, or the best target up that night.
• Review frames in the field and fix problems before you pack up.

Who it is for
You already have a camera, a sturdy tripod, and an intervalometer or a camera with a built-in interval timer. Your lens is an 85mm f/1.8 or faster, a 135mm f/2.8 or faster, or a 70–200mm f/2.8. You want a practical first night, not a lecture on mounts and polar alignment.

It is a poor fit if you want dramatic landscape Milky Way shots. Those need a wider lens. Check out this workshop instead.

What to bring

• DSLR or mirrorless camera that shoots RAW and has high ISO capability.
• 85mm f/1.8 or faster, a 135mm f/2.8 or faster, or a 70–200mm f/2.8 lens
• Lens cap and lens hood.
• Sturdy tripod and a head that locks – no travel tripods
• Shutter release that locks, intervalometer, or a body with a built-in interval timer
• Fully charged camera batteries.
• Memory card with space for several hundred RAW files
• Dew heater is optional but recommended. This is an example of a power bank to use with it.
• Knowledge of how to access your camera’s manual settings, ISO, white balance, and shutter speed.
• Red flashlight (to be used if necessary while shooting).
• Flashlight (to help navigate to shooting location in the dark).
• Bug spray and a hat (during warm temperatures)
• Recommended: A collapsible chair, snacks, and water. A Hoodman or 3mm or 5mm jeweler’s loupe.
• Make sure to dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes.

How the session runs
About 2.5 to 3 hours, one student. You turn every dial. The instructor demonstrates focus, then you repeat it. You review each test frame on the LCD before the real sequence starts. You leave with a settings card for your camera and focal length and a shot list for your next solo night.

Choice of just the shoot or shoot plus 2.5-3 hour post-processing session (online). The online session is recorded

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Book the private workshop if you want sharp, stackable star fields from the telephoto lens already on your camera.

Camera, lens and tripod rental is available.

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FAQ

Do I need a star tracker?
No. The workshop is untracked. You shoot short frames and stack them. A tracker is a later upgrade, not a requirement.

Will this work with a crop-sensor camera?
Yes. 

Can I photograph the Milky Way?
Not as a wide landscape. At 85–200mm, you photograph sections of sky, clusters, and bright galaxies. 

What if it is cloudy?
Star sequences need clear sky, so we reschedule if the forecast is overcast.

I don’t have those lenses, is that a problem?
The listed lenses are ideal for this. Contact me and we can determine if any of your lenses are appropriate.

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Once registered for the workshop, I will contact you to schedule a location and date.