I’m a night photography teacher.

My passion and mission are to help you create incredible images and videos of the night sky - ones you’ll be excited to share with your family and friends.

I lead small-group night photography workshops to help you experience and capture the universe's wonders from iconic locations around the globe.

mike shaw, shaw, astro, astrophotography, nightscape, photo, night, workshop, class, California, New Mexico, Utah, Iceland, Norway, Arizona, Minnesota, planit, Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, aurora,

With more than thirty years of experience teaching thousands of students, I have the background, knowledge, and understanding for you to learn night photography - on YOUR terms.

Let’s get started!

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Last Saturday I was aware that conditions were good for a possible display of the Aurora. Remarkably (I live in Minnesota) the weather forecast couldn’t have been better - clear, dry, smoke-free, transparent skies. The third leg of the trifecta
This moonrise was very special for me. It was the first time my two kids were able to join me for a moonrise photo session. The weather was perfect, the timing was right, and they were finally old enough not to get into too much trouble during the ev
Check out these cool dark nebulae! I bet you have them in your own Milky Way shots. I’ve outlined three in this image (swipe). First is the Dark Horse, or Prancing Pony Nebula. Next is the Pipe Nebula and finally the tiny Snake Nebula. Feel fr
Astro modification - are you thinking about it? This comparison might help you make up your mind.   All four single exposure images of the beautiful North American Nebula region in Cygnus were captured last night within the span of approximatel
Milky Way season is peaking! Where will you go this weekend? . . . . #milkyway #astrophotography #nightphotography #nightscapes #astronomy #scorpio #sagittarius #mauifishhook #universe #explore #travel #stars #starrynight #darkskies #wilderness #your
@babaktafreshi and I have been on many adventures together. Here is Babak’s photo of me in Canyonlands National Park on one such exploration several years ago. This is the image that currently appears every time a user opens a link or article i
Incredible Moon, Venus and Pleiades conjunction this morning over Mono Lake in California with @babaktafreshi . A stunning end to an all-night imaging session. . . . #moon #venus #pleiades #conjunction #california #nosleep #upallnight
Have you tried using the Planit Pro app for planning your night photo projects yet? It’s absolutely phenomenal. Especially the VR Virtual Viewfinder feature, which shows you what your photo will look like, including the terrain, before you even
Hope you’re able to get outside and enjoy some quality time amongst the trees. . , . . . #nature #trees #forest #wilderness #blueskies #explore #wander #wanderlust #travel #travelphotography #backpack #hike
Single Exposure! This is just ONE, 120 second exposure of the area surrounding the bright stars Deneb (middle left) and Sadr (middle right) in the constellation Cygnus about a week ago in a Bortle Class 2 site in California’s High Sierra. I sim
Evening magic in the California High Sierra. When our group arrived at our spot, there was a threat of afternoon and early evening showers and possibly thunderstorms. Fortunately the sky cleared just in time for an incredible sunset and evening of ni
“Going to the mountains is going home.” John Muir . . . . . #mountains #milkyway #milkywaychasers #astrophotography #nightscaper #nightscapes #astronomy #astro #wild #backpacker
A Tau Herculid meteor with the Milky Way from the Volcanic Tablelands in California. Saw three decent fireballs near the peak, opposite the camera of course! The petroglyphs were inscribed by the Paiute-Shoshone people long ago, unfortunately they h
Farewell, My Friend - Or better yet, au revoir…we’ll see you later this year! Enjoy dancing with the sun in the meantime, while we explore the depths of the galactic core. . . . . #orion #hunter #astro #astronomy #constellation #betelgeu
“How to Photograph the Milky Way” free 30-minute webinar, 8 pm CDT Wednesday, 5/25 (0100 UTC 26/5/2022). Learn when and how to capture epic shots of everyone’s favorite night sky subject! We’re right on the cusp of prime Milky
The Perfect Lunar Eclipse What an absolutely perfect lunar eclipse! The enthusiastic folks in my Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse workshop, the still, clear skies, the friendly start time of 9:30 pm local time, the phenomenal clarity of the Minnestoa skies
Serendipity knocks - I was aware of the Jupiter/Venus planetary conjunction of April 30, but thought I would miss it owing to the massive rock arch blocking my morning view to the east. I had just finished an all-night imaging session in Arches Natio