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.

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mike shaw, shaw, astro, astrophotography, nightscape, photo, night, workshop, class, California, New Mexico, Utah, Iceland, Norway, Arizona, Minnesota, planit, Milky Way, star trails, moon, arches, Utah
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Just added! Brand new program, “Nightscapes and Deep-Sky Astrophotography for Beginners” at the 2023 Nightscapers Conference. Streaming & in-person options available. This is a great chance to finally dive in to photographing the nigh
Friends! Are you ready for an unforgettable few days of inspiration and learning? If so, then you won't want to miss out on the 2023 Nightscaper Conference in Kanab, Utah! This event is going to be jam-packed with amazing speakers (ahem), thought-pr
What a show! From St. Paul, Minnesota around 11 pm CDT, Bortle 7/8. Yes, please! This aurora display was predicted a couple days ago and arrived remarkably on schedule. It was so much fun enjoying the celebration last night with friends around the gl
Good luck for everyone out photographing the Aurora tonight! (Image is from August, 2019) Here are some tips : 🟥face north, as dark as possible site 🟩camera -> tripod 🟪M focus mode 🟥focus on distant light/star 🟩M exposure mode 🟪2 - 5 secs
Happy Earth Day & last day of International Dark Sky Week! If you squint, you may be able to make out the constellation Orion, seen here over downtown, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bad news is that Orion is difficult to see because of all the ambi
1-year countdown to April 8, 2024. If you’ve never seen a total solar eclipse, next year is your chance! Just be SURE you make your way to the path of totality. I promise you won’t regret it!! . . . . . #eclipse #solar #solareclipse #sola
The Trifid Nebula (top) and the Lagoon Nebula (bottom) are two great astrophotography targets. In a dark location, you can make out the Lagoon Nebula as a bright, fuzzy patch in the sky. So, where and when should you look to see them? Find out in my
Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a little deep sky love vis a vis the Heart Nebula, one of my favorites. . , . . . #valentines #astrophotography #heart #astronomy #love #universe #yournightscapeprofessor
The verdict is in! Thank you for all your votes and wonderful comments on the cover choice for my new book, “The Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography.” Everybody won! This is to say, the image with the Rho Ophiuchus complex is the
Have you been to Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park? It’s full of these incredible polygonal structures formed from drying salt deposits. Each of the polygons is several feet in size, and the raised ridges separating them are several
Wishing you and yours a healthy, adventurous, and fulfilling 2023! . . . . #newyear #2023 #adventure #explore
Venus shines through the early morning twilight on early July, 2020. It’s the bright dot peeking through the clouds to the left of the trees. This was on the first morning that I was able to observe Comet NEOWISE; little did I know that the nex
I'll be one of 40 international speakers at the May 10-12, 2021 NightScaper Conference, which is featuring over 70 programs about night photography. I’ll be delivering three presentations comprising an “Astronomy 101 for Nightscapers&rdqu
Blue hour is such a special time. In dark locations with clear skies where you can really see the colors changing minute by minute. Every direction you look you can see something different, from the vibrant oranges and reds near where the sun is belo
Boney Mountain, lower left, sits in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) on the northwestern border of the Los Angeles region in Southern California. Even so, you can catch the summer Milky Way from within the SMMNRA, as you c
Crescent Moon en Provence – We caught sight of the setting crescent moon, nestled between the branches of this old oak tree as we were preparing for an evening of star trail photography in the lavender fields in Provence, France. As twilight de
The central band of our Milky Way galaxy rises over a rock arch in the backcountry of New Mexico; now is the time of year when this type of image starts to become possible. Later in the year the Milky Way arches high in the sky when it emerges from e
The southwestern United States has a LOT of sculpted sandstone rock formations, like this one that is nearly 20 feet tall. Rock arches and windows, in particular, are some of my favorite features. Maybe it’s their natural framing possibilities,
Delicate bands of green colored airglow stretch across the sky in this late summer photo of Devils Tower in Wyoming. Airglow is the name given to the faint light given off by high altitude air at night. The energy is absorbed from sunlight during the
Los Padres Summer Nights - The Los Padres National Forest, tucked away behind Santa Barbara, California, is a little-known wilderness gem. I’ve spent many, many nights backpacking there under the stars; it has reliably clear nights for much of
Honoring the team responsible for imagining, designing, building and delivering the Perseverance to Mars. As a friend exclaimed, “The audacity!” The details are straight from a science fiction movie – parachute into an alien planet,
Monument Valley Sunset – There’s nothing quite like watching the sunset with a good friend, am I right? Especially when you’re treated to one of the most spectacular views imaginable – the iconic Monument Valley Tribal Park sk
A Thirsty Night in the Desert – From quite a few years ago, under a bright moon backpacking in Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua trees are unusual looking plants, and belong to the yucca family. They grow in arid desert regions in southern Cali
Mono Lake Milky Way The summer Milky Way rises above the brackish shoreline in California’s Mono Lake. I liked how the curved eddies in the water followed the general shape of the galaxy’s central band, as well as the slightly distorted s
Favorite Locations – Even though I’ve visited here dozens of times, it never gets old. Where’s your go-to spot? . . . . . #astrophotography #nightphotography #nightsky #starrysky #milkyway #california #californiadreaming #california
One year ago – this image is from last year’s trip to Death Valley National Park, during their Annual Dark Sky Festival in February, 2020, where I was a presenter. Death Valley certainly lives up to its reputation for clear, dark skies! H
Cotton candy skies in the Alabama Hills region of California's Eastern Sierra. Look closely at the ground; notice the sandy soil, and the widely dispersed plants. Am I the only one whose mind is blown by the fact that the soil surface you see here is
This Aurora Borealis show exploded out of nowhere. My workshop students and I were set up with nervous anticipation on the edge of small pool in south Iceland a few years ago. The crescent moon was setting, a few wispy swirls became apparent…
Hovenweep National Monument in Utah, USA, is the home of spectacular Ancestral Puebloan structures. And what better way to experience them than under the deep colors of evening twilight that you only get in crystal clear, dry desert skies? The almost
Natural Bridges Starry Night - The nearly full moon lights up the canyons and starry skies in Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, USA on a quiet night in October. Natural Bridges is Utah’s first National Monument. It is also a Dark Sky P
What to do as a night photographer when winter brings cloudy skies and snow? Simply string colored lights along the top of a small stone wall, as is the case here in the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and wait for the magic to happen! Here, you can s
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