Beaver Supermoon, Nightscapes and Time-lapse Photography Workshop
Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
November 14 - 17, 2024
Meet & Greet 7 - 8 pm, Wednesday, November 13 in the lobby of the Country Inn & Suites, Roseville, Minnesota
Just 4 Spots Remaining!
Four Day, Four Moonrise/Night and Four Moonset/Morning Workshop
$1,995
8 Participants Max
Workshop Highlights
This workshop is for the lunar lovers (and Aurora Borealis, meteors, and star trails too)!
Join Mike and a small group of seven other photographers to create incredible images and time-lapse videos of the 2024 November Beaver Supermoon - along with the Leonid Meteor Shower, the Aurora Borealis, star trails and more!
This workshop will take place on the dates surrounding November’s 2024 Beaver Supermoon for the best chances of capturing the moon next to some of Minneapolis’s and St. Paul’s most iconic scenery, during BOTH moonrise (evening) and moonset (morning). This is 2024’s final Supermoon, and occurs when the moon is just 224,853 miles (361,866 kilometers) from Earth, compared to its usual distance of 238,900 miles (384,472 km). This proximity along the moon’s elliptical orbit results in the moon appearing larger - or “Super!”
Want to create a stunning time-lapse video or image sequence of the full moon sinking into the west, or emerging over the eastern horizon? This is the event for your you! Here, you will learn how to capture and combine multiple images into a beautiful full moon sequence or time-lapse video using StarStax and Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom - a useful skill for lunar and solar eclipses too.
A key element of this workshop is learning how to precisely position yourself to capture exactly the image you envision using Planit Pro, PhotoPills, Google Maps and Stellarium.
First, you’ll learn how to harness the incredible Virtual Camera feature in Planit Pro to design the exact composition you desire - including any buildings, trees, or other features you want, along with the lens focal length.
Next, you’ll learn how to use Planit Pro’s Sun & Moon Finder tool to identify the dates and times over the rest of your life when your dream shot is possible by placing the moon in your virtual composition where you want it, and allowing Planit Pro to do the rest. Stellarium will allow you to check Planit Pro’s predictions - a valuable peace of mind.
Finally, you’ll see how to use Google Maps to virtually scope out your desired shooting location to confirm the view before you leave home, and PhotoPills once you’re on-location to confirm and refine your selections. And you’ll have FOUR Moonrises and FOUR Moonsets to hone your skills and bring home images you never would have thought possible.
Altogether, you will be confident when you head out that the only thing left to chance is the weather!
The final night of this workshop will occur during the lead-in to the Leonid meteor shower, so there is a good chance to capture one or more Leonid meteors. And as you’re in the Minnesota North Country during the peak of epic Solar Cycle 25, a solid display of the Aurora Borealis during the long November nights may delight you on any of the workshop’s four nights! Rest assured that Mike knows where to go to capture them. You will also learn in this workshop how to create star trail images and night sky panoramas.
The skills and experiences you will gain during this four-day workshop could take you years to acquire on your own. Why not spend a weekend in the company of seven other enthusiastic photographers and spend those years capturing images instead! I guarantee this workshop will prepare you for a lifetime of successful full moon and nightscape photography - or your money back!
Dr. Mike Shaw will be your workshop instructor and field guide. Mike has been a resident of the Twin Cities since 2016 and is intimately familiar with the best spots to capture the full moon, Leonid meteors, and the Aurora Borealis.
Mike is the co-creator of Planit Pro’s video tutorials and the author of three night photography books, “The Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography”, “The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography,” and “Creative Nightscapes and Time-Lapses.”
Workshop highlights include:
Four moonrise and four moonset opportunities to capture the November Beaver Supermoon
Four full days of personal instruction in our spacious, private meeting room
Enjoy the early Leonid meteor shower Saturday night
Capture star trails over stunning Minnesota city skylines and natural landscapes
Create time-lapse videos showcasing moonrise & moonset, along with sunrise & sunset – and possibly the Aurora Borealis!
Learn to design your nightscape images and time-lapses with Planit Pro’s powerful virtual camera and 23 Ephemeris tools (Milky Way Seeker, Sun/Moon Finder, Star and Star Trails, and MUCH more)
Master night photography and time-lapse image capture technique
Learn professional post-processing tips and techniques of editing night photography images and time-lapses with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
All in the good company of others with the same interests as YOU!
Workshop Structure & Itinerary
Daytime Class Sessions and Night Photography Field Sessions:
This workshop has two components: (i) Daytime classroom sessions in our comfortable, private meeting room and (ii) night & morning field photography sessions in the field. The classroom sessions combine Mike’s presentations with your hands-on practice with your camera and gear. Topics include both preparation for the field events, image capture technique and post-processing methods. The field photography sessions are where you apply your expertise to capture images for subsequent processing.
You should arrive in your own vehicle for transportation throughout the workshop, or carpool with a friend. Be sure to bring winter clothes, winter boots, a winter hat and gloves, and hand warmers (will be provided if needed).
Times for Key Events:
Sunset: 4:40 pm
Dark night: 6:30 pm - 5:30 am
Sunrise: 6:40 am
MEET & GREET - Wednesday, November 13
7 - 8 pm Optional Meet & Greet meeting in the lobby of the Country Inn and Suites, Roseville, Minnesota. Meet your workshop colleague and share information about your goals for the workshop.
MOONSET 1 (5:33 am)/DAY SESSION ONE / MOONRISE 1 (3:48 pm) - Thursday, November 14
4 am - 7 am Drive to a nearby location for your first, early-morning moonset. You will have the opportunity to capture wide and/or telephoto moonset images, moonset sequences, the sunrise and time-lapses.
9 am - noon Our daytime sessions kicks off in our private meeting room at the Country Inn and Suites. We will review the morning’s moonset. Mike will give a workshop overview and agenda. We will start by learning the fundamentals of full moon photography. You will also prepare your first plan for your night photography session later that evening.
Today, and throughout the workshop, you will have ample time to have all your questions answered in a friendly, supportive environment.
2:30 pm - 10 pm Drive to nearby locations for a wonderful night of photographing the full moon and other night photography targets. Tonight and the following three nights, we will be alert for displays of the Aurora Borealis (e.g., by monitoring THIS NOAA WEBSITE).
In case of truly inclement weather, we will continue our indoor sessions, emphasizing how to design and plan with Stellarium, Planit, PhotoPills and The Photographer’s Ephemeris.
MOONSET 2 (6:58 am)/DAY SESSION TWO / MOONRISE 2 (4:19 pm) - Friday, November 15
5:30 am - 7:30 am Drive to a nearby location for your second moonset. Again, you will have the opportunity to capture wide and/or telephoto moonset images, moonset sequences, the sunrise and time-lapses.
9 am - noon Our daytime sessions continue, You will spend the day in our private meeting room reviewing your images from the previous field sessions and applying post-processing methods to enhance them. You’ll also learn more about night photography, including additional aspects of astronomy. We will start (if we haven’t already begun) learning about planning night photography session for maximum efficiency, using Stellarium, Planit Pro and other tools.
2:30 pm - 10 pm After a brief meeting in the meeting room, we will drive to a new location to take the best advantage of the weather and the interests of the group to capture the sunset and moonrise. You will continue to develop your newly acquired skills as you enjoy another wonderful evening under the night sky.
MOONSET 3 (8:24 am) /DAY SESSION THREE / MOONRISE 3 (4:59 pm) - Saturday, November 16
6:30 am - 9:30 am Drive to a nearby location for your third moonset. Again, you will have the opportunity to capture wide and/or telephoto moonset images, moonset sequences, the sunrise and time-lapses.
10:30 am - 12:30 pm We return to the meeting room to continue our astrophotography image enhancement and post-processing projects. You will learn how to plan astrophotography projects in detail using Mike’s Night Photography Plan template. You will have the opportunity to ask more about topics of special interest to you.
3 pm - 10 pm Again, after a brief meeting in the meeting room, we will drive to a new location to take the best advantage of the weather to capture the sunset and moonrise. Tonight is the night we might catch a few early Leonid meteors! You will continue to develop your newly acquired skills as you enjoy yet another evening under the night sky.
MOONSET 4 (9:42 am) /DAY SESSION FOUR / MOONRISE 4 (5:50 pm) - Sunday, November 17
8:00 am - 10:30 am Drive to a nearby location for our final moonset. Again, you will have the opportunity to capture wide and/or telephoto moonset images, moonset sequences, the sunrise and time-lapses.
Noon (Option) Meet for a group lunch at a nearby spot.
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Return to the meeting room to share our favorite images from the workshop and tie up any loose ends. Hard to believe the past four days and nights have passed so quickly!
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm We will drive to our final location to capture the sunset and moonrise. You will continue to develop your newly acquired skills as you enjoy yet another evening under the night sky.
7:00 pm - Workshop concludes. We pile in our vehicles, head home and sleep (unless you head out on your own for the peak of the Leonid meteor shower!!!
Learning Environment:
Mike Shaw Photography workshops are known for their in-depth explanations of essential and highly advanced topics in a friendly, supportive environment. If this is your first one, you will be pleasantly surprised by the welcoming and collaborative atmosphere. These are not competitive, goal-driven events; instead, you will have ample opportunity to explore whatever topic(s) you are most interested in, surrounded by enthusiastic, like-minded individuals. The small group size and Mike’s deep knowledge and extensive teaching experience ensure a genuinely unparalleled learning experience with lots of personal attention. Most workshops feature at least 50% past attendees - for very good reasons!
Workshop Accommodations & Venue
Our workshop is based at the Country Inn and Suites in Roseville, Minnesota (see map below). We have arranged for a block of single King Studio Rooms at a special rate of only $119.00 per night. You can make your reservation at the phone number below - be sure to mention our workshop to get the special room rate.
Country Inn and Suites
2740 E Snelling Service Dr, Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 628-3500
Of course, you are also free to stay at other nearby hotels or at home if you live nearby. Please contact us if you require assistance with accommodations.
Workshop Pricing
$1,995/Person
Workshop Includes:
Four nights of professional nightscape and time-lapse guiding and instruction for images and time-lapses of the November full moon, Leonid meteors, the Aurora Borealis, star trails, panoramas and more!
Four days of private, small-group classroom sessions on astrophotography, astronomy and image editing, including how to use the Planit Pro app to perfectly design your image
Mike’s original Night Shooting Plan template and instructions for its use
Options to experiment with astrophotography specialty accessories - filters, focusing aides, trackers, panorama heads, and more
Workshop Guide with a complete gear list and other useful information
Workshop Does Not Include:
Hotel accommodations - you can select a room at the workshop hotel from a block reserved for our workshop (above). There are also many other hotel options nearby. Please contact us if you need assistance
Transportation to/from your home to the workshop meeting locations
Meals, beverages & snacks
Workshop Registration, Payment, and Next Steps
To Register for This Workshop:
Click the “BOOK NOW” button above to register and pay for the workshop. You will be asked to provide your name and contact details, along with the option of either a Full Payment or a 50% Deposit Payment. You will also be asked to electronically sign the standard release waiver during checkout. You can review the waiver HERE.
Within 24 hours, you will receive a confirmation email stating that your registration information & payment has been received, and that your spot in the workshop is secure - welcome aboard!
Next Steps:
You will receive your Workshop Guide once your Full Payment is received. The Workshop Guide has the complete workshop itinerary, venue, gear & software lists, maps, and other important details. Please review it carefully and contact us right away with any questions.
Balance Payment - Your Balance Payment is due no later than 90 days (August 14) before the workshop begins if you made a Deposit Payment during your initial registration. If you initially made a Full Payment then you’re all set!
Hotel room - You should make your room reservation at the venue hotel as soon as possible. You can stay anywhere else in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area you choose, of course.
Airfare / rental vehicle - You will want to make these reservations at your convenience.
Practice - Now is a great time to start practicing with your camera, especially in the dark. See “Know Your Camera” in the “How to Prepare” section below.
Finally - please contact me right away with any questions. I am here to help!
Cancellation Policy
Recommended Gear
(You will receive a detailed gear list in your Workshop Guide when you register)
Camera Gear - the Essentials:
DSLR or mirrorless camera with the ability to manually focus and manual set the exposure (ISO, f-stop & shutter speed)
Lens(es). While any lens will work just fine, telephoto lenses with focal lengths of 200 mm or higher will allow you to create images with a proportionately larger moon
Tripod / ballhead - the sturdier the better
Attachment plate for your camera/ballhead and hex wrench/screwdriver for tightening
Headlamp with a red bulb
Extra batteries
Extra memory cards
Lens/sensor cleaning kits
Camera & other operating manuals
Allen key and other tools for making adjustments
Camera/gear backpack
Camera Gear - Nice to Have:
Loupe for focusing
Tiffen Double Fog 3 lens filter
External intervalometer (wired - wireless not recommended)
Extra flashlight
Apps
Planit Pro (basic version - $9.99) and PhotoPills installed on a smart phone or tablet.
Gaia and Google Maps
Stellarium
Personal Gear:
Snacks
Water
Portable chair - definitely worth its weight!
Hand warmers (optional - we will have these available)
Laptop for downloading & editing your images during the class sessions
Warm clothes in layers - just ask Mike if you have questions
Warm winter boots, socks, winter hat, neck protection & gloves - just ask Mike if you have questions
Warm winter coat, snow pants & windproof coat - just ask Mike if you have questions
How to Prepare
Physical Fitness:
This workshop involves minimal hikes (quarter-mile or less) from our vehicles to the shooting locations. Please let us know if you have any concerns at all in this regard.
Know Your Camera:
Knowing how to operate your camera before your workshop allows you to enjoy your time in the field creating images. Time spent practicing at home will yield major returns when you’re in the field. For example, you would be able to spend more time on your astrophotography if you already knew how to:
Set the ISO, aperture and. shutter speed in manual mode (M). For example, settings for a well-exposed full moon are ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/200 sec (regardless of the time of night or foreground illumination).
Set your focus mode from autofocus to manual focus, and back again
Display the image histogram on the LCD screen
Display the image histogram in image review
(For DSLR cameras) Enable live view on the LCD screen
Magnify the live view shown on the LCD screen
The level of preparation needed is different for everyone, so if there is anything you’re unsure of, please just ask.
Gear:
A little time at home preparing your gear and electronics will give you peace of mind once you’re in the field and potentially away from reliable internet access.
Review the gear list in your Workshop Guide (provided when you register)
Clean your camera lenses and sensors
Charge your batteries
Find and pack/download your camera’s User Manual
Download and update all the software you expect to use; again, see the Workshop Guide. You definitely don’t want to waste valuable workshop time on these tasks!
Confirm you have all the necessary charging cords needed for your electronics
Set your camera so that it will only function with a memory card installed
