California Nightscapes,
June Lake, California
June 22-26, 2022
Four Day / Four Night Workshop
$1795
16 Participants Max, 2 Instructors (8 per Instructor)
Workshop Highlights
This knowledge-packed Master Class in night photography and time-lapses is offered by renowned nightscape pioneer Babak Tafreshi, Director and Founder of “The World At Night (TWAN) and National Geographic Photographer and night photography educator Dr. Mike Shaw, author of “The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography,” and “Creative Nightscapes and Time-Lapses.” Mike hosts the annual Aurora Summit conference each year, and is also the co-creator of the video tutorials in the Planit Pro app
Based in in the High Sierra town of June Lake, California, our shooting destinations include dark skies over alpine lakes, rugged high desert landscapes and other scenery well off the beaten path. You will be shooting from before sunset until late at night to capture the widest possible range of nightscape subjects.
Portable star trackers are also included in the program; you will learn when you need a star tracker, how to set one up and polar align it; and then how to use it with night sky targets. You'll also learn star tracker best practices/tips, helpful apps, common problems/solutions and star tracker camera settings.
Indoor seminar sessions during the day will cover it all – from the best phases of the moon, little-known night sky objects, how to create stunning star trail images and immense, gigapixel panoramas, state-of-the-art light-painting; when, where and how to shoot the Milky Way, how to create spectacular, “Holy Grail” time-lapse videos featuring the transitions of sunrise and sunset, and more.
You will become expert in applying the latest apps and tools for precision planning your nightscape image sessions. You will also learn specialized techniques for post-processing your images and image sequences for remarkable, trophy images and time-lapses.
NOTE: Owing to the tight schedule, there is not enough time for basic instruction in Lightroom or Photoshop during the workshop, or how to operate your camera in manual exposure mode and manually focus it. You will get the most out of this workshop if you come prepared with these skills; or enroll in the pre-workshop Bootcamp (see above) to brush up!
Workshop Itinerary
OPTIONAL Pre-Workshop Night Photography Boot Camp (Wednesday, June 22) 10 am - 4 pm - Get fully prepared for your night photography later that same night! Master the basics – how to focus at night, best camera settings and techniques, basic introduction to Lightroom and Photoshop (if needed) and any other night photography fundamentals.
Night 1 (Wednesday, June 22) 6 pm - Workshop Commences. We meet and greet one another during our orientation meeting in the lobby of the Double Eagle Resort and Spa (map above). Babak and Mike will give a workshop overview and rough agenda. We’ll discuss your goals for the workshop, and the camera systems you’re using.
Night 1 (Wednesday, June 22): Following the Meet & Greet orientation, we will drive to a beautiful dark location within an hour or so of the Double Eagle Resort and Spa. Here, you will receive personal instruction on how to capture fantastic images of the starry night sky, Milky Way and more. We will return to the Double Eagle Resort and Spa around 2 am.
Day 1 (Thursday, June 23): You will spend time in the Bodie Room at the Double Eagle Resort reviewing your images and learning post-processing secrets. You’ll also learn more about the basics of night photography, including a review of the fundamentals of astronomy. You will have ample time to have all your questions answered in a friendly, supportive environment.
Nights 2, 3 and 4 (Thursday - Saturday, June 23 - 25): We will drive to a new location to take the best advantage of the weather and the interests of the group. You will continue to develop your newly acquired skills as you enjoy a wonderful evening under the night sky capturing breathtaking image and time-lapses. You will have opportunities to explore different night photography accessories, including light pollution filter and sky trackers.
Days 2, 3, and 4 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 24 - 26): On Friday and Saturday, we return to the classroom to continue our image review and post-processing. You will also learn more about specific night photography topics of interest to you. Your Welcome Packet includes a questionnaire for you to provide us with the subjects you are the most interested in learning about. Saturday is a break to catch up on sleep, image processing, or to explore the beautiful High Sierra trails, lakes and mountains on your own.
Day 4 (Sunday, June 26): 5:00 pm - Workshop concludes. We pile in our vehicles, head home and sleep!
Workshop Structure
We’ll first meet at 6 pm on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in the lobby of the Double Eagle Resort in June Lake, California (See map below). We will depart for your first session of night photography after this meeting.
You should arrive in your own vehicle for transportation throughout the workshop, or carpool with a friend. There are no significant hikes as part of this workshop, and you will have easy access to your vehicle throughout the workshop.
Food is not included in this workshop. You are free to bring your own food, as well as visit any of the nearby restaurants or shops.
Be sure to bring warm clothes, warm boots or shoes, a raincoat, a warm hat and gloves. It can get surprisingly cold late at night! Hand warmers are often welcome.
Workshop Venue and Accommodations
Your workshop is based in the Double Eagle Resort in June Lake, California. All daytime class sessions will be held in the Bodie Conference Room at the Double Eagle Resort.
Double Eagle Resort
5587 CA-158, June Lake, CA 93529
Phone: (760) 648-7004
For your convenience, a block of rooms/cabins will be set aside for you to reserve at the Double Eagle Resort in June Lake. The rooms/cabins are available first come, first served. Breakfast is not included. You will be notified once the room block is available for reservation later in 2021.
Alternative lodging option - Whispering Pines Hotel
Situated directly across the street from the Double Eagle Resort, the Whispering Pines Hotel offers a convenient, lower-cost lodging alternative:
Whispering Pines Hotel
18 Nevada St, June Lake, CA 93529
Phone: (760) 648-7762
And of course, you are free to make hotel reservations elsewhere in nearby June Lake, only a 7-minute drive from the Double Eagle Resort. June Lake is regarded as the “Switzerland of California” - a wonderfully picturesque, small town at the base of the Sierra Nevada known for easy access to skiing, mountain biking and hiking.
Pricing
$1795/Person
Workshop Includes:
Four nights of night photography guiding and instruction throughout the workshop
Three days of indoor sessions in our private meeting room, including image post-processing / image review sessions
The original Night Shooting Plan and instructions for use
Welcome Packet with a complete gear list and other useful information
Workshop Does Not Include:
Hotel accommodations. You may select a room at the Double Eagle Resort from a block reserved for our workshop; details will be available later in 2021. There are also other options nearby as described in the Welcome Packet you’ll receive when you register. Please contact us if you need assistance
Transportation to/from your home to the workshop meeting locations
Meals, beverages & snacks
As you complete your registration and payment process, you will be given the choice of either paying the full amount or a 50% deposit. If you pay the deposit, the balance payment is due no later than 90 days prior to arrival.
Recommended Gear Lists
(You will receive a detailed gear list in your Welcome Packet 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. An 18-55 mm kit lens works just fine. Also great are a wide-angle lens (in the 14 - 24 mm range) or a mid-range lens (in the 24 - 70 mm range)
Tripod / ballhead - the sturdier the better
Headlamp with a red bulb
Extra batteries
Extra memory cards
Lens/camera cleaning kit
Camera & other operating manuals
Camera Gear - Nice to Have:
Loupe for focusing
Cable release
Tiffen Double Fog 3 lens filter
External intervalometer
Extra flashlight
Personal Gear:
Snacks
Water
Portable chair
Hand warmers
Laptop for downloading & editing your images during the class sessions
Warm clothes in layers
Warm boots, hat & gloves
Warm jacket & raincoat
