Designer Nightscapes (and Eclipse!)
Photo Planning Workshop
Session I
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Friday - Sunday,
February 2 - 4, 2024
Optional Meet & Greet 7 - 8 pm, Thursday, February 1 in the lobby of the Country Inn & Suites, Roseville, MN
Three Day / Two Night Workshop
$995.00
10 Participants Max
Workshop Highlights
Learn how to design the perfect nightscape (and April 8 solar eclipse) image with Planit Pro, PhotoPills, Stellarium and other smartphone apps. You will never again be frustrated by not knowing what to expect in the dark. Instead, you’ll be at the right place, at the right time, with the right gear to capture your image right - the FIRST time!
And know you’re in good hands - Mike is the co-creator of the video tutorials embedded in the Planit Pro app!
You will learn how to design and execute basic and advanced night photography projects with the utmost precision. You planning will culmination with the creation of a Night Shooting Plan for each of your projects - Mike’s original creation that summarizes everything needed for your shot(s).
Potential projects include:
Milky Way
April 8, 2024, solar eclipse
Panoramas
Time-lapses
Solar and lunar eclipse sequences
Star trails
Deep-sky astrophotography of nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies
Sunrises/sunsets
Moonrises and moonsets
Meteor showers
Want to photograph the Milky Way, perfectly positioned in the sky? Planit Pro will show how your image will appear with your chosen focal length lens from your preferred shooting location will look on any date and time, anywhere in the world - including a realistic depiction of the actual local terrain! Would you like to find the exact time and date when the moon (any phase) or the sun will rise or set over your favorite landmark any time in the next fifty years? Easy! The Sun/Moon finder does just that. How about planning for the Orion Nebula or the Rho Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud to set right next to your favorite mountain top? No problem.
This workshop takes you through each step needed to design photography projects with the latest photo planning apps and software. You’ll begin with learning how to position the camera/scene pins and create basic and custom markers to represent structures like buildings and trees. You’ll then explore available planning tools - Moon & Sun Rise & Set, Twilight, Sun/Moon Position, Stars and Star Trails, Milky Way Center, Milky Way Seeker, Meteor Showers, Timelapse, Eclipses, Exposure, and many more.
Crucially, you’ll see how to use Planit’s Virtual Viewfinder to simulate the EXACT image you’ll capture, right down to the best focal length lens and the local terrain; AND the precise moment to press the shutter release button.
If you are planning on experiencing the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, this workshop will include a component on how to design your eclipse images and create a plan for capturing them.
Finally, you will apply what you’ve learned to photograph the constellation Leo rising on Saturday evening (weather permitting).
Dr. Mike Shaw will be your workshop instructor and field guide. Mike is the co-creator of the video tutorials embedded in the Planit Pro app.He is the author of the new book, “The Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography (2023)” and the night photography books, “The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography,” and “Creative Nightscapes and Time-Lapses.”
Workshop highlights include:
THREE days of indoor instruction on the Planit Pro app in our comfortable, private, executive meeting room in the Country Inn & Suites in Roseville, Minnesota
TWO nights of field practice, including constellations and deep-sky objects
Opportunity to create your custom plan(s) for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024
Expert, personal instruction for planning stunning nightscape and astrophotography images of the Milky Way, star trails, constellations, panoramas, time-lapses and deep-sky objects; anywhere in the world and for any date
Practical tips and techniques for astronomical observing; and photography
Mike’s original Night Photography Plan - template and instructions for its use
Workshop Structure & Itinerary
Daytime Class Sessions and Night Photography Field Sessions:
This workshop has two components: (i) Daytime classroom sessions in our private meeting room and (ii) night photography sessions in the field. The classroom sessions involve presentations and hands-on practice. The evening photography sessions are where you will apply your planning expertise to photograph night sky objects to compare with your plans.
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).
Sunset: 5:20 pm
Civil twilight ends: 5:50 pm
Nautical twilight ends: 6:30 pm
Astronomical twilight ends: 7:00 pm
Moonrise - Fri. night: 12:36 am
Moonrise - Sat. night: 1:46 am
OPTIONAL MEET & GREET
Thursday, February 1, 7 - 8 pm. Optional Meet & Greet meeting in the lobby of the Country Inn & Suites, Roseville, Minnesota. Meet your workshop colleague and share information about your goals for the workshop.
Friday, February 2 - DAY / NIGHT ONE
9 am - noon Workshop begins in our private meeting room at the Country Inn & Suite. Mike will give a workshop overview and agenda. You will have your first learning session with Planit, PhotoPills and Stellarium. You will learn about camera/scene pins, markers, setting up the app for your camera, how to change the date and time, how to change the lens focal length, how to access the Virtual Viewfinder, how to save a project as a plan with tasks, and more. You will also receive Mike’s Night Photography Plan template and learn how to use it.
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Afternoon session in our private meeting room, focusing on creating a detailed plan for the evening’s events. We will use the constellation Leo as our target.
3:30 pm - 10 pm Drive to a nearby location to experience/photograph sunset, twilight, and night sky objects. In case of truly inclement weather, we will conduct indoor or downtown cityscape practice sessions using Planit’s time-lapse, panorama, and depth-of-field tools.
Saturday, February 3 - DAY / NIGHT TWO
9 am - noon; 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Continue in our private meeting room in the Country Inn - review the prior evening’s experience. We will compare our planning expectations with our observations, and note any lessons learned. Will we continue with planning tools, including the Sun/Moon finder, exposure, depth-of-field calculators, dun/moon/eclipse sequence and time-lapse tools.
3:30 pm - 10 pm Drive to a nearby location to experience/photograph sunset, twilight, and night sky objects. In case of truly inclement weather, we will conduct indoor sessions or possibly cityscape time-lapses.
Sunday, February 5 - DAY THREE
9 am - noon; 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm We will continue learning Planit Pro, PhotoPills, Stellarium, and several mapping and terrestrial and space weather prediction apps. You will continue to learn how to plan projects with the Milky Way, panoramas, time-lapses, solar and lunar eclipse sequences, star trails, deep-sky astrophotography of nebulae, star clusters and galaxies, and meteor showers.
5:00 pm Workshop concludes.
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 likely be pleasantly surprised by the 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 roughly 50% returning attendees - for a good reason!
Workshop Accommodations & Venue
Our workshop is based at the Country Inn and Suites in Roseville, Minnesota (see map). We have arranged for a block of single King Suites at a special rate of only $119.00 per night. You can make your room reservation at the link below. 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.
Country Inn and Suites
2740 E Snelling Service Dr, Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 628-3500
Pricing
$995/Person
Workshop Includes:
Three full days of private, small-group classroom sessions on designing nightscape images, night photography gear & technique
Two nights of night photography and practicing with your night photography plans
Mike’s original Night Shooting Plan template for designing nightscape images and instructions for its use
Detailed learning sessions with Planit Pro, Photo Pills and several other planning and field apps
Opportunity to create your April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse plan(s)
Workshop Guide with a complete gear/apps/software list and other useful information
Workshop Does Not Include:
Hotel accommodations, if needed. You can select a room at the Country Inn & Suites from a block reserved for our workshop as described above. There are also many other 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 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.
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)
Apps
Planit Pro (basic version - $9.99) and PhotoPills installed on a smart phone or tablet.
Gaia and Google Maps
Stellarium
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). 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
Attachment plate for your camera/ballhead
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
Cable shutter release (I don’t recommend “wireless” shutter release devices since they occasionally don’t work in the field)
External intervalometer
Extra flashlight
Personal Gear:
Snacks
Water / hot drink in a thermos
Hand warmers
Laptop for downloading & editing your images during the class sessions
Winter clothes in layers
Winter boots, hat & gloves
Winter jacket
How to Prepare
Physical Fitness:
This workshop involves only short hikes (quarter-mile or less) over moderate terrain 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 should know how to:
Set the ISO, aperture and. shutter speed in manual mode (M)
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
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
