TOTALITY 2024
Total Solar Eclipse
Astrophotography / Astronomy Workshop
San Antonio, Texas
Five-Day / Six-Night Workshop
April 4 - 10, 2024
$3,895 - $4,295 Single Occupancy
Six Nights’ Accommodations Included
Includes 3 Pre-Workshop Group Zoom Prep Meetings
Longest Totality in the USA
Lowest Cloud Probability in the USA
Experience totality from our private, site nestled in the Texas hill country!
A total solar eclipse is THE apex of astronomical events. And total solar eclipses within the continental United States are few and far between.
Words cannot describe the feeling of watching the moon obscure the sun, suddenly creating what appears to be a portal into the sky that’s over all too quickly. The entire landscape darkens enough to see bright planets and stars, the air cools noticeably, gusty winds pick up, and confused animals and birds chatter noisily in the background.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in nature’s most stunning and awe-inspiring event from within the USA is tailored to your needs. It is custom designed to immerse yourself in the indescribable beauty of totality, without distractions, in a beautiful natural environment. You can rehearse and fully concentrate on the aspects of the eclipse that are most important to you.
You will arrive on Thursday, April 4, 2024. This gives us three full days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) to plan, practice and prepare for the eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. We will then spend time editing your images on Tuesday, April 9, then departing before 11 am on Wednesday, April 10.
You will also have six full nights to explore the astrophotography and astronomy of the Milky Way from our low latitude. You will have unparalleled views of the Milky Way core, Omega Centauri, and other low-latitude treasures hidden at higher latitudes.
Finally, the very nature of this event is geared towards a relaxing yet deeply meaningful personal experience. You will have plenty of opportunities to explore the area, if you wish, and enjoy a break from your day-to-day routine at home. Local recreational activities include hiking, swimming, horseshoes, and of course, sleeping! What more could you ask for!
TOTALITY 2024 Workshop Highlights:
Over 4 full minutes of totality, almost the maximum possible in the USA
Lowest probability of clouds in the USA
Ample opportunity to hone and refine your eclipse plan during three practice days
Six nights accommodations included
TOTALITY 2024 Photography Highlights:
Tracked Telephoto Eclipse Photography Options (Requires a star tracker - not provided):
HDR blend of totality to include earthshine on the moon and solar corona
Bailey’s Beads
Diamond ring
Solar prominences
Partial eclipse timelapse
Multi-image eclipse progressions & sequences
& more!
Untracked Wide-Angle:
Single exposure at totality
Sequence of partial phases through totality
Time-lapse of partial eclipse sequence
Time-lapse of totality
Partial eclipse blends of filtered/unfiltered images
& more!
Astrophotography Options (Untracked):
Milky Way nightscapes
Star trails
Constellations
Panoramas
Blue hour blends
Astrophotography Options (Tracked - requires a star tracker; not provided):
Galaxies
Emission nebulae
Open & globular star clusters
Deepscapes
Deep-sky panoramas
& more!
Workshop Structure & Itinerary
Daytime Eclipse Sessions and Night Photography Sessions:
This workshop has two components: (i) Daytime eclipse practice/image editing sessions and (ii) nighttime astrophotography sessions.
DAY / NIGHT ONE, Thursday, April 4:
4 - 7 pm We arrive, check into our rooms, unpack, and prepare for an optional night of astrophotography.
7 - 8 pm We gather for introductions and an orientation meeting.
8 pm - 1 am We enjoy a wonderful night of astrophotography. Deep-sky targets will include the Rho Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud complex, the Lagoon, Trifid, Eagle, and Swan Nebulae near the Milky Way’s galactic core, the North American Nebula and the gamma-Sadr emission region, the Helix Nebula, and more. Wide-angle targets will include sections of the Milky Way, constellations, and star trails.
Optionally, we will set up our star trackers to practice solar tracking tomorrow.
DAY / NIGHT TWO, Friday, April 5:
10 am - 4 pm We will practice our solar eclipse observing and photography skills during the same time period as the actual eclipse on Monday (roughly noon - 3 pm). We will use our solar filters to photograph the (uneclipsed) sun at the same times as the different stages of the eclipse. We will also see when and how it is possible to photograph scenes including the sun without a solar filter (hint, not often!). A key goal is to establish the camera settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speeds) you will use during the eclipse.
We will develop a minute-by-minute plan for the eclipse, including when to install/remove solar filters, what exposure settings to use, and when to bracket our exposures.
4 pm - 7 pm Break
7 pm - 1 am Night photography continues!
Optionally, we will set up our star trackers to practice solar tracking tomorrow.
DAY / NIGHT THREE Saturday, April 6:
10 am - 4 pm We will repeat our practice of our solar eclipse observing and photography skills. Today we will attempt a simulated complete eclipse sequence starting from an uneclipsed sun at noon and going through totality to an uneclipsed sun ending at 3 pm. We will discuss how to process our images into a sequence.
We will refine our minute-by-minute plan for the eclipse, including when to install/remove solar filters, what exposure settings to use, and when to bracket our exposures.
Optionally, we will use our star trackers to practice solar tracking and photography.
4 pm - 7 pm Break
7 pm - 1 am Night photography continues!
Optionally, we will set up our star trackers to practice solar tracking tomorrow.
DAY / NIGHT FOUR, Sunday, April 7:
10 am - 4 pm We will repeat our final practice of our solar eclipse observing and photography skills in preparation for the total eclipse tomorrow. Today we will repeat our attempt at a simulated complete eclipse sequence starting from an uneclipsed sun at noon and going all the way through totality to an uneclipsed sun ending at 3 pm.
We will finalize our minute-by-minute plan for the eclipse, including when to install/remove solar filters, what exposure settings to use, and when to bracket our exposures.
Optionally, we will use our star trackers to practice solar tracking and photography.
4 pm - 7 pm Break
7 pm - 1 am Night photography continues…but not too late since we want to get a good night’s sleep for tomorrow’s eclipse.
DAY FIVE, Monday, April 8:
NOTE - Depending on the weather, we may make a snap decision the night before to arise early on Monday and drive to a new location with a better cloud forecast for the eclipse.
9 am - 4 pm We will enjoy and photograph the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse!
4 pm - 7 pm Celebrations and a break!
7 pm - 1 am Night photography continues.
DAY SIX, Tuesday, April 9:
10 am - 4 pm We will complete our solar eclipse processing projects, relax, and catch up on loose ends.
4 pm - 7 pm Break
7 pm - 1 am Final night of night photography.
DAY SEVEN:
Wednesday, April 10, 9 am - 11 am
We prepare to leave and depart by 11 am.
11 am - Workshop concludes. We pile in our vehicles, head home and sleep!
Workshop Accommodations & Venue
This event is currently full
We will gladly add you to the waitlist, in case of cancellation
Pricing
$3,895 - $4,295 Single Occupancy/Person
Workshop Includes:
Opportunity to experience and photograph the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024
Six nights of private accommodation
Three days of guided practice of your eclipse photography
Six nights of guided landscape and deep-sky astrophotography
One full day of post-eclipse professional image editing
Three pre-workshop group zoom prep meetings
Membership in our private WhatsApp TOTALITY group upon registration
Detailed learning sessions with the Planit Pro app
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:
Transportation to/from your home to the workshop locations
Meals, beverages, snacks and alcohol
