Utah’s National Parks
Night Photography Workshop
Moab, Utah
May 22 - 26, 2023
Sold Out - Join Waitlist Above
Four Day / Four Night Workshop
$1995
8 Participants Max
Workshop Highlights
Join Mike and a small group of seven other nightscape photographers in this immersive, four-day and four-night photography workshop in arguably the most iconic of all night photography locations - the red rock wildernesses of Utah’s National Parks!
New to night photography? This is the perfect workshop for you! You’ll learn everything you need to know to set up your camera and practice using it to capture stunning images of the Milky Way, stars, the Moon and much, much more at fantastic locations in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Trophy images for hanging over the fireplace guaranteed!
Got a star tracker and want to learn how to use it? You’ll have ample opportunity to do so, along with suggestions on the best night sky subjects for star trackers.
Finally, you’ll have four days to learn how to enhance your images through post-processing into trophies you’ll be excited to share with your family and friends.
Dr. Mike Shaw will be your workshop instructor and guide. He is the author of the acclaimed night photography books, “The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography,” and “Creative Nightscapes and Time-Lapses.” He hosts the annual Aurora Summit conference each year. He is also the co-creator of the video tutorials embedded in the Planit Pro app. He has personally selected each of your Utah National Park workshop locations!
Workshop highlights include:
Guided access to stunning wilderness settings with the darkest skies possible (Bortle Class 1 - 2)
Expert, personal instruction for creating stunning nightscape images of the Milky Way, star trails, constellations, panoramas, time-lapses and deep-sky objects; all at iconic Utah National Park destinations
Night hike to Delicate Arch to watch the Milky Way rise
Night hike to Mesa Arch for Milky Way panoramas and epic sunrise
Practical tips and techniques for astronomical observing; and photography tips to keep you and your camera safe, warm and functioning
Four days of in-depth classroom sessions on night photography & astronomy fundamentals, including techniques for image enhancement in post-processing
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) nighttime astrophotography sessions in the field. The classroom sessions involve presentations and hands-on practice. The night sessions are where you apply your planning expertise to capture deep-sky and wide-angle astrophotography images.
Key Moments:
Sunset: 8:30 pm
Dark night: 10:20 pm - 4:10 am
Sunrise: 6:00 am
Night 1 (Monday, May 22) 6 pm - Workshop commences. We meet and greet one another during our orientation meeting at the Moab Valley Inn in Moab, Utah (map above). 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 (Monday, May 22) Following the Meet & Greet orientation, we will drive to a beautiful dark location within Arches or Canyonlands National Parks. Here, you will receive personal instruction on how to properly focus your camera in the dark, compose in the dark, and what are the best camera and exposure settings for night photography. You can also explore the effects of different lens focal lengths and lens filtersto the best composition and depth of field. After capturing a few trophy images we will return. In the event of extreme clouds or light rain, we will do our night photography sessions in a beautiful wilderness locations outside the National Parks where light painting is permitted.
Day 1 (Tuesday, May 23) You will spend time reviewing your images and applying night photography post-processing secrets in our private meeting room at the Moab Valley Inn. 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.
Night 2 (Tuesday, May 23) 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 images. We may alternatively have an early evening after sunset in preparation for an early morning Milky Way shoot - including stunning Milky Way panoramas over the incredible vistas in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Day 2 (Wednesday, May 24) We return to the meeting room to continue our image enhancement and post-processing projects. 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.
Night 3 (Wednesday, May 24) We keep an eye on the weather in case high-altitude cirrus clouds appear, giving us a canoe for an epic sunset with vivid, pink alpenglow-tinted clouds. After sunset and a quick dinner on the go, we prepare for our evening’s night photography projects at new locations in Arches and/or Canyonlands National Parks. Again, we may alternatively retire early in preparation of an early morning’s Milky Way session; or to catch an unforgettable sunrise through Mesa Arch.
Day 3 (Thursday, May 25) Today in the meeting room you continue your nightscape image projects, we learn about more advanced night photography techniques including image blending, panoramas, stacking for noise reduction, moon sequence images, and meteor shower composites.
Night 4 (Thursday, May 25) Tonight we reap the benefit of our experience during the past three nights. We select the best new spots to visit, or perhaps some favorites to return to, and fill out our repertoire of nightscape images. We may choose to stay up through dawn; or again, catch an early night’s sleep for an early morning Milky Way panorama that is impossible to capture at any other time of year.
Day 4 (Friday, May 26) We complete our nightscape image projects from the workshop in our private meeting room and tie up any remaining loose ends regarding night photography technique. Hard to believe the past for days have passed so quickly!
Day 4 (Friday, May 26) 5:00 pm - Workshop concludes. We pile in our vehicles, head home and sleep!
NOTE - This workshop involves ~ 2 days of hiking distances up to 3 miles along flat to steep terrain at elevations of around 5000’ - 6000'. If you have any questions about your fitness level, don't hesitate to contact us immediately.
Workshop Structure
We’ll first meet at 6 pm on Monday, May 22, 2023 in the lobby of the Moab Valley Inn in Moab, Utah (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.
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 (for wind protection), a warm hat and gloves. It can get surprisingly cold late at night! Hand warmers are often welcome.
Workshop Venue & Accommodations
Our workshop is based at the Moab Valley Inn in Moab, Utah (see map):
711 South Main Street | Moab, Utah 84532
Phone: (435) 259-4419 | Fax: (435) 259-4332
www.moabvalleyinn.com
For your convenience, we have arranged for a block of rooms at the Moab Valley Inn with at a special rate of $170 per night. Just call the Moab Valley Inn and mention the Mike Shaw Photography workshop to access this rate.
We will meet in The Canyonlands Meeting Room at the Moab Valley Inn during the day on Tuesday, May 23 - Friday, May 26, 2023. Here, we will review and enhance your images, work on time-lapse videos and learn basic & advanced nightscape photography techniques.
Pricing
$1995/Person
Workshop Includes:
Four nights of professional photography guiding and instruction under an authorized use permit with the US National Park Service
Four days of private classroom sessions on night photography, astronomy and image enhancement
The original Night Shooting Plan and instructions for use
Options to experiment with night photography specialty accessories
Welcome Packet with a complete gear list and other useful information
Workshop Does Not Include:
Hotel accommodations, if needed. You can select a room at the Moab Valley Inn from a block reserved for our workshop. 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
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.
Workshop Registration, Payment, and Next Steps
To Register for This Workshop:
Click the “BOOK NOW” button below 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 and Covid-19 vaccine confirmation during checkout. You can review the waiver and Covid-19 vaccine confirmation 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 Welcome Packet once your Full Payment is received. The Welcome Packet 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. You can stay anywhere else in Moab 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 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(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
Programmable cable shutter release for long (several minute) exposures. I don’t recommend “wireless” shutter release devices since they often don’t work in the field
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
Extra flashlight
Personal Gear:
Snacks
Water
Portable chair - definitely worth its weight!
Hand warmers (optional - we will have these available)
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Insect repellent (you never know!)
Laptop for downloading & editing your images during the class sessions
Warm clothes in layers
Warm boots, hat & gloves
Warm jacket & raincoat
How to Prepare
Physical Fitness:
This workshop involves ~2 days of hiking distances up to 3 miles along flat to steep terrain at elevations of around 6000'. If you have any questions about your fitness level, don't hesitate to contact us immediately.
Know Your Camera:
If you’ve never used a star tracker before, no problem - that’s why you’re taking this workshop! Just bring it along with the owner’s manual and we will get you set up and shooting in no time.
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)
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 Welcome Packet (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 Welcome Packet. 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
