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I am so excited to share this next chapter of astrophotography knowledge, that is star trail capture. This class will go over the basic settings and best practices for shooting the night sky, with an emphasis on star trails. We will cover the two most common methods of capturing star trails; single exposure (pictured below) and multiple stacked exposures (picture above). We will talk about the pros and cons of each, and when is the best time to use either method.

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Who, what, when, where, why

This workshop will include 6 hours of in-field instruction, as well as 4 hours of in-class, post-production instruction the following day. We will have plenty of time to capture a variety of star trails, and then edit the next day. There is also a "make-up" day, in the situation of uncooperative weather. If it is partially cloudy, we will continue to shoot, and only make use of the make-up day if it is completely overcast with no visible stars. This workshop is limited to 6 participants and the location, TBA, will be within San Luis Obispo County.

What do you need to know going into this?

All skill levels are welcome. The more you know about your camera and the editing software, the further ahead you will be than others at all stages. If we need to talk about ISO, shutter speed, and aperture at the base level, we can absolutely do that. We will definitely be talking about these very important concepts and how they relate to photographing the night sky and star trails. Any and all questions relating to this will be answered. Don't worry about getting behind!

What gear do you need?

-A digital camera with high ISO capability, at least ISO 3200

Recommendations: Canon 6D, 5D Mark III, Nikon D600/610, D800

-Wide angle lens, widest and fastest possible, bring telephoto lenses to experiment

Recommendations: Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, Canon 16-35mm, Nikon 14-24mm

-Sturdy tripod

Recommendations: Really Right Stuff Series 2 or Series 3 tripod, BH-40 or BH-55 ballhead. I also recommend an L-plate for your camera to easily mount in vertical orientation; useful for Milky Way shooting.

-Shutter release cable (required)

Recommendations: There are many third-party options available, but the factory issue remotes are typically the highest quality.

-Flashlight/headlamp and extra batteries

Recommendations: Your choice, but any light with a red LED will help preserve your night vision.

-Snacks, water, money for food

Recommendations: water will be provided for the field instruction. For snack, whatever keeps your blood flowing. High protein and lower carb snacks will sustain you better through the evening. Can’t go wrong with mixed nuts and water. On Saturday, you will need to bring money for lunch, as we will be working through lunch time.

-Laptop with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop (recommended but not required)

If you do not have a laptop, please bring a notepad so you can benefit from the in-class portion of the instruction.

What is the goal of the group session?

The group session is designed to lead you from start to finish; from capturing a star trail in the field to post-production and editing on your computer, to create a final image. Includes 10 hours of total combined instruction. We will go over basic concepts and best practices for shooting. This will be applied in the field, and I will work with each person one-on-one to ensure that you walk away with photographs you can treasure. When the instruction is complete, you will have final edited photos of the night sky to enjoy, print, and share.

Will you be photographing the Milky Way?

Yes and no. The Milky Way's position in the sky is moving constantly throughout the year and October is the last month in which the core of the Milky Way is visible. When we begin shooting, the Milky Way will be visible in the sky for a few hours, but it will not be the most photogenic portion of the Milky Way. The emphasis of this workshop is on star trails, rather than capturing the Milky Way.

Group Session: $250/person

Where:

TBA, within San Luis Obispo County

When:

-Friday, November 14th, 6 PM to Midnight : field instruction
-Saturday, November 15th, 10 AM to 2 PM : post-production/editing instruction
-Saturday, November 15th, 6 PM to Midnight : make-up day for weather

Click "buy now" below to reserve your spot:

If you can't make it to this workshop, I would love to keep in touch about future workshops! Please join the email list to stay in the loop.

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