Sunset, Seascape and Astrophotography Workshops - Capturing the Central Coast
I am ecstatic to be able to offer both seascape and astrophotography workshops in Central California. Most workshops take place in San Luis Obispo County, but I'm available for remote group sessions, and occasionally offer workshops in Kern County. Join the email newsletter below to be the first to know about upcoming workshops. Contact me for travel rates for one-on-one and group sessions.
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What Students are saying:
".... I can say without doubt it's best photography workshop I ever took. His planning was immaculate and he was constantly in touch with the participants providing weather and location updates until an hour before the workshop. He selected 3 locations for the shoot (from the most to least desirable) and we ended up going to the 3rd location because of the weather. If he hadn't planned, we would have come back with cloudy skies. He spent the first hour explaining camera settings and exposure which was above and beyond any paid workshops (including Nikon) I'd been to. We didn't have worry about the camera settings for the rest of the night. I'd strongly recommend his workshop..."
-Senthil
"...It was excellent, he provided all the information with on the scene instruction as well as thorough notes. The workshop was small and each person got a lot of one-on-one instruction and help. The next day we met in a classroom for post-editing instruction. I enjoyed the workshop and would definitely recommend it..."
-Mimi
"...Brady Cabe presented an excellent astrophotography workshop in June at Carizzo Plain National Monument.! I have been on many outings with different photo leaders and Brady made a great impression on me. Quick response to many questions before the workshop. He scouted sites before the workshop and had backup plans in case the weather didn't cooperate with clear skies. For in the field instruction, he was very thorough instructing us with what we needed to know. He also gave us one-on-one attention for our individual needs. He made arrangements ahead of time for a modern private classroom and taught us many techniques for post-processing astrophotography images. He is very knowledgeable and patient. In addition, he followed up with many notes of the instruction material. And, what's more,he is a super nice guy. I will look forward excitedly to attending future workshops given by Brady Cabe of Cabe Creative. I can hardly wait! I would strongly recommend taking his workshops based on my recent experience..."
-Susan
"...I had the pleasure of taking Brady's astrophotography workshop in June 2015. Brady is a knowledgeable and well prepared instructor. He is also very flexible and ready to listen to the people he is instructing. I have been a photographer for many years, and yet Brady was able to give me valuable information and insight, that was new, and helps me in my creative endeavors.
I would recommend Brady Cabe for any class he may teach, because I know he will do all that is necessary, and required, to create a great experience for those involved!..."
-Dan
When?
Workshops are offered throughout the year, with astrophotography workshops scheduled during the late Spring through early Fall months; optimized for photographing the Milky Way. Join the newsletter to stay in the loop!
What do I need to know going into this?
Please note that these workshops are not intended for beginners, but we will go over basic concepts and how to operate our camera in manual exposure mode for different situations. Both astrophotography and seascapes are specialty fields, which will require some building blocks to be in place to fully appreciate all the course materials. In short; this class is not for someone who just purchased their first DSLR, but it is perfect for those who are beginning to shoot intentionally and want to learn next steps on capturing stunning sunsets and Milky Way images.
Check out the SLO Museum of Art for beginning photography classes.
The more you know about your camera and the editing software, the further ahead you will be than other students at all stages, but I will do everything in my power to ensure you are comfortable with all of the concepts discussed. Any and all questions relating to this will be answered. Don't worry about getting behind!
What gear do I need? (varies for seascapes/astrophotography)
- A digital camera with high ISO capability, at least ISO 3200. Recommendations: Canon 6D, 5D Mark III, Nikon D610, D750, D810
- Wide angle lens, widest and fastest (large aperture, i.e. f/2.8 or larger) possible for astrophotography. Recommendations: Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 (not useful for general landscape and working with square filters), Canon 16-35mm, Nikon 14-24mm (not useful for general landscape and working with square filters without a special adapter.)
- 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 and necessary for panorama shooting.
- Shutter release cable. Recommendations: There are many third-party options available that are worth evaluating. Choose one with many good reviews.
- Filter system. This can get fairly complex and options are specific to the camera/lens combination being used. I recommend Formatt-Hitech Filters of the following variety: 3 stop graduated ND filter, 3 stop reverse ND grad (sunsets), 3, 6, 10 and 16 stop ND filters, and a circular polarizer. I am happy to offer further advice, and I also recommend visiting Formatt's website for more information on how to outfit your lens. There are budget filter options to be found online, shop wisely.
- Flashlight/headlamp and extra batteries. Recommendations: Your choice, but any light with a red LED will help preserve your night vision for astrophotography sessions.
- Snacks and water. Recommendations: Some water will be provided. Bring snacks that keep 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. There will be no nap time :)
- Laptop with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop (recommended but not required) and StarStax (available as free download.) If you do not have a laptop, please bring a notepad so you can benefit from the in-class portion of the instruction.
Transportation Information
Please have your own method of transportation to the workshop location, and for use during our session. Due to weather or unforeseen events, the workshop location may change during the event, so please have access to transportation for the duration of the workshop.
What is the goal of the group session?
All group sessions are designed to lead you from start to finish; from taking the photo in the field to post-production and editing on your computer, to create a final image. We will go over basic concepts and best practices for shooting in a variety of conditions. 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. We will meet up for a post-processing workflow session using Adobe Lightroom and some Photoshop. When the instruction is complete, you will have final edited photos to enjoy, print, and share.
Will we be photographing the Milky Way?
The Milky Way's position in the sky is moving constantly throughout the year and will be rising above the horizon during our shooting time for the astrophotography sessions. We are purposefully starting in-field instruction during the twilight hours, so the basics can be covered before optimal shooting time, and the Milky Way can be successfully photographed as soon as it is dark enough and the Milky Way has risen. Can't wait!
One-On-One Sessions
One-On-One Sessions, available by appointment; contact for details. Spots are only limited by the number of good shooting days available and mid-week sessions are encouraged. Contact me if you want one-on-one instruction at some of the greatest locales the central coast has to offer. Send an email to discuss when and where, and I will send you an invoice to pay via credit card or PayPal once we have finalized a time and date.
Questions?
Send me an email with any questions you might have and let's sort it out. Thank you so much for stopping by!