What will I learn in the field?
- Camera settings for night photography
- How to focus at night
- How to shoot star trails
- How (and why and when) to use an intervalometer
- Using PhotoPills to plan your night shots
- How to shoot panoramic pictures in landscape photography
- How to light paint foreground objects for landscape photography shots
- Understanding hyperfocal distance
- How to look for composition of a night image
- Understanding composite images and shooting during blue hour
Post-Processing:
I am available for questions during the days. Workshops in the fall will have a hands-on post-processing session. Attendees will have access to post-processing videos. Videos include:
I am available for questions during the days. Workshops in the fall will have a hands-on post-processing session. Attendees will have access to post-processing videos. Videos include:
- Using Lightroom and Photoshop for post-processing night photography pictures
- Lightroom: Upload and organization
- Lightroom: Basic editing for Milky Way images - global and local edits
- Lightroom: Advanced Editing: Luminosity Masking
- Lightroom: Editing batches of pictures for import into stacking software or Photoshop
- Photoshop: import from Lightroom for advanced editing for Milky Way, including masking, dodge and burning, and luminosity masking.
- Photoshop: Layering for Focus Stacking for day or night landscape photography
- Photoshop: Layering for exposure blending
- Photoshop: Import from Lightroom for stacking (layering) for star trails
- Creating and stitching panoramic pictures from Lightroom or Photoshop.
- StarStax: Import from Lightroom for stacking for star trails
- Stacking for Noise Reduction in Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac) or Sequitor (PC)
What does the workshop include? Not include?
Workshop includes my knowledge of Big Bend and the lessons I have learned over the years shooting at night sky in Big Bend. Attendees will get access to a video bank of past post-processing lessons from previous workshops as well as the workshop you attend. Attendees must take care of their own park entrance fees, travel, food, and lodging.
Workshop includes my knowledge of Big Bend and the lessons I have learned over the years shooting at night sky in Big Bend. Attendees will get access to a video bank of past post-processing lessons from previous workshops as well as the workshop you attend. Attendees must take care of their own park entrance fees, travel, food, and lodging.
What equipment is required?
Here's the bare minimum (but when you sign up, I will send you much more information on recommended items to bring):
Here's the bare minimum (but when you sign up, I will send you much more information on recommended items to bring):
- Camera - DSLR or Mirrorless that can go completely manual mode
- Lens - preferably a wide angle lens (10mm - 24mm) with an aperture of at least 2.8 or bigger (smaller number)
- Sturdy Tripod
- Small hand-held white light (headlamps with red lights are not recommended)
What's the payment and cancelation policy?
Click here to view the payment and cancelation policy.
Click here to view the payment and cancelation policy.
Where do you recommend we find lodging?
Lodging can be tricky - as places are either great and expensive or a rough and still expensive. I've staying in many places in the area and will list my favorites:
Study Butte (closest to the entrance to the National Park):
There are also many AirBnB rentals available in Terlingua and Study Butte. If you choose a place to stay that is "just down a dirt road," be aware that some roads require 10 - 20 mph due to their condition. At 3 am, 5 - 8 miles on these roads will feel like an eternity.
Lodging can be tricky - as places are either great and expensive or a rough and still expensive. I've staying in many places in the area and will list my favorites:
Study Butte (closest to the entrance to the National Park):
- La Casitas at Far Flung - $$$ - Very nice cabins and a pool! They recently changed owners and the deposit is your entire stay without refund. Not sure why they did this - but take your chances.
- Mel's Place - $$ - Mel has one off gris cabin that faces the park. Amazing spot!!! Highly recommend. Must be okay with compost toilet.
- Big Bend Station - $ - Not necessarily my favorite - but they do provide refund if cancel within specific timeline. A bit rough, but they have remodeled over the last two years. I haven't stayed there since - so not sure how much better it really is. A bit rough from a customer service point of view - oh and the A/C caught on fire once at 3:00 am in my room. However, when no one else has room, they usually do. Go figure.
- La Posada Milagro Guesthouse - $$ - Best view in town on the patios. One of my favorite places to stay - just down the path from the best coffee and breakfast burrito you will ever have in Texas.
There are also many AirBnB rentals available in Terlingua and Study Butte. If you choose a place to stay that is "just down a dirt road," be aware that some roads require 10 - 20 mph due to their condition. At 3 am, 5 - 8 miles on these roads will feel like an eternity.