Night Sky/Milky Way Photography Workshops

RSVP'ing on Meetup does not register you for this event. To register for any of the workshops, visit http://www.3peaksphoto.com/westcliffeworkshops.html

2017 Night Sky/Milky Way Photography Workshops in Westcliffe - Westcliffe (http://wp.townofwestcliffe.com/) is the first town in Colorado and one of only 15 in the world that's designated as an International Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association, so it is an excellent place to view and photograph the night sky and the Milky Way. Workshop dates are 5/28, 6/24, 7/22, 8/20, 9/16 and are conducted on private property.

Westcliffe is a former mining town that is situated in the Wet Valley about 1.5 hours southwest of Colorado Springs. Westcliffe is an International Dark Sky Community (http://darksky.org/idsp/communities/thecliffs/), which makes it perfect for night-sky photography. The views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from Westcliffe are spectacular. Read more about Westcliffe (http://www.coloradoindependent.com/161131/dark-skies-light-pollution-westcliffe-silver-cliff)and watch this Today Show report by NBC's Harry Smith (http://www.today.com/news/colorado-town-goes-dark-let-milky-way-shine-bright-t105165). (http://www.coloradoindependent.com/161131/dark-skies-light-pollution-westcliffe-silver-cliff)

All attendees must sign a waiver and release agreement (http://www.3peaksphoto.com/Waiver%20and%20Release%20Agreement.pdf) to participate in these workshops.

Westcliffe sits at an elevation of 7,867 feet above sea level, and activities will take place between 7,800 and 9,000 feet. It is recommended that you first spend some time during your visit to Colorado at lower elevations and drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc/altitude-sickness-topic-overview#1).

We will meet at a restaurant in the Westcliffe area at 6 pm for dinner and instruction before heading into the field. The exact location and direction will be sent to all registrants. The plan is to be out photographing from sunset to sunrise. We will have breakfast at 7 am at the same restaurant.

We'll keep an eye on the weather, but we don't have any control over Mother Nature. If the sky is cloudy, we will spend more time photographing the barns on San Isabel Ranch and practicing light painting techniques.

What you will learn

Workshops will be limited to 10 people and will be lead by Mike Pach (http://www.3peaksphoto.com/about.html) with assistance from Don Savage. Keeping groups small will ensure that each participant gets the individual attention they need to learn ...

how to photograph the Milky Way and the stars as points of light.
how to photograph star trails.
light painting techniques (we will supply the lights needed).
how to post-process your images in Photoshop and Lightroom.

Learning materials will be provided to each participant prior to each workshop.

What to bring

Camera Gear

Camera - your camera should be capable of shooting at 3200 or 6400 ISO in order to get photos of the Milky Way and stars as points of light.

Camera manual

Extra batteries

Sturdy tripod

Remote

Lenses - Lenses in the 14-24mm range will produce good results for the night sky. You will need a lens that opens to f/4.0 or larger (1.2, 1.8, 2.8, etc.) in order to photograph the stars as points of light. Bring other lenses for sunset, sunrise and wildlife photos.

Other Gear

Warm clothes - It's best to dress in layers with insulating layers close to your body. Windproof jackets and pants are recommended to keep you warm in windy conditions.

Gloves and a winter hat - It's not unusual for temperatures to drop down into the 30's and 40's at high elevations during the summer months. Having these items will help keep you comfortable throughout the night.

Sturdy boots or hiking shoes - One of the shooting locations requires a short amount of hiking on rough terrain.

Rain gear - A lightweight poncho will do fine as well as a waterproof parka and waterproof pants.

Headlamp - One with a red lamp works best to not ruin anyone's night vision

Flashlight

Water - It's important to stay hydrated at high altitudes

Snacks

Breakfast

Those wishing to stick around for the sunrise portion of the workshop can join us at the Silver Cliff Mountain Inn for breakfast. Breakfast meals are not included in the price of the workshop.

Testimonials

"3 Peaks Photography provided access to several outstanding locations for night sky photography. I was extremely happy with the photographs I took." ~ Jim Schoedler

"Night Photography has always been elusive for me and having the small group experience where I could gain tips and try various techniques was amazing! Thank you Mike for the great tips and instruction!" ~ Lisa Kastelic

"Great workshop. Locations were outstanding!" ~ John Hepburn

"I have taken several of Mike's workshops. I have never been disappointed. Mike is very generous with his knowledge. This workshop was no different, it was awesome! I look forward to attending more workshops with Mike." ~ Elizabeth Moe

"I have always been interested in the night sky but previously only photographed the moon. None of the websites I researched mentioned doing things like setting your focus to infinity during the day, or learning how to handle your camera in the dark. Mike Pach did both of those things. I learned the settings I needed to begin with and how to experiment from there. Definitely a great experience with lessons I'm still putting to use!" ~ Sallie Anderson

Questions?

Contact Mike Pach (mike@3peaksphoto.com)

View Photos from Our Workshops (http://www.3peaksphoto.com/jAlbum_Westcliffe_Workshops/)