Night Sky/Milky Way Photography Workshops in
|
Workshop Date |
Start Time |
Cost Per Person |
Buy |
Spots Left |
Friday, May 19, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Saturday, July 16, 2022 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Friday, September 15, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Saturday, October 14, 2022 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 |
All attendees must sign a waiver and release agreement 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 9,300 feet. If you are visiting from out of state, 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. Refunds are not given unless the workshop is cancelled.
Check out this time lapse video made from images taken at two of the workshop locations.
The cost of the workshop includes use of a rental home in Westcliffe. The workshops will start near dusk and end just after sunrise (we do not plan to sleep at the house, but it will be available if anyone needs to get some rest).. Pets are not allowed.
If you need additional accommodations, consider getting a room at the Westcliffe Inn.
The tentative schedule for each workshop is as follows:
7:00 PM - Classroom Instruction
9:00 PM - Photographing the night sky at up to 3 locations through sunrise
7:00 AM - Breakfast at the Silver Cliff Inn
Times are subject to change based on weather, sunset conditions and the times the Galactic Core of the Milky Way is visible.
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 time photographing the barns and the windmill at two of our locations and practicing light painting techniques. If the weather is poor, we will spend time discussing post-processing techniques at the rental house.
What you will learn
Workshops will be limited to 8 people and will be lead by Mike Pach. 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.
What to bring
Camera Gear - You should be familiar with your camera gear and have the knowledge to adjust your aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance while in manual mode. You should know how to switch from auto to manual focus and view the histogram on your LCD screen. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with all of your equipment before attending a workshop and suggest that you practice operating your camera in the dark so that you get a feel for where the buttons and dials are located.
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! - A $20 Wal-Mart special will not be adequate
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/2.8 or larger in order to photograph the stars as points of light. Bring other lenses for sunset, sunrise and wildlife photos.
Other GearWarm 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. Watch the video below to learn how to dress in layers. Not dressing properly is one of the biggest issues I come across with my workshop students, especially those who live in warm locations like Texas and Florida.
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
Rain gear - A lightweight poncho will do fine as well as a waterproof parka and waterproof pants.
Headlamp/Flashlight
Water - It's important to stay hydrated at high altitudes
Snacks
Breakfast
We will meet for dinner at the rental house or at a restaurant in the area. This gives us a chance to get to know each other a little better before we get out under the stars.
Those wishing to stick around for the sunrise portion of the workshop can join us at the Silver Cliff Mountain Inn for breakfast. Meals are not included in the price of the workshop.
Testimonials
"Mike, I really enjoyed the workshop on Aug 11/12 (2018). It was the first time that I saw the Milky Way in all it's grandeur, after a few unsuccessful attempts elsewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop led by yourself and Don. The dinner (Thanks Charley!) was scrumptious, and the presentation prior to heading to the field was very useful and informative. The locations were perfect. I appreciate your patience with this rookie. I learned a lot from you and Don and I look forward to joining you again at a future workshop." ~ Kevin Daly
"Hi Mike,
I have attached a reflection I wrote, based on my experiences during the Night Sky Photography class you taught last July. While I'm not sure what your beliefs are about God/religion, the experience for me that night was deeply, profoundly spiritual and I hope that you can hear the depth of gratitude reflected in my words related specifically to you and what and how you taught the class! I especially liked the way you invited us at one point, right before we left Bear Basin to go back to the ranch, to just stop and look, behold the beauty of the sky, without trying to focus on the next best shot! I remember in a couple of brief conversations with you since that night that the group dynamics we had that night were unique and enjoyable and that you were just coming back from the recent death of your mother, having acknowledged that you were (understandably so) feeling the impact of your loss of her. We had a camaraderie that was unique for a group of photographers from different backgrounds! Part of my own journey includes having experienced the deaths of both my parents and my parents-in-law, but most profoundly, the death of my 15 year old daughter in 2013, so the reflections written and the insights gained from that amazing July night were indeed profound and required some time and rumination to tease out!Anyway, I wanted to again say "THANK YOU" for doing these classes and I hope that this email and attachment will bring some inspiration to you to keep doing them, because there is such a profound meaning behind the different concepts behind photography (ie, perspective, focus, contrast, light, shadow, etc.) that also have a profound association with our lives as human beings!" ~ Jerry Daniel - Read Jerry's reflection"Mike was very well organized and prepared to host a great workshop event. It made for a wonderful opportunity to learn with a combination of classroom training, in-field training, and plenty of individual attention. And with stunning locations that were hand-selected & scouted in advance, our opportunity for great nightscape images was fantastic! And there's no doubt ... the area around Westcliffe is excellent for night photography. Keep up the great work!"
~ Mike Berenson, NightPhotographyWorkshop.com"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
Need extra help?
Do you think you'll need extra help to prepare for the workshop? If so, you can hire Mike for a one- or two-hour Zoom session to brush up on your camera skills or discuss your equipment needs. Message Mike to make arrangements for a pre-workshop session.
Click the links below to view photos from recent workshops
Workshop Date |
Start Time |
Cost Per Person |
Buy |
Spots Left |
Friday, May 19, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Saturday, June 17, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Saturday, July 16, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Friday, September 15, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 | |
Saturday, October 14, 2023 |
7 pm |
$400 |
8 |
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