MILKY WAY & NIGHT LANDSCAPE 2024
July 7 - 11, 2024
Inlet, NY
Scheduled around the crescent moon to take advantage of dark Adirondack skies and the Milky Way!
The art of night photography is rapidly evolving. I'll share state-of-the-art techniques for shooting and processing the Milky Way, stars, meteors, moon, northern lights and more! I’ll also cover reducing noise, stacking star trails, and blending multiple exposures for detail in the landscape and sky.
The Adirondacks have some of the darkest night skies in the Northeast. The Milky Way stands out brilliantly. Planets shine like beacons. And airglow colors the heavens. The landscape itself, so varied and photogenic in daylight, becomes evermore mysterious and enchanting at night. The beauty is absolutely breathtaking!
At night the camera allows us to record phenomena we are physically incapable of seeing. Long exposures render vibrant colors and intricate detail. They capture celestial objects in motion, creating metaphors for the passage of time. The photographer can’t be sure what he or she will create, and that’s part of the allure and the excitement! It's a spellbinding, spiritual experience.
Mark, the author of The Light of Midnight: Photographing the Landscape at Night and After Midnight: Night Photography by Example, will demonstrate field and digital darkroom techniques with special emphasis on shooting and processing the Milky Way and crescent moon in relation to the night landscape. He’ll cover strategies, tips and techniques on:
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Camera settings — Shutter speed, aperture, BULB, ISO, white balance
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Determining nighttime exposures
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Using the histogram
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Taking High ISO test shots
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Composing and focusing in the dark
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Using LiveView at night
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Capturing detail in both the landscape and sky
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Photographing the Milky Way, stars, planets, moon, meteors, Northern Lights and other celestial phenomena
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Shooting long exposures by ambient light, from seconds- to hours-long
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Shooting time-lapse sequences and creating time-lapse movies
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Shooting time interval sequences
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"Painting" with artificial light
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Capturing stars as points of light, as trails and as circles
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Photographing lightning
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Shooting portraits that include the Milky Way and night sky using flash and LED lights
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Noise Reduction in-camera and in post-processing
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Processing a variety of night images
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Software used to seamlessly blend night sky and landscape images, while reducing noise
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Sharpening night images
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Specialized software for star stacking
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Blending multiple exposures for depth of field, noise reduction and expanded exposure latitude
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Creating night panoramas
Mark plans to stay out shooting until midnight and later, visiting wilderness landscapes as well as artificially lit scenes. Possible field locations include the area’s numerous lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, waterfalls, marshlands and quaint villages.
Indoor instructional sessions will begin in late morning so that participants get appropriate rest. Sessions will include reviews of participants' images.
Come expand your image-making beyond daylight shooting, creating images that evoke the majesty, awe and wonder of the Adirondack landscape, the crescent moon and Milky Way!
Camera Skills Needed
All skill levels are welcome.
Users of all types of cameras may attend. However, digital SLR and mirrorless cameras are preferred for their ability to provide immediate feedback and instant access to the images. Without one, you will not be able to take full advantage of the indoor sessions in this workshop.
Description of skill levels - click here.
Computer Skills Needed
A basic understanding of digital workflow and some working knowledge of Lightroom, Photoshop or other RAW processing software will be helpful. A laptop computer with a program to store and view images is highly recommended. Mark will be glad to answer your image processing questions.
Other Considerations
Locations visited during this workshop are easily accessible and do not require any strenuous hiking or climbing.
As with all outdoor pursuits, some risk is inherent; all participants will be required to sign a waiver prior to the workshop.
Group Size
10 participants max.
Registration Fees
$1125
A deposit of $250 is required at time of registration. Deadline for early registration discount is May 7, 2024. Click here for information on other discounts that may be available.
Details
Dates and Times
The program begins Sunday July 7th at 5:00 pm and ends Thursday July 11th at noon.
Where to Meet
Participants will gather at the Marina Motel, located at 6 South Shore Road, in Inlet, New York.
Lodging
Lodging is the responsibility of the participant and is not included in the registration fee.
The Marina Motel will be our base for this event. The motel is holding a block of rooms at discounted rates for us. Contact the motel at (315) 357-3883 for reservations and questions. Be sure to mention you will be taking part in the Adirondack Photography Institute workshop.
Meals
Meals are the responsibility of the participant and their cost is not included in the registration fee. Mark will work with the group to organize meal times and locations.
Getting to the Event
The two nearest airports are Syracuse Hancock Internation Airport and the Albany International Airport. Rental cars are available at both locations.
Transportation During the Event
Participants’ vehicles will be used for transportation during field trips. We are adamant about carpooling as much as possible to minimize the number of vehicles needed for any given field trip, as well as to lessen our impact on easily damaged roads and trails. Note that the instructor is not allowed to provide transportation for participants during the event.
What To Bring
Important: Mark has provided additional information regarding your needs for this program. Click here to view or download that information. Please contact him directly with questions: (413) 4342-9125 or mbowiephoto@gmail.com.