Milky Way & Meteor Shower Photography and Timelapse Workshop in Joshua Tree

Join filmmaker and photographer Henry Jun Wah Lee for an intimate, hands-on Perseid Meteor Shower, Milky Way and Astrophotography workshop in Joshua Tree, California. This special 5 day/4 night workshop is limited to only 5 participants.

Learn from one of the premier astrophotography and timelapse shooters in the world as Henry shares his knowledge and wisdom through in-class training as well as hands-on practical instruction while shooting in the field. Experience breathtaking, otherworldly landscapes of Joshua Tree as stars and the galactic core of the Milky Way illuminate the night sky.

The workshop is open to all skill levels and covers everything from the basics, to shooting advanced techniques, to processing your photos from raw files. We will spend a lot of time shooting so you will have plenty of time to hone your skills and apply what you are learning.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to partake in these experiences with you. Your willingness to share your knowledge and secrets is rare and wonderful.” – D.W.

“The locations and experiences you provided were truly amazing!! Thanks again for your guidance and assistance – and patience! Many great memories!” – C.K.

“Thank you again for an amazing adventure and for sharing your insights. Page AZ is an amazing place with so many unique locations. Extra bonus for the awesome camping at White Pocket and the private tour of Antelope Canyon.” – K.G.

Photography and Timelapse are both an art and a science. You will learn all of the skills and techniques Henry uses to shooting professional quality work, including workflow, planning, composition, camera gear, accessories, shooting techniques, camera settings, post processing and editing. We will also discuss common mistakes as well as known challenges and their solutions so that you will be prepared when things don’t go as planned. And things often don’t go as planned! More importantly, you get to learn the essence of photography and timelapse beyond equipment and numbers that you can not get from books or online forums. For 4 days you will be fully immersed in the craft of capturing the magic of nature.

Required:

• Camera – DSLR. A camera that has manual exposure settings and can shoot RAW is highly recommended. Having a second DSLR is also highly recommended as backup or to shoot additional scenes.
• Lenses – fast lenses (f/1.4 and 2.8) are highly recommended for capturing meteors, milky way and the night sky. Bring all the focal lengths you want to shoot with but be sure to bring a wide or ultra wide angle lens. Manual lenses from Rokinon (such as the 14 2.8, the 24 1.4 and the 35 1.4) are highly recommended for timelapse.
• Tripod with ball head.
• Intervalometer.
• Memory cards – 2 or more 64 GB or larger cards are highly recommended
• Plenty of extra batteries and battery charger – expect to use 2-4 batteries per day. A battery grip that holds 2 batterys will allow you to shoot longer sequences without running out of power.
• Headlamp or flashlight – One with a dimmer function and a red light / filter option is recommended.
• Laptop computer – to preview, process and edit your shots. Bring a memory card reader or usb cable for your camera so you can transfer your shots.
• 2 TB hard drive for storage. An additional hard drive is highly recommended for backup.
• Smart Phone or tablet with GPS functionality– there are some helpful and powerful apps that will help us shoot.

Highly Recommended:

• If you already have your own motion control gear, bring it! It is a good time to put it all to good use.
• Portable Equatorial Mount such as Sky Watcher Star Adventurer to track the stars. We will have equipment on hand for you to try out.
• Photographer’s insurance – to cover your equipment in case of accidents.
• Travel and medical insurance – to cover unexpected travel or health issues.

Note: Workshop fee does not include lodging, transportation, food or park fees.

Limited lodging is available at the workshop house. Private room with shared bath in a spacious fully furnished house with jacuzzi, fire pit, full kitchen, lounge chairs, washer/dryer and more. $150 per night. King/Queen bed based on first come first served availability.

A $200 non-refundable deposit is due on registration to confirm your spot. Remaining balance is due 1 week before the start of the workshop.

Host or Publisher Henry Jun Wah Lee