Milky Way Photography Workshops Canberra

 

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Intro

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Canberra is one of the prime locations in Australia, and possibly even the world, for astrophotography and stargazing due to its favorable conditions. The city experiences low humidity and minimal light pollution, making it an excellent place to capture the Milky Way and take clear, sharp images of the stars. While it is possible to photograph the Milky Way from within Canberra which is very rare to do so for a capital city, the best results can be achieved from 15min drive away from the city lights.

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Overview

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The workshop lasts around 5 hours and takes place on a stunning private property in Gundaroo, just a 20-minute drive from the North side of Canberra. We'll start indoors or in the verandah with an introduction and theory session on astrophotography. As night falls, we'll head outside for the exciting part: hands-on practice photographing the Milky Way. Once your eyes adjust to the dark, you'll be amazed by the beauty of the night sky and the breathtaking sights of the Milky Way. Time will fly as you capture the stars and soak in the stunning views.

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All skill levels are encouraged to join this workshop, intentionally kept small with groups of up to six individuals. This ensures that Ari can provide personal attention and guidance, tailored to each participant's level of photography knowledge.

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For the more seasoned astrophotographers seeking an in-depth exploration of techniques, Ari introduced the highly successful Advanced Level workshop in 2023. This extended session, lasting approximately six hours, is limited to a maximum of four participants.

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Ari has released a dedicated Startrail workshops which will be conducted from December to April.

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What Is Covered?

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• Expert guidance from internationally renowned photographer Ari Rex

• How to plan/photograph stunning landscapes with the magnificence Milky Way in the background

• How to capture single shot portraits

• Stitching panoramas

• Timelapses 

• Startrails

• Histogram 

• How and where to focus to get pin sharp focus of the stars and foreground objects in total darkness 

• Understanding infinity focus

• Understanding the 500 rule and when to break it so you can extend the exposure time of single shots up to 200% without noticeable startrail (Ari's personal technique)

• Tips and tricks for using creative foreground lighting techniques

• How to perfectly light foreground subjects in a single or multiple shot portraits

• How to align and use a star-tracking device to capture very high quality images of the Milky Way, Moon, constellations, nebulas  as well as moon and sun eclipses

• Techniques and tips on how to keep your camera and lens in optimal condition to photograph during the night.

• Verbal post-processing overview

• After the workshop you will receive a detailed email information pack with all the techniques learned 

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    *Please note: In respect of our community and the owners of the land, we apply a "leave no trace" policy in all our workshop.

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What Will I Need?

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• DSLR or Mirrorless camera and lens

• Tripod 

• Remote trigger or intervalometer

• Headlamp 

• Warm clothes (dress for very cold weather as the temperature drops low after sunset)

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    Recommended but not required 

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• Extra Battery

• Smartphone 

• Wide angle lens* either 10mm, 14mm, 24mm 28mm or 35mm, preferably f2.8 or faster. 

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    No Camera, No problem! 

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You can also hire a full Astro Camera Kit* - available for $100 at the checkout 

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*Need to bring your own SD memory card of at least 16gb if you hire a camera kit.

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    * Astro Camera Kit hire includes: 

   - Canon full frame camera

   - Two extra batteries
   - One fast lens 
   - Sturdy tripod
   - Ball head
   - L bracket
   - Remote trigger
   - Headlamp
   - Focusing torch

   - Lens heat warmers
   - Carry bag

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Difficulty

 

We welcome all skill levels to this workshop*. Even if you are not confident about how to use your camera in manual mode or you have never shot the night sky before, don't worry, we will run through a quick crash course on some important functions that we will be using during the night. We keep our group size small to ensure that each participant receives individualized attention from Ari. 

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A general fitness level is required. There is a small amount of walking on uneven ground, and standing for an extended period in a cold temperature. Please feel free to bring a chair if you need to sit and be sure to rug up as the temperatures drop quite a bit after sunset. 

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General Info

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• The fee for this workshop is $450 per participant (maximum 6 people)

• The registration can be done directly at the Book Workshops page or by pressing the green button Book Now below

• You'll get a confirmation email shortly after completing the payment process

• Our workshops fill up fast, so we suggest securing your spot as soon as possible

• Registration isn't complete until payment is made. If you encounter issues booking, please try another browser or contact us

• The workshop will proceed as scheduled regardless of weather conditions. In case of heavy clouds, rain, or storms in the forecast, we might need to reschedule the second part of the workshop (hands-on session) to another date

• A few days before the workshop starts, you'll receive an email containing workshop details and the itinerary

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Cancellation Policy:

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• You can cancel your workshop booking anytime up to four weeks before the workshop day for a full refund*. Cancellations made within 21 days prior to the workshop will incur a 50% cancellation fee. Unfortunately, refunds cannot be issued for cancellations made less than 14 days before the workshop.

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    *20% admin fee applies