Join us for a Death Valley Winter astrophotography workshop where we’ll photograph the Milky Way over some of the most spectacular landscapes in the western US.
During this workshop, we will focus on advanced wide-field astrophotography and daily post-processing sessions so you can bring your images to life.
We are running this workshop in February, during the best time of year to photograph the Winter Milky Way arch in Death Valley National Park.
Our Death Valley advanced astrophotography workshop will focus on shooting nightscapes and the Winter Milky Way over the most photogenic areas of this unique national park. You’ll see everything from salt flats and mud cracks to sand dunes, all with impressive, rugged mountains in the background. Death Valley is the largest Dark Sky National Park in the country, so we will experience the perfect conditions to capture dark, starry skies.
We will personally help you capture the best possible images during this workshop. We will show you the best techniques to shoot the Milky Way with a star-tracker, including models like the Benro Polaris. We will teach you how to capture complex multirow tracked panoramas, and the best tips to make the most of your Astro modified camera including Hydrogen alpha imaging.
We will also run daily advanced post-processing sessions, where we will use top-notch techniques to bring your night images to life.
The group is limited to 10 advanced astrophotographers so we can have productive sessions and you can get the best hands-on experience.
This Death Valley astrophotography workshop is specifically aimed at advanced photographers with a solid foundation in Milky Way and night photography.
We will focus on using star-trackers in the field and advanced techniques in post. Having previous experience with star-trackers and some editing techniques like blendings is a must.
Having an astromodified camera is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend it. The Winter edge of the Milky Way is very rich in hydrogen alpha regions, and a considerable part of the workshop will be aimed at capturing and editing those beautiful areas of the night sky. You can learn more about where to astro convert your camera below.
If you are just starting out in Milky Way photography or you need more Astro experience, I recommend joining our Death Valley & Alabama Hills photography workshop instead, which is aimed at all levels.
Our Death Valley astrophotography workshop itinerary is flexible, and it will be adjusted according to the weather conditions so you can make the most of this trip.
Our workshop will be at the best time of year to capture the Winter Milky Way arch over the Death Valley floor, when the Orion constellation and our galaxy are visible. If there are clear skies, we will spend as much time as possible shooting at night.
We will sleep in the mornings, focus on post-processing in the afternoons, and scout in the evenings right before sunset to plan our night compositions.
While this is a dedicated astrophotography workshop, you’ll also have the chance to shoot the twilight and sunset during our scouting sessions.
Our Death Valley photo tour begins at the board meeting room at the Inn hotel at 2PM.
After a meet and greet with the rest of the group and a welcome speech, we will do the check-in in our hotel at the Ranch. This resort is located in the heart of the national park, and at a very short drive from the main shooting locations. This will be our base camp during our stay in Death Valley.
For the first shooting, we will venture on our first sunset scouting session to Badwater Basin, the lowest and driest place in North America. This location offers fantastic photo opportunities to capture the winter Milky Way arch with Death Valley National Park’s most iconic landscape features: the classic polygonal salt formations in the foreground and Telescope peak, the highest mountain in Death Valley, in the background.
This area can also get flooded during the winter if there’s enough precipitation. If conditions align, we might have the opportunity to shoot the Milky Way with reflections in the foreground.
If the basin is dry, we will hike about a mile into the Badwater Basin to find the best salt polygons before sunset and will return for our first Milky Way photography session at night.
On the second day of our Death Valley astrophotography workshop, we will start the day with our first post-processing session.
Our editing sessions are immersive and will focus on different topics. We will show you advanced astrophotography techniques, help you edit your own images, and lead group discussions and photo critiques. Post-processing plays a key role in astrophotography and these sessions are an excellent learning tool that will drastically help you with your photography.
Some of the advanced post-processing techniques that you will learn are multirow panorama stitching, new star reduction methods, h-alpha color extraction, and h-alpha color integration with images taken with a narrowband filter.
All the lessons will also be recorded and you’ll have lifetime access to them after the workshop.
Right before sunset, we will explore the Cottonball Basin, where you can find unique patterns with white salty pools surrounded by thick brown borders. This is one of the best hidden gems in Death Valley, where you feel like being on another planet. These formations change every year depending on the rainfall, so we will take the time to scout and find the most photogenic patterns to photograph them at night.
The third day of our Death Valley photo workshop will take us to some new locations in this national park.
We will start the day with a post-processing session in the afternoon, where we will work on the images that you captured the night before. We will sit with you and help with challenging steps, recommendations, and tips so you can bring spectacular night images to life.
Right before sunset, we will move to another location across the Devil’s Golf Course. This area in the Death Valley floor offers a wide-open view with unique salt formations in the foreground where we can capture both single frames and panoramas of the Milky Way arc.
On the next afternoon of our Death Valley astro photo tour, we will have our last post-processing session, where we will focus again on advanced techniques and editing. We will also have a group discussion about the images that you have captured during the trip.
In the evening, and, depending on the conditions, we will visit either Zabriskie, or the Mesquite Sand dunes last Milky Way shoot
On the last day of the trip, we will have breakfast together before concluding our Death Valley Milky Way photography workshop.
Deposit: USD 1,500
A $1,500 deposit is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start of the workshop. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
*Capture the Atlas operates under a CUA (Commercial Use Authorization) with the National Park Service to run photography workshops in the park premises.
This workshop is focused on advanced Milky Way photography. Considering you will already have a good foundation in this type of photography, you should progress very quickly during the workshop. Your instructors are professional landscape astrophotographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level.
*Note: As soon as you sign up for this workshop, you will have access to Dan’s full Capture the Milky Way & Benro Polaris course, which will give you the perfect knowledge base before you join this astrophotography workshop.
Your instructors on this Death Valley Workshop
James McGivern will be the tour-leader of this workshop. He is a proficient astrophotographer and an expert in capturing all types of images, from wide-field nightscapes to deep-sky imaging.
James will make sure that you get the best photography results and experience out of this tour, as well as help you with composition, technique, and post-processing in your Milky Way images using advanced techniques and star trackers.
James is based in Southern California and has led workshops for Capture the Atlas in some of the best places for Astro in the US, including Death Valley, Utah, Monument Valley, etc.
He has also taught night photography workshops at Sky’s the Limit Observatory and has volunteered for several outreach programs at the observatory.
Dorian Sanders will co-lead this workshop and help you capture the night images you envision.
He is a skilled astrophotographer who also has extensive experience, having led workshops in many destinations including Death Valley, Utah, Acadia, Monument Valley, etc.
Dorian will help you learn how to master your star tracker, how to compose scenes for the most dramatic images, and how to process using a plethora of digital platforms.
Dorian is based in Vermont and has been taking photos for the past decade. He’s an expert in the main subjects that you’ll be photographing on this trip, and he can also help you with other topics like landscape photography.
Once you complete your workshop registration, you will receive our Welcome Package with our list of recommendations for the trip.
To have an idea, below you can find a summary of things we recommend on this workshop:
*While zoom lenses are valid for this workshop, prime lenses are recommended for Milky Way tracking. Some of the best lenses in this range are the 14, 20, 24, 28, 35, 40 & 50 mm f/1.4 or f/1.8.
You can get them either from your camera brand or from third-party manufacturers like Sigma or Rokinon. You can find more information in our list of best lenses for the Milky Way and best cameras for astrophotography.
*This astrophotography workshop focuses on Milky Way nightscapes and not on deep-sky imaging. However, you can bring a telephoto/telescope and take your own deep-sky photos if you like. Our tour leader, James, is an expert in deep-sky astro and he can also help with this imaging.
You can take part in this workshop and capture beautiful images with a stock camera. However, to capture the highest quality and all the prominent colors in the h-alpha regions, we recommend having an astro converted camera.
It doesn’t matter if you have never shoot with an astro modified camera before; we will walk you through the entire process from customizing your white balance to all the techniques, tips, and recommendations to unlock the full potential of your gear.
To get an astro camera, you can either send a second body for a conversion or purchase a brand new astro modified camera. You can astromodify almost any camera model, but some of the models we recommend if you are getting a new astro camera are the Sony A7III and A7IV, Nikon Z6II, and Canon EOS R6 and R8.
There are many labs where you can do a conversion. Please make sure that it is a professional and reputed Astro lab to avoid possible issues. If you are based in the United States, we recommend Spencer’s Camera.
The main modification we recommend is a Visible+H-alpha conversion. You can optionally install a heat reduction system but it’s not a must. I recommend watching this masterclass on astromodifications if you are planning to do a conversion.
Even though Death Valley is the hottest place in North America, temperatures are cold in the winter. Also, some nights can be windy, making the temperature feel a bit cooler.
For this reason, we recommend bringing the following clothing:
We also recommend bringing muck boots in case we have the opportunity to photograph the Milky Way with reflections if the Death Valley basin is flooded.
If you are traveling from outside the US, you may need a specific travel visa or an electronic travel authorization (“ESTA”) depending on your country of origin. We can help you with this process.
During this Death Valley workshop, we’ll be staying at the Ranch. This hotel offers all amenities and it’s conveniently located at a short drive to all the photo locations that we’ll visit.
Accommodation is included in shared double rooms with queen beds. A limited number of private rooms are also available for an extra supplement.
The worshop presentation and editing classes will be hosted at the Inn, the sister hotel located at a 5-minute drive from the Ranch.
There are different airports within a relatively short drive to Death Valley. However, the closest airport and our recommendation is Las Vegas International Airport. From there, the drive to Furnace Creek is 118 miles (about two hours).
Airline ticket prices will depend on the airport you are flying from. We recommend this article to find the best flights to Las Vegas from your current location.
Transportation will not be included, and even though we will not be driving on difficult roads, some of the pull offs could be unpaved, so an SUV with all-wheel drive is recommended for this Death Valley workshop.
When traveling to different locations on the tour, we will try to carpool as often as possible. Some parking areas are small, and we would like to minimize our impact on the land and ecosystem as much as possible.
Meals are not included. Death Valley is a remote national park and there aren’t many supermarket or restaurant options. We recommend buying groceries in Las Vegas before the trip (there’ll be a small fridge in your room) and budgeting about $50-70 per day for meals.
We’ll schedule a daily group dinner in the local restaurants at the Ranch and the Inn.
The Death Valley National Park Pass costs $30 and is valid for a week. You can get your pass in-person at the Furnace Creek visitor center or online through the official Death Valley NP website.
If you prefer to have a single room during the workshop, there is a supplement of $590. (This is subject to availability)
Our astrophotography workshops are completely centered on photography : finding the best moments to shoot at night, running dedicated post-processing sessions, and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best Milky Way images.
This workshop is limited to a small group of ten students. This is a key factor for providing the attention you need during the tour and for shooting comfortably without the hassle of noise, headlamps, and the general inconvenience of larger groups.
You’ll learn how to best operate a star-tracker as well as the most effective post-processing techniques. The instruction and the setting in an exclusive group of advanced astrophotographers make this astrophotography workshop unique and distinct from standard night photography tours.
We will discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you and you can make the most of this experience. Once we know about your background, we will provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop, so the learning process is not just limited to the tour.
We have spent years designing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with different types of night images like the Northern Lights and the Milky Way. Dan’s online Milky Way courses have helped more than 800 photographers over the last few years
Beyond the photography, our photography workshops help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat clients who keep traveling and learning with us.
You don’t need to be an expert astrophotographer to join this workshop, but a solid foundation in Milky Way photography is recommended to make the most of the experience.
You should be able to manage your camera comfortably at night, be familiar with star-trackers and some editing techniques like blendings.
It doesn’t matter if you have never shot tracked panoramas or used an astromodified camera before; Dan will show you all the steps so you can start taking your first Milky Way tracked panoramas
If you are an advanced astrophotographer, you’ll learn some top-notch techniques from Dan to track complex Milky Way panoramas with different blendings and at longer focal lengths and work on some specific post-processing techniques with h-alpha.
While we won’t do any long or strenuous hikes, most shooting locations in Death Valley will require a hike between half a mile and two miles, sometimes on uneven terrains like salt flats or dunes and at night when we shoot the Milky Way.
Some locations that constantly change depending on the weather, such as salt flats or mud cracks, often require scouting and longer walks, so we recommend being in good physical shape to enjoy this experience.
Also, 90% of the shoots will be done at night, so bear in mind that we will have a vampire-like, nocturnal schedule rather than that of a normal person during the workshop 😉
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph the Milky Way at Death Valley with us.
Non-photographer companions are welcome to join the tour, and they need to book a spot under the same price and conditions as any other participant. (We don’t allow non-participant companions tagging along with the group). We have had plenty of non-photographer companions over the years and all of them enjoyed an amazing experience. As long as they enjoy nature, beautiful landscapes, and are a bit patient with the schedules of a photo tour, joining the trip can be a great experience regardless of the shooting.
While not mandatory, having a star-tracker is highly recommended if you want to get the most out of this experience.
You can see our list of recommendations in this best star-trackers list.
You can perfeclty take part in this workshop and capture beautiful images with a stock camera. However, to capture the highest quality and all the prominent colors in the h-alpha regions, we recommend having an astro converted camera.
It doesn’t matter if you have never shoot with an astro modified camera before; we will walk you through the entire process from customizing your white balance to all the techniques, tips, and recommendations to make the most of it.
To get an astro camera, you can either send a second body for a conversion or purchase a brand new astro modified camera. You can astromodify almost any camera model, but some of the models I recommend if you are getting a new astro camera are the Sony A7III and A7IV, Nikon Z6II, and Canon EOS R6.
There are many labs where you can do a conversion. Please make sure that it is a professional and reputated Astro lab to avoid possible issues. If you are based in the United States, we recommend Spencer’s Camera.
The main modification we recommend is a Visible+H-alpha conversion. You can optionally install a heat reduction system but it’s not a must. I recommend watching this masterclass on astromodifications if you are planning to do a conversion.
You can get $50 off your order if you join the workshop by using the code “CapturetheAtlas” at the checkout.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last few years. Sharing and teaching photography is my passion, and I love doing this both online and in the field.
The Milky Way is one of the most spectacular things to see and photograph from our planet, but it’s still overlooked by most photographers during the winter time, when you can capture Orion and other spectacular constellations, nebulae, stars, and objects that are not visible during the rest of the year.
Death Valley offers some of the most dramatic nightscapes in the country, with formations where you’ll feel like being on another planet. Pair this with a beautiful winter Milky Way arch in the sky, and you’ll have all the elements to capture unique images.
I want you to experience this, to chase and capture the stars at night with a group of enthusiastic photographers, to learn and share, and to enjoy a trip with unforgettable memories where we’ll take your astrophotography to the next level.
Let’s capture the Milky Way!
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