2025 Winter Death Valley Astrophotography Workshop

Orion & the Milky Way

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.

Overview

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.

2025 Death Valley winter astrophotography tour highlights

Photo workshops from Feb 21st-25th & Feb 26^th– March 2^nd, 2025
Group size: 10 participants + 2 instructors
Main topics: Winter Tracked Panoramas, star trackers, and Astro modified cameras
Main areas: Death Valley National Park
Best time of year to photograph the Winter Milky Way arch in Death Valley
Daily advanced post-processing sessions
Accommodation at The Ranch in the heart of Death Valley

Is this Death Valley workshop the Right experience for me?

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.

2025 DEATH VALLEY MILKY WAY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP ITINERARY

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.

DAY 1: DEATH VALLEY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Our Death Valley photo tour begins at the boarding 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.

DAY 2: DEATH VALLEY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

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.

DAY 3: DEATH VALLEY MILKY WAY PHOTO WORKSHOP

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.

DAY 4: DEATH VALLEY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

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 for our last Milky Way shoot.

DAY 5: DEATH VALLEY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

On the last day of the trip, we will have breakfast together before concluding our Death Valley Milky Way photography workshop.

PRICE: USD 3,490

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.

WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?

INCLUDED

Accommodation in shared double rooms at The Ranch at Furnace Creek for 4 nights.
5 days of photo guide services by professional astrophotographers James McGivern, and Dorian Sanders
Immersive instruction in a small group of 10 participants with a 5:1 ratio (5 students per instructor).
Star-trackers (including Benro Polaris), tracked panoramas, and astromodified cameras instruction
Dedicated daily advanced post-processing sessions.

*BONUSES

Access to Dan Zafra’s full Capture the Milky Way Course & Benro Polaris Course (valued at $349)

NOT INCLUDED

Transportation (including flights) to Death Valley National Park.
Transportation during the trip (we will arrange carpools when traveling to different locations).
Single room accommodation – $590 supplement (subject to availability)
Death Valley National Park entrance fee.
Health/travel insurance (We can help you purchase the best travel insurance according to your needs).
Personal expenses, tips, and any other service not mentioned in the “INCLUDED” section.

*Capture the Atlas operates under a CUA (Commercial Use Authorization) with the National Park Service to run photography workshops in the park premises.

Dates

GUIDES

Dates

GUIDES

 5/5

This was an outstanding workshop with superb individualized instruction. The workshop was accompanied by extensive on-line training and ongoing ability to ask questions going forward.

Just completed the Death Valley Astro Workshop and overall extremely good experience. Dan and Dorian adapted to the adverse weather conditions with extra training sessions and alternative shoots. Well organized and well run. Absolutely no complaints and full of praise. A great experience!

What will I learn during this Milky Way workshop?

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.

Advanced photography techniques

Astro modified cameras white balance calibration
The best advanced star-tracking techniques
Benro Polaris star-tracker workflow for auto tracked panoramas
Tracked Winter Milky Way panoramas
H-Alpha+RGB imaging with a narrowband filter
Creating powerful nightscape compositions that engage the viewer
Designing an effective workflow for shooting at night
Creating blue hour and long exposure blends to capture more quality
Focus stacking close foregrounds to bring out all the details

Post-processing techniques

Image preparation in post-processing
Stacking using Starry Landscape Stacker.
Advanced panorama stitching using PTGui Pro
Noise reduction techniques and plugins
All types of blendings (exposure, focal length, focus, etc)
Astro modified cameras editing workflow and color adjustments
Advanced star reduction techniques, including Pixinsight
Extraction of the night sky’s natural color and h-alpha nebulae
RGB + H-alpha integration techniques

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.
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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.

You’ve probably seen Capture the Atlas in…

WHAT TO BRING TO A DEATH VALLEY ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

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:

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR

A mirrorless or DSLR camera (preferably astro converted)
A sturdy tripod and a remote shutter.
A wide-angle lens, from 14 to 35 mm.
A medium zoom lens, such as 35-50 mm.
A star-tracker.
A laser for polar alignment.
A camera bag to transport all your equipment.
Glow-in-the-dark tape for your tripod.
A headlamp.
A laptop for the post-processing lessons.
A narrowband H-alpha filter (optional)

*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.

CAMERA AStRO MODIFICATION

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.

CLOTHING

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:

- A system of layers to wear at night (base layer, windproof layer ,shell).
- A good pair of breathable boots (to protect your feet and ankles while hiking in terrain like salt flats or sand dunes).
- A wool hat and gloves for the night photography sessions.

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.

DOCUMENTATION

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.

Accommodation

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.

WHAT EXPENSES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FOR THIS DEATH VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP?

FLIGHTS

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

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

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.

ENTRANCE FEE

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.

Single Room Supplement

If you prefer to have a single room during the workshop, there is a supplement of $590. (This is subject to availability)

WHAT MAKES THIS DEATH VALLEY ASTROPHOTO TOUR UNIQUE?

Immersive

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.

intimate

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.

exclusive

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.

dedicated

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.

proven

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

unforgettable

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.

Frequent questions about our astro workshops

WHAT LEVEL SHOULD I BE TO ATTEND THIS PHOTO TOUR TO DEATH VALLEY?

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.

WHAT PHYSICAL SHAPE DO I NEED TO BE IN?

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 😉

AM I TOO YOUNG/OLD FOR THIS DEATH VALLEY PHOTO TOUR?

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.

CAN MY NON-PHOTOGRAPHER COMPANION JOIN US ON THE TOUR?

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.

Do I need a star-tracker to join this tour?

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.

Do I need an astro converted camera?

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.

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.

Our Happy Students!

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.

I completed my second Capture The Atlas tour at Death Valley and this workshop met every expectations that I had. While on location, Dan, his co-leader Dorian and later his wife Ascen were eagerly jumping from participant to participant helping and sharing their expertise. This is why I chose to do another Capture the Atlas tour. This will not be my last, and Dan’s enthusiasm for astrophotography is contagious and his vast knowledge on how to bring what we capture via our camera to life with post processing makes me want to just clone him and keep him for myself.

Ujjwal Datta

2024 Death Valley Winter Photo Tour

I just did the Death Valley Winter Milky Way Workshop with Dan and Dorian and it was fantastic! They brought the perfect blend of making sure we got what we signed up for (the workshop) while keeping it fun. The size of the group was perfect and they made sure everyone got individual attention. I was really excited to have a class on the Benro Polaris, which I've had for a year and a half with zero success on figuring it out. But after a two and a half hour dedicated class on it, I was confident that I could get it up and running. And sure enough, that night, I got my first successful big pano with it!

Stephanie Thi

2024 Death Valley Winter Photo Tour

This was an outstanding workshop with superb individualized instruction. The workshop was accompanied by extensive on-line training and ongoing ability to ask questions going forward. Dan Zafra is an excellent instructor. As soon as I got back I contacted all of my fellow astrophotography nerds to check out his on-line training and workshops.

Christine Whitten

2024 Death Valley Winter Photo Tour

Just completed the Death Valley Astro Workshop and overall extremely good despite the entire place being flooded out by once in a decade rain. Despite most of the park being closed, Dan and Dorian quickly adapted to the situation with extra training sessions and alternative shoots. Well organized and well run. Absolutely no complaints and full of praise. A great experience!

Levin Barrett

2024 Death Valley Winter Photo Tour

Dan made certain everyone had the best experience and opportunity to capture photos that will long be enjoyed. His knowledge of choosing locations to make the best use of the time available and his recommendations for camera settings was greatly appreciated. Great job! I plan on going with Dan on future trips.

Glenn Mohs