Highlights

• Participant Limit: 10

• Skill Level: Any

• Physical Activity: Walking / Standing

• Workshop Type: Milky Way / Dark Week

• Includes printed course material and workshop instructional videos.

  
  

Kick off Milky Way season with a shoot at one of the best places to see the spring-time galactic core, Highland Light in Truro!

Highland Light is Cape Cod's oldest lighthouse. Located in Truro, it was once moved away from the nearby cliffs to keep it safe from erosion. From this area, an immense and immersive sky can be seen making it a top choice for night photographers. Through out the spring and summer, Milky Way alignments continue to be available thanks to the easy access to the grounds surrounding the lighthouse. There are not many locations like it.

The Bortle Scale, a scientific measurement of the sky's darkness level used by photographers and astronomers, consists of a nine levels. The lower the number, the darker the skies. Most of Cape Cod is rated between a four and six. The area around this property, however, is a three. In short, this is the darkest place in the area!

Our group will meet at this location with the intention of shooting the early season Milky Way alignment as it appears horizontal over the lighthouse. This view becomes elusive as the years moves forward. The Milky Way rises early every day which means that by summer time it is often vertical just after sunset having risen in the afternoon. In short, you can't see it this way later in the year.

We'll focus on two types of photography - astro-landscape and panoramas. You'll learn the basics on how to create your first panoramas using basic concepts and planning along with software such as Lightroom and photoshop. This workshop will include a post production video to be delivered after our field shoot so that you can make the most out of the images you create. We'll also cover:

• Focusing in the dark.

• Light Painting and low level panel lighting for Milky Way foregrounds.

• Ideal settings for dark skies.

• Finding the Milky Way using visual astronomy.

In order to participate in this workshop event, you must bring the following:

• A digital camera with a wide angle lens (15-30mm) that can achieve an aperture of f/2.8.

• A sturdy tripod with a pan head or ball head.

• Two fully charged batteries.

• A dimmable, low level flashlight.

NO HEADLAMPS. High lumen flashlights and headlamps (regardless of red capability) are not permitted in this event. Consider the Coast G20 or similar inspection style light for navigating and seeing the back for your camera.

Participants should be in good physical health. An avoidable disruption to the group due to known health limitations or over-stating capabilities can spoil the experience for everyone, not just you. When registering for this workshop, you are certifying the following:

• You can carry your camera gear throughout the field shoot without assistance.

• You are not taking medications that are known to cause dizziness or compromise balance as a potential side effect.

• At least six months have passed since having surgeries that impact mobility including but not limited to knee, shoulder or back correction, and you are not actively participating in physical therapy.

• Have not fallen at another group event due to medical or balance issues within the last 12 months.

• Enrollment: Your spot is confirmed once payment is received. A confirmation email will follow within 72 hours.

• Refunds: Workshop and tour fees are non-refundable. Space is limited, and your enrollment prevents others from attending. Your ticket applies to the event for which you are registered and is not transferrable to a later event.

• What’s Included: Many events include instructional videos, printed or electronic materials, and a field shoot. Even if you cannot attend the field portion, you’ll still receive significant educational value.

• Rescheduling by Cape Nights: If a field shoot is postponed due to weather, emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances, your registration will transfer to the new date. If you can’t attend, you may switch to a comparable event (e.g., single-night to single-night). Credits cannot be transferred across different products (e.g., workshops vs. tours).

• Full Cancellations: If an event is fully cancelled and no educational content has been provided, all payments will be refunded.

• Travel Costs: We are not responsible for outside expenses (e.g., airfare, lodging). Travel insurance is recommended.