Milky Way over Mt St Helens 2024

When and Where

When: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 9:30 pm - 1:30 am

Where: Mt St Helens National Monument

Alternate dates: 5/11 and 13

Tuition and Registration

Tuition is only $265

Safe and secure payment through PayPal

Click the "Pay Now" button below to reserve your spot.

SPOTS REMAINING: 4

Once your registration and payment is received, you will be sent detailed information regarding the workshop.

Included with your tuition

Personalized instruction and assistance
How to choose the best lenses for astro photography
How to set aperture, shutter speed and ISO to get a proper exposure
How to accurately set focus for tack sharp images
How to properly judge exposure based on the histogram
Learn why shutter speed is limited and based on focal length
How to properly judge focus with image playback and magnification
How to set up your camera and tripod
Guidance and instruction on composition
How to plan Milky Way shoots with smart phone apps (twilight periods, Milky Way position, and much more)
Learn how to take images for stacking to greatly reduce noise in the sky and land
2-hour Zoom session to review your images and see my post processing workflow

Refund policy

Cancellations must be made in writing.
More than 30 days prior to the workshop:
Refund less your $25 deposit.
14 - 30 days prior to the workshop:
75% refund.
7 - 13 days prior to the workshop:
40% refund.
Less than 7 days prior to the workshop:
no refund.
If the workshop is cancelled due to weather or sky conditions, you will receive a full refund.
Once the workshop starts, refunds cannot be issued. I make every attempt to insure sky conditions are ideal for these workshops. I monitor weather forecasts from several sources, astronomical sky forecasts, live web cams, etc. Conditions can change without warning and in an instant - especially in the mountains. If conditions change once we are at the shooting venue, I offer participants credit towards future workshops.

What to Bring

Camera with manual controls
Wide angle lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster
Sturdy tripod
Headlamp (preferable) or flashlight with red light option
Remote shutter release (self timer will also work)
Camp chair
Wind protective clothing
Cold weather clothing
Snacks and water
Full tank of gas (we will be traveling 100 miles round trip with the nearest gas stations 50 miles away)

Accommodations

If you would like to stay overnight in Castle Rock, here are some choices.

Mt St Helens Motel
1340 Mt St Helens Way NE
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(360) 274-7721

7 West Motel
864 Walsh Ave NE
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(360) 274-7526

About the Workshop
The main focus of this workshop is how to successfully photograph the Milky Way. There are many challenges photographing in the dark. You will receive instruction on all critical aspects of photographing in this challenging environment (focus, composition, and exposure). The Milky Way season at Mt St Helens is very short. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity. Certain equipment is required for this workshop. See "What to Bring". These workshops require mostly clear skies (some clouds can add interest). If sky conditions are not favorable on the date of the workshop, participants should be flexible with their schedules (see alternate dates).
Why choose DTL workshops?
Value: Similar workshops charge up to $400. Experience: I have been leading Milky Way workshops since 2012. More peace of mind: My refund policies that are far less restrictive than others. Personal attention: Small workshops where you WILL receive personalized attention. Even more value: 2-hour post workshop Zoom session where I'll review your images and lead you through my processing workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop. See "Included with your tuition" and compare to other workshops.
Physical Requirements
Physical requirements are rated as VERY EASY (we will very close to our vehicles).
Itinerary (subject to change)
9:30 pm: Meet and Greet (Castle Rock, WA) 10:30 - 1:30 am: Workshop
Sample Images
Click here for sample images from the area
About Mount Saint Helens
The Pacific Northwest is blessed with many wonders. Mt. St. Helens is certainly one of them. In fact it is one of the true wonders of the world. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980 left a huge scar on the landscape that is still very visible today.
About Me
I am a passionate photographer with a focus on landscape and astro photography. I have been leading Milky Way workshops since 2012 and landscape workshops since 2007. I have lived in the Northwest my entire life. My passion for photography goes back to the early 1980's. I am the Coordinator for the Portland/Vancouver Photography Meetup Group and have been teaching Photoshop and Lightroom since 2007.
Photographing the Milky Way
My book (Photographing the Milky Way) is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. Click here for more information.