Dark Sky Deep Space Workshop

About

Use your tracking mount or telescope for deep sky astrophotography under fantastic dark skies in comfortable conditions. Be inspired by awesome dark skies to photograph deep space objects and learn to make the most of your portable tracking mount or telescope with assistance from Roger Groom.

This workshop is aimed at intermediate photographers who have a tracking mount or telescope. Perhaps you have a telescope, have set it up once or twice, but are unsure of how to use aspects of it, or polar align it properly, for example. Or perhaps you just wish to use your telescope in a safe and welcoming environment with other like minded astrophotographers.

I can accommodate up to two photographers using my provided telescope instead of BYO, to get a taste of deep sky astrophotography before you buy. Please choose appropriate ticket at checkout.

Enjoy comfortable facilities on this private site with awesome dark skies and like-minded astronomers & astrophotographers. Optionally stay overnight and join in an image processing workshop the next morning to review and work on your images.

This is a smaller group event than usual to accommodate the seasonal temperature and fire danger. Vehicle movement and positions set up for camping may be limited due to fire danger ratings depending on the conditions of the day.

Inclusions

Awesome wide horizons, dark skies and interesting foreground scenery in a safe, private environment. Specific inclusions:

Astrophotography Workshop:

• Introductory workshop facilitated by Roger Groom of Astro Photography Australia introducing the night sky and features applicable to astrophotography on this occasion, the site, and photographic opportunities.
• This will be a combination of some prep-prepared teaching and hands on helping and answering questions as people use the telescopes.
• Enjoy photographing with other participants or on your own, on-site with assistance as you need it from Roger.
  
• Collaborate with others on the workshop and learn from each other's experiences.
• Ultra-portable astrophotography tracking mounts available for use (1x Vixen Polarie, 1x iOptron SkyTracker, 1x AstroTrac).
• During the night return to the shed where there is comfortable chairs, tables and mains power to look at your results.

Location

This workshop takes place in the Shire of Cunderdin, in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia.

Located at the private property of Roger Groom and his family, the property was purchased and has been purpose designed for astronomy including astrophotography such as nightscapes. The dark skies are unparalleled at this distance from Perth. Roger and his family bring you a relaxed and well equipped environment in which to experience nightscape astrophotography.

Registered participants will receive exact location and directions after booking.

Facilities & Provisions

• Water, ice, Tea, coffee, milo, hot chocolate and afternoon tea light refreshments provided (BYO dinner)
• Ablutions available onsite (flushing toilet, shower)
• Microwave available for heating your dinner
• WebberQ available for those wishing to BBQ
• Mains power is available for charging and powering devices such as laptops and telescope batteries
• 4G (Optus and Telstra) is available onsite for your internet needs

Timing

Workshop schedule:

• 15:00 overnight camping participants may arrive to set up from 3pm
• 16:00 all remaining participants arrive from 4:00pm
• 17:00 - 18:00 workshop presentation
• 18:00 - 19:00 time for refreshments, dinner (BYO), sunset and twilight photography, setting up telescope equipment
• 19:00 - 21:30 practical workshop
• 21:30 You are permitted to continue photography onsite as late as you wish following completion of the formal workshop, providing you maintain minimal disturbance to those accommodating onsite.

Optional Image Processing Session

Following the night of photography there is an optional image processing session in the morning. Anyone who attended the night session is welcome. Prior booking essential.

This session will be customised to those present. The aim is to work through your images from the night prior, learning from each other's images and what image processing we can do on those images. Roger will direct the image processing using software including Photoshop, Lightroom, PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker and Sequator. Participants will need their own software installations/licenses pre-configured for the workshop, or can follow Roger's demonstration.

• 8:30 - 10:30 (2 hour session)
• BYO laptop/computer/IT equipment
• Chairs, tables with mains electricity available
• Refreshments provided
• $100pp

What to Bring

For the evening workshop please bring:

• Appropriate warm clothing including fully enclosed sturdy footwear. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended (to protect against vegetation and bugs)
• Hat, insect repellent or other such personal items
• Head torch with white and red light modes, ideally dimmable
• Chair
• Food or drinks beyond those provided that you may require
• Camera gear for nightscape photography (contact if unsure, happy to advise)

For the optional image processing and overnight accommodation see other sections.

Who can attend?

Workshop attendees participating in photography must have knowledge of how to operate their camera in manual mode (manual exposure time, ISO, aperture, picture format settings) and must be self-equipped with basic camera equipment (camera, tripod, lens, etc).

We know that being a remote workshop you may wish to join the workshop and also bring a partner, friend or young family along to enjoy an evening out in the country but not have them participate in the workshop. When booking you must book for these people via the add-on feature at the reduced ticket price. Additional people "along for the ride" are charged at $19pp. We often have families stay with young children who enjoy roaming the property.

Seating in the indoor workshop space for the workshop presentation and image processing will only be guaranteed for workshop attendees due to space limitations.

Booking of additional people "along for the ride" is essential. A whole of site capacity is set and so it may not be possible to accommodate additional people, checkout will confirm this.

No pets are permitted without prior arrangement.