Overview

Enjoy the serene beauty of Lake Leschenaultia as the sun sets and the stars come out for us to photograph nightscapes. The workshop will provide a last glimpse of the Milky Way galactic core before it sets too low in the west and will soon be gone from our night skies until next year.

This workshop is designed to teach nightscapes using your camera equipment but also to give you a welcoming friendly environment in which to enjoy your astrophotography. Learn how to use your photographic equipment to capture beautiful nightscapes. Come to the lake at an earlier time to suit you, perhaps having your own early BBQ dinner or just enjoying late afternoon landscape and nature photography at Lake Leschenaultia before the workshop begins.

Group Size

This group workshop has a maximum of 10 photographers.

What to Bring - Photography Equipment

This is a BYO photography workshop. Required equipment:

Camera (ideally DSLR or similarly capable Mirrorless camera) though a modern mobile phone can be sufficient in some cases
Lenses (wide angle, ideally fast. E.g. 14mm, 17mm or 24mm and f/1.4, f/2.8, or f/4)
Tripod (ideally one you are familiar with, and reasonably sturdy)
Sufficient batteries and memory cards. E.g., 16GB memory card.

Desired optional extra equipment:

Cable/bulb release for your camera (or equivalent wireless/Bluetooth control of your camera so that you can take a photo without touching the camera). Instead of cable/bulb release you may be able to use wireless control of your camera via a smartphone or tablet, this would need to be set up ahead of time.
Lens shade (to help prevent dew and light incursion)

What to Bring - other

I suggest you consider bringing the following extra items:

Head torch
BYO pre-workshop dinner
Snacks/drinks
Insect repellant
Long clothing for insect protection and warmth
Enclosed footwear
Camp chair (some benches/tables are available

Location

This workshop will be held at Lake Leschenaultia:

2135 Rosedale Road, Chidlow, just 45 minutes east of the Perth CBD and is accessed via Great Eastern Highway
Lake Leschenaultia Website for additional information

Within the lake reserve we will meet at a group of tables on the eastern side of the lake. A mud map and specific information will be provided to participants via the email address supplied upon booking.

Ablutions available onsite. BYO other supplies such as food and drink that you may need.

Schedule

The workshop will run from 5:30pm until 9:30pm

Arrive at the lake before 5:30 to be ready for a 5:30pm start.
5:30pm - sunset talk through nightscape photography equipment, camera settings, accessories and techniques
Sunset - time for your own sunset photography in to twilight until we have the Milky Way to start nightscapes
Twilight until 9:30pm - workshop practical where Roger will guide you on your nightscape techniques
9:30pm workshop ends

Access to the lake:

Entry gates close 30 minutes after sunset. If arriving after this time you will need to coordinate entry with Roger Groom
Participants can drive out the exit gates at a time that suits them (including after the entry gates close)
Participants should park inside the lake area in parking provided

Cloudy Scenario

A decision regarding whether or not to proceed with the workshop will be made once the 48 hour forecast is available and this decision will be communicated to all registered participants via the email address used in booking.

It is at the discretion of Roger Groom the organiser of this event to decide if the event will proceed or be cancelled due to weather. By booking you accept this.

Guidelines for go/no-go based on weather:

If the forecast for cloud is 70% or less cloud cover and no rain is forecast the event will proceed. Some cloud makes for fantastic nightscape photographs and does not detract from the workshop experience.
If the forecast for cloud is above 70% cloud cover or rain is forecast with greater than 50% chance for the whole period of the event window the event will be cancelled.
If a severe weather warning is issued for the time and place of the event, the event will be cancelled.

In the case of unsuitable weather the event will be rescheduled or cancelled dependent on participant availability.

Twlight at Lake Leschenaultia — Twilight at Lake Leschenaultia with the beautiful twilight colours and a paperbark tree

Nightscapes workshop at Lake Leschenaultia — Nightscape workshop participants work on their photography under the stars at Lake Leschenaultia

Milky Way rising at Lake Leschenaultia — The Milky Way rising in the east during a nightscape workshop at Lake Leschenaultia

Southern Cross and Pointers over Lake Leschenaultia — The Southern Cross and Pointers together with Eta Carina nebula hang low over the southern horizon at Lake Leschenaultia in this nightscape photograph