Milky Way and Jurassic Coast Photography Tour

This four-day workshop focuses on landscape astrophotography. Weather permitting, we will be making striking images of the bright core of the Milky Way, along with our solar system's biggest planets Jupiter and Saturn, over the stunning Jurassic Coast.

During the afternoons, we will have extended indoor tutorials on landscape astrophotography, covering all aspects of photographing the night sky. The techniques to capture great photographs of the Moon, planets, stars, aurorae, meteors, international space station, star trails and eclipses will be covered in detail, as well as the Milky Way and other galaxies visible to the unaided eye. Subjects covered in detail include selecting and illuminating foregrounds, exposure at night and focusing at night. Each evening we will travel to a different location on the Dorset coast to put these techniques into practice. Starting with terrestrial landscape photography around sunset, we will then wait for darkness to fall and begin our astrophotography. Full guidance will be given on settings in the field. Looking out to sea, these are the darkest skies to be found in southern England. At this time of year, astronomical darkness lasts from 10.50pm to 3.30am so we expect to be out until the sky starts to brighten, at which point we will return to our hotel to sleep until mid-morning.

Later in the workshop, our tutorials will cover image processing, giving a practical demonstration of how to get the best out of the images captured on the course. It is recommended to bring your own laptop with Lightroom and Photoshop loaded in order to do your own processing during the course, with expert guidance.

The workshop has been programmed for the optimum time of year when the core of the Milky Way is most visible in the southern sky after sunset and the moon is not in the sky. Once the Milky Way has set after midnight, we will move on to photograph subjects such as star trails and Perseid meteors (which peak on 12 August). For these we will travel to other locations in Dorset that offer fantastic foregrounds looking north. The prospects of clear skies during at least some of the three nights of this tour in August are good but cannot be guaranteed. In the event of overcast conditions, all the indoor tuition will be delivered and we will do additional terrestrial landscape photography outdoors. This will include light painting at night, which can produce some very interesting images.

In order to get the most from this workshop, you should be fit enough to walk several miles on tracks and footpaths, some of them involving moderate ascent and descent, in the dark to reach shooting positions and be happy with a photography schedule that lasts from roughly 7pm to 3.30am each night. The workshop is based at the very comfortable Springfield Country Hotel in Wareham. During our stay you will have complementary use of the hotel Leisure Club and Spa, plus free wifi and parking. Indoor tutorials will be in a well-appointed conference room at the hotel.

This course will teach you all you need to know to do your own landscape astrophotography in a range of situations. Participants will also receive a complimentary copy of my recently published book Photographing the Heavens, with a wealth of practical advice and details of all the camera settings you will need.

Group Size: Maximum of 6 participants.

Recommended photographic equipment: Digital single lens reflex camera capable of producing acceptable quality images at ISO 3200 or 6400, a wide angle lens (in the range 14 to 24mm focal length) with a maximum aperture of at least F/2 or F/2.8 for astrophotography, other lenses ranging from wide angle (ideally 16mm on full frame) to short telephoto (200mm+) for day-time photography, sturdy tripod (essential), lockable remote cable release, neutral density filters (for daytime photography), waterproof camera cover, head torch and hand torch. Warm clothes, walking boots and wellington boots.

Dates:

• 11 to 14 August 2021

Meet at 1pm on Day 1, depart 5pm on Day 4.

Four day tour, cost £645 based on twin/double occupancy of room. Single supplement £105. If you wish to bring a partner who will not be participating in the photography workshop activities you are welcome to do that at an additional cost of £300 for three nights.

Included: Accommodation, breakfast and evening meal at the Springfield Country Hotel for three nights, travel from Wareham and guiding.

Excluded: Lunches, drinks, travel to and from Wareham.

Comments from participants on a previous Milky Way and Jurassic Coast Photography Tour with Natural World Photography:

"Thanks for a fun few days down in Dorset, I really enjoyed it ... As always, I thought it was a well-rounded package, with good up-front information on what to expect and what was likely to be required photographically. The itinerary and the ability to change it to suit conditions I feel is one of your strong points and has always been something I’ve loved about your trips." PP, Hampshire

"• Excellent organisation to take full advantage of the time available.
• Excellent locations providing variety in capturing the Milky Way.
• Lovely hotel - food excellent and very comfortable accommodation.
• Help and advice available throughout on location and when completing computer work.
• Fortunate to have great dark skies for the duration and that was combined with some lovely sunset locations.
• Thank you for going well beyond what was expected in order for us to make our best attempts at successful astrophotography." LM, Staffordshire

"Very good value ... You explaining how to use Sequator worked well for me. I enjoyed the fact the group were willing to share and help. A well thought out and interesting tour, the extra night was a very welcome bonus." RAH, Cheshire