Milky Way and Jurassic Coast Photography Tour

This four-day workshop, as featured on ITV News (12 August 2021) and “All Around Britain” (September 2021), focuses on landscape astrophotography. Weather permitting, we will be making striking images of the bright core of the Milky Way, along with meteors. stars and planets, over the dark skies of 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 planets, stars, meteors and star trails will be covered in detail, as well as the Milky Way and other galaxies visible to the unaided eye. Subjects covered include selecting and illuminating foregrounds, exposure at night, focusing at night and stacking images to maximise detail and reduce noise. 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. At this time of year, astronomical darkness lasts from 10.45pm to 3.30am so we expect to be out until the early hours of the morning, 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. Stacking Milky Way images will be covered in detail. 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 evening sky. Once the Milky Way has set after midnight, we will move on to photograph subjects such as star trails and planets. 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. I have run this tour six times, during all of which the Milky Way has been visible on some nights. 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 2023, I am offering two versions of this workshop requiring different levels of fitness. In order to participate in all the field trips during the 11 to 14 August workshop (which coincides with the expected peak of Perseid meteors), you need to be fit enough to walk several miles on tracks and footpaths, some of them steep and some involving steps, in the dark to reach remote shooting positions. The 15 to 18 August workshop will involve easy-to-reach locations and moderate walks of up to one mile with short steep sections. In both cases you need to be comfortable with a photography schedule that lasts from roughly 6pm to 2am each night. Please select the workshop that suits your level of fitness and ability.

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 six participants.

Recommended photographic equipment:

• Digital single lens reflex camera capable of producing acceptable quality images at ISO 3200 or 6400
• 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 (recommended for daytime photography)
• Waterproof camera cover
• Head torch and hand torch.
• Warm clothes and sturdy walking boots (essential).

Dates:

• 11 to 14 August 2023
• 15 to 18 August 2023

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

Four day tour, cost £945 based on double/twin accommodation. Single supplement £135. 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 (instead of single supplement).

Included: Accommodation, breakfast and evening meal at the Springfield Country Hotel for three nights, afternoon tea/coffee, travel from Wareham, guiding and comprehensive tuition.

Excluded: Lunches, drinks (other than those specified), travel to and from Wareham.

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

"The technical preparation beforehand and the detailed guidance at the locations to ensure everyone know what to do. Reviewing everyone’s images and guiding the editing of them so we call all learn with real examples. I think you were very patient and encouraging." PT, West Sussex, Milky Way and Jurassic Coast

"The tour was exceptional for me, I got some fantastic images, and learned a huge amount ... A fantastic showing of the Milky way, and meteors on both nights, some great tuition from Robert ... The Classroom sessions on image manipulation were also very valuable - particularly milky way stacking - giving me a shot I always wanted - and know how to do again now. The camaraderie in the group helped along by the tour leader" SH, Berkshire

"Great photographic locations, fascinating historic sites ... good balance between amount of time on presentations, demos and editing exercises ... Itinerary well organised and adaptable to make the most of the weather. Good alternatives when skies were cloudy. Good use of time, always busy with no wasted time." CS, London

"A well organised tour. Great to see the Milky Way over Durdle Door. The tour itinerary made the best use of the weather conditions which were challenging at times." KP, Berkshire

"10/10 ... The tour was well run , with good accommodation and food, parking was good and secure." GB, Kent

"The way the days were organised was excellent and despite being late back in the morning the next day’s activities were not impacted by being tired. The choice of locations was excellent and [the] Cove alone was worth the fee for the whole tour. Your handling of the issues that arose walking out from [the] Cove were an exemplary example of [how] to manage a situation that could have cascaded into a serious issue." IH, Berkshire

"The pre-class kit list was comprehensive and I appreciated the advice on choosing a wide angle lens to suit my camera. The pace of learning was about right with a small enough class to ensure individual support and tuition where required. The mix of classroom and practical sessions was spot on. The group were fantastic, very supportive of each other and great fun to be with. Good mix of ability, ages, gender and background." LD, Wiltshire

"Thank you for your amazing patience and support ... I have learnt so much about astrophotography ... The pace of the tour was spot on. The practical sessions dovetailed perfectly with the infield opportunities. Robert was sensitive to all the participants requirements without being dogmatic. Everyone in the group banded together in a positive and very productive way. Excellent leadership." MH, Bristol

"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