Field Trips

Ready to head into the field and capture the Milky Way?

Our 2024 workshops and field trips ​start in March 2024.

Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when workshop registration opens.

Proposed 2024 Workshops and Field Trip Dates

Mike holds ipad to the sky showing overlay of milky way on scene using photopills app.

Intro to the Milky Way Workshops occur during a one week period (M | W ) with a ​60 minute live presentation each of the two days. In the workshop, you will learn everything that you need to know to capture your first Milky Way image with your current camera equipment, and you’ll be able to ask questions of Mike during the workshop. The presentations will be recorded. Workshops are ​FREE!

Workshops and field trips always occur during the new moon phase, so you have the best chance to practice what you learn without the light of the moon washing out the Milky Way in the night sky.

Field trips will occur on the weekend following the online workshop at various locations in Northern California, within a 2 hour drive of Sacramento, CA. Special field trip events will occur in other locations TBA. Exact times and meeting locations TBA.

Field trips cost: $20 per person and space is limited.

Workshops

Workshops are designed for photographers with no experience in night photography. The workshops are online, 100% virtual, and open to anyone around the world. The workshops are scheduled on a Mon | Wed during the week preceding the new moon each month. The class will be held live in Pacific timezone, hosted by Mike Oitzman -> but recorded so that you can review or replay the content at your leisure, or in your timezone.

Practice What You Learn

By scheduling the workshops on the week prior to the new moon, students will be able to learn and prepare for field experience capturing the Milky Way. You will be able to go out on the evenings between class sessions and practice what you have learned.

Workshop Cost

The How To Photograph The Milky Way Workshops cost $20.

Join An Upcoming Workshop

Please join our newsletter to be reminded about upcoming events. Instructions and an invitation to the live class meetings will be sent via the newsletter list.

Field Trips In Northern California

If you live in Northern California, then you are invited to join Mike in the field at a designated site for a live photography adventure on the weekend following the online workshop.

Saturday, July 6, 2024  - Wildwood Lake Dam
Saturday, Aug 3, 2024 - Sugar Bowl Overlook

Link to release for Sat Aug 3 trip: https://www.masterthemilkyway.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Release.pdf