MILKY WAY & CELESTIAL SKY
August 17 - 21, 2025
Indian Lake, NY
Scheduled around the new moon to showcase the Milky Way and Perseid meteors!
The art of night photography is rapidly evolving. I'll share state-of-the-art techniques for shooting and processing the Milky Way, stars, moon, northern lights and more! I’ll also cover reducing noise, stacking star trails, and blending multiple exposures for detail in the landscape and sky.
The Adirondacks have some of the darkest night skies in the Northeast. The Milky Way stands out brilliantly. Planets shine like beacons. Meteors streak across the sky nightly. The haunting calls of loons resound over the lakes and ponds. There is so much going on here at night. The landscape itself, so varied and photogenic in daylight, becomes evermore mysterious and enchanting at night. The beauty is absolutely breathtaking!
At night the camera allows us to record phenomena we are physically incapable of seeing. Long exposures render vibrant colors and intricate detail. They capture celestial objects in motion, creating metaphors for the passage of time. The photographer can’t be sure what he or she will create, and that’s part of the allure and the excitement! It's a spellbinding, spiritual experience.
Mark, the author of The Light of Midnight: Photographing the Landscape at Night and After Midnight: Night Photography by Example, will demonstrate field and digital darkroom techniques with special emphasis on shooting and processing the Milky Way and other celestial objects in relation to the night landscape. He’ll cover strategies, tips and techniques on:
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Camera settings — Shutter speed, aperture, BULB, ISO, white balance
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Determining nighttime exposures
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Using the histogram
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Taking High ISO test shots
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Composing and focusing in the dark
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Using LiveView at night
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Capturing detail in both the landscape and sky
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Photographing the Milky Way, stars, planets, moon, meteors, Northern Lights and other celestial phenomena
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Shooting long exposures by ambient light, from seconds- to hours-long
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Shooting time-lapse sequences and creating time-lapse movies
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Shooting time interval sequences
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Capturing stars as points of light, as trails and as circles
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Photographing lightning
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"Painting" with artificial light
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Shooting portraits that include the Milky Way and night sky using flash and LED lights
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Noise Reduction in-camera and in post-processing
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Processing a variety of night images
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Software used to seamlessly blend night sky and landscape images, while reducing noise
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Specialized software for star stacking
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Blending multiple exposures for depth of field, noise reduction and expanded exposure latitude
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Creating night panoramas
Mark plans to stay out shooting until midnight and later, photographing wilderness landscapes as well as artificially lit scenes. Possible field locations include the area’s numerous lakes and ponds, rivers and mountain vistas.
Indoor instructional sessions will begin in late morning so that participants get appropriate rest. The sessions will include reviews of participants' images.
Come expand your image-making beyond daylight shooting, creating images that evoke the majesty, awe and wonder of the Adirondacks at night!
Camera Skills Needed
All skill levels are welcome.
Users of all types of cameras may attend. However, digital SLR and mirrorless cameras are preferred for their ability to provide immediate feedback and instant access to the images. Without one, you will not be able to take full advantage of the indoor sessions in this workshop.
Description of skill levels - click here.
Computer Skills Needed
A basic understanding of digital workflow and some working knowledge of Lightroom, Photoshop or other RAW processing software will be helpful. A laptop computer with a program to store and view images is highly recommended. Mark will be glad to answer your image processing questions.
Other Considerations
Locations visited during this workshop are easily accessible and do not require any strenuous hiking or climbing. As with all outdoor pursuits, some risk is inherent; all participants will be required to sign a waiver prior to the workshop.
Group Size
10 participants maximum.
Registration Fees
$1125
A deposit of $250 is required at time of registration. Deadline for early registration discount is June 17th. Click here for information on any other discounts that may be available.
Details
Dates and Times
The program begins Sunday, August17th at 5:00 pm and ends Thursday, August 21st at noon.
Where to Meet
Participants will gather at the Adirondack Trail Motel, 6450 NYS Rte 30, Indian Lake, NY.
Lodging
Lodging is the responsibility of the participant and is not included in the registration fee.
We suggest staying at the Adirondack Trail Motel. Contact them at (518) 648-5044 for reservations. A block of rooms has been held for our group, so please mention the Adirondack Photography Institute when making reservations. This is a small motel and early registration is highly recommended.
Other recommended lodging in Indian Lake:
Cabins at Chimney Mountain - 315-416-6874
Point Breeze Motel and Cottages - 518-648-5555
Snowy Mountain Inn - 518-648-5995
Meals
Meals are the responsibility of the participant and their cost is not included in the registration fee. I will work with the group to organize meal times and locations.
Getting to the Event
The two nearest airports are the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) and the Albany International Airport (ALB). Rental cars are available at both locations.
Transportation During the Event
Participants’ vehicles will be used for transportation during field trips. We will carpool to minimize the number of vehicles needed for any given field trip, as well as to lessen our impact on easily damaged roads and trails. Note that the instructor is not allowed to provide transportation for participants during the event.
What To Bring
Click here to download a What To Bring list for this workshop. Feel free to contact me with questions: (413) 442-9125 or mbowiephoto@gmail.com.