Grand Canyon Milky Way Photography Workshop

Starry Night Photography and Colorado River Rafting in the Grand Canyon — all in one photo workshop. This could be the trip of a lifetime! Our adventure is scheduled for September 20-23, 2016.

Everything is provided for in this workshop: prepared meals, air transfers from Las Vegas to the river and back, camping equipment, entertainment, and dedicated photo instruction by NightScape Photographer, Royce Bair.

For more information on our itinerary and costs, go to this NightScape Photography Meetup page.

All three of these Milky Way "NightScapes" used a 2nd exposure technique to add starlight detail to the foreground. Learn how on this page and in my workshops ~ all images © Royce Bair

Mobius Arch NightScape

A light painted Mobius Arch with the Milky Way over the Eastern Sierra Mountains ~ © Royce Bair

I just returned from a four-day scouting trip in the Alabama Hills of Eastern California, where I will be conducting a NightScape Workshop, April 22-25, 2014. Photographing the Eastern Sierras has always been a dream of mine, ever since I first saw Ansel Adams' iconic "Winter Sunrise" photo of these mountains taken from the Lone Pine area.

Technique: The above NightScape is a single exposure (20 seconds), taken with a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens @ f/2.8 on a Canon 5D Mark III camera. The arch was lighted with two stationary battery-powered lights behind (with a yellow/orange filter) and inside (with a red filter) the arch, and one moving spotlight from the front, right side. Camera white balance is set at 4000ºK, and all lights are balanced to 3200ºK before adding any filtration. ISO was 6400.

Although the winter Milky Way is not as bright and dramatic as the summer Milky Way, it does provide better alignment with the arch and the Sierras.

"First Light" - a telephoto view of Mt. Whitney from the Alabama Hills area ~ © Royce Bair

The Alabama Hills area offers a wide variety of opportunities for both night and daytime landscape photography. This semi-arid region on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range is free from light pollution and boasts clean, crisp air for amazingly clear photography. The rounded features of the Alabama Hills provide a unique contrast to the jagged Sierra Nevada backdrop.

The rugged peaks of the Eastern Sierras viewed through Mobius Arch (24mm lens) ~ © Royce Bair

Royce's 2014 Workshop, Lecture & Video Conference Schedule: NightScapeEvents.com
Featured Post: Shooting Stars eBook Review — How to Photograph the Stars and the Moon

Testimonials for Royce Bair's Workshops

Unsolicited testimonials about my workshops are a treasure. It is hard to place a value on goodwill like this, but I truly appreciate my association with each photographer and their thoughtful comments! The follow comments are listed below in no particular order:

Simply amazing! Thank you so much, Royce--the workshop was absolutely fantastic. I learned so much and came away with some incredible photos. I appreciated your patience and energy as well as your generosity in sharing your knowledge with us. And yes, what an excellent group of people! I couldn't have asked for better companions for this adventure. I had so much dang FUN it's ridiculous. I appreciated how willing everyone was to help each other--I learned quite a bit from each of you as well, so thank you. And keep in touch please! — Nicole Fernley

This was my third workshop with Royce Bair. I learn more each trip from his knowledge and mentoring - he is a master of Night Sky Photography. The experience was terrific and the I really enjoyed the group. I look forward to the next workshop with Royce! — George Manlove

© George Manlove • Canon 6D • Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 @ 33mm • f/2.8, 15 sec, ISO 800 (click to enlarge)

It was an informative and fun workshop. We had a wonderful group and I learned so much. — Denise Waterman

Milky Way over John Moulton Barn, Mormon Row, GTNP ~ © Denise Waterman
Nikon D600, Rokinon 24mm • f/1.4 • 15 seconds • ISO 6400 (click to enlarge)

Excellent workshop! Received way more than I expected. Thank you so much for the wonderful workshop in the Tetons. I learned everything I hoped for and more! Your instruction in the field was right on and your post-processing savvy brings the raw images to life exquisitely.  I enjoyed photographing the sights from vantage points only someone intimately familiar with the area could have shown me, saw the stars and Milky Way like I have never seen them before and shared it all with some entertaining and talented folks that made up our little group. — Steve Slinger

Fun, informative, and we had great luck with the weather overall. — David Hoelscher

Royce’s Zion National Park Milky Way Workshop was my first exposure to the art and science of astrophotography. I was thoroughly impressed with Royce’s classroom post-production lecture and hands-on field photography workshop. He revealed a lot of tips and techniques that make for stunning nighttime photography. Every aspect of trip was handled with professionalism—from pre-workshop communications that included useful eBooks on astrophotography to detailed trip itinerary, in-class and in-field instruction to post-trip follow up. Our May Zion participants made for a fun and compatible group. Thanks, Royce for making this workshop so much fun and a great educational experience! I look forward to participating in another workshop in the near future.
— Christopher Wray

"Watchman under the Milky Way" - Zion Canyon, Zion N.P. ~ © Christopher Wray (click to enlarge)

Awesome! Wunnerful, wunnerful, wunnerful! Thanks, Royce and all the other photographers, I had a great time! — Steven Sharp

I am a naturalist. I chose to work with you to find out for myself to see if the sky and milkyway could be captured w/o photoshop. many of my fellow photos tried t tell me it was all done in photoshop. I am happy to prove them wrong. Royce you are one intelligent photographer. Hats off to you! — Rita Nielsen

Excellent! — Brian Drake

The Best! Royce is an excellent instructor. He is very thorough, yet makes the technical details easy to understand. He covers each of the camera settings and why they are important. Reviews astronomical information, so you know where and what to look for so you will know when you are on your own. He covers information that is important as the night progresses. He was there visiting with each person to make sure they understood the instructions and were getting good pictures. Then he follows up the class with additional information and resources. If you are thinking about taking one of his classes - do it! Opportunities to learn from such a master are rare. — Doug Lawrence

Thank you, Royce! An incredible experience! I learned so much and look forward to doing additional workshops in the future. — Jerry Holman

Milky Way over Delicate Arch, Arches National Park ~ © Jerry Holman

The was such a great workshop!! Royce is very helpful and explains details in an understandable way. Can't wait to take another workshop! — Pat Wimpee

This was a fabulous experience. Very well planned for the spots to take photos at the right times, excellent teaching and a great time. I am more amazed at the expert skill Royce demonstrated in putting together an excellent group of attendees who were all wonderful - even the Cannot users were great people who provided valuable information. We need to have a reunion shoot together when our post-processing skills create signature images. — Steve Waterman

Milky Way stars over "The Mask" at Bryce Canyon National Park ~ © Steve Waterman

The work shop was beyond belief-- the information imparted was so much I am not sure I took it all in--the group company was absolutely enjoyable,fun and helpful--would love to photograph with any of you again--hope our lives cross in the future--Royce, I cannot say Thank You enough. I enjoyed you personally and as a teacher--your energy level was outstanding. Hope to do another workshop in the future. — Sara A. Smith

Royce did a wonderful and professional job! He was very knowledgeable and more than willing to share his expertise and time answering questions and working with any individual on their particular questions/concerns. I really enjoyed all the other workshop participants - great bunch of fellow photographers who were very talented in their own photographic skills. I am pleased to announce that the rash I developed from standing too close to the Nikon (Nylon) shooters is almost cleared up. The Dr. said it was pixelated skin or noise from high ISO Nikon deficits.  — C.Y. Roby

Hope I can make another one soon. Still amazed at how you were able to get us around to the best spots and just the right time. — Jean Thomas

Excellent, Royce, thank you so much! — A.M. Ruttle

Royce, it was a fabulous time, I learned lots and enjoyed everyone's company. Despite being sleep deprived, everyone was great and wonderful company. — Joyce Harman

I learned a lot and am excited to go use what I've learned. — Alex Greenfield

Thanks, Royce. I thought that this was a great workshop and was an excellent value. Learned lots, got some great shots, met some neat people...what else could I ask for? — Paul Titus

Thanks for putting on such a great workshop and adapting to the weather conditions. Looking forward to doing it again in Zion. — Benjamin Johnson

Just wanted to thank you again for the outstanding workshop!  I am going back and re-editing some of my older photos with some of your suggestions and it is making a big difference.  I have learned so much from you and greatly appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge. — Mike Darter

Milky Way over Alabama Hills pinnacles ~ © J. Michael Darter (click to see video)

Thanks Royce. Your personal attention and great knowledge added immensely to the success of this workshop. I had never been to Zion before, seeing it and photographing it under your guidance was an awe inspiring experience. Hope I'm able to do another meet-up workshop with you in the near future. I'm recommending your workshops to every serious photographer I know. — Larry Goldman

I learned a lot. The experience was great. — Stan Kaules

Thanks for the fun and educational workshop! Royce, your knowledge, experience, planning and intellect made this trip very fruitful in my quest to be a better photographer. — Robin Perkins

Milky Way over Zion National Park's most famous lone pine tree ~ © Robin Perkins
Canon 5D Mk III • Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens • f/2.8, 30 sec, ISO 6400

The workshop was excellent. I had a blast. Thank you for your excellent teaching and guidance. I am very satisfied with my images and I am looking forward to the next workshop at the Grand Tetons. Thanks again. — Iqbal Mohamed

The workshop exceeded my expectations. Night shooting was of course super, but I also learned other things about photography as well. — Michael Braunstein

Royce's 2014 Workshop, Lecture & Video Conference Schedule: NightScapeEvents.com
Featured Post: Shooting Stars eBook Review — How to Photograph the Stars and the Moon

Royce Bair's 2016 Photography Workshop Schedule

Photographers at our 2013 Bryce "NightScape" Workshop
shooting a midnight moonrise next to the light painted "Fortress" formation. 

Milky Way above the Grand Canyon (this workshop location is offered in Sept. 2016).

2016 NightScape Photography Workshop Schedule  is available here.

2015 Lecture and Seminar Tour: My free NightScape lectures (12 cities) and half-day advanced seminars (3 cities) can be found on Meetup.com.

2015 Workshop Schedule: All of my workshops are being produced and co-sponsored by IMAGE10 Photography Workshops. Some of my workshop attendees have returned multiple times and their testimonials speak for themselves. Click on the dates for more details about each workshop:

• Arches National Park: April 21-24  SOLD OUT and Aug 11-14 SOLD OUT
• Escalante: May 19-22 (Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument) SOLD OUT
• Grand Teton National Park: July 14-17 SOLD OUT and July 20-23 SOLD OUT
• Bryce Canyon National Park: Aug 17-21 SOLD OUT

NEW eBook: You can review and purchase a copy of my new Milky Way NightScapes ebook, "A Guide to Photographing Starry Night Skies".

Podcast interview with Royce Bair: You can listen to a podcast interview with Royce and BlackRapid founder, Ron Henry, starting February 27th.


2014 Workshop History: My NightScape workshops will teach you how to photograph the starry night sky with stunning landscape features. Click on each workshop title for more information:

 Milky Way over 3 Sisters and Moonrise between the Mittens in Monument Valley ~ © Royce Bair

Starry Nights in Monument Valley Workshop

Produced by IMAGE10 - Instructed/Directed by Royce Bair
4 Day Workshop ~ March 26-29, 2014 ~ $1,195 COMPLETED

FREE NightScape Technical Workshop - hosted by the
Wasatch Camera Club - Register HERE
2-Hour Workshop ~ April 8, 2014 ~ FREE COMPLETED

Light painting Cyclops Arch with the Milky Way - Alabama Hills ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Over Alabama Hills and Eastern Sierras Workshop
3 Day Workshop ~ April 22-25, 2014 ~ $899 COMPLETED

Milky Way over The Watchman - Zion N.P. ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Zion Workshop (Zion National Park)
2 Day Workshop ~ May 27-29, 2014 ~ $599 COMPLETED

Milky Way over the light-painted John Moulton homestead - Grand Teton N.P.  ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Tetons Workshop #1 (Grand Teton National Park)
NOTE: All four Teton workshops have a similar venue of locations and instruction.
3 Day Workshop ~ June 24-27, 2014 ~ $899 COMPLETED

Milky Way over Teton Range from Cascade Canyon Overlook ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Tetons Workshop #2 (Grand Teton National Park)
3 Day Workshop ~ July 22-25, 2014 ~ $899 COMPLETED

 Milky Way views over Teton Range, Jenny Lake and String Lake ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Tetons Workshop #3 (Grand Teton National Park)
3 Day Workshop ~ July 28-31, 2014 ~ $899 COMPLETED

Milky Way over "Wall Street" in Bryce Canyon N.P. ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Bryce Workshop #1 (Bryce Canyon National Park)
3 Day Workshop ~ August 19-22, 2014 ~ $899 COMPLETED

Stars over light painted Thor's Hammer - Bryce Canyon N.P. ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Bryce Workshop #2 (Bryce Canyon National Park)
3 Day Workshop ~ August 25-28, 2014 ~ $899 COMPLETED

Milky Way behind light painted Delicate Arch - Arches N.P. ~ © Royce Bair

Milky Way Arches Workshop (Arches National Park)
3 Day Workshop ~ September 16-19, 2014 ~ $899 1 SPOT LEFT

Sparkling Eiffel Tower, Paris, from opposite bank of Seine River ~ © Moyan Brenn

Two Nights in Paris (France)
Produced by Italy Workshops - Instructed by Drake Busath & Royce Bair
2 Day Workshop ~ September 25-27, 2014 ~ $675 SOLD OUT

Château de Chambord, Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France

Loire Valley (France)
Produced by Italy Workshops - Instructed by Drake Busath & Royce Bair
7 Days, 6 Nights Workshop ~ September 28 - October 3, 2014 ~ $3250 SOLD OUT

The Italian Lakes Como, Lugano, Orta S.Giulio

The Italian Lakes (Italy)
Produced by Italy Workshops - Instructed by Drake Busath & Royce Bair
7 Days, 6 Nights Workshop ~ October 5-11, 2014 ~ $3250 SOLD OUT

Join my NightScape Photography Meetup Group and you'll automatically be notified of all my NightScape events, i.e. free lectures, free photo walks, video conferences, ebooks, and new workshops.

Photographers from our 2013 Arches Workshop,
waiting for the moon to set and the Milky Way to be revealed.

Photographers from the July 2013 Teton Workshop gathered at the John Moulton homestead outhouse.

Questions? Email Royce: orida70 [AT] gmail [DOT] com

Double Arch and Milky Way by Mike Darter

Double Arch, Arches National Park ~ © J. Mike Darter (click to enlarge)
Canon 5D Mark III • Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8 • 30 sec • 6400 ISO
(Light painting by Royce Bair)

This is one of the most unique perspectives and compositions of Double Arch I've seen in some time. What also makes this image so special to me is the persistence that Mike Darter and the other workshop members had to make this happen.

Much of our September 9-12 Arches Workshop was plagued with rain and overcast clouds, yet we continued shooting and light painting into this night and the early morning hours. We finally had this 10-minute partial parting of the clouds at about 1:00 AM on Wednesday morning. The clouds again cooperated later that evening for our Delicate Arch shoot.

Mike with his oldest daughter

J. Mike Darter worked in law enforcement from 1991 to 2002 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Dallas, Texas.  He is a co-founder and currently CEO of CCW Safe, LLC based out of Oklahoma City.  Mike has been involved in art since a young age, showing watercolor and mixed media from the age 13.  He was accepted to Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, NY in 1987, but chose instead to attend the University of Oklahoma to study Criminal Justice.  He continued painting through college, and well into his law enforcement career, but became interested in photography around 2000.  He attends wildlife and nature photography workshops whenever he can, and is currently showing at a Cherokee Art Gallery in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and will be showing at a private show in downtown Oklahoma City in December.  Mike would like to get some images licensed with some of the nature media outlets, but more importantly, introduce his daughters to photography and be able to spend some quality time on the side of a mountain with them in the future watching a sunrise. The above photo is one of Mike's favorites.  It is of his oldest daughter photographing the sunrise, at Myrtle Beach, this summer.


Royce's 2014 Workshop, Lecture & Video Conference Schedule: NightScapeEvents.com
Featured Post: Shooting Stars eBook Review — How to Photograph the Stars and the Moon

Light Painting Delicate Arch

Milky Way and light-painted Delicate Arch ~ © Royce Bair

Last week I conducted a 'NightScape' photography workshop at Arches National Park. We had crazy, wet weather! However, patient and persistent efforts by our group members allowed us to pull off some amazing shots during the windows of partial clearing that we were given.

The arch is lighted with a large, stationary, diffused light from the right (about 300 feet away). I'm providing an accent light from behind the arch with a small, hand-held, quartz halogen spotlight.

Our 'NightScape' workshop group photographing a moonscape behind a light-painted Delicate Arch ~ © Royce Bair

Earlier, we photographed a moonscape behind a light-painted Delicate Arch that my lighting assistant (my son, Chris) and I had arranged. (This is a totally different lighting setup than we used in the top photo with the Milky Way. Here, the stationary key light is coming from the left, and we are using small, moving spotlights on the right side to fill in harsh shadows.) A couple of hours after the moon had set, the clouds finally cleared enough to get the Milky Way shot (top) we had been waiting for.

Note: This ultra-wide angle shot, with the people in the foreground, makes the arch look smaller than it really is. Here's a better size comparison by Jaromir Dzialo.

Finding Your Little Bit of Heaven

"Celestial reflection - alpine wilderness" ~ © Royce Bair (click for a larger view)

Everyone has or should have a place where they can find seclusion and solitude. A place of peace and beauty where they can feed their soul and recharge their inner batteries. For me that place is the High Unitas Wilderness in northeastern Utah.

This is also the closest place for me to find deep darkness for my NightScape photography. The above photo was taken on the western edge of this wilderness, at an unnamed lake near Hayden Pass (10,375 ft. / 3,162 m.). The red glow is light pollution from Salt Lake City metro area, 55 miles (89 km) away, although getting there is a 85-mile drive (about two hours) along I-80 and Scenic Byway SR 150.

Memories: Creating an image like this has been a dream of mine since I was 14 years old -- when my father took my cousin and I on our first backpacking trip into the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Oregon's Wallowa Mountains.

Photo Tour / Workshop: On Aug 2nd, I am conducting a one-evening "NightScape" workshop to some of my favorite locations in this area. For more details, go to my Meetup about this event.

Your own bit of heaven: For my friend, Jack Fusco, who leaves in New Jersey, that bit of heaven is found along the eastern coastal beaches near Cape May and Ocean City. I encourage you to find your own area of sky darkness and seclusion.