Ready to head into the field and capture the Milky Way?
Our 2025 workshops and field trips start in May 2025.
Sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when workshop registration opens.
2025 Workshops and Field Trip Dates
Intro to the Milky Way Workshops occur during a one week period with two 60 minute live presentations during the evening. In the presentations, 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 5 hour drive of Sacramento, CA. Special field trip events will occur in other locations TBA. Exact times and meeting locations TBA.
Field trips cost vary depending on event type, 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. The online training sessions are free, anyone can attend. This will be followed by a local field trip hosted by Mike Oitzman, where you can get hands on help setting up your camera and taking your first images of the Milky Way.
The next online training sessions will be: (view the recordings by clicking on the links).
June 24, 6-7 PM Pacific – How to Plan a Milky Way
June 26, 6-7 PM Pacific – How to Photograph the Milky Way
Here’s a link to May’s training session:
May 19, 6-7 PM Pacific – How to Plan a Milky Way
May 21, 6-7 PM Pacific – How to Photograph the Milky Way
Practice What You Learn
By scheduling the workshops around the new moon each month, 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 Field Workshops for beginners cost $20.
The online training is free.
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.
How to photograph the Milky Way, $20
Practice what you’ve learned in the free online training with an instructor by your side. You’ll go home with lots of data to begin your journey into Milky Way photography. No experience necessary.
June 27, 2025 – Lake Wildwood Dam, Penn Valley, CA
Link to release for Fri June 27 trip (please print, sign and bring to the event): https://www.masterthemilkyway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MMW-Release-June-27.pdf
Link to minor release for Fri June 27 trip (please print, sign and bring to the event): https://www.masterthemilkyway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Release-Minor-June-27.pdf
Field trip: Grouse Ridge, $35
Experience an evening photographing the iconic Grouse Ridge Overlook and Outhouse. With views reaching from Sacramento to the Donner Summit, you’ll see all of the beauty of Nevada County. Evening starts with a epic sunset view, and ends with the Milky Way in all its glory.
You can drive your own vehicle, or carpool from Grass Valley.
July 26, 2025 - Grouse Ridge Overlook and OuthouseLink to release for Sat July 26 trip (please print, sign and bring to the event): https://www.masterthemilkyway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MMW-Release-July-26.pdf
Link to minor release for Fri May 30 trip (please print, sign and bring to the event): https://www.masterthemilkyway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Release-Minor-July-26.pdf