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
Intro to the Milky Way Workshops occur during a one week period (M | W | F) with a 60 minute live presentation each of the days three 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: $25 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 | Fri 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 are free to attend.
Join An Upcoming Workshop
Please submit your contact information to join an upcoming FREE workshop. Instructions and an invitation to the live class meetings will be sent via email. Please select your class choice on the form before submitting.
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.
| Destination | Month | Online Workshop Date | Field Trip Date |
| Field Trip 1 – Smartsville, CA – Oak Tree/MW Arc |
March 2024 | Mar 11 – Mar 15 | March 17, 2024 |
| Field Trip 2 – TBA |
April 2024 | Apr 1 – Apr 5 | April 6, 2024 |
| Field Trip 3 – TBA |
May 2024 | May 6 – May 10 | May 11, 2024 |
| Field Trip 4 – TBA |
June 2024 | June 3 – June 7 | June 8, 2021 |
| Field Trip 5 – TBA |
July 2024 | July 1 – July 5 | July 6, 2021 |
| Field Trip 6 – TBA |
August 2024 | July 29 – Aug 2 | August 3, 2021 |
| Field Trip 7 – TBA |
September 2024 | Aug 26 – Aug 30 | August 31, 2021 |
| Field Trip 8 – TBA |
October 2024 | Sept 30 – Oct 4 | October 5, 2021 |
| Field Trip 9 – TBA |
November 2021 | Oct 28 – Nov 1 | November 2, 2021 |