ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY & STARGAZING

WORKSHOPS FOR BEGINNERS

Join us for night of Stargazing and Astrophotography

Do you have a camera and would love to take night sky photographs but don’t know where to start?

Would you love to have an experienced guide with you to tell you all about what you have just captured?

Join us for an evening of stargazing and an introduction to Astrophotography with experienced guides, Becky Bateman, Astronomy Guide from Under The Stars and award winning local Photographer Sharisse Eberlein.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

Next Workshop – Date & Time TBC

$115 pp, over 18’s only

Based in the Wairarapa, we are fortunate enough to be have some of the darkest sky in new Zealand, all within an easy drive of our capital city Wellington.

During this  2hr workshop, we will introduce you to the basic principles of nightscape photography after which we will head out on location. Your Astronomy guide, Becky will talk about what it is we are seeing in the night sky. We will then put our learning into practice,with the aim of capturing the Milkyway, with Sharisse on hand to help you out.

WHAT TO BRING

  • Camera  – to get the most out the experience it is recommended that your camera allows for manual settings of aperture, shutter speed and ISO, with ISO capable of 3200 or 6400
  • Your widest angle lens or zoom (eg 24-70, 16 to 35mm)
  • A stable tripod
  • A remote shutter release or the ability to put your camera onto self timer mode
  • Empty memory cards
  • Spare/fully charged camera batteries
  • Head torch
  • Warm clothing and sturdy footwear

To get the most value from the workshop, please be familiar with how to change the manual settings on your camera. You don’t need to know the whys – I can help with that, just how. The workshop focuses on how to use your camera settings not what type of camera you have, as all cameras vary slightly on where the settings are.

Your guides and location for the workshop

Wairarapa New Zealand

Due to its location and small population, Wairarapa has some of the darkest night sky in New Zealand, so is ideal for Astrophotography.

The Martinborough Dark Sky society is currently in the process of applying for Dark Sky Reserve Status and if successful the region will become one of only two Dark Sky Reserves in New Zealand and will become the largest and most accessible to a major city.

Becky Bateman

Becky Bateman owns and runs Under The Stars, the only nomadic astronomy tour service in the Wairarapa.

Becky comes from a science, teaching and outreach background and when the stars aligned for a move over the hill, she couldn’t be stopped!

She is a strong advocate of the Martinborough International Dark Sky Reserve proposal and helping people understand the importance of keeping the skies dark.

Sharisse Eberlein

With 18 years experience in the photographic industry, multi award winning photographer Sharisse Eberlein will be your Astrophotography guide.

Sharisse’s business includes a diverse range of photographic skill sets –  from weddings to families, newborns and commercial work.

Her love of photographing the night sky, has lead her to combine night sky photography with her wedding and commercial work, offering a unique experience for her clients and images with a difference.

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY TUITION FOR BEGINNERS

2020/2021 Dates

Nov  – Fri 14th/Sat 15th
Dec – Fri 11th/Sat 12th
Jan – Fri 1st Sat 2nd/Sun 3rd
Jan – Sat 8th
Jan  – Fri 15th/Sat 16th
Feb  – Fri 5th/Sat 6th/Sun 7th
Feb – Fri 12th/Sat 13th
March – Fri 5th/Sat 6th
March  – Fri 12th/Sat 13th
April – Fri 2nd/Sat 3rd
April – Fri 9th/Sat 10th
April – Fri 16th/Sat 17th
Please contact for times and winter dates.

Cant make a workshop?

I am available for small groups for beginner Astrophotography tuition.

If you have a camera but are not sure how to use it and would like a bit of help getting started with Astrophotography, then I am happy to help.

We will go over camera settings and how to use them for getting nightscape images.

$50 per person per hour, with a minium charge of $200 per hour

Gift vouchers available.

Due to the nature of Astrophotography, tuition is only available on certain dates and is weather permitting.

Please contact me for more details

The nitty gritty…..

  • Try as we might, we cannot guarantee clear sky and good weather for the workshop. Therefore, we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the workshop if the weather makes stargazing and astrophotography impractical. An alternative ‘rain date’ date will be provided at the time of booking. Please make sure you have both dates available, incase of adverse weather. If we are unable to hold the workshop on both dates, then an alternative date will be offered or a refund provided as at the clients choice.
  • A $25 part payment is required to secure your place. Full payment is required prior to commencement the workshop
  • Participants accept that the organisers cannot guarantee any photographic results you might get. We will be on hand to help you get the best that we can.
  • The workshop operates in an outdoor environment – please dress accordingly for the elements.
  • This  workshop operating in darkness. To avoid accidents please listen to your guides at all times.

Full T&C’s available proir to booking