If photographing the night sky has been on your bucket list, this is the trip to make it happen. Our Milky Way & Desert Star Trails: Death Valley & Alabama Hills photo workshop offers an unparalleled opportunity to capture the brilliance of the Milky Way and mesmerizing star trails in two of the darkest, most photogenic locations in the United States.

Timed perfectly with the New Moon, this 7-day adventure takes you deep into California’s Death Valley National Park and the rugged Alabama Hills, where crystal-clear skies and minimal light pollution reveal the night sky in all its glory. You’ll master two essential forms of astrophotography—dynamic Milky Way compositions and circular star trail images—while exploring some of the West’s most iconic and otherworldly landscapes.
Two Unique Locations. Endless Photographic Possibilities.

We start in Death Valley, home to some of the darkest skies in North America. From the vast salt flats of Badwater Basin to the rolling Mesquite Sand Dunes and colorful canyons like Artist’s Palette, you’ll have access to spectacular locations that offer stunning foregrounds for your night sky photography. Our years of experience here mean we’ll take you straight to hidden gems like ancient mud cracks and remote playas—places most visitors never find on their own.

Then we head west to the Alabama Hills, a landscape that feels like stepping onto another planet. Think giant granite boulders, natural stone arches, and panoramic views of the Eastern Sierra, including Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. This rugged terrain, combined with the deep darkness of the skies here, makes it a perfect backdrop for astrophotography. Mobius Arch, Lone Pine Peak, and other formations create striking compositions for both Milky Way shots and star trail sequences.


Why This Workshop Is Special

• Photograph Two Legendary Dark Sky Locations: Death Valley and Alabama Hills are two of the best places in the U.S. for astrophotography—minimal light pollution, expansive skies, and extraordinary landscapes.

• Master Both Milky Way & Star Trails Techniques: Learn how to plan, shoot, and process both styles of night sky imagery with personalized instruction from professional photographers.

• Variety of Landscapes & Foregrounds: From salt flats and sand dunes to granite arches and rugged mountains, you’ll have diverse options for foregrounds that take your night images to the next level.

• All Skill Levels Welcome: Whether you’re shooting the night sky for the first time or you’re an experienced astrophotographer, we’ll help you refine your skills and capture stunning images.

• Expert Instruction: Our seasoned photography guides offer hands-on guidance in the field and comprehensive post-processing sessions to ensure you leave with incredible images and new skills.
  
  

A Dynamic and Comprehensive Night Photography Experience

This trip is about developing your night photography skill set. You’ll learn the entire process, from understanding your camera settings for low-light conditions to blending multiple exposures, noise reduction, and creating star trails that wow. We’ll also cover post-processing techniques, ensuring your Milky Way shots look crisp, clean, and full of detail.

And while the focus is astrophotography, we’ll also have time to explore and photograph dramatic desert landscapes in the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, providing a well-rounded portfolio of both daytime and night scenes from these stunning locations.


The Bottom Line

Milky Way & Desert Star Trails: Death Valley & Alabama Hills is one of our most dynamic and rewarding workshops. Across seven days, you’ll photograph a huge variety of scenes—from cracked desert playas and towering dunes to soaring peaks and stone arches, all under pristine dark skies. You’ll gain the skills and confidence to capture jaw-dropping night images, whether you’re a beginner or looking to elevate your astrophotography game.