SOLD OUT: Arches National Park Milky Way Workshop

Arches National Park, Utah, USA

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May 23-29, 2025

Arches National Park, Utah, USA

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May 23-29, 2025

Capture the Milky Way over some of the most iconic rock formations and desert landscapes of Arches National Park in Utah with 2 instructors named 2024 Milky Way Photographers of the Year

Milky Way in Arches National Park

There are very few places as unique as Arches National Park – its wind-blown rock structures and arches litter the landscape underneath clear, dark high desert skies. When the weather is right it’s an astrophotographer’s paradise, and the spring season often yields great overnight conditions. During this workshop we will visit a variety of locations to photograph the Milky Way, sunsets, sunrises, star trails, and more. Through all of it, you will learn various night and low-light photography methods including multiple exposure blending, multiple exposures for stacked processing, timelapse shooting, panos, star tracking, and various other night sky photography techniques. (NOTE: Artificial lighting / light painting is no longer allowed anywhere inside of the park)

Workshop Cost

Workshop investment is $3,400. (Cost is based on double-occupancy. Private rooms available for +$825, subject to availability)

Workshop deposit is $750.

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Highlights of the Workshop

Lodging and transportation during the workshop is included. Transportation to / from Moab may be available before and after the workshop – Contact me for details.
Variety of shooting locations available and scouted with flexibility to travel to nearby areas if weather requires us to be mobile.
While nothing is guaranteed in nature, we will use the best scientific tools and data available, combined with local knowledge plus a willingness to chase clear skies to give us excellent chances of photographing stunning view of the night sky.
Variety of landscapes.
Chance to learn a number of low-light and night sky shooting techniques across a variety of conditions.
Learn how to properly shoot with a star tracker and related post-processing techniques.
Small group post-processing instruction is included – you’ll be able to develop your images from this workshop under expert instruction and 1-on-1 learning.
Early season shooting means many late nights, but lower chances of cloud cover and the ability to photograph Milky Way arch panoramas.
Maximum of 8 participants (1:4 per instructor) means individual attention and stronger camaraderie and collaboration with fellow photographers.
Red Cross First Aid / CPR Certified; we also travel with long-range radios and GPS emergency response beacons.
Permitted and insured.

Teaching Topics

This night photography workshop concentrates on the following teaching topics:

Understand the position of the Milky Way through the night and seasons
Planning your shot in the field and through the use of technology
Getting oriented under the stars and finding the galactic core
Overview of various resources for finding dark skies and predicting the Milky Way position
Proper camera and exposure settings for night sky photography
Overview and usage of basic and advanced equipment, including portable star trackers to extend exposure time without star trailing
Calculating exposure time based on focal length and sensor size / resolution
Understanding effective compositions
Planning and shooting composite images for clear foreground and sky
Focus-stacking (Shooting and processing)
Low-level lighting techniques for foreground elements (*If shooting outside the park as supplemental light is no longer allowed inside the national park)
Creating star trail images
Shooting multiple exposures for image noise reduction
Post-processing workflows
Image editing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
Timelapse editing in LRTimelapse

The visibility of the Milky Way is highly dependent on weather. Light to moderate cloud cover will not prohibit us from shooting the Milky Way. If we encounter dense cloud cover, we may adjust the shooting locations and/or focus on landscape shooting and lighting techniques.

Meet your Guides.

Marc Rassel

Landscape Astrophotographer. Space Nerd.

Marc is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed landscape astrophotographer and workshop leader based in Minnesota, USA with a particular interest in astronomy. He has traveled to many locations around the world both professionally and personally, and has extensive experience photographing these landscapes and the wonders of the night sky in a wide variety of conditions. Through the experiences of owning and running an advertising and design firm, and formal training in graphic design and fine arts, he has amassed an array of skills that allow him to apply both a technical and aesthetic approach to his work and that of his students. When not leading workshops, Marc spends much of his time in the outdoors exploring and photographing the deep Northwoods of the Midwest and the mountainous landscapes of Colorado and the American Southwest.

Baillie Farley

Nightscape Photographer.

Born in the wheatbelt of Australia known for its dark skies, Baillie Farley is an internationally acclaimed nightscape photographer celebrated for capturing the mesmerizing beauty of the night sky. With a deep passion for the night sky, Baillie’s work is known for pushing the limits of modern camera technology to reveal stunning Milky Way arches, vibrant constellations, and ethereal nightscapes. His talent has earned him recognition as the Milky Way Photographer of the Year, with his work featured in several exhibitions and publications worldwide. A printmaker by day, Baillie meticulously produces his limited-edition prints, ensuring they reflect the same vivid detail seen in his photos. Driven by an adventurous spirit, Baillie explores remote landscapes, transforming the night sky into art that inspires wonder and curiosity about the universe.

Recommended Equipment

Sturdy tripod with ball head
Digital SLR and/or mirrorless camera body with full manual control, preferably full-frame sensor (although cropped / APS-C will work)
Wide angle lens(es) with fast aperture (f2.8 or better). Some great lenses for night sky photography include the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 (or 24mm), Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8
If you have a telephoto (200mm+) and it’ll fit your travel plans, bring it along – you never know what we might find out in the field
Star tracker (if you have one)
Polarizing filters if you have them
Basic headlamp with red light option
Remote shutter release or basic intervalometer
Memory cards
Extra batteries (at least 3 fully-charged batteries per night)
Camera / lens cleaning supplies
Laptop / Lightroom and Photoshop software + file transfer accessories if you’d like to follow along during post-processing sessions
Hard drives and file backup accessories

If you don’t have everything you need, please contact me, I may be able to rent you the gear you need.

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Trip Includes

6 nights lodging in Moab, including breakfast (Double-occupancy; private rooms available for a fee, subject to availability)
Local ground transportation
Light snacks and refreshments
Professional guides
Field instruction
Post-processing instruction
Shared lighting equipment and stands
Photography guiding and instruction throughout the trip
Entrance Fees

Trip Does NOT Include

Airfare and transportation to Moab, Utah
Camera equipment
Laptop / post-processing software
Meals (excluding breakfast)
Alcohol
Personal expenses / tips
Insurance
Any services not noted in “Trip Includes”

Suggested Packing List

Layered, warm clothing (We are likely to experience a wide range of temperatures, potentially from 30°F to 90°F)
Warm base layers for legs and torso, light gloves, hat, jacket, shirts, warm socks, and footwear suitable for hiking and relatively cold weather overnight. (**Avoid cotton in favor of wool fibers whenever possible)
Water bottles / hydration packs

**We can provide hand / foot warmers as needed throughout the workshop.

Important Workshop Information

Schedule: Upon arrival in Moab we will get together for a meet-and-greet and required introductory session including workshop timeline overview, field safety, and night shooting preparation. Following this session the group will have some personal time for rest, dinner, and gear prep before we head out for our first night. Depending on the cloud forecast, overnight temperatures, and the group’s ability to stay up all night, we may be out shooting until sunrise so please be prepared for some late nights.

Arriving in Moab: The nearest airport is Canyonlands Field Airport approximately 20 miles from Moab. The next nearest regional airport is Grand Junction Regional Airport, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes drive time Moab, and the nearest major airport is Salt Lake City International Airport, approximately 4 hours drive time to Moab. Transportation to / from Moab via Grand Junction Regional Airport is available – please contact me for details.

Transportation during the Workshop: We will be traveling to and from our shooting locations via a 12-passenger van each night with plenty of room for us and all of our gear.

Weather: High desert weather can vary between daytime and overnight temperature, potentially seeing ranges from the low 30s to high 80s.

Cancellation Policy: We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We highly recommend Travel Insurance to cover any non-refundable fees or medical coverage during the workshop.