Conference Schedule

Twenty-six speakers will engage with a passionate and dedicated group of photographers and dark sky devotees over four full days of presentations, classes and in-field night photography. The speakers will include Nightscaper veterans as well as newcomers. Topics will range from mid- and high-level post-processing, specialties such as light painting and scouting, and general topics such as dark sky preservation, astronomy, national parks and more.

You can see the general daily schedule below, or download it as a PDF.

  • 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
    Registration

    11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
    Welcome & Introductions

    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Beyond the Visible: Exploring the Cosmos through Hyperspectral Imaging, by Bryony Richards

    Shooting Sharper and Cleaner with an Astro-Modified Camera, by Clarence Spencer (sponsored by Spencer’s Camera)

    12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
    How to Plan your Sun, Moon and Milky Way Photos with PhotoPills, by Rafael Pons

    Deepscapes 1: Image Design, by Mike Shaw

    1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
    Lunch / Vendor Visits

    3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
    Star Trails: Super Simple, Better and Awesome, by Royce Bair

    The World Comes Alive at Night, by Jeff Leimbach (sponsored by Canon)

    4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
    Dream Locations for Night Photography, by Cody York (sponsored by Dreamland Safari Tours)

    Unlocking Your Camera’s Night Sky Potential, by Paul Van Allen (sponsored by Nikon)

    5:45 to 6:30 p.m.
    Tales of the Night, by Attendees

    6:45 to 8:15 p.m.
    Opening Night Dinner

    ★ 8:30 to 11:00 p.m.
    Nightscaper Star Party Brought to you by Stella Vista Observatory and ZWO

  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
    Morning Add-On Sessions

    11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
    Morning Welcome

    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Color Theory by a Colorblind Photographer, by Ryan Oswald

    Working with Water at Night, by Chris Nicholson

    12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
    Mastering PhotoPills, by Rafael Pons (from Beginner to Pro)

    Deepscapes 2: Image Capture, Optimization and Blending, by Mike Shaw

    1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
    Lunch / Vendor Visits

    3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
    Exploring Deep Space Astrophotography: Capturing Nebulae, Galaxies and Beyond, by Sarah Mathews (sponsored by ZWO)

    Selections and Masks Masterclass, by Tim Cooper

    4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
    Snap it, Sketch it, Stamp it, Stick it! Creative Tips for Documenting on the Road, by Michael Hollender (sponsored by Sony)

    From Dageurreotype to Digital: The History of Night Photography, by Lance Keimig

    5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
    Maximize the Maximum: Photographing Auroras at the Height of the Solar Cycle, by Kah-Wai Lin (sponsored by PhaseOne)

    Night Photographer’s Checklist: How to Photograph in Any Night Condition, by Gabriel Biderman (sponsored by B&H Photo)

  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
    Morning Add-On Sessions

    11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
    Morning Welcome

    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Preparing Nightscape Images for Print, by Kristine Richer

    A Beginner’s Guide to Night Panoramas, by Matt Hill (sponsored by Shimoda Designs)

    12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
    Growth Hacks to Quickly Build Your Social Media Footprint, by Carly Stocks

    Visual Pathways: Bending Light to Tell a Story, by Ryan Oswald

    1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
    Lunch / Vendor Visits

    3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
    Exploring the Infrared Universe with Webb, by Alyssa Pagan

    Please Shoot Responsibly, by Bettymaya Foott (sponsored by DarkSky International)

    4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
    Become a Night Photography Multitasker: Crafting Star Points, Star Trails and Cinemagraphic Time-Lapses from a Single Tripod, by Katrina Brown

    Capturing Serenity through Night Photography, by Carly Stocks

    5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
    The Art of Composites: The In-Field Guide, by Jess Santos

    Nighttime Sequences, by Michael Frye

    ★ Night Walks

    • Bryce Canyon with Nikon

    • Cliff Dwellers with Canon

    • Coral Pink Sand Dunes with Sony

    • South Kanab with Spencer’s Camera

  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
    Morning Add-On Sessions

    11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
    Morning Welcome

    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Pixel-Perfect Cosmos: Mastering Astro-Landscape Photography and Light Painting with Google Pixel, by Katrina Brown

    Complex Lighting with One Flashlight, by Michael Frye

    12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
    Celestial Cinematography, by Jack Fusco (sponsored by Sigma)

    Lunar Landscapes: Capturing the Moon’s Geological Tale Through the Lens of Astrophotography, by Bryony Richards

    1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
    Lunch / Vendor Visits

    3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
    The Art and Science Behind How Webb Images are Made, by Alyssa Pagan

    Are you Ready to See Accurate Colors?, by Art Suwansang (sponsored by BenQ)

    4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
    Sell Your First Print, by Kristine Richer

    The Art of Composites: Photoshop Wizardry, by Jess Santos

    5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
    Farewell Remarks

All Days

Vendor booths open ▪ 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(will open at 9:30 the first day)

Sunset ▪ 7:20 p.m.

Milky Way Core visible ▪ 8:45 p.m.

Night Shoots and Activities

Many evening activities are impromptu, organized by whoever wants to—fellow attendees, speakers, sponsor representatives, etc. We suggest the “Shoot for the Stars” message board or the conference Facebook group as places to connect and plan with your fellow attendees.