Sequoia National Park Dark Sky Festival
Explore Landscapes #59: I was privileged to lead an Astrophotography workshop for the Sequoia Parks Conservancy as part of their 11th annual Dark Sky Festival. Here's how it went down.
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Firstly, my heartfelt thanks to Rebecca Jones of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy for inviting me to participate in the Dark Sky Festival. Also, I must thank Sydney Williams of Hiking My Feelings for introducing me to Rebecca and setting the wheels in motion. You two rock!
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Sequoia Parks Conservancy (SPC), Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks jointly presented the annual Dark Sky Festival this year for the 11th time.
In SPC’s words, “This festival offers a unique opportunity to deepen our connection with the universe while raising awareness about preserving the natural darkness that these parks are so fortunate to possess.”
Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or experiencing the wonder of the night sky for the first time, the Dark Sky Festival promises moments of awe, insight, and connection.
I lead the workshop as a volunteer via the NPS Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program, as I do for some of the Desert Institute classes in Joshua Tree National Park.
I spent an action-packed week scouting potential dark sky photography locations in August, with a good helping of hiking and backpacking added for good measure. See the articles below:
I wanted to find a location within the park to get Sequoias in the foreground against a backdrop of the Milky Way. Alas, that was not to be. Sequoias are so tall and often close together, so it’s challenging to get a clear view of the sky.
However, I think I’ve identified a location that will work earlier in the Milky Way season, and I plan to be back in Sequoia during May or June 2025 to try it.
The deck at the Wolverton Picnic Area was chosen as the workshop location because it was easily accessible for attendees, had room for a large group of photographers, and afforded an unobstructed view of the sky.
I was excited to learn when I arrived at Sequoia on the Thursday before the workshop that we were fully booked (12 photographers) and that we even had a waitlist.
A concern was whether we’d have good weather, i.e., a clear sky, especially as the Coffee Pot Fire was active and growing just outside the National Park. In the afternoon, there were a lot of clouds; however, they started to clear as we approached sunset.
Unfortunately, a road traffic incident closed the General’s Highway (the access road to the park) for a few hours in the late afternoon, which prevented some participants from attending.
As the sun set, I briefed the nine photographers who made it, many of whom were beginners and had never shot the Milky Way before, on how to set up their cameras. It’s always a challenge working with so many photographers (and different camera makes and models) simultaneously, as many were unfamiliar with shooting in manual mode. Eventually, I got everyone dialed in and ready to shoot.
Typically, at this time of year, there’s about an hour between setting up for a Milky Way shot during sunset and the end of astronomical twilight when it becomes dark enough to see stars and the Milky Way.
It’s always best (and certainly far more straightforward) to find your composition while it’s still light. So, the group spent a good half-hour adjusting their compositions to ensure they had a good view of the sky where the Milky Way would appear and some trees in the foreground appearing as silhouettes in the final image.
There was a lot of excitement within the group as the Milky Way became more easily visible as it got darker. I told everyone when to start shooting, and off we went.
It was so rewarding to hear the excitement, awe, and wonder as the group got their very first images of the Milky Way. I worked my way around each participant, fine-tuning their camera settings (typically the ISO) to ensure they were getting a good exposure in-camera.
We only had a three-hour window for the workshop, but by the end, everyone had gotten at least one, if not several, good images of the Milky Way.
Sequoia National Park is a beautiful location for dark sky or astrophotography photography. I was so grateful and pleased to be given this opportunity to photograph and lead the workshop there.
Thanks again to the Sequoia Parks Conservancy for inviting me, and I hope to be at the Dark Sky Festival again next year.
Let me be your dark sky photography guide to Joshua Tree National Park
Join me in Joshua Tree National Park to learn how to shoot the Milky Way and Star Trails on one of these upcoming JTNPA group workshops. Take a look at the wonderfully illustrated Desert Institute Fall Field Guide for this and other field classes. You can book your place via the Desert Institute Humanitix page.
Alternatively, join me for a one-to-one workshop to elevate your photography skills and capture breathtaking Milky Way and Star Trails images. Learn essential camera settings, focusing methods, and composition tricks to make your night sky shots shine.
Here are a few of my posts that you might be interested in reading:
Interesting musings, images, and art from others:
The chalk cliffs of Dover by Richard I Gibson
What Are Dark Sky Places and Why They Are Important by Emese-Reka Fromm
Letter from the Desert: Western Solar Plan by Chris Clarke
Shadows on the Moon by John Charlton
Embracing Limitations by Gill Moon Photography
TCF Ep. 628 - Mikko Takkunnen by Ibarionex
I didn't stick to my word by Adam Kenna
industrial #57 by PerfectLight
White Admiral Butterfly by Sydney Michalski
What a great experience! Wish we would've been there. Maybe next time we'll plan for it. Your photos are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the experience - and photos! Also, thank you for the mention :)