Capture the Magic of the Night Sky in Joshua Tree
The Struggle is Real: Night Photography is Tough
You've tried shooting the night sky, but your photos don’t capture the magic you see with your own eyes. Your stars are blurry, your foreground is too dark, and your compositions don’t quite work. Sound familiar?
Shooting in low light is challenging, and without the right techniques, gear setup, and editing skills, even experienced photographers struggle.
Master Night Photography in Just One Weekend
Join my Dark Sky Weekend Workshop and take your astrophotography skills to the next level. Learn to capture stunning Milky Way shots, star trails, and dramatic nightscapes under some of the darkest skies in the U.S.
✔️ Learn to plan, shoot, and edit nightscapes
✔️ Perfect your exposure, focus, and composition
✔️ Master post-processing for breathtaking images
By the end of the weekend, you’ll confidently capture incredible night sky photos, from Milky Way panoramas to mesmerizing star trails.
What You’ll Gain from This Workshop
Nail Your Focus & Exposure – Say goodbye to blurry, noisy shots.
Perfect Your Composition – Create balanced, striking nightscapes.
Master Editing – Bring out the stars, reduce noise, and enhance the scene.
Learn Star Trail & Milky Way Photography – Capture stunning deep-sky images.
Small Group, Personalized Attention – Limited to 6 participants.
You'll leave with not just knowledge but portfolio-worthy images and the confidence to shoot the night sky anywhere.
Learn. Create. Edit
Day 1 – Classroom session (camera settings, composition, planning)
Night 1 – Shooting session: Milky Way, star trails, and light painting
Day 2 – Editing workshop: Enhance your night shots in Lightroom
What You Get
3-hour classroom session (night photography theory & planning)
8+ hours of guided night shooting in Joshua Tree
4-hour editing session (post-processing, stacking, and noise reduction)
One-on-one feedback & hands-on learning
Small group (max 6 photographers) for personalized attention
Tips on apps, gear, and settings for dark sky photography
FAQ
📌 What gear do I need?
A DSLR or mirrorless camera, wide-angle lens (f/2.8 or faster recommended), tripod, and remote shutter release.
📌 Do I need prior night photography experience?
No! This workshop is designed for intermediate photographers looking to build confidence in astrophotography.
📌 What happens if the weather is bad?
We adjust our shooting locations or focus more on editing techniques. Joshua Tree is famous for its clear skies!
📌 Can I bring a friend or partner?
Yes, but each participant must register separately.
What Others Are Saying ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Jon is an excellent teacher, communicator, and photographer! The Dark Sky 'group' experience exceeded all of my expectations. I look forward to future workshops with Jon and putting all the knowledge gained into practice!" – Barbara P., Google Review.
“First time trying dark sky photography . . . excellent results! Jon Norris is an excellent teacher, very knowledgeable and patience with a beginner. I learned so much about planning, composition, and post processing. I highly recommend his workshops.” - Paul C., Google Review.
“I recently had the opportunity to take a Dark Skies Photography Workshop in Joshua Tree NP with Jon. Jon is a fantastic photographer and instructor, and I took away so many new skills from his workshop! From basic camera settings I was neglecting to pay attention to, to different Photopills settings, to post-processing. Jon is also incredibly kind and welcoming, and made the whole experience enjoyable. I would definitely recommend taking a workshop with him!” - Caitlyn H., Google Review.
Did You Know?
✨ Joshua Tree National Park is a designated Dark Sky Park, meaning minimal light pollution and some of the best stargazing in the U.S.
✨ The Milky Way core is best visible from March to October – making this the perfect time to book your spot!
✨ You can capture a stunning Milky Way shot with just a few seconds of exposure once you know the right settings.
Too Busy to Read It All? Here’s the Short Version:
📍 Where? Joshua Tree National Park
📅 When? Monthly weekend workshops
📷 For who? Intermediate photographers ready to master astrophotography
🌌 What? Hands-on shooting, classroom learning & editing techniques
🎟️ Why? Leave with portfolio-worthy night sky photos