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.
Enjoying the sunset from the Wolverton Deck in Sequoia National Park | © 2024 Sydney Williams
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!
2024 Dark Sky Festival Event Guide. Cover Art designed by Eric Tan
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.
Two locations that didn’t make the cut for the workshop | © 2024 Jon Norris
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.
Trying to find a good location in Round Meadow to combine the Milky Way with Sequoias | © 2024 Jon Norris (L) and Barry Williams (R)
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.
Milky Way planning with PhotoPills | (L) August position (C) August timing (R) September position
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.
Welcoming the first of our workshop attendees | © 2024 Sydney Williams
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.
(L) Locating the Milky Way (C) Father and Son enjoying the sunset (R) Getting everyone set and ready to shoot | © 2024 Sydney Williams
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.
Milky Way from Wolverton Deck taken during my August scouting trip | © 2024 Jon Norris
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.
(L) Milky Way from Wolverton Service Camp (R) Camping under the stars | © 2024 Jon Norris
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.
