Desert Milky Way Photo Tour
Step into the heart of the desert night and let the stars guide your creativity on this unforgettable photo adventure! In the land of towering red rock cathedrals and sweeping canyons, Utah’s dark skies come alive with the shimmering beauty of the Milky Way. Here, far from city lights, you’ll capture the galaxy as it stretches across the heavens, a glowing river of stardust.
Over the course of our photo tour, we’ll venture to some of the most surreal and scenic landscapes Utah has to offer—arches that frame the night sky like natural windows to the universe, and mesas that seem to touch the stars themselves. Whether you’re a seasoned astrophotographer or just starting to explore the magic of night shooting, this journey will inspire and challenge you in the best possible way.
But this is more than just a workshop—it’s a cosmic experience. As we wait for the perfect moment to press the shutter, we’ll share stories, sip warm drinks, and feel the quiet hum of the universe all around us. The desert night will leave you feeling small in the most awe-inspiring way, reminding you that we are but travelers beneath the stars.
DATES: March.16-21 2025
GUIDE: David Wilder
Group Size: 6
2025 Price: $4,995* CAD
Price includes: Accommodation, transportation within tour, guides, photo instruction
Accommodation: Shared
Fitness Level: Easy- Moderate
As the desert cools and the stars blaze into view, we’ll teach you how to capture the celestial wonders above with precision and artistry. You’ll learn the secrets of long exposures, light painting, and finding the perfect balance between Earth and sky in your compositions. With guidance from expert photographers, you’ll harness the beauty of the night and turn it into stunning images that reveal the galaxy’s wonders.
What You Will Learn:
- Pre Planning and Location Scouting
- How to create compelling landscape compositions.
- How to find your story.
- How to branch out and use a variety of lenses
- How to see and understand the light and take advantage of it in all conditions.
- How to photograph the night sky
- Blue Hour Blending
- Post Processing Basics in (Photoshop or Lightroom)
- Long exposure photography
- Panoramic photography
- Bracketing
- Timelapse Photography
What is Included:
- Accommodations
- Transportation during workshop (within Tour)
- On location Photography Instruction
- Post Processing Instruction
- Guided access to all locations.
- Fees and Commercial Permits
- Pre tour group zoom call for introductions
What’s Not Included:
- Airfare to and from Utah
- Meals and Beverages
- Visas
- Travel insurance (proof of insurance will be required)
- Spare camera equipment
What You Will Need:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera body (second body recommended if first fails)
Variety of lenses. A wide angle is a must have 14-24mm or similar with a fast aperture like F2.4 or better.
I highly recommend brining fixed focal length lenses such as 14mm,20mm,24mm, these lenses tend to do better at astrophotography as they have fast apertures and sharp optics for great stars.
Mid range 24-70mm range and a long lens such as a 70-200mm is suggested for the sunrise and sunset shoots.
A sturdy tripod
An intervalometer
A headlamp or flashlight
Multiple batteries & Extra Memory Cards
An up-to-date passport (*note: depending on your country of residence, a visa may be required)
Appropriate clothing is a must, the desert can go from hot and humid to dry and cold in a blink of an eye
We will send out a full suggested gear list upon registration.
If you have any questions about the items you will need to bring feel free to email me.
Example Itinerary:
Day 0: Arrive Early
We highly recommend arriving at least the day before our tour starts to ensure any travel related delays don’t impact the start of your tour. There are a few great hotels near the airport.
Day 1-3: Into the Utah Wild
We will make our way from SLC to our first destination within the heart of Utah where the land feels like you are on mars. In this remote area we will use the dark skies to our advantage and capture some incredible night sky images.
Day 4-5 Icons
For these days we will move to an area with some of the most iconic views in and around the Canyonlands and Arches of Utah. watching the sky dance above towering red rock.
Day 6 Fond Farewell
On our last day, we will spend the morning shooting at one of the near by locations and make our way back to SLC for our final evening at one of the coolest places on earth, the Salt Flats.
Where are we staying?
We will be lodging at a variety of hotels near our chosen shoot locations
Physical Requirements:
This workshop will include some easy to moderate hikes on uneven ground and loose gravel. You are required to be able to hike 2 miles (round trip) with moderate elevation gain, with your camera gear unassisted.
Getting to Utah:
You will need to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport the day before our tour start. We will arrange for pick up on the morning of day one.
YOUR GUIDE
David Wilder
David, combined, has nearly 30 years of experience in photography, 2 decades as a professional photographer running his own business, and nearly 10 years as a photography instructor. In his every day life he leads creative learning sessions with attendees ranging from 5-90 years old. From photography, videography, music creation and more David teaches many how to take step into their creativity. His abilities to adapt to each persons learning styles is truly impressive.
David has spent the past 20 years traveling the world honing his craft, his love for everything wild is only matched by his love of photography. He applies his deep knowledge of composition and technical skills to each image he creates and polishes it all up with exceptional skills within the post processing.
When David isn’t behind the camera, he loves a great meal, video games, Pokemon cards, films and learning about fun earth/space facts.
Marcht 2025
$4,995 CAD*
6 Participants
Need more info, Contact us!
*tour fee is based on shared accommodations, single room supplemental is available for an addition cost, please email us to inquire.
A deposit is required to hold your spot for the tour and the remainder of the payment is due 90 days before the start date of the Tour.
You may opt to do a full payment up front as well.