Dark of the Night Star Photography

With Harold Davis Join Harold Davis, author of the bestselling Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), for a once in a lifetime adventure high in the White Mountains of Eastern California. The gnarled, ancient and beautiful Bristlecone Pines are the oldest living things on planet Earth, but their isolated location makes photography, particularly at night, logistically difficult. Locations in the White Mountains are among the least light polluted in the continental United States and a frequent favorite destination of astronomers.   The workshop will be headquartered near the remote Patriarch Grove at the UC White Mountain Research Station, making access to many fabulous locations easy. There will be ample time for night photography of the ancient Bristlecone Pines in the Patriarch Grove, as well as night photography from the top of White Mountain Peak (this is a ten mile round trip hike and only for those in good physical condition). At over 14,000 feet, the summit of White Mountain Peak has unbelievable views to the west of the grand Sierra crest and to the east you can see great basins and ranges stretching to Death Valley and beyond.   During the day, we will take advantage of the unique workshop location for photography, particularly considering issues of composition in relation to the ancient Bristlecone Pines. Besides photographing Bristlecone Pines, wild Bighorn Sheep are a possibility in the area. Classroom demonstrations will cover use of an intervalometer (interval timer), minimizing noise in long exposures, safety at night, post-processing night photos and more.   The workshop includes room and board at the UC White Mountain Research Station, which is located at about 12,000 feet elevation. Please note that accommodations are dormitory style, The research station has its own chef. To reach the UC station requires a drive of about twenty miles along primitive roads on the crest of the White Mountains where cell phone coverage is unavailable. This will truly be a unique and magnificent photography adventure!