Spend a night capturing mesmerising star trails for you to create a star trail and a star trail time-lapse! This Masterclass teaching you how to set up your camera, plan your photoshoot, how star trails work, stacking your photographs and editing from start to finish.
2024 STAR CHASER PHOTO TOUR II
SEPTEMBER 22ND - 27TH
Join award winning photographer David Magro and explore amazing landscapes under the stars.
Capture beautiful nightscapes on this 6 day adventure photographing lush golden canola, a majestic waterfall, and exclusive access to the NASA Deep Space Comms telescopes to photograph under the night sky.
FEATURED IN
Tour Overview
We begin the Star Chaser II tour meeting in Canberra, with our first destination the canola fields near Young. We will then continue south shooting the majestic Paddy’s River Falls under the Milky Way and also mesmerising startrails. Then, on our last night we will have exclusive access to photograph the NASA Deep Space Telescopes under the Milky Way!
THE NIGHT SKY COMES TO LIFE IN DARK SKY LOCATIONS.
YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A DISPLAY OF STARS ALIGNED WITH BREAKTAKING SCENERY.
The exclusive Star Chaser II tour is a highly unique 6 day photography tour that will allow you to experience a diverse range of landscapes in Southern NSW.
The Milky Way will be above the horizon as soon as night falls allowing us to shoot at a comfortable hour of the night to ensure we have plenty of rest throughout our photography tour.
There will also be a lot of time in the classroom to post process our photographs as I assist you in editing your images ready for you to bring home.
STAR CHASER FEATURES
Meeting Location
We meet at Canberra Airport on the start date at 9am to leave at precisely 10:30am to be transported via in a modern 12 seater mini-bus to Young. Contact me to arrange pickup in Canberra if you arrive earlier at a nearby hotel.
Accommodation
Our accommodation will be spacious and comfortable during the tour. The accommodation has been selected for comfort and also accessibility to our shooting location. In Young, you are accommodated in their own private comfortable room. We will be staying at the 4 Star Federation Motor Inn. At nearby Paddy’s River Falls, participants are accommodated in their own private room at the 4 Star Tumbarumba Motel. On our last night in Canberra, participants are accommodated in their own private comfortable 4 star room at Ramada Canberra.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided each day. We will have breakfast at cafes or in-house at our accommodation in the morning. For lunch we will eat either in-house, cafes or at restaurants dependant on if it is a day we are travelling. Dinner will most likely be informal, eaten in places convenient to the shooting areas.
Transportation
You will be escorted in a modern air conditioned 12 seater mini-bus throughout the workshop and back to Canberra Airport.
Fitness level / difficulty level
A good level of fitness is required with locations at easily accessible locations. Suitable for amateurs to semi-professionals.
Post-Processing Sessions
There will be many hours of classroom post-processing time to edit our photographs.
Limited Availability
The Star Chaser Tour is limited to 6 participants.
TOUR OVERVIEW
DAY 1 - CANBERRA TO YOUNG CANOLA FIELDS
You will meet David at Canberra Airport at 10am to leave by 10:30am, to arrive in Young at 12:30am. You will meet fellow Star Chaser photographers and go over the overview of the workshop whilst we have lunch together.
After settling into your accommodation, we will go through the techniques and plans for the night capturing golden canola under the Milky Way. Canola fields are one of my favourite subjects to shoot as they compliment the stars brilliantly with their vibrant and rich yellow flowers.
DAY 2 - CANOLA FIELDS
We will start the day with breakfast, followed by a classroom session post processing our photographs from the night earlier until lunch.
After relaxing throughout the day and freshening up, we will learn the holy grail of timelapse photography - the smooth day-to-night transition timelapse. Additionally, there are many more remarkable compositions to photograph the canola under the Milky Way and we will have the opportunity this night to expand and diversify our portfolio with either startrails, timelapses, or other compositions.
DAY 3 - PADDY'S RIVER FALLS
On day 3, we will review our photographs in a classroom session post processing our images from the night earlier after breakfast. Our next destination will take us to Paddy’s River Falls where we will arrive at Tumbarumba in the early afternoon.
With our next photography subject being a majestic waterfall, we will learn the important techniques on how to shoot waterfalls under the night sky. We will be here for two nights where you will either shoot the Milky Way or startrails. Afterwards, dependant on time, we will capture deep sky objects as we take advantage of the dark skies.
DAY 4 - PADDY'S RIVER FALLS
We will enjoy a delicious breakfast and review our waterfall photographs from under the night sky. A classroom session will be held post-processing our photographs until lunch time.
After lunch, enjoy a relaxing afternoon before we spend another night photographing Paddy’s River Falls. On night two, you can either choose to focus on photographing the Milky Way or startrails, different than what you captured the previous night. We will also shoot some deep sky objects, learning new techniques using your others lenses
DAY 5 - NASA TELESCOPES
On day 5, our last post processing session and photography review will be held after breakfast.
On our final night, we will enjoy our night photographing the NASA Deep Space Communication Complex under the Milky Way near Canberra.
DAY 6 - CANBERRA/HOME
This is our final day of the Star Chaser II tour where we will drive back to Canberra Airport, arriving at 10:30am. We will say our goodbyes as you reflect on all the amazing photographs captured on our star chasing photography tour .
TOUR MENTOR
I am a professional Milky Way Landscape photographer from Australia with 11 years experience capturing the night sky. I have taught over 4000 students and 500 Masterclass workshops across Australia on how to shoot astrophotography.
I love capturing the beauty of night that other people do not often get the chance to see. It drives my passion in hope of inspiring others to take the time to look up and marvel at the universe above. It is a therapeutic and calming experience spending a night underneath the stars and with photography, you can take a piece home with you.
HOW TO JOIN THE STAR CHASER III PHOTO TOUR
Book Your Spot Below
To book your spot on the 2024 Star Chaser II Tour, complete the form below with a $1500 deposit, including the non-refundable $500 payment for your spot.
WHAT TO BRING
DSLR or mirrorless camera with a spare battery
Wide angle lens with fast aperture f/2.8
A sturdy tripod
A laptop computer
Water proof walking boots or shoes
Warm clothes to keep you warm
WILL WE HAVE LONG NIGHTS SHOOTING?
Our shooting schedule is designed for us to shoot from 7pm - 11pm most nights to ensure we are not fatigued throughout the tour and well rested. We may continue shooting later as it can be exciting shooting the night sky and time flies when having fun under the stars.
SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS?
The Star Chaser tour is suitable for all skill levels, including beginners and semi-professionals. I recommend participants join David Magro's Milky Way Masterclass prior to the tour, however you will be learning new techniques on the tour that I will be teaching you.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH CLOUDY CONDITIONS?
The tour itinerary may change if weather conditions at our planned locations are not favourable. I have a vast knowledge of locations in the area if we require to move our shooting location to chase the stars. This is at the discretion of the tour leader, David Magro. The month of October is a favourable month for astrophotography with cloud coverage less likely at this time in this region.
WHAT IS THE FITNESS LEVEL NEEDED?
The Star Chaser tour requires you to have a moderate level of physical fitness with all locations easily accessible and only a short walk. There are occasions of uneven surface for a brief period where good hiking boots are best to keep you comfortable and balanced.
WHATS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR?
Flights to and from Canberra Airport are not included. Alcohol, beverages, snacks, laundry, souvenirs, personal items, travel insurance and anything not stated otherwise is not included.
CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY
If you decide to cancel for any reason and your spot is filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid minus the $500 administration fees. However, if your spot is cancelled for any reason and your spot if not filled, we will refund you based on the following schedule below.
180 days or more before the beginning of the tour, 25% of the total tour amount is forfeited. 180 - 90 days prior to the beginning of the tour, 50% of the total tour amount is forfeited. 90 - 60 days prior to the beginning of the tour, 75% of the total tour amount is forfeited. 60 days prior to the beginning of the tour, 100% of the total tour amount is forfeited.
HEAR WHAT OTHERS SAY
David’s enthusiasm and passion for astro photography is awesome.
Great course, caters for beginners as well as the more advanced photographer
Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
— Alison Robinson