The Milky Way and Beyond

Mar 3-7, 2027 - Sold Out

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Photographing the Milky Way in the Southwest during early spring is a magical experience. With clear desert skies and the galaxy rising low on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to capture sweeping nightscapes and dramatic panoramas. Iconic rock formations, textured foregrounds, and minimal light pollution combine to create truly unforgettable astro images. We have many locations to choose from, including the Grand Staircase Escalante, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Lake Powell, White Pocket, and more. We even have special access to an arch on private land for some stunning Milky Way images!  Expect to learn many new skills, both in the field and in the digital darkroom.

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • 8 Students Max

Instructor(s)

  • Wendy Casey
  • Kevin Dobo

Physical Intensity

The Milky Way and Beyond Southwest

Highlights

  • Capture brilliant Milky Way images combined with amazing Southwest desert landscapes.
  • Learn how to take panoramic shots of the full Milky Way arc.
  • Discover how to use both natural light and low-level lighting techniques for foreground illumination.
  • Enjoy exclusive access to a beautiful arch on private land that is perfectly positioned for the Milky Way!
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled throughout.
  • The itinerary is kept flexible so we can chase the best weather conditions. As long as skies are clear, we'll focus on night images.
  • We have lots of great locations available, including the Grand Staircase Escalante, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Lake Powell, White Pocket, and more!

Itinerary

The itinerary is being kept flexible to allow us to chase the best conditions. If skies are clear, we'll focus on early morning Milky Way shooting. If storms and clouds are moving through, we'll spend more time photographing during the day. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect. We’ll spend most of our time in the field taking photos but will include post-processing sessions and image critique sessions throughout the workshop.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 1PM at our office in Kanab for a mandatory introductory session.  After a short break we'll run out and shoot sunset at a nearby location and return to town for dinner.
  • Day 2:  With clear skies in the forecast, we leave at 3AM to photograph the Milky Way over a beautiful arch on private land. We have special access from the landowners to take you there.  We return to town for breakfast and a rest break.  That afternoon we meet for a slot canyon excursion followed by a post-processing session where we learn how to put your Milky Way images together.  We get to bed early with anticipation of more Milky Way shooting!
  • Day 3:  We'll leave at 1AM for a rough drive out to Alstrom Point, a superb viewpoint high above Lake Powell where we'll capture the full Milky Way arc.  We'll stay out there for sunrise and hit a few of our favorite spots on our way back to Kanb. After a midday nap, we'll reconvene for a late afternoon image critique session followed by a sunset shoot.
  • Day 4:  Clouds have rolled in, so we capture a brilliant sunrise in Zion and spend a good part of the day exploring the park. That evening we head into the Grand Staircase Escalante and photograph many of our favorite locations.
  • Day 5:  We lucked out!  Conditions look great for Milky Way this morning, so we head out to Bryce Canyon at 1AM. We capture both Milky Way and sunrise images, grab breakfast in Bryce Canyon City, and head back to Kanab.  The workshop will finish no later than noon.
Night Photography Workshop Escalante Utah Milky Way
Night Photography Workshop Bryce Canyon
Here's another shot from our March Milky Way Workshop. We had a few hazy clouds that I thought added interest to the sky. Our April and June workshops are now full but we still have a spot left on the May workshop. Sign up soon if you're interested! https://actionphototours.com/spring-grand-staircase/

Logistics

Please arrive in Kanab, UT prior to 1PM on Day 1 for an orientation session at our local Kanab office. We didn’t include hotel stays on this trip to allow you the flexibility of a lodging option of your choice.  There are many good properties in Kanab like the Hampton Inn, Springhill Suites, and La Quinta.  Note that the Comfort Suites is within a half block walk of our business office which will be our central meeting point for all excursions.

All participants on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition.  We aren't planning any long hikes on this trip, but the uneven terrain, sand, and steep uphills can make short hikes seem much harder.  You should be comfortable walking around 2-3 miles per day.

We timed this workshop for optimal early spring Milky Way photography. However, we can't control the weather and if skies are cloudy one day, we'll plan an outing to a different location and focus on sunrise/sunset photography. Don't worry - we'll make the best possible use of your time. Our job is to get you the most stunning photos and learn as much as possible!

The weather can vary quite a bit in early spring. It could be temperate and sunny with cool nights.  Or it could be very cold, windy, rainy, or snowing. You need to come prepared for the worst conditions. Up at Bryce Canyon, it can be well below freezing early in the morning, so you'll need to bring some very warm layers to ensure you don't get cold photographing at night.  Please see the gear list further down.

A couple months before the workshop we'll schedule a zoom meeting where you can ask questions and ensure you are well prepared for this outing.  Our preferred method for night sky noise reduction is stacking (which we'll teach you during the workshop).  If you decide to bring a tracker, make sure you know how to align and use it BEFORE you come.

Milky Way and Beyond Photo Workshop

Pricing

$2295/Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • 5-Day intensive photo workshop with 2 instructors.
  • All 4x4 ground transportation during the workshop.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions.
  • All necessary permits and entry fees for the places we will visit.
  • Night photography.
  • Lighting equipment and fixtures for night photography.
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting.

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Kanab, UT.
  • Hotel Accommodations.
  • Meals, Snacks, and Beverages.

The Fine Print:

  • 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
  • Remaining balance is due Nov 3, 2026.
  • If you need to cancel, a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee will be given once your spot is filled by another participant.
  • See the full Terms and Conditions.
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Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Fast Wide Angle Lens. Our favorite night photo lenses include Tamron 15-30mm f2.8, Rokinon 14mm f2.8, Nikon 14-24mm f2.8, and Canon 16-35mm III f2.8.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Telephoto lenses will come in handy if we go to Bryce, Alstrom Point, or the Grand Canyon.
  • Circular polarizer filters are useful.  Bring any ND filters if you have them.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera. An intervalometer will be especially useful for doing long exposures at night.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.
  • We may be able to rent you gear if you don't have everything you need.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • A rain jacket and several warm layers since it can get cold at night.
  • Cold weather hat and gloves/mittens.
  • Headlamp for night photography.
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses.
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder

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Wendy Casey

Wendy Casey

Photography Instructor

Wendy Casey is a Utah-based landscape and wildlife photographer with more than 40 years behind the camera. Her photography journey began in 1982 with her first photography class. She built her technical foundation in the film era through extensive darkroom work and developing and printing her own images. That experience continues to shape the way she teaches exposure, light, camera settings, and composition.

Wendy’s photography has taken her from Utah’s dramatic red rock country and the Alaskan tundra to the vast plains of Africa. She specializes in landscape and wildlife photography, with a particular passion for wild horses and animals in their natural environments. As an exhibiting fine art photographer, she photographs with the finished print in mind, creating images designed to tell a story, evoke emotion, and be enjoyed beyond the camera screen.

As an instructor, Wendy is known for her warm, patient, and encouraging teaching style. She helps students slow down, see with intention, and take creative control of their cameras, especially through Manual mode, thoughtful composition, and field-based problem solving. Through hands-on instruction and collaborative post-processing sessions, Wendy meets photographers where they are and helps them build the confidence, technical skill, and vision to create images they are proud to print, frame, and share.

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Kevin Dobo

Kevin Dobo

Photography Instructor

Kevin’s first foray into landscape photography was on a week-long youth group bicycle tour of coastal Maine at the age of 16. When he returned home and developed dozens of rolls of film, his mother exclaimed, “There are no people in your photos!”.  Such a thing never occurred to him. The coastline and forest foliage were what caught his eye.

Kevin has seen lots of changes in technology, from 35mm film cameras to pocket-sized digital compacts, then to full sized DSLRs and now mirrorless. From his native Ohio, the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, and the Front Range of Colorado, he never loses sight of the simple pleasure of capturing a magical moment in the great outdoors.

After a couple years nomading across the US in the wake of the Covid pandemic, Kevin along with his partner Monte, settled in Kanab, Utah and Tucson, Arizona. Two years later, the endlessly colorful southern Utah landscape won out over the distinctive but scorching Sonoran Desert, and Kanab is now home. Kevin loves the desert Southwest and enjoys sharing his photographic insights with photographers from all around the world.

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