The Milky Way and Beyond

Mar 19-23, 2026 - 2 Spots Left!

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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
  • Sarah Shumaker

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!
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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.
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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 Mar 19th 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.

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.

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Milky Way and Beyond Photo Workshop

Pricing

$2250/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.

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit.  If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be charged approximately 120 days prior to departure.  We will notify you when the final payment is due. Please see our 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 is proud to be a Utah Native and began hiking and camping with her parents at a very young age. She has many fond memories hiking to amazing viewpoints and taking in the grandeur that is Utah. Her interest in photography began in the 80’s where she made her film images come to life in a darkroom.

She now enjoys the creativity of the digital world by photographing a wide range of interests, from Landscape, Wildlife, Portraits, to Sports. Her favorite is capturing epic scenery with a human interest.

When Wendy and her husband Randy are not at home on their farm, they are out on a trail somewhere, exploring, photographing and creating videos of their adventures.  Wendy has a lot of experience with horses on their ranch and will be an instructor on some of our wild horse and ranch workshops.

Over the years, she has participated in many art shows. Her local favorites are the Kimball Arts, Park City Art Festival and Midway Swiss Days. She has shipped her art around the world  and has her work hanging throughout the state in hospitals, clinics and many large and small businesses. Her images have also been featured in and on the covers of local magazines.

Wendy loves to help others develop their passion for photography and capture through the viewfinder, winning scenes to last forever and an epic story to go with it.

Gallery  Facebook  Instagram

Sarah Shoemaker

Sarah Shumaker

Photography Instructor

My passion for photography began many years ago when the incredible places I started exploring blew my mind to such an extreme that I knew I needed to capture it forever. Not only to share it with loved ones, but also with others that may never have the opportunity to experience it themselves.

I spent years hiking and canyoneering many of the lesser traveled peaks and canyons of Zion National Park. I have also discovered off roading as a means to get me where I need to go and spent countless hours exploring dirt roads in the back country of the southwest with every turn dictated by what could provide the next unique photo, something that is not printed on every wall, yet is still mind blowing and captivating. In my free time I love scouring through maps in search for the next hard to get to location that hasn't been photographed. I enjoy finding scarcely visited places and epic photo locations where the majority of people wouldn't think to go.

I truly love shooting the night sky and enjoy teaching others how to experience such an incredible otherworldly sight.

The feeling when I get to introduce someone to one of the spectacular locations I love to photograph, and watching their faces light up with awe has further ignited my passion for outdoor photography.