STARS BY THE SIERRA

DEEP SPACE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
WITH PETER ZELINKA

An all-inclusive photo expedition in Alabama Hills, California

JULY 20-23, 2020

THE WONDER OF ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Looking out at the stars, not only is the birth place of new matter - new life - reflected back to you, but also, you undergo the bewildering experience of looking back in time.

The objects we seek in the thick black ink of the Universe are thousands or millions of light years away, and thus, it takes these objects’ light an equal amount of years to reach our eyes from their distance. For the gorgeous spiral that is Andromeda Galaxy at 2.5 million light years away, when we look out to it today we are looking 2.5 million years into the past.

Think about the history of our Earth and how it has changed dramatically over the course of the last couple million years; different species like mastodons were common and the very first giraffes began to appear. Ocean levels were 30 meters higher and major peaks in the Cascade Mountains were beginning their debut on our blue-green marble.

When it comes to some astronomical targets we see today, there's a chance they no longer exist, look completely different, or in the case of nebulae, that they have now formed planets! With astrophotography, you are capturing a period of Universal development that is essentially a "limited edition" sight, and you may be one of the few to capture it permanently.

Aside from the mind-blowing science behind this all, it doesn't take much for one to simply be awe-struck by the neon glows in a nebula photograph. Something just draws people to it -- and perhaps it’s a subconscious awareness that in that image is a whole world of life, fleeting forever.

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Have you always wanted to capture a deep sky image, but didn't think that doing so was actually possible for you to accomplish in your lifetime without a ton of work, expertise and equipment!? Well, it is. And it's easier than you think!

WHO THIS PHOTO EXPEDITION IS FOR

You know if it's happened to you; you've been browsing through a magazine or an image feed online and -- POW -- something stops you. It's a photo with a jet black background, a glowing whispy shape unlike any you could ever describe, and sparkling stars of all colors wrapped like Christmas lights around it. It's different than all of the other pictures. Something really grabs you in this one. Perhaps it's that sense of a vague and mysterious life calling to your subconscious.

You've always wanted to capture a deep sky image, but you didn't think that doing so was actually possible for you to accomplish in your lifetime without a ton of work, expertise and equipment. Well, it is. And it's easier than you think!

Yes effort is required and yes there will be an extra device helping guide your camera, but with the help of astrophotographer Peter Zelinka, photographer Katie Cooney and 3 nights of remote, light-pollution-free skies in California, your chance to capture deep space astrophotography images has arrived!

This photo expedition is for:

• Beginners! All skill levels are welcome, but it is highly recommended that you have some familiarity with your star tracker and can operate your camera in the dark.

• Those with light experience in astrophotography, who want the chance to take it to the next level

• Experienced astrophotographers who want the opportunity of 3 nights of capturing deep space objects!

• Astrophotographers who are looking to be around like-minded individuals

• Astrophotographers who prefer to shoot in a safe, group setting (we get it -- the dark can be spooky!)

• Astrophotographers who want to come to a dark-sky site and not have to worry about any of the logistics like timing, conditions, food, transport and more!

• Astrophotographers who want to hone in on their skills and spend time picking the brain of Peter Zelinka!

WHY THE EASTERN SIERRA REGION, CALIFORNIA

Alabama Hills

As if Bortle Class 2 skies (one level away from the darkest available on earth!!) weren’t enough, the astounding formations at Alabama Hills are simply awe-inspiring, even in full sun (we’re not total vampires!).

Think natural arches like in Moab, famously-filmed mountain roads... 

This landscape is part of the same geological formation that is the sweeping Sierra Nevada, and features sights of the highest mountain peak in the continental US: Mt. Whitney. 

Alabama Hills’ smooth and bizarrely-formed volcanic and granite rocks contrast from their jagged and sharp Sierra family, forming a beautifully contrasted sight a landscape photographer searches far and wide for.

It’s clear, this place is one you need to witness at least once in your lifetime—if for no other reason than it’s one of the few places left on Earth to see Triangulum Galaxy with your naked eye.

If you haven’t noticed, we tend to like areas of desert rocks. We think they do something to people (like the energy vortices of Sedona)—and we are so excited about being with you in Alabama Hills!

WHY THIS COURSE OVER OTHERS

• This course is limited to 7 astrophotography participants! We believe in the benefits of smaller group sizes.

• Astrophotographer Peter Zelinka is known for his remarkably simple and clear guidance, getting first-time astrophotographers to capture an image they’re proud of on their first shot!

• This course includes classroom lectures, in-the-field shooting guidance, and post-processing guidance!

• We have everything taken care of for you, from hotels, food, an airport pickup (1 designated time on expedition start date) and all the classroom and in-the-field lessons in between! All you have to do is show up and be ready to focus on photography and having fun!

• During this expedition, it is likely you will make new astrophotography comrades who will last a lifetime!

• Being in a group setting helps provide a sense of security when shooting astrophotography in the dark for extended periods of time!

• We’ve scouted gorgeous, dark (Bortle Class TWO) skies to help provide an excellent opportunity at capturing as much galaxy-greatness and nebulosity as possible!

LET’S BOOK IT!

EXPEDITION PRICE: $3,950

Reserve your spot with a 30% deposit and
agreement to our Expedition Terms & Conditions.

Above pricing includes double accommodation.
Single accommodation available for an additional $300.
Remainder of expedition payment is due 90 days prior to expedition start date.

WANT TO TALK BEFORE BOOKING?

not sure if this trip is for you?

want to ask a couple of questions before booking?

You've got it.

All skill levels are welcome, but it is highly recommended that you have some familiarity with your star tracker and can operate your camera in the dark.

COURSE OVERVIEW

JULY 20-23, 2020

A special and star-struck opportunity is calling you to join a 4-day, 3-night astrophotography excursion in the astounding setting of the Eastern Sierra, California! You and a select few others will explore the night sky in a remote dark sky area, alongside of expert astrophotographer Peter Zelinka and Further Photo Expeditions photography co-guide, Katie Cooney. Under Bortle Class 2 skies (that is dark!), make your astrophotography dreams a reality!

In this multi-day group setting, participants will learn from each other, have the opportunity to put a serious dent in the targets on your lists (nebulae, galaxies, and more), and make astrophotography comrades that will last a lifetime.

Enjoy the ease of an all-inclusive, no-worries experience, where all the details are sorted so you can focus completely on your photography — not to mention, have fun, too!

ITINERARY

Day 1 — ARRIVAL, ORIENTATION, classroom lesson, 1-4 targets in the field

We will pick up participants at the Mammoth Lakes Airport (MMH) at 12:30 p.m. Participants coming from other locations or arriving on earlier days may simply meet us at our hotel at 3:30 p.m., which will be orientation time.

At 3:30 p.m., we will gather in the hotel's meeting room for introductions, photography concepts, techniques and tips for shooting over the next few days. Then we depart for a dark and starry night of shooting at our special locations amongst the spectacular Alabama Hills!

We will work on polar alignment during twilight and be ready to shoot our first target when the sky gets to a true dark. We will have an area for chairs (bring a small camping one, if you’d like!) to set up, relax, and eat our picnic-style dinners under the stars. Once our cameras are done collecting data on the first target, we will move on to the next! Tonight, our goal is to capture at least 3 targets. However, if tonight is our most favorably forecasted night, we will aim for more targets.

Meals included (D)

Day 2 — classroom lesson, 1-6 targets in the field

Breakfast can be had at everyone’s leisure at our hotel. We suggest an outing to the town of Lone Pine to take in the Museum of Western Film History, or going for a hike to visit some of the stunning formations in Alabama Hills — or rest in your room and get a head start on some edits from last night’s magic! Our day as a group will start later with a highly rated lunch outing in Lone Pine. Today’s classroom lesson will include a recap of last night’s shoot as well as post-processing techniques on those very images. Questions are welcome - we want to make sure everyone is getting this stuff!

Tonight we will head out to Alabama Hills and complete polar alignment during twilight. We will enjoy another dinner under the stars as our cameras collect the light of the galaxies, nebulae and other DSOs we are targeting.

Meals included (B, L, D)

Day 3 — GEOLOGY EXPERIENCE WITH BLM RANGER, 1-3 targets in the field

Breakfast can be had at everyone’s leisure, or you may enjoying sleeping in and waiting until our lunch outing. Today we have an exciting experience in the field learning about the very unique formations we are photographing amongst. Cameras are welcome, or simply take a break to enjoy yourself on a summer afternoon.

During our lesson today, we aim to discuss more techniques prior to our final night shooting under the stars! Once you set up polar alignment and lock on your targets, sit back and relax (and eat your delicious To-Go dinner!) and exchange ideas with your new astrophotography friends!

Meals included (B, L, D)

Day 4 — lesson and departure

To close out our time together, in the morning we will have breakfast and scheduled one-on-ones with Peter before everyone departs. We will have some time to say goodbye and exchange contact information with our new friends who will last a lifetime! After the expedition is over, you will be invited to our private facebook group where you can keep in touch with all, share images, and get continued feedback!

We will arrive to the Mammoth Lakes Airport at 1 p.m. for your afternoon departing flights. We hope to see you on one of our next adventures (hint: Total Solar Eclipse in Patagonia)!

Meals included (B)

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

$3,950

Price includes double accommodation. Single accommodation available for additional $300.

Reserve your spot with a 30% deposit and
agreement to our Expedition Terms & Conditions.

Remainder of expedition payment is due 90 days prior to expedition start date.

GEAR LIST

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING TO ALABAMA HILLS

• DSLR or mirrorless camera

• At least two camera batteries

• At least two memory cards

• A telephoto lens

  • We recommend a 150-600mm. If you don’t have access to a 150-600mm, the shortest length we recommend bringing is 200mm.

• A landscape lens

  • Bring a lens you enjoy for landscapes, so you’re able to photograph the extremely unique and beautifully bizarre rock formations of Alabama Hills. A nice, wide angle landscape lens like a 16-35mm f2.8 is a great choice for landscapes and can double as a wide-angle for Milky Way exposures, if you want to sneak some of those in amongst this beautiful setting.

  • Note: this expedition is focused on Deep Space Objects like nebula and galaxies; add on our Milky Way-focused workshop in this area just a few days before on July 15-18th if you want to capture the Milky Way like never before—courtesy of your star-tracker once again!

• Tripod

• Intervalometer

• Astrophotography-specific gear: a star-tracker

  • We recommend the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer full kit, or the iOptron SkyGuider Pro full kit, which come complete with everything you need - declination bracket, counter-weight, etc. Either kit is all you need to begin getting into astrophotography and costs approximately $400.

  • For more information on star-trackers and the various components that make a star-tracker kit, visit Peter's website (but we like to keep it simple around here, so just buy one of the kits which come with all pieces you need! We’ll explain it all when you arrive!)

• Hand warmers (approximately $7 on Amazon or $5 at your local Walmart) and rubber bands

  • As your camera is brought from warm interiors to cooler settings, dew can accumulate on your lens glass and completely fog up your images! Photographers have come up with the ingenious solution of securing a couple of hand warmers onto the lens with a rubber band, which keeps the lens temperature regulated enough that it prevents the condensation from occurring!

• Laptop

  • If you would like to follow along with us during our post-processing instructions, we recommend that you bring a laptop to be able to participate and edit your photographs while with us.

• Headlamp

  • We recommend something like this because it can switch between a regular and a red, night vision light. While having a regular light will be important for walking in the dark, having red lights are important for night photographers because this type of light preserves your night vision and does not negatively impact other photographer's exposures in the way that regular light does.

• Camera bag

  • We will be out shooting for a few hours at a time, so be sure to bring extra water and snacks in case you tend to get hungry during the middle of the shoots

• A good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes that feel comfortable when on your feet for extended periods of time.

OPTIONAL gear

Take your astrophotography to the next level with this add-on gear: an auto-guider, guide scope, and a laptop with PHD2 and SharpCap installed. For more information, please visit Peter's website.

MEET PETER

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY instructor

Peter Zelinka is a nomadic nature photographer originally from Northeast Ohio. As an avid hiker and backpacker, Peter spent most his free time exploring the forests of Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.  After spending countless hours hiking with a point-and-shoot camera, Peter eventually became more interested in photography. In June 2014 he purchased his first DSLR - a Nikon D7100. He spent the next few years practicing macro, wildlife, astro, and long exposure photography. 

Peter graduated Summa Cum Laude from Youngstown State University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science. After graduation, he began working as an Information Systems Specialist at The Vindicator in Youngstown Ohio.

In June 2016, Peter quit his full-time IT job to pursue photography. He spent the next 4 months living out of his car, traveling across the country on a 15,000-mile roadtrip. Upon returning home, he began teaching photography lessons. 

Peter has now spent over 1 year living out of his car!  In April 2019 he began his latest adventure - teaching people all across America how to take amazing images of the night sky.

MEET KATIE

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPORT & EXPEDITION LOGISTICS LEAD

Katie Cooney is a landscape, adventure, and lifestyle photographer based in the Tetons. She is passionate about storytelling, conservation, and the natural world, and believes that life is too short to desaturate your greens.

With a strong command of color and light, Katie's photographs evoke strong emotions and invite viewers to immerse themselves in a slice of time, place, and wildness.

EXPEDITION PRICE: $3,950

Price includes double accommodation. Single accommodation available for additional $300.

Reserve your spot with a 30% deposit and
agreement to our Expedition Terms & Conditions.

BOOK NOW

Reserve your spot with a 30% deposit and
agreement to our Expedition Terms & Conditions.

“I can't say enough good things about Peter. He may be like a nebula. A nebula is where stars are born, Peter is where photographers are born.”

—RON PATTERSON

“Since my lesson time time, I have reached out to him for help suggestions and he is more than happy to help. I will definitely look for some more amazing classes with him in upcoming year.”

—WAQAR AHMAD

“Katie is an artist in the purest form of art, and her talent drips through photographs which just jump out at you! She puts the art back into photography, and inspires us all to see differently than we did before.”

—MARISA MARULLI

LOCATION

Alabama Hills, California

Dates

July 20-23, 2020

PLACES

Alabama Hills

Eastern Sierra Nevada

California

THIS TRIP IS FOR

*All* levels of photographers and astrophotographers (it is highly recommended that you have some familiarity with your star tracker and can operate your camera in the dark)

Those looking for an astrophotography *experience*

Those looking to capture the deep sky targets they’ve been so drawn to!

SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU’RE ALREADY A PHOTOGRAPHER, CHANCES ARE THE ONLY EXTRA PIECE OF GEAR YOU NEED IS A STAR-TRACKING KIT, WHICH COSTS APPROXIMATELY $400!

See Gear List section for more details.

photographic themes

Astrophotography

Deep space objects

Nebulae

Galaxies

Eastern Sierra Nevada, CA

The experience, which contributes so greatly to quality photography

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY TARGETS

Andromeda Galaxy

Rho Ophiuchi

Veil Nebula

Triangulum Galaxy

Lagoon Nebula

North American Nebula

Heart and Soul Nebula

Education

In-the-field astrophotography instruction

Polar alignment with star-tracker

Star-tracker hands-on guidance

Finding your targets amongst the sea of stars

ASIAir instruction

Classroom discussions of best practices, tips and techniques

Post-processing instruction in star-stacking software, Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop

One-on-one critiques

EXPEDITION PRICE

$3,950

Reserve your spot with a 30% deposit and agreement to our Expedition Terms & Conditions.

Remainder of expedition payment is due 90 days prior to expedition start date. Single accommodation available for an additional $300.

Price includes

Astrophotography guidance and in-the-field lessons

An Eastern Sierra ranger conversation!

Post-processing lessons, shooting techniques and other classroom lessons, and one-on-one critiques

All park and site entrance fees

Hotel accommodations (double accommodation, single available)

All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 4

Private transportation from Mammoth Lakes Airport (MMH) to hotel on expedition commencement day (July 20)

Private transportation from hotel to Mammoth Lakes Airport (MMH) on departure day (July 23)

Private transportation to and from all sites throughout the duration of the workshop

PRICE DOes NOT INCLUDE

Any flights, if necessary

Travel insurance

Additional food and drinks outside of the meals which are mentioned as part of the itinerary

Alcoholic beverages

Photography and astrophotography gear

Photographic-processing softwares

Gratuities

What is not mentioned as included

PETER’S INSTAGRAM FEED

@PeteZelinka

SEE WHAT HE'S CURRENTLY SHOOTING!

FURTHER PHOTO EXPEDITIONS’
INSTAGRAM FEED

@FURTHERPHOTOEXPEDITIONS

SEE WHAT WE’RE CURRENTLY SHOOTING!

THE FURTHER PHOTO EXPEDITIONS TEAM arriveS to the location days in advance in order to assess real-time weather conditions and confirm best photo ops.

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate

Level 3 of 5

While most of our activity will be simply walking, we rate this expedition as “moderate” activity level for the stamina you will need to load, unload and manage your camera equipment.

We also rate it “moderate” because it requires some stamina to stay up late to capture astro images (you can always sleep in the car if necessary - and we may have a group that goes back early each night)!

Tips On Getting To
Alabama Hills

Here are a few different ways you can get to our meeting place in CALIFORNIA:

• Recommended: You can fly into the Mammoth Lakes airport (MMH) (connections from LAX and other int’l airports) where we will pick you up and you will not need further transportation. Arrange your flight so you land no later than 11:30 a.m. on July 20th, 2020.

• If you choose to fly into Los Angeles International airport, you may like to rent a vehicle for a scenic drive (approximately 3 hours) to our hotel, Quality Inn at Lone Pine (rated 4.2 stars!).

• If you choose to come in on a day prior to our expedition start date, you will need to secure your own transportation from the airport to our hotel, Quality Inn at Lone Pine (rated 4.2 stars!).

DISCLAIMER

Expedition Terms & Conditions apply. This itinerary is subject to change at any time. The opportunity for photography and astrophotography is based on proper weather conditions. If the weather conditions are in any way hazardous or unfavorable, the photography instructors reserve the right to cancel in-the-field instruction for affected days.