About Lodestar
Don’t put your camera away when the sun sets! Learn how to shoot night sky landscapes in our guided tours.
Workshop
Lodestar Photo Tours
Stan Honda
Photojournalist
Chirag Upreti
Neurobiologist
The tours are led by photojournalist Stan Honda and Chirag Upreti. The New York-based duo will outline a systematic approach to the process that will benefit all subjects that you photograph.
Stan and Chirag specialize in creating natural views of the sky and landscapes. Emphasis on composition will make your photos stand out from the crowd. We’ll concentrate on utilizing single images to tell the story you want to tell. Minimal processing techniques will produce realistic looking scenes, approaching what you experience in nature.
The Lodestar workshops will be limited to 10 participants so everyone will benefit from close attention from the instructors. Each day of the workshop will consist of daytime indoor classroom instruction then an evening and night of on-location photography. Some photo sessions might be during the pre-dawn hours so bring your alarm clock! We’ll offer critiques of your work each day to help you improve.
In helping to promote dark sky preservation Lodestar strives to protect the integrity of each scene that is photographed by emphasizing single frames, good exposure and minimal image processing. Many national parks have banned light painting within their boundaries. We agree with this approach so visitors can enjoy the dark skies and natural sounds protected by the parks. Natural light in the manner of moonlight will be used to illuminate foreground objects and landscapes. We approach star trails, panoramas, sequences and time lapse videos with the techniques required to make them.
In the end, you’ll produce images that extend the long tradition of fine landscape photography.
[The workshops are for those interested in using DSLR or mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses, mostly wide-angle focal lengths. Smaller fixed lens or point-and-shoot cameras won’t work for these tours. We will also cover using telephoto lenses and tracking mounts but not deep sky imaging.]
If this appeals to you, go to The Workshops page and sign up for a Lodestar Photo Tour!
Our Mission
- Capture and share the beauty of the night sky: We aim to immortalize the mesmerizing spectacle of stars, planets, and celestial phenomena through captivating photography.
- Inspire curiosity and connection to the universe: By showcasing the wonders of the cosmos, we hope to ignite a sense of wonder and deepen people’s appreciation for the vastness of space and our place within it.
Our Principles
- Accessibility: We strive to make night sky photography accessible to everyone, regardless of experience or equipment, fostering an inclusive community of stargazers.
- Education: Our expert-guided tours and workshops provide valuable insights and techniques, empowering photographers to improve their skills and capture stunning celestial images.
Our Approach
- Tailored instruction for all skill levels: From beginners to seasoned photographers, our tours cater to diverse needs and interests, ensuring personalized learning experiences.
- Enhance artistic vision and technical skills: We focus not only on technical proficiency but also on nurturing creativity, encouraging participants to develop their unique photographic style in capturing the night sky.
