Death Valley Night Photography Workshop with Moonlight

March 23 – 27, 2026

Join Our 2026 Death Valley Night Photography Workshop with Moonlight!

Master moonlit landscapes and Milky Way photography in Death Valley’s pristine night skies. Led by Astronomy Photographer of the Year Brad Goldpaint and expert Evie Urbina, this exclusive workshop is limited to 8 participants. Sign up now to secure your spot and capture the stars like never before!

Spanning 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is a landscape of stark contrasts that defies expectations. Towering sand dunes rise and fall like frozen waves, cracked salt flats stretch toward the horizon, and colorful badlands bear the scars of centuries of erosion. In March, milder temperatures and occasional bursts of wildflowers soften and add fleeting contrast to this arid expanse. Beneath some of the darkest and driest skies in North America, this workshop focuses on the soft glow of the setting moon illuminating the desert’s intricate textures and color-rich landscapes, while the arid clarity makes the Milky Way blaze with unparalleled brilliance.

This 5-day workshop is designed for all skill & fitness levels. Immersing you in the heart of Death Valley’s dramatic landscapes while combining infield shooting, classroom tutorials, and a comprehensive 70-page booklet (yours to keep). Our goal is to guide you through capturing the park’s timeless allure under moonlight while teaching the skills needed to plan a shoot, photograph the night sky, and process your images.

Dates

March 23 – 27, 2026

Group Size

8 Participants
2 Instructors

Tuition

$3795

Availability

Only 1 Space Remains!

Physical

Easy
Short walks each night.

Lunar

Waxing Moon
33 – 68% Illumination

Elevation

~250ft below sea level

Workshop Gallery

Why Join Our Workshops?

YOU First

We leave our cameras behind and focus entirely on you, your goals, and helping capture your vision.

Small Groups

We always limit the class size to allow for more support while in the field and in our post-processing classes.

Photography Sessions

  • 3 Nights Under the Stars
  • Sunsets
  • Moonsets
  • Sunrise

Introductory

4 Hours – Learn the essentials of planning and photographing the night sky, from equipment setup, camera settings, mobile apps, where to find the Milky Way, and how to capture it.

Post-Processing

2x 4-Hour Sessions dedicated to learning RAW adjustments, exposure blending, panoramic stitching, and advanced night techniques using Adobe Bridge and Photoshop.

Yours to Keep

70-page booklet detailing editing techniques, ensuring you can revisit and refine your skills long after the workshop

Your Instructors

“Two passions of mine are wilderness travel and experiencing the drama of a night sky. I combine my passions with photography by teaching night photography workshops to participants of all skill levels.”

“I love to wander and explore! I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for the night sky, wilderness and wildlife while helping people understand that you don’t have to fear the wild side of our planet!”

To provide you with the best learning environment possible, we limit our group size and NEVER BRING OUR OWN CAMERAS to a workshop.

Topics Covered & Materials Included

This 5-day workshop begins with a 4-hour introductory class in a conference room inside Death Valley National Park. We will have three in-field photographing opportunities during the workshop, in addition to two 4-hour post processing ‘classroom style’ sessions. This workshop will focus on capturing panoramas, abstracts, the night sky, moonlit landscapes, and much more. As part of your introduction, you will receive an updated copy of our 70+ page workshop booklet with step-by-step instructions about all phases of post processing for personal reference. During all field work, we will follow “Leave No Trace” principles to minimize any impact on the fragile, wilderness environment. With over 65 topics you will:

  • Receive an exclusive, updated copy of our 70+ page workshop booklet. This booklet contains step-by-step instructions about all phases of post processing, ‘Planning Your Shoot’, weather predictions, exposure guides for capturing the Milky Way, and much more.
  • Updated gear recommendations for any occasion and location
  • Learning the importance of planning for your shoot
  • Understand the differences between shutter speed/aperture/ISO/white balance, and more
  • Gain a better understanding of exposure bracketing and exposure compensation
  • Learn how to focus your lens at night
  • Begin to master the art of capturing abstracts, creating panoramas, blending exposures, the Milky Way, and more
  • Understand noise reduction (how and when to use it)
  • Receive personal tips and special techniques
  • Learn how to blend multiple exposures together in post processing using Adobe Photoshop
  • Gain new skills with advanced post processing methods in Adobe Bridge and Photoshop

What equipment do I need to bring?

We encourage you to visit our ‘Workshop FAQ’s’ page for required equipment during your workshop, itinerary examples, and much more. We’ve also listed additional info below pertaining to this new workshop experience.

What lenses are preferred for the workshop?

We HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing a 14-24mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8, and a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. See the Workshop FAQ’s page for more information regarding renting your equipment.

Gear & Weather

Weather is more predictable this time of year. Temps will range from 80° – 45°F. Make sure to BRING proper rain gear, a large down/synthetic jacket, and thermals to stay warm at night.

Software

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to the editing sessions with Adobe Bridge/Lightroom, and Photoshop installed.

Register for the Workshop

Death Valley Night Photography Workshop: March 23 – 27, 2026

$1,897.50

SKU: DVNP-5D Category:

*Must be 18 or older to participate. Prices do not include meals, accommodations, camera equipment, transportation, or incidentals. A 50%, non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space for the workshop. The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the scheduled workshop start date. Please pay the balance in full by December 23, 2025, or your space may be forfeited. Please read our terms & conditions for more info.

Accommodations & Transportation

A block of rooms have been reserved inside Death Valley National Park for workshop participants. Each participant is responsible for securing their accommodations, meals, and transportation, as these are not included in the workshop fee. Classroom sessions will be held in a hotel meeting room within the park. A booking code and detailed itinerary will be provided in advance to each participant to assist with planning.

What past participants say about our workshops

Behind the Scenes

Questions

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by sending an email to info[at]goldpaintphotography.com.