Death Valley by Moonlight
March 14–18, 2027 · 5 Days · 8 Photographers · 2 Instructors Pre-register for Death Valley →Five days in the desert, under moonlight and stars.
Death Valley changes completely after dark. Moonlight reveals texture in the dunes, salt flats become graphic landscapes, and the Milky Way rises over a horizon almost untouched by artificial light.
This five-day workshop is built around photographing that transition — from the final light of evening through moonlit landscapes and into the darkest hours of the night.
We'll work in some of Death Valley's most extraordinary landscapes, including the Mesquite Flat Dunes, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Devils Golf Course. You'll learn how to balance moonlight and starlight, build compositions in almost complete darkness, and make the most of changing conditions rather than simply waiting for perfect skies.
The group is intentionally small. Our focus is on you — providing the guidance and support you came for, while giving you the freedom to work independently and create the photographs that inspired you to join us.
What You'll Photograph
Locations chosen for the light.
Sand dune ripples caught in long shadows. Badland ridges glowing like a stage set. Cracked salt polygons shimmering beneath the moon. Every location on this itinerary was chosen for the way it transforms under moonlight.
With the moon high at sunset, the night begins long before the Milky Way appears. We use those early hours to photograph the landscape in the soft glow of moonlight — following the changing shadows and textures as the night unfolds. As the moon sets and the sky darkens, we turn our focus to the Milky Way.
Pre-Register for Death Valley →* Locations may vary due to weather and lighting conditions.
"Instruction and guidance were exceptional."
This was an excellent workshop for capturing images under moonlight, focus stacking at night, and shooting the Milky Way with detail in the foreground. Instruction and guidance were exceptional, and there was plenty of opportunity to practice all of these techniques.
John C Morrison · Death Valley, 2026
The Itinerary
Five days, four nights.
This is not a sunrise-to-sunset workshop. The schedule is built around the night sky, recovery, and the conditions that actually make the best photographs. Nightly plans adjust for weather and light — but the arc holds.
See the full itinerary →
Arrival & Group Dinner
Meet the group. Dinner together. Ease into desert time before the first night shoot.
Classroom & Night Shoot
Morning classroom: what we'll shoot, how we'll shoot it, and the workflow you'll take home. Head out mid-afternoon. Sunset into blue hour, then moonset, then the Milky Way — the first full night in the field.
Rest & Night Shoot
Slow morning. Meet at 5 PM for the second night — new locations, same arc from sunset through moonset to the Milky Way rising.
Post-Processing Lab & Dinner
Noon: laptops out. Four hours in Bridge and Photoshop working through the frames you actually want to keep. Group dinner after.
Final Sunrise & Wrap
One last pre-dawn. 4:45 AM for the final sunrise — pink alpenglow, sculptural shadows, the light we save for the end. Home by 9 AM.
Your Instructors
Led by two professional night photographers.
Night Sky & Wildlife Expert
Evie Wilder
Astronomy Photographer of the Year
Brad Goldpaint
To provide you with the best learning environment possible, we limit our group size and never bring our own cameras to a workshop.
~ Evie Wilder & Brad Goldpaint
Lodging, instruction, materials.
- Single-occupancy lodging inside the park
- Two all-night sessions and a sunrise shoot
- Four-hour classroom session in Bridge & Photoshop
- 60+ page workshop booklet — yours to keep
- Two instructors, 4:1 student ratio
Travel, meals, the extras.
- Flights
- Ground transportation and rental car
- Meals and beverages
- Park entrance fees
- Camera gear rental
- Trip insurance
Before You Come
Room, airport, food, gear.
The remoteness that gives Death Valley the darkest skies in the West also means limited services. Here's what to plan for before you arrive.
Rooms are held for participants at The Ranch at Death Valley in Furnace Creek. Please confirm your booking with us before February 7 — the room block will be released after that date.
Nearest airport: Las Vegas (LAS) — roughly a 2-hour drive to The Ranch.
Transportation: Carpooling arrangements are made during our welcome dinner.
Options are limited across the park. Plan ahead — especially if you have dietary restrictions.
Furnace Creek (closest to lodging)
- The Ranch 1849 Buffet
- The Last Kind Words Saloon
- Coffee &
- General Store (limited groceries)
- Golf Pro Shop (burgers)
- Visitor Center Bookstore
- The Inn Dining Room
Stovepipe Wells (about 30 min away)
- Badwater Saloon
- Toll Road Restaurant
- General Store(groceries, ice, camping supplies, firewood, ATM)
Bring your camera, sturdy tripod, wide-angle lens (14–24mm), extra batteries, a red-light headlamp, and warm layers. Nights drop into the 30s–40s°F even in March.
Death Valley by Moonlight.
March 14–18, 2027Pre-Register for Death Valley →
- No payment now — pre-registration is free to join
- Nonrefundable deposit of $2,497.50 is due when enrollment opens
- Remaining balance of $2497.50 due 120 days before the workshop start date
- Trip insurance is strongly recommended
- See our Terms & Conditions