Death Valley Workshop

Keep your kit practical and manageable in the dark. Use this checklist as a quick reference when packing. Nothing on this list needs to be purchased specifically for the workshop. If you are unsure about a piece of gear, feel free to reach out.

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• DSLR Body – Nikon, Canon with manual exposure controls.
• Wide-angle lens – Nikon, Canon ideally 14–24mm or similar. A fast aperture such as f/2.8 or wider is strongly recommended for Milky Way photography.
• 24–70mm f/2.8 – Nikon, Canon for a versatile range of compositions.
• 70–200mm f/2.8 – Nikon, Canon optional, but useful for tighter compositions and details.
• 200–500mm or 180–600mm – Nikon, Canon optional for creative abstracts and compressed compositions at locations such as Zabriskie Point.

• Mirrorless Body – Nikon, Sony, Canon with manual exposure controls.
• Wide-angle lens – Nikon, Sony, Canon ideally 14–24mm or similar. A fast aperture such as f/2.8 or wider is strongly recommended for Milky Way photography.
• 24–70mm f/2.8 – Nikon, Sony, Canon for a versatile range of compositions.
• 70–200mm f/2.8 – Nikon, Sony, Canon optional, but useful for tighter compositions and details.
• 200–500mm or 180–600mm – Nikon, Sony, Canon optional for creative abstracts and compressed compositions at locations such as Zabriskie Point.

• Sturdy tripod with a reliable ball head. Stability is critical for long exposures and focus-stacked images.
• External intervalometer. Even if your camera has a built-in intervalometer, an external remote helps avoid camera movement when starting an exposure.
• Tripod plates, grips, or other camera support accessories you normally use.

• Extra batteries. Bring enough to photograph throughout the night and into the morning.
• Memory cards. Bring plenty of storage for multiple nights of shooting. 64GB or larger cards are recommended.
• Card reader and any cables you normally use for transferring images.

• Headlamp with a red-light mode. A red light helps preserve night vision and keeps your hands free.
• Small backup flashlight optional.

• UV filters optional for daytime shooting around blowing sand and dust. Remove them for night photography.
• Camera rain/dust cover. Desert weather can change quickly, and blowing dust can be a serious concern.
• Rocket blower or hand blower for removing loose dust and sand.
• Barber's brush. A soft brush is useful for gently removing loose dust and sand from camera bodies, lenses, and gear.
• Lens-cleaning cloth for keeping lenses and LCD screens clean.
• Dirt-bike goggles highly recommended for windy conditions and blowing dust.

• Warm layers. Desert temperatures can drop significantly after sunset. Plan for cold nights and early mornings.
• Comfortable, sturdy shoes that you do not mind getting dusty or dirty. Salt and mud can be hard on footwear.
• Trekking poles optional, but useful for walking across uneven terrain, dunes, and salt flats.
• Foam sitting pad or lightweight camp chair for comfortable shooting during long exposures.
• Sand blanket for sitting or kneeling comfortably on the dunes without hauling sand back to the car.
• Sun protection including a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

• Laptop and charger for the post-processing portion of the workshop.
• Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge. Download and install both before the workshop.
• Up-to-date software. Make sure everything is working properly before arriving.

• Water. Bring plenty for each field outing.
• Snacks and personal necessities for long nights in the field.
• Phone, fully charged for navigation and emergency satellite messaging.

*This checklist is provided for your convenience and is not intended to be a required packing list. If you are unsure whether your camera or lens setup is appropriate for the workshop, please reach out.