Capturing the Cosmos: Forgotten Coast 2027
April 9th through 12th, 2027
Join us for an unforgettable 3-night astrophotography workshop along Florida's Forgotten Coast, where dark skies meet historic lighthouses, quiet beaches, coastal marshes, and the majestic Gulf of America.
Based in Wakulla County, Florida, this workshop will take us to carefully selected locations throughout the Forgotten Coast to photograph some of North Florida's most beautiful coastal landscapes beneath the stars. From the historic St. Marks lighthouse standing against the Milky Way to secluded beaches and reflections along the Gulf, each night will offer new opportunities to create compelling nightscape images in a landscape unlike anywhere else.
We'll chase the changing light from sunset through blue hour and into the night, learning how to recognize compositions during daylight and then transform them once the stars appear. Weather and conditions will always determine where the adventure takes us, but that's part of night photography, learning to plan, adapt, and make the most of the sky we're given.
Learn to Capture the Night
This workshop is designed for photographers looking to grow their skills and confidence beneath the stars, whether you're working toward your first great Milky Way photograph or refining more advanced nightscape techniques.
We'll cover the complete process, including planning, composition, focusing in the dark, camera settings, blue-hour foregrounds, image stacking, star tracking, and post-processing techniques designed specifically for night photography.
We'll also work with popular planning and processing tools such as PlanIt Pro, PhotoPills, Starry Landscape Stacker, and Sequator, showing you how these tools can help take an idea from initial planning all the way through the final image.
More importantly, you'll learn how to slow down and read the landscape, finding leading lines, reflections, foreground elements, and compositions that connect the beauty of Florida's coastline with the night sky above.
Where the Gulf Meets the Galaxy
This isn't simply a photography class. It's three nights of exploring Florida after dark with other photographers who share a passion for adventure, creativity, and the night sky.
There's something special about standing beside the Gulf after the sun disappears, hearing the water along the shoreline while watching the Milky Way slowly rise above the horizon. The Forgotten Coast offers a completely different nightscape experience from the mountains and deserts of the American West and that's exactly what makes it so special.
Come ready to learn, explore, laugh, chase some stars, and experience a side of Florida most visitors never get to see.
Three nights. Dark skies. Historic lighthouses. Wild beaches. The Gulf. And hopefully, a whole lot of stars.
Lodging & Meals
Lodging and meals are not included with this workshop, allowing participants the flexibility to choose accommodations and dining options that best fit their individual needs and budget.
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Recommendations for nearby lodging, restaurants, meeting locations, and other important trip information will be provided to registered participants prior to the workshop.
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Capture the Cosmos: Forgotten Coast
Where the Gulf Meets the Galaxy.
Adventure Dates
April 9th – 12th, 2027
GROUP SIZE
Limited to a small group of 10 students to ensure that everyone receives 1:1 attention
Experience Level
All skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners, are invited to participate in this inclusive photography workshop.
HIKING
This workshop will involve moderate hiking, covering a distance of no more than 2 miles roundtrip, across diverse terrain including sandy wet paths.
We will be standing or be on our feet for several hours (don't worry, you can bring chairs!)
MILKY WAY
​In the heart of a dark sky, Wakulla and surrounding Counties gives us a better view of the stars. Dark skies are the key to Milky Way photography and this is home to the darkest skies in the south.
Star Tracking
Get creative with learning the different ways of capturing the night sky from trackers to stacking and even the OG of single exposure shots!
St. Marks Lighthouse
Opened in 1831, this historic lighthouse has stood watch over Florida’s coast for nearly two centuries. We’ll have the opportunity to explore its surroundings and, as darkness falls, stand beneath the same star-filled skies that generations of lighthouse keepers once experienced.
Editing Sessions
This is a foundational astrophotography course designed to walk you through the entire process from start to finish. We cover everything from planning your shot to capturing and editing your images, using tools such as Lightroom, Photoshop, Starry Landscape Stacker, Sequator, PhotoPills, and PlanIt Pro. The focus is on building a solid understanding of the workflow so you can confidently apply these techniques on your own.
Reserve your place now to guarantee your spot in this exclusive workshop that promises to unlock your creative potential.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Capture Unforgettable Moments
Florida's Forgotten Coast is a photographer's paradise, offering remarkably dark skies, historic lighthouses, quiet beaches, coastal marshes, winding rivers, and the endless horizon of the Gulf. Far removed from the bright lights of Florida's larger cities, this special corner of the state provides incredible opportunities to experience and photograph the night sky.
Our workshop gives you the opportunity to combine these unique coastal landscapes with the stars above—capturing the Milky Way rising over the Gulf, historic lighthouses beneath star-filled skies, reflections along the water, and the wild beauty of Old Florida after dark.
Explore Hidden Treasures
Discover the hidden gems of Florida's Forgotten Coast, from quiet coastal roads and secluded beaches to winding rivers, wildlife refuges, historic landmarks, and lesser-known viewpoints that reveal the character of Old Florida.
Our adventure will take us beyond the places most visitors experience, searching for unique compositions and locations where the landscape and night sky come together. Along the way, you'll experience the natural beauty, history, and peaceful solitude that make Wakulla County and Florida's Forgotten Coast such a special place to explore with a camera.
Guidance from Seasoned Photographers
Learn from a team of skilled landscape photographers who have honed their craft in these very landscapes. Gain insights into composition, lighting, and advanced techniques that will transform your photography from ordinary to extraordinary
Golden Hour & Blue Hour Magic
Experience the magic of golden hour along Florida's Forgotten Coast, where warm coastal light transforms historic lighthouses, quiet beaches, marshlands, and the waters of the Gulf.
As the sun disappears below the horizon, we'll continue shooting through blue hour and into the night, learning how changing light can add depth, color, and emotion to your images. Then, as darkness takes over, we'll turn our cameras toward the stars and watch an entirely different side of Florida come to life.
Premier Dark Sky’s
Whether you're photographing the night sky for the first time or you're an experienced astrophotographer looking to refine your skills, this workshop will help you create stunning images of the Milky Way, stars, and coastal landscapes beneath the dark skies of Florida's Forgotten Coast.
Far from the bright lights of Florida's larger cities, Wakulla County offers beautifully dark skies where the stars seem to stretch all the way to the Gulf. You'll learn how to plan, compose, and photograph the night sky while incorporating historic lighthouses, beaches, coastal waters, marshlands, and the natural beauty of Old Florida into your images.
Watch the Milky Way rise above the Gulf, discover details hidden within a sky filled with thousands of stars, and experience the peaceful magic of Florida's coast long after most visitors have gone home.
The Team
We are excited to share our love of photography, nature, and adventures with you. Please check out our links below to learn more about us.
Included in the Workshop
PLANNING YOUR SHOT
– Scouting and evaluating conditions
– Composing an image to grab the viewer’s attention
– Composing an image with a person in the frame to show scale and tell a story
– How to work with light and how to find the best light for the scene
– Utilizing apps, such as PlanIt, PhotoPills, for more efficient planning
– Choosing the right lens, find your focal length
– How and when to use filters
– How to shoot with a plan or vision for editing
CAPTURING YOUR IMAGE
- Creative techniques to bring your vision to life
– Histogram: How to read for perfectly exposed images
– Exposure control: How to use ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed in different scenarios
– Creative ways to use lens distortion
– Focus stacking & Focal Length Blends
– Focusing at night to capture pin-sharp stars and foreground
– Blue Hour Blending: How to capture blue hour & Milky Way
– Stacking for Noise Reduction: how to shoot the proper frames to stack
BRINGING IMAGE TO LIFE
– Lightroom and Photoshop: Learn our post-processing workflow
– How to blend multiple images in Photoshop (Blue Hour Blends, Focal Length Blends, Exposure Blends, Composites)
– Luminosity Masks
– Dodging and Burning
– Blue-hour Blends
– Star-stacking: how to edit starry night skies with Starry Landscape Stacker (or Sequator)
– Understanding layers and masks
– Finishing touches using clone stamp and removing distractions
– Creating Orton glows and painting with light
– Sharpening: Creating sharpness in your final image
Lodging is not included with this workshop, giving you the freedom to choose the accommodations that best fit your style, budget, and travel plans.
If you're not local to the Wakulla County area, you'll find plenty of great places nearby to lay your head down and recharge between our nighttime adventures. Choose from some amazing Airbnbs and vacation rentals, experience a little local character at a historic lodge, or keep things simple and comfortable at one of the area's local hotels.
Whether you prefer a quiet waterfront retreat, a cozy place surrounded by old Florida scenery, or simply a comfortable bed and a hot shower after a long night beneath the stars, there are plenty of options throughout the area.
We'll provide registered participants with recommended lodging options and locations to help make planning your stay as easy as possible.
After all, you'll want a good place to catch some sleep—because when the sun goes down, the adventure begins all over again!
Bring along your dinner, favorite snack, or your strongest caffeinated drink to sip on and settle in for an engaging group editing session. Together, we’ll work through processing images captured during our shoots, share techniques, explore different editing styles, and walk through the tools and methods that can help bring your night images to life. It’s a relaxed opportunity to learn, ask questions, share ideas, and grow your post-processing skills together.
During the day, while the stars are resting and we wait for another evening beneath Florida's dark skies, you'll have plenty of time to relax, explore, and experience everything the Forgotten Coast has to offer.
Take a scenic boat tour along the Wakulla River, where crystal-clear waters, incredible wildlife, and old Florida scenery make for an unforgettable experience.
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Feeling a little more adventurous? Rent a kayak and explore the waterways at your own pace, spend a few hours saltwater fishing along the Gulf, or make the drive over to St. George Island for some well-earned R&R with your toes in the sand.
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The Forgotten Coast is filled with small coastal communities, wildlife, beaches, rivers, fresh seafood, and plenty of places worth exploring. Whether you're looking for adventure on the water or simply want to find a quiet stretch of beach and relax before another night of photography, your daytime is yours to enjoy.
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Explore Florida by day. Chase the stars by night.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE EPIC ADVENTURE NOW!
Availability is limited, and reservations are first-come, first-served. The workshop is supported by a duo of accomplished photography instructors who will be in attendance throughout its duration. This setup ensures personalized, one-on-one guidance, allowing you to enhance specific areas of your skill set that you wish to refine.
