A historic wooden barn and corral stand at the edge of a large valley under a starry sky.

Astrophotography Workshop

Valles Caldera National Preserve

  • Mar 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM
  • Fees apply

Register

Registration link will activate at 8:00 am exactly two weeks in advance.

With Valles Caldera National Preserve (an International Dark Sky Park) as an outdoor classroom, photographers Stan Ford and Richard Gonzales will guide program participants through the basics of astrophotography. Learn how to adjust and optimize DSLR camera settings, select a shooting location, and, of course, shoot spectacular images of the night sky. Participants should bring:

1. A camera that has Manual mode. You can use multiple lenses, but we recommend your widest-angle lens.
2. A sturdy tripod.
3. A headlamp or flashlight with red right.
4. Drinking water and snacks.
5. Sturdy footwear and warm clothing.

We ask that program participants arrive with a basic understanding of how to operate their camera in the dark. If you're not experienced with shooting at night, your camera's instruction manual may come in handy. If you do not have a camera with Manual mode or cannot borrow one, we can work with the camera you have. You may not get the greatest images, but our main goal is for you to learn how to shoot at night and have fun!

Fees

Park entrance fees apply.

Location

This event will take place near the Foreman's Cabin, located in the historic Cabin District of Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Latitude and Longitude 35.866196, -106.516774

Schedule

Date:

Mar 20, 2026

Time:

8:00 PM

Duration:

2 hours and 30 minutes

Contact Information

Corey Lycopolus

Contact Us

Event Type

  • Campfire/Evening Program
  • Cultural/Craft Demonstration
  • Partner Program
  • Talk
Tags: astrophotography, night sky, photography, art in the park, evening program, stargazing, astronomy