Special Events
Learn a unique style of starry-night-sky landscape photography & astrophotography from Maxwell Palau and his guest associates. Meet-ups vary from local hikes, free lectures and photo walks to location workshops & campouts. Workshops vary from overnight location shoots within 100 miles from San Diego, CA — to multi-day workshops in Southern California & the Baja California Peninsula.
July Full Moon Photography/Viewing Event
San Diego, CA July 9th, 2017 @ 8:45 PM - 11:00 PM
Have you ever tried taking pictures of the moon but ended up with a washed out white ball instead? Well this is your chance to really get up close and take the Moon shot you've always wanted.
Take a look at the Moon like never before through a 4" Stellarvue SV105T Apochromatic Telelscope. See awesome details like craters and mountain ridges on the Moon through some low and high power eyepieces.
Canon and Nikon DSLR users are in luck! I will be bringing along adapters that will allow you to mount your DSLR directly to the scope giving you the opportunity to take some awesome images!
Fish Creek Campground - Night Sky Photography Camp
Borrego Springs, CA - March 24 - 26, 2017
Fish Creek Campground is also known as Split Mountain Campground and is a primitive campground on the south eastern edge of California’s Anza Borrego State Park.
Be prepared for primitive desert camping, with amazing natural scenery, great hiking and amazing dark skies!!
Be part of this awesome event as we take a look at night sky objects like the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy as well as the galactic arm of the Milky Way Galaxy!
Cuyamaca Lake Milky Way Reflections - Night Sky Photo Camp
Julian, CA - May 19 - 21, 2017
About an hour's drive from San Diego, Lake Cuyamaca is a picture-book 110 acre lake that is proof positive that good things come in small packages. It is surrounded on three sides by the 26,000 acre Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which is 52% wilderness. Few places in San Diego County offer the pristine views that greet your eyes wherever they may wander!
At nearly 4600 ft in elevation, the night sky photography will be very clear! The combination of clean clear skies and less atmosphere, will provide amazing opportunities for night sky photography!
MIKE'S SKY RANCH - AMAZING 2 NIGHT PHOTO ADVENTURE
Mike's Sky Rancho, Baja California, Mexico - July 21-23, 2017
Are you ready to see the night skies like you have never seen them before!!?Imagine being thrown back in time when there was absolutely no light pollution or smog of any kind. This is that place!
Join us for 2 nights at Mike's Sky Ranch to have an experience of a lifetime!! This is one of the darkest night sky locations in the North American continent!
This is a night-sky/landscape/nature photographers dream come true. Amazing natural vistas, a nearby creak and waterfall and a night sky filled with innumerable stars!
Rock Creek Lake - High Elevation Night Sky Photography Camp
Bishop, CA - TBD
Imagine waking up to awe-inspiring mountain views and the lake right at your feet. Look no further than Rock Creek Lake Campground. The campground is revered for its majestic beauty. Sites are just a short walk-in, and shaded with a canopy of pines and hemlocks.
At nearly 9600 ft in elevation, the night sky photography will be very clear! The combination of clean clear skies and less atmosphere, will provide amazing opportunities for night sky photography!
Agua Caliente County Park - Night Sky Photography Camp
Borrego Springs, CA - TBD
Agua Caliente Park is a regional camping park nestled in the huge, Anza Borrego Desert State Park and is best known for its geothermally heated springs and rugged desert hiking.
Three naturally fed pools provide different ways of enjoying the park's mineral water. There are two pools outdoors, and an indoor therapeutic spa is heated to 102 degrees and outfitted with Jacuzzi jets.
Be part of this awesome event as we take a look at night sky objects like the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy and even the planets Jupiter, Mars & Venus!!
Night Sky Image Processing Class - Photoshop / Lightroom / ICE
Encinitas, CA - TBD
Imagine waking up to awe-inspiring mountain views and the lake right at your feet. Look no further than Rock Creek Lake Campground. The campground is revered for its majestic beauty. Sites are just a short walk-in, and shaded with a canopy of pines and hemlocks.
At nearly 9600 ft in elevation, the night sky photography will be very clear! The combination of clean clear skies and less atmosphere, will provide amazing opportunities for night sky photography!