American Express

Outer Banks After Dark - May 2024

The Outer Banks is known for its rich history – the "Graveyard of the Atlantic", the Wright brothers, majestic lighthouses and beautiful beaches. Its barrier islands are filled with opportunities for all photographers alike.

Join us on this 4 day / night photography adventure in some of the darkest skies in the country east of the Mississippi.

Some of the locations we will be shooting are:

Cape Hatteras
Bodie Island
Roanoke Marshes
Pea Island NWR
Jockey's Ridge SP
Duck Boardwalk
Frisco Pier
Hatteras Pier
Jennette's Pier
Nag's Head Pier
Black Bears of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula

Outer Banks Pier Outer Banks Lighthouse

The Bears of the Albermarle - Pamlico Peninsula

Just across the water from these islands is the densest concentration of black bears in the entire world. They are also the biggest!

Bear Facts:

Coastal NC has the world’s largest black bears
The Albemarle/Pamlico Peninsula has the highest black bear densities in the world
There is an average of 4 bears per square mile on the peninsula
The current world record black bear is from Eastern NC and weighed 880 lbs
There are bears over 880 lbs still walking around Eastern NC today
Black bears have a prey mentality instead of a predator mentality
Bears don’t stand up to intimidate you. It is for a better view and to get a better scent
Bear-Ology Black Bear Museum is in Plymouth, NC

Photographing the Bears:

We will spend one to two mornings photographing the black bears of Eastern North Carolina in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

We will head to the bears after shooting the Milky Way before sunrise and shoot until mid-morning.

*Plan on being out from 7 PM to 10 AM the next morning.

OBX Bears OBX Bear Cubs

May is the time of the year that "Mama Bears" are beginning to bring their COY (cubs of the year) out into the world.

Required Equipment and Accessories:

Astrophotography requires a professional level camera and lens in order to be successful and get the image results you are looking for.

If you do not have a professional level camera or lens, we would highly recommend purchasing or renting them. Mike's Camera offers rentals in Denver and California.

DSLR or mirrorless camera with non-extended, "native" ISO to at least 12,800 and shutter speeds to at least 30 secs
Wide angle lens with a aperture of f/2.8 or larger and a full frame equivalent of 14 - 24 mm
A sturdy tripod (long exposures require it to be very stable)
Shutter release cord or intervalometer (best option for exposure blending)
Extra batteries
Headlamp with a red filter
Small flashlight

NOTE: Due to the variety of subjects on this workshop my recommendation is that you have a variety of lenses with you to ensure a successful workshop.

For Milky Way shooting a 14 - 24mm is your best option.

As for landscapes, you will want to bring something in the neighborhood of a 24-70mm lens and a 70 - 200mm.

For photographing the bears I would recommend bringing a 500 - 600mm lens or a 150-600 would be a great option.

For photographing seashore birds a 300mm is ample.

If you have a macro lens, bring that as well.

If you need to purchase or rent ANY of the required equipment - please, feel free to contact Craig at 520.732.1440 to help you get set up.

What You Will Learn:

Techniques we will be focusing on:

Single Shot Milky Way
Stacking Techniques
Star Trails and Processing

We will also take a look at:

The best times to photograph the Milky Way
How to find the best dark sky location
Best equipment to use
How to focus in the dark
How to set exposure and ISO
Rule of 400 / 500 / 600
Identifying other lights in the night sky

What You’ll Need For Processing Class:

Digital processing is a crucial step in astrophotography for creating striking images.

We will also spend an afternoon on post-processing techniques that can help you create striking images using Lightroom Classic CC.

Make sure you have the latest version of Lightroom Classic CC pre-loaded.

More Details:

Participants: Limit 6

Experience Level: Beginners II to Intermediate

Who will benefit from this workshop?

This workshop is designed for the beginner II to Intermediate photographer as defined below:

Beginner II : Someone having a strong knowledge and firm understanding of their camera and have "some" experience at astrophotography.

Intermediate : Someone having a strong knowledge and firm understanding of their camera with a "firm" understanding in astrophotography.

NOTE: This workshop is geared toward more knowledgeable photographers with an intermediate or higher skill set. Participants must have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and must have a comfortable understanding of astrophotography fundamentals.

Endurance Level: Moderate - Light hiking is involved. We will be climbing some sand dunes. We’ll drive to each location then move to the best position.

Participants should be in good health and comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time.

Participants must have mobility and the ability to carry their photo gear.

Participants should be prepared for some very long days to maximize our time on this workshop.

Transportation Included: We will travel together in a 15 passenger van during the workshop from the hotel to our shooting locations.

Workshop Dates: May 12 - 15, 2024

Arrival Date in Rodanthe, NC: May 12, 2024

Departure Date: May 16, 2024

Click Here To Reserve Your Spot

Arriving In The Outer Banks By Air:

Closest Airports

Norfolk (ORF) — 3 hours from the mid-Outer Banks
Raleigh-Durham (RDU) — 4 hours
Richmond (RIC) — 5 hours
Closer Local/Regional Airports : DUF, FFA, MED, NC4 (limited flight options)

Lodging Included: Single Occupancy in Rodanthe, NC

Our home base hotel is located in beautiful Rodanthe, NC - which is centrally located on the Outer Banks steps away from the Atlantic shoreline.

Outer Banks KOA Resort, 25099 North Carolina Hwy 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968.

NOTE: All rooms provided are single occupancy only - besides your guest that may join you on this trip. We do not offer double occupancy option for our participants due to our very late night schedule and health safety.

All rooms are a spacious 2-person Vacation Suite including a full bathroom, large kitchen with refrigerator, cooktop, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, and dining area. Relax on your private balcony, featuring a table and chairs, with a view of either the Pamlico Sound or Atlantic Ocean.

KOA Resort