Milky Way over Mt St Helens 2026

Milky Way over Mt St Helens (2026)

Workshop format for 2026
Milky Way workshops depend on clear skies. To provide the best chance for a successful workshop, all are being scheduled on multiple dates. There is a primary date for the workshop and alternate dates. You will be registering for all the dates listed which requires flexibility on your part. The final date for the workshop will be determined 4 to 7 days prior to the primary date when more reliable sky and weather forecasts become available.
When and Where
When: May 14 or 15, 2026, 10:00 pm - 1:00 am Where: Mt St Helens
Tuition and Registration
Tuition and Registration
Tuition is only $295 To reserve your spot in this workshop, click the "Pay Now" button.
WORKSHOP LIMIT: 5 SPOTS REMAINING: 5
Included with your tuition
1-hour Zoom session prior to the workshop to go over the key points of Milky Way photography and planning PDF guide on photographing the Milky Way Personalized instruction and assistance How to choose the best lenses for astro photography How to set aperture, shutter speed and ISO to get a proper exposure How to accurately set focus for tack sharp images How to properly judge exposure based on the histogram Learn why shutter speed is limited and based on focal length How to properly judge focus with image playback and magnification How to set up your camera and tripod Guidance and instruction on composition How to plan Milky Way shoots with smart phone apps (twilight periods, Milky Way position, and much more) Learn how to take images for stacking to greatly reduce noise in the sky and land 2-hour post-workshop Zoom session to review your images and see my post processing workflow
Refund policy
Cancellations must be made in writing. More than 30 days prior to the workshop: Refund less $25. 14 - 30 days prior to the workshop: 75% refund. 7 - 13 days prior to the workshop: 40% refund. Less than 7 days prior to the workshop: no refund. If the workshop is cancelled due to weather or sky conditions on all the dates listed here, you will receive a full refund. Once the workshop starts, refunds cannot be issued. every attempt is made to insure sky conditions are ideal for these workshops. Weather forecasts, astronomical sky forecasts, live web cams, and much more are monitored the days leading up to the workshop. Conditions can change without warning and in an instant - especially in the mountains. If conditions change once we are at the shooting venue, I offer participants credit towards a future workshop.
Nearby Accommodations
If you would like to stay overnight in Castle Rock, here are some choices. I highly recommend booking a refundable room.
Mt St Helens Motel 1340 Mt St Helens Way NE Castle Rock, WA 98611 (360) 274-7721	7 West Motel 864 Walsh Ave NE Castle Rock, WA 98611 (360) 274-7526

About the Workshop
The main focus of this workshop is how to successfully photograph the Milky Way. There are many challenges photographing in the dark. You will receive instruction on all critical aspects of photographing in this challenging environment (focus, composition, and exposure). The prime Milky Way season at Mt St Helens happens once per year and only for a few days. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity. Certain equipment is required for this workshop. See "What to Bring".
What to Bring
Camera with manual controls Wide angle lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster Sturdy tripod Headlamp (preferable) or flashlight with red light option Remote shutter release (self timer will also work) Camp chair Wind protective clothing Cold weather clothing Snacks and water Full tank of gas (we will be traveling 100 miles round trip with the nearest gas stations 50 miles away)
Why choose DTL workshops?
Value: Similar workshops (if you can find them) charge up to $400. Experience: I have been leading Milky Way workshops since 2012. More peace of mind: My refund policies that are far less restrictive than others. Personal attention: Small workshops where you WILL receive personalized attention. Even more value: Two Zoom sessions. A 1-hour pre-workshop session to help prepare for the workshop. A 2-hour post-workshop session where I'll review your images and lead you through a processing workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop. See "Included with your tuition" and compare to other workshops.
Physical Requirements
Physical requirements are rated as VERY EASY (we will very close to our vehicles).
Itinerary (subject to change)
10:00 pm: Meet and Greet (Castle Rock, WA) 11:00 - 12:30 am: Workshop
Sample Images
Click here for sample images from the area
About Mount Saint Helens
The Pacific Northwest is blessed with many wonders. Mt. St. Helens is certainly one of them. In fact it is one of the true wonders of the world. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980 left a huge scar on the landscape that is still very visible today.
About Me
I am a passionate photographer with a focus on landscape and astro photography and have been leading Milky Way workshops since 2012. I have lived in the Northwest my whole life and my love for photography goes back to the early 1980's. I am the Coordinator for the Portland/Vancouver Photography Meetup Group and have been teaching Photoshop, Lightroom and landscape workshops since 2007.
Photographing the Milky Way
My book (Photographing the Milky Way) is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. Click here for more information.