UPPER PENINSULA/LAKE SUPERIOR MIDWEST PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS, PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS




2023 Seney NWR Night Sky Photography Workshop

 

September 14-17, 2023

 

Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn

 

Curtis, Michigan

 

 

 

Address: N9450 Manistique Lakes Rd, Curtis, MI 49820



Join us for our third year at Seney NWR! We are glad to have been permitted to hold this very special night sky photography workshop in 2023 and are so glad to be back after the Marshland Wildlife Drive closures and updates in 2022.
This very special night sky photography workshop takes place in a partnership with Seney National Wildlife Refuge - a 95,000 acre wildlife refuge for over 200 species of birds as well as otters, beavers, moose, black bear, wolves, red fox, deer, porcupine, and fisher. Seney is known as home to the oldest documented pair of common loons in the world.

The history of Seney is fascinating. Multiple large bodies of water or “pools” and wide open horizons in every direction in the refuge allow for undisturbed night sky to photograph the dark starry night skies of the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The pools within the refuge provide multiple opportunities for Milky Way and aurora borealis reflective compositions. Seney NWR is not open to the public at night, so this is a very special opportunity to experience and photograph Seney's vast and magnificent night skies in a totally undisturbed location.

This 3 night workshop is based out of nearby Curtis, Michigan at Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn, on the south side of Manistique Lake. The aurora is right out our door should it appear while we are at the inn. Breakfast, dinner, and lodging are included in the price of this workshop.

The workshop itinerary places priority on our night sky field sessions at Seney and the topics of planning, forecasting, shooting, and editing all things aurora and night sky. Should time allow, we may add in a day trip to other notable locations in the area. The workshop date is very close to the autumn equinox, increasing our odds of seeing the aurora. 

A detailed itinerary, suggested gear list, and further details of this workshop will be provided after registration and well in advance of this workshop. This workshop is limited to 10 participants.

Chamberlin's is a historic Inn and Bed and Breakfast with 12 rooms. for this workshop, 5 rooms have private baths, 5 rooms have shared baths. Those that get private baths are on a first come first served basis in order of workshop registration date and time.  Update - as of 05.25.2023 remaining spaces have shared baths only. There is a separate bathroom/shower for women and men on the second floor. 

Registration fee: $995

refund policy: 100% refund minus $100 administrative fee if cancellation is made through July 1.

After July 1, no refund unless space is filled. Travel insurance is suggested. 

To register, click the add to cart button. You do not have to use Paypal to pay if you wish; when clicking the "add to cart" button, enter your credit card information when prompted. 

Click the "buy now" button below to register
 _________________________________





If for some reason you are having problems with the paypal button, drop me an email at mqtphoto@aol.com with your phone# and I'll call you to complete registration. 


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*archived*


2023 Nature's Kennel Winter Adventure - February 27-March 3, 2023 - (full-contact to be added to waitlist)
Join us in our 9th year! This is truly a winter adventure not to be missed! Experience the joy of winter in one of the snowiest locations in the US, where snow is measured in feet rather than inches,the ultimate Upper Peninsula winter photography adventure!  Drive your own dog sled team, photograph dogsledding, explore frozen waterfalls, blue ice caves, and the winter night sky where we could very well be fortunate to have the aurora appear!(the aurora has appeared during this workshop in previous years!) For details and to register, visit Nature's Kennel Winter Adventure Photography Tour



Isle Royale National Park IRKPA Night Sky photography workshop - NEW 2nd date! July 26-30, 2022   FULL - contact for waitlist 
With the first date filling up in a couple days after announcement, we've decided to add a 2nd date in 2022! For details and to register, visit: https://www.irkpa.org/workshops

Isle Royale National Park IRKPA Night Sky photography workshop  - August 30-September 3, 2022 - FULL - contact for wait list (which currently is at 10 people on waitlist)

Nature's Kennel Winter Adventure - March 2-5, 2022 (full)
This is truly a winter adventure not to be missed! Experience the joy of winter in one of the snowiest locations in the US, where snow is measured in feet rather than inches!  Drive your own dog sled team, photograph dogsledding, frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and the winter night sky where we might be fortunate to have the aurora appear! (the aurora has appeared during this workshop in previous years!) For details and to register, visit https://www.natureskennel.com/winter-photography-tour

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Night Sky Photography Workshop September 26, 2021 (full)
Join Marquette photographer Shawn Malone for an evening of night-sky photography at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. This workshop will begin with a 90-minute session on equipment, settings and techniques. Participants will then take a walk to the viewing platform at the Upper Falls to set up for twilight and dark sky photos of the Milky Way.

For age 18 and up. Participation is limited to 10.

 


Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Night Sky Photography Workshop October 24, 2021(FULL)
Join Marquette photographer Shawn Malone for an evening of night-sky photography at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. This workshop will begin with a 90-minute session on equipment, settings and techniques. Participants will then take a walk to the viewing platform at the Upper Falls to set up for twilight and dark sky photos of the Milky Way.

For age 18 and up. Participation is limited to 10.

 




Seney NWR Night Sky Photography Workshop Sep. 8-11, 2021  (full)

In cooperation with Seney NWR, we have been granted permission for our second year at Seney to host our night sky photography workshop amongst this amazingly unique dark sky location of flat horizons and reflective pools. The early autumn new moon night sky of these September dates gives us optimal timing to capture the milky way, early autumn constellations, nebula, and possible northern lights.  Lodging, breakfast and dinner are included in the registration fee and our lodging is a convenient 15 minutes away. This opportunity will not be possible in 2022 due to park maintenance. The focus of this workshop will be our night sky field photography sessions every night in the park. We are close to the autumn equinox with increased odds for the aurora to make an appearance.




*Last Minute*  Night Sky Photography workshops - nightly  March 18, 19, 20, 2021 (Fri and Sat FULL)

I have arranged a few very last minute night sky sessions for the upcoming clear sky/elevated aurora forecast Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week.




2020 Isle Royale National Park Night Sky Photography Workshop - September 8-12, 2020 - Just announced (CANCELED DUE TO COVID19)

We are back for our 4th year embarking on the 6 hour voyage to Isle Royale National Park to photograph some of the darkest night skies in the midwest. No cars. Dark skies. Moose. Just maybe, the aurora borealis. The solitude of a true wilderness experience abounds. Join us for a trip of a lifetime with five days, four nights photographing the starry skies and beautiful rugged landscape on one of the least visited national parks in the USA - the island of Isle Royale. We may even get treated to the northern lights during one of the most active months for aurora activity (September). Informational pdf is here:
2020 IRKPA Isle Royale National Park Photography Workshop information
Contact workshop leader photographer Shawn Malone to reserve your space: mqtphoto@aol.com 906.228.3686

 

2020 Winter Adventure Photography Workshop with Nature's Kennel February 26-29, 2020 (FULL - contact to be added to waitlist) 


This will be our 6th year offering this unique project between Shawn Malone, award winning photographer from Marquette, MI and owner of Lake Superior Photo - Gallery / Studio and Tasha Stielstra, owner of Nature's Kennel. This three night/four day adventure includes lodging at Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn, dog sledding, ice cave exploration, and a photography instruction on photographing dogsledding, winter landscapes and the night skies.  Shawn is well known for her night sky photography and weather permitting we will be shooting night skies on Big Manistique Lake, that has an incredibly dark view of the north sky. Informational .pdf here: https://www.natureskennel.com/winter-photography-tour  For more information and to register, contact Shawn at mqtphoto@aol.com or call the gallery at 906.228.3686.




UPCOMING PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
  • Isle Royale National Park Night Sky Photography Workshop 2019 - September 3-7, 2019 (limited space - FULL)

 

 

  • New! 2019 Autumn Equinox Night Sky Photography workshop in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - (limited space  - full)

    - September 26-29, 2019



  • 2019 Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan autumn color photography workshop - Silver City, Mi - October 4-7, 2019  FULL -  contact for waitlist
  • 2019 Summer Solstice photography workshop, Marquette, Michigan -  June 21-23, 2019  FULL  -  contact for waitlist
  • The Lake Superior Landscape Summer photography workshop, Marquette, Michigan -  July 5-7, 2019 FULL -  contact for waitlist
  • 2019 Summer night sky Milky Way and aurora photography workshop, Copper Harbor, Michigan -  August 2-,4 2019  FULL -  contact for waitlist
  • Winter Adventure Photography Workshop  Curtis Mi., February 3-5, 2019 (limited to 10 participants)

 
  • Isle Royale Night Sky Photography Workshop 2018 - September 4-8, 2018 (sold out)
  • Announcing our Winter Adventure Photography Workshop Curtis Mi., February 24-27, 2018. (sold out)



Isle Royale Night Sky Photography Workshop – Sept. 12-16, 2017 - SOLD OUT