Full Moon Planning & Photography
Eastern Sierra & the Alabama Hills
DATES
No dates currently scheduled. Please check back soon.
LOCATION
The Mount Whitney Gallery
126 N Main Street
Lone Pine, California
OVERVIEW
The full moon is one of the most breathtaking sights in the sky, and yet capturing interesting photos of it is a surprisingly difficult challenge. In this fun and exciting landscape photography class you will learn how to overcome the major challenges of shooting the moon so that you can create truly stunning and one-of-a-kind photographs.
Join professional landscape photographer Joshua Cripps in the breathtaking Eastern Sierra to photograph the moon alongside the beautiful landscapes of this unique area. Lone Pine will be our stomping grounds for this class, and we will explore the Alabama Hills as well as the surrounding landscapes in search of our moon photos.
CLASS DETAILS
This class is comprised of four field excursions, two classroom sessions, and two processing sessions. In the classroom we will learn everything that goes into making beautiful moon photographs, including the required gear, using the PhotoPills App, artistic and technical approaches to shooting the moon, understanding the moon’s motion, planning the shot, problem solving, and best practices. We will work together as a group to plan our shots, then go into the field to bring them to life!
During the class we will have four opportunities to photograph the moon in alignment with the wonderful natural features of the area, such as Mt Whitney, Mt Leconte, Mt Williamson, and/or the rock towers of the Alabama Hills. All our shoots will take place around sunrise and sunset, allowing us fantastic opportunities for landscape photography in addition to shooting the moon.
The classroom and post processing sessions for this class take place at The Mount Whitney Gallery in downtown Lone Pine, California.
TUITION
$695
In this class you will gain:
- Insight into the 4 main challenges in photographing the full moon, as well as how to overcome them.
- A comprehensive understanding of using PhotoPills to plan moon photographs.
- Best practices for getting high quality moon photos with sharp details and low noise.
- Post-processing techniques to bring out the best in your moon photos.
- Instruction on photographing landscapes with a telephoto lens.
- Field instruction and guidance on how to execute your planned moon photos..
Tuition Includes:
- All classroom instruction, including multiple planning sessions.
- 4 field shoots (2x moonrise and 2x moonset).
- Post processing instruction and Q&A.
Class limited to 7 students.
YOUR TEACHER
Joshua Cripps – Professional Photographer, Guide, and Chief Moon Nut
Josh is an acclaimed landscape photographer and educator from California. He gives presentations for companies like Nikon and leads exciting photo tours around the world. Josh has been obsessed with photographing the full moon since 2017 and is becoming known as “that crazy moon guy.” His photo of the 2019 annular solar eclipse earned worldwide attention and was published by NASA, CNN, and dozens of other media outlets.
Josh runs the Mount Whitney Gallery in Lone Pine, California.
ITINERARY AND LOGISTICS
Getting to the class
This full moon photography class meets in Lone Pine, California, 3-4 hours north of Los Angeles, 4 hours west of Las Vegas, or 1 hour south of Bishop. The class location is:
Transportation during the class
You are responsible for your own transportation during this class, but we will organize carpools for the excursions.
Lodging and Meals
Lodging and meals are up to you. Lone Pine has a wide array of dining and lodging options, from inexpensive to high end.
Itinerary*
Day 1
Arrive at the Whitney Gallery a little after lunch (the exact time will be sent to you in advance of the class).
- Early Afternoon: Classroom sessions on moon photography, PhotoPills planning, and telephoto landscapes.
- Mid afternoon: break.
- Evening: sunset / moonrise photography excursion.
Day 2
- Early morning: sunrise / moonset photography excursion.
- Mid morning: break for breakfast.
- Late morning: moon post processing techniques.
- Midday: break.
- Early Afternoon: Classroom sessions on moon photography, PhotoPills planning, and telephoto landscapes.
- Mid afternoon: break.
- Evening: sunset / moonrise photography excursion
Day 3
- Early morning: sunrise / moonset photography excursion.
- Mid morning: break for breakfast.
- Late morning: moon post processing techniques.
- Midday: class ends.
* times are approximate and will be specified in advance of the class
Weather
The weather in the Eastern Sierra is unpredictable. We make no guarantees regarding clouds, clear skies, rain, sun, or moon visibility. No refunds will be given in the event the weather prevents us from photographing the moon.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
Camera Gear You Should Bring
- Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera
- Lenses. We highly recommend you have the following four lenses (or equivalent) to take advantage of the wide variety of scenes you will experience:
- Ultra-wide, such as a 14-24mm or 16-35mm
- Midrange, 24-70mm
- Short telephoto, 70-200mm
- Long telephoto, 100-400mm or 200-500mm (essential for moon photography)
- A sturdy tripod
- Comfortable camera backpack you can hike up to 1 mile with
- Filters (10-stop ND, 6-stop ND, Polarizer recommended)
- Remote shutter release
- Rocket blower and shammy cloth, lens/sensor cleaning fluid, lens wipes, sensor swabs
- Extra batteries, charger, and memory cards
Recommended Clothing and Items
Due to variable conditions, we recommend bringing multiple layers of non-cotton clothing, like Merino wool, fleece, or synthetic fibers. Specifically you should bring:
- Base layers for top and bottom
- A warm jacket and pants
- A windproof rain jacket
- A warm hat and gloves
- Lighter layers for warm days, like a sun hoodie or long-sleeved sun shirt
- A wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- Wool or synthetic socks
- Sturdy footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy. Lightweight hiking boots or hiking shoes are recommended for most outings.
- A large water bottle and sunscreen
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Trekking poles
COST - $695
Tuition Includes:
- All classroom instruction, including multiple planning sessions.
- 4 field shoots (2x moonrise and 2x moonset).
- Post processing instruction and Q&A.
Not Included:
- Airfare / transportation to Lone Pine
- Transportation during the class
- Lodging and meals
- Personal items, souvenirs, passport/visa fees as applicable
- Optional activities
- Trip insurance
Cancellation Policy
HELPING MOTHER NATURE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Fully Insured and Permitted, Leave-No-Trace Advocates
We take pains to ensure our activities are 100% above board. We obtain all the necessary permissions, certifications, and insurance required in order conduct our tours.
We are also strong advocates of Leave No Trace (LNT) wilderness ethics. We teach responsible photography practices and never sacrifice the environment for the sake of a photo. Our goal is to leave our tour locations in better shape than the way we found them.
Carbon Offset and Planting Trees
We partner with the Give Back to Nature Project to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions generated by this class.
CLASS POLICIES
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Payments are refundable up to one week before the class.
If we cancel this class due to unforeseen circumstances, we will refund your tuition or transfer it to another class.
Weather Policy
We make no guarantees regarding clouds, clear skies, rain, sun, or moon visibility. No refunds will be given in the event weather prevents us from photographing the moon.
COVID-19 Policy
We do not currently have any COVID-19 requirements. That being said, if you feel sick before the class, please stay home and let us know. We will transfer your registration to another class of your choosing.
This policy will be updated as CDC, WHO, Federal, and state guidelines change.
