Ross by Night Workshops

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What to expect

We’ll begin indoors with an introduction to the dark sky around Ross, looking at some of my own night-sky and astro-landscape images and talking about what makes this part of Tasmania such an interesting place for night photography.

We’ll cover some basic astronomy and sky orientation, along with practical techniques for photographing the night sky using both cameras and phones. You don’t need to be an experienced photographer — the emphasis will be on understanding what you can actually see and photograph with the equipment you have.

We’ll then head outside and depending on conditions, we’ll take a short walk to viewpoints looking south towards the Uniting Church and, potentially, the bridge and surrounding landscape.

The exact outdoor session will depend on the weather and what the sky is doing. A cloudy evening can still provide interesting opportunities, but if it is raining we’ll adapt the evening rather than take the group out. And if something particularly interesting is happening — such as an aurora — we may change the order of the evening or spend more time outside. Part of the fun of night photography is responding to what the sky actually gives us.

Taking photographs

If you’d like to bring your own camera or phone and try some night-sky photography, you’re very welcome to do so. I’ll demonstrate techniques and help you get the most from whatever equipment you bring.

But there is absolutely no need to bring a camera. You are equally welcome to simply come along for the talk, explore the night sky and join the walk. The evening is about experiencing the dark sky as much as it is about photographing it.

What to bring

If you’re bringing photographic equipment:

• Your camera or phone, fully charged

• A tripod if you have one

• Spare batteries or a power bank

• A small torch or headlamp (preferably with a red-light setting)

For everyone:

• Warm clothing and sensible footwear — we’ll be outside at night and it can feel considerably colder when standing still

• Fingerless gloves or mitts are recommended — they provide a good balance between warmth and being able to operate your camera or phone

• A rain jacket or other weather protection, just in case

You don’t need expensive specialist equipment, and you don’t need to bring photographic equipment at all if you’d prefer simply to enjoy the evening.