This field trip is dependent on weather.

All Skill Levels Welcome

Group Size: Limited to 10 attendees

June 1st through June 3rd

Fee: $79 due by May 25th

You do not need expensive photo gear or a telescope to photograph the stars at night. You need a camera with manual settings, that can swap out lenses, and a tripod. The other thing you need is a very dark sky. Join Foto Dono on a field trip to photograph the Milky Way at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park & Wild Island, FL. This area is one of the few places in the state of Florida that have the darkest skies.

What’s Included: In field instruction, image review and discussion.

What’s Not Included: Transportation, overnight accommodations, park fees and food.

What to bring: Water, snacks, a comfy chair, bug spray, a decent pair of walking shoes, a red light, a D-SLR or Mirrorless camera, a lens, and a tripod.

About Camera Equipment - There are some tools that allows making photos of the night sky easier. Having a D-SLR camera or Mirrorless System is essential. Although you may bring any lens you wish, I’d recommend a lens with a 2.8 f/stop or faster. A remote switch for your camera, but you can use the self timer if necessary. If you are stacking your images, I’d recommend an intervalometer. Without one, if you’re stacking, you’ll have to hit the shutter button 60 to 70 times.

Accommodations: The park has campsites dedicated to astronomers, however those often are reserved way in advance. They also have sites for RV’s plus campsites available. Alternative Accommodations: You can also stay in Sebring which is about an hour a way. You will still need to be in the park before sun set and make arrangements with park rangers to stay past sun set.

The main goal for this field trip is to provide an experience in creating a single shot exposure or multiple exposures for stacking of the night sky. These images will then need to be rendered in post with Lightroom, Photoshop, Star Stacking Software or other editing software.

Wild Island, FL - The Other Location - Located on East Side of Lake Istokpoga on CR 621. - Maps handed out the night before. There are no bathrooms where we will be.

Weather - This is a rain or shine event. Times may change because of the weather.

Refunds - There are no refunds if the Milky Way isn't visible due to cloud cover. This is a low light field trip with an opportunity to photograph the Milky Way.

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning:

• 10:30 PM Meet at the visitors center at the park in the evening for orientation.
• 11:00 PM Head out into the dark!
• 1:00 AM Go to bed!

Sunday Afternoon

• 2:00 PM Editing & Review at the visitors center at the park
• 4:00 PM Nap!

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

• 11:00 PM Meet in Wild Island, FL along the lake.
• 1:00 AM Go to bed!

In this workshop we will cover:

• Exposure
• Composition
• Use of Lenses
• Subject Development
• Creative Thinking
• Shooting in Low Light
• Long Exposures
• Image Processing
• Image Review
• Image Critiquing

Any questions call Dono (727) 741-1819 or email him at fotodono@mac.com.