May 2026 Astrophotography Workshop: Mountains and Milky Way
Join Tom Rae for an exclusive in-person Astrophotography workshop set against the breathtaking backdrop of New Zealand’s premier dark sky reserve. This intimate experience is designed for photographers eager to elevate their night sky imagery, focusing on the spectacular Milky Way core and Southern constellations during the Southern Hemisphere’s Autumn season.
Some images of the locations we aim to visit, and the orientation of the night sky during May.
May offers some truly compelling advantages for anyone keen on night-sky imagery: May sits at the beginning of the southern hemisphere’s wintery stargazing season when nights are long and dark, giving you extended windows well after sunset to shoot with minimal twilight interference and more total hours under the stars. Longer nights mean you can plan multiple Milky Way sequences, practice different compositions, and time your sessions around optimal moon phases.
In May the cooler, crisp air and typically lower humidity across much of NZ, especially in South Island alpine and inland regions often yields clearer skies with less atmospheric haze, which enhances the contrast and sharpness of the galactic band in your photos. You get a great dynamic variety of sky too, stretching from spectacular southern sky features after sunset like the Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds, and star clusters unique to southern latitudes to the dense Milky Way core later in the evening.
Workshop Inclusions:
The photo workshop includes quality Accommodation for four nights in a modern home based in the central Mackenzie Country Region, as well as transport to and from Christchurch Airport and throughout the trip to shooting locations, compositions and accommodation.
ACCOMDATION PHOTO HERE
Image Planning / Capture:
Hands-On Night Sky Image Capturing Sessions from the Aoraki Mount Cook Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve, with expert instruction and mentorship by Tom Rae. You will learn about what you can see and photograph in the sky, moon cycles, how to craft your images using apps & astronomy fundamentals, how to find compelling compositions, technical camera understanding, focusing your camera at night, light painting, star trackers, and in depth post processing knowledge. During ideal daytime conditions when not editing, we will make the most of this regions spectacular landscape photography opportunities.
This workshop will utilise daylight hours for in-depth editing tutorials, where we’ll process images captured during the workshop using Lightroom and Photoshop, and more advanced softwares like PTGui. Some of the processing tutorials include: Basic image editing in Lightroom & PS, Preprocessing your images for panoramas, foreground blending for eye leading compositions, Techniques to highlight the Milky Way’s structure and colours, and Advanced Panoramic techniques for expansive skies.
Itinerary:
The tour will begin with a pickup at 11am (12th May) at Christchurch Airport. Other meeting options may be available with prior arrangements. Throughout the tour, we will be based centrally in high quality accomodation in New Zealand’s Mackenzie Country, giving us close access to the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, Lake Tekapo, and surrounding regions. Due to the unpredictable nature of NZ’s weather, the full itinerary is not fully set and will be with the judgement of Tom Rae after reviewing the weather forecasts. Flexibility is important to ensure the tour is as productive as possible!
Group Size:
An intimate group size with a maximum of 4 participants, so you get personal guidance and no pressure. Because of the level of personal attention provided with a small group size, all skill levels are welcome, from those new to photography, to advanced photographers looking for an adventure and to take their images to the next level.
Gear / Fitness Requirements:
DSLR or mirrorless camera
Very warm clothing suitable for New Zealand’s cold Autumn - Winter nights (Night time temperatures in our shooting areas can rarely but sometimes get to be below freezing temperatures in May (0 Degrees C).
A basic level of fitness is required, enough to complete short / medium length hikes and cross / balance on uneven ground.
Laptop with editing software (Lightroom, Photoshop ETC.)
Wide-angle lens (preferably f/2.8 or faster)
A Sturdy tripod
Pricing and Payment:
This workshop with all services including tuition, accommodation for three nights and transportation, is $4450 NZD. A full deposit of these funds is required to secure your place on the 12-16 May 2026 Tom Rae Astrophotography workshop. Payment details will be provided upon expression of interest in attendance. Before signing up, read the workshop terms and conditions available HERE. By providing payment to attend this workshop you have accepted these terms and conditions.
Please feel free to reach out to @tomraephoto@gmail.com if you have any questions. I welcome the opportunity to work with you to improve your photography skills in New Zealand’s world renown Aoraki Mount Cook Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve and I hope to be teaching you soon! :)
