Barrenjoey Lighthouse Astrophotography Workshop

Come and join Jay for an exciting Barrenjoey Astrophotography workshop at the famed Barrenjoey Lighthouse, one of Sydney’s most popular Astro locations.

Our workshop will provide you with all the coaching and tuition you will need to capture the night sky, and, weather permitting, our evening session on Barrenjoey Head will leave you with some stunning images to take home. Next day, we will host an online Post Processing tutorial via Zoom with plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions and follow along our easy post processing workflow. If you miss the Zoom session, you will still get access to our online post processing video content.

Photographing the night sky at Barrenjoey Lighthouse
Barrenjoey Lighthouse is one of Sydney’s most renowned and popular Astrophotography locations. Our Barrenjoey Astrophotography Workshop takes you on the hike up to the headland, with Its position on the east coast and in between the light pollution “bubble” of Sydney and the Central Coast means an easterly facing view across the ocean, and westerly, across the Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park provides intensely clear skies to get clear visibility of the Milky Way as it rises and sets juxtaposed against a foreground of the historic 19th century lighthouse, the gateway to Pittwater and the Hawksbury.

On location photography coaching & tuition
Before we trek to the top of Barrenjoey Headland, we will go through some Astro planning tips, the equipment you need and how to set it up for nightscaping. Once we reach the lighthouse and darkness falls, you will be tutored on the night sky, how to locate the Milky Way, how to find the Southern celestial pole, and how to setup your camera to capture the Galactic Core or Star Trail images and the settings to use for the different types of nightscape and astro images. We will also go through plenty of tips and guides for your nightscaping including headlamp etiquette, low-level lighting, managing lens fog, using filters, capturing panoramas and timelapse.

Online post processing tutorials live via Zoom
Once we have finished capturing the night sky, and after a good night sleep, we will reconvene via a Zoom conference to go through Post Processing of your images, teach you our quick and easy nightscape workflows, and answer any questions you have.
If you are unable to access the Zoom conference live, it will be made available to you via a streaming service so you can watch through at your leisure at a later time.

Licensed Parks EcoPass & Accredited Guide
JAYDID PHOTO is a licensed NSW National Parks and Wildlife EcoPass Tour Operator with permission to host photography tours and workshops at Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Headland. Your National Park Entry Fees are included in your workshop fees.

Parking at Governor Philip Car Park
Our meeting point at Governor Philip Car park is a paid parking area between 7AM and 7PM. Those with a Northern Beaches parking permit are allowed to park for free. Parking costs are approximately AUD6.00 per hour and you will need a means to pay for parking such as cash or a credit card.

Example Itinerary

Day 1 - Astro Shoot
4PM – Meet at Governor Philip Car Park, Palm Beach & Registration
4:30PM – Astro Planning Tips and Equipment
5PM – Depart for Barrenjoey Lighthouse
6PM – Astro Shoot
11PM – Depart for Car Park
11:30PM – Close

Day 2 - Post Processing & Tutorials
These times are an example. We will work with the group to agree on the best time to host our next day post processing session. If you are unable to attend we will send you a link to the recorded session once complete.
10AM – Post Processing via Zoom Conference
12PM – Ask any questions
1PM – Workshop Closeout

• Learn how to Plan your Astrophotography and Nightscapes
• Learn how to setup your Camera for Astro and Nightscapes
• Learn about the night sky and how to locate the Milky Way
• Capture Barrenjoey Lighthouse at night with a rising/setting Milky Way & star trails
• Learn the settings to use to capture the Milky Way or Star Trails
• Learn how to process your Astro images

• DSLR or Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses and manual controls
• Wide angle lenses (anything from 10mm-24mm)
• Sturdy Tripod, Head & appropriate plates/mountings for your camera
• Shutter remote (cable or wireless)
• Fully charged batteries
• Empty memory cards
• A small towel to cover your camera
• ESSENTIAL – A working Headlamp
• Warm layered clothing suitable for Winter Winter top jacket (ie down jacket)
• Sturdy Hiking Boots or Shoes
• Water Bottle