Blue Mountains Astro Meet - Cahills Lookout

Cahills Lookout and the surrounding escarpment has become a very popular location for sunset photographers in the Blue Mountains, but it is also home to one of the best Astrophotography sites the Blue Mountains has to offer.

Join Jay on this Astromeet, to capture the Milky Way as it sets on the Western horizon over the Megalong Valley. This is a perfect location to capture single Milky Way shots, but also for Panoramas and Timelaspe.

While on site, I will go through some basics about safety, etiquette, how to find the Milky Way, how to capture it, how to look for a unique composition and how to manage lens fog when it occurs on cold nights (as it surely will!). 

Fitness & Mobility Requirements (IMPORTANT!)
We will be accessing an area around the escarpment that takes us close to high cliff edges and is accessed on steep stairs, over steep rocky terrain. As a consequence, you should have a moderate level of fitness, and a high degree of mobility and self awareness to attend this Astro Meet. For your safety, I may restrict you accessing certain parts of this location if you are deemed to not be capable or equipped to do so.

Know your gear
We always recommend you have a very good familiarity with your camera gear, including how to operate manual settings (ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture), setup your tripod and manage everything in the dark. With practice it becomes second nature, and is very important when photographing in a group or in tight spaces like where we will be for this event.

Weather Dependent
This is a Weather Dependent event. If heavy rain or storms are forecast we will cancel or postpone the event to a later date. We will still run the event if it is cloudy, as we can have some light painting fun around Cahills Lookout and Peckmans Plateau if the skies fail to clear for us.

• Night shooting safety
• Locating the Milky Way
• Quick Milky Way settings
• Focusing in the dark
• Night shooting etiquette
• Looking for the Unique 

• 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, or an intervalometer if you have one)
• 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)
• ESSENTIAL - Sturdy Hiking Boots or Shoes Water Bottle