AU NZ

Events, photo walks, talks from the masters, in-depth workshops. Expand your horizons with one of our many events across Australia.

Starting Never Ends is the one place for all Sony camera mini-sites. Learn about all new Sony camera products in a fun interactive way.

Events, photo walks, talks from the masters, in-depth workshops. Expand your horizons with one of our many events across Australia.

Starting Never Ends is the one place for all Sony camera mini-sites. Learn about all new Sony camera products in a fun interactive way.

AU NZ
Jay Evans
-
Advocate

Blue Mountains Astromeet 16th September

Jay Evans
Image: Alpha 7 III (A7M3)
Scene Festival
Join me for an exciting Blue Mountains Astro Meet

About the event

Join me for a night shooting the stars in the Blue Mountains. We will base ourselves around the fantastic lookout area of Mount Blackheath at the end of Shipley Plateau with great views across the Kanimbla and Megalong Valleys.

As the Milky Way begins its Western Phase, gradually setting into the western skies, this gives us great opportunity to take advantage of the dark skies and no light pollution out west of the Blue Mountains and beyond.

While we are there, we will have plenty of time to reprise our Astro skills going through the basics about safety, etiquette, how to find the Milky Way, how to capture it, how to look for a unique composition and some advanced capture techniques. We will also cover some basic astroscape lighting using mobile phone screens or Low Level LED Lights.

There is also a great opportunity to line up for a lengthy star trail or timelapse.

We will shoot the Milky Way and Star Trails from sunset through to roughly Midnight. 

NOTE: The meeting time is 6:30PM on Saturday evening and we will shoot through to early Sunday morning.

Meeting Time: Saturday 16th September @ 18:30 

Galactic Core Visible - 19:14 til 01:33 

Sunset - 17:51 

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Attend this event and receive one entry into the draw for a chance to win one of five tickets to the ultimate Scene experience in Paris, France! Join as many events as you can between Friday 8th September - Tuesday 31st October 2023 The more events you attend, the more chances you have to WIN! For competition details, terms & conditions head over to the Scene Festival site

Techniques covered

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

What to bring

  • MOST IMPORTANT - Working Headlamp or torch (no mobile phone torches please!)
  • A camera with Manual controls and interchangeable lenses
  • Lenses suitable for astrophotography (between 12mm & 24mm preferably with f/2.8 or faster)
  • Remote shutter for camera
  • Sturdy Tripod
  • A small towel to cover your camera
  • Warm Layered clothing, beanie or other warm headwear, and warm socks/shoes or boots
  • Firm and grippy footwear is strongly recommended as there are a number of trip hazards around the site at night

Event FAQs (For general FAQs, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page)

We may have some Sony cameras and lenses to try, but this will not be known until the days prior to the event, however, if there is any Sony or Astro gear you would like to be able to try during the evening, please let me know in advance and I can try to coordinate it for you.
Please wear appropriate clothing ensuring you have a warm jacket, beanie and gloves. We have encountered plenty of sub zero temperatures at Mount Blackheath in past events so be prepared for cold weather. Long sleeves and long pants are recommended.
Yes - we can park at Mount Blackheath Lookout
While we will be on hand to help photographers learn how to capture the night sky and the Milky Way, this is not a workshop, more an event to get like minded photographers in a safe group to capture the night sky.
No. There are no public transport services to get you to Mount Blackheath.
Contact Jay at jay@jaydidphoto.com.au or SMS on 0410 168408
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 will have some light painting fun around Mount Blackheath if the skies fail to clear for us.
Attend & win a trip to Greece with Sony!

Attend & win a trip to Greece with Sony!

Attend any event during Scene Festival, which runs between Sunday 1 September - Thursday 31 October 2024, and receive one entry into the draw for a chance to win one of five tickets to the ultimate Scene experience in Athens and Santorini, Greece! The more events you attend, the more chances you have to WIN!

Advocate

Jay Evans

Hi, I am Jay Evans. A Nightscape, Landscape, Nature and Astro Photographer based in the Blue Mountains and also a passionate Tour Guide and Educator.I love to e...

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Excellent guidance and expertise from industry professionals. Definitely worth attending and I will be telling others about it. Thanks Jay.”

Paul Jones, The Crazy things Astrophotographers do Astro-Meet
GOVETTS LEAP SUNBURST
Lithgow Blast Furnace - 1st A7R4 Astro Shot

Jay was very understanding of the various levels of experience that each participant had but with his guidance and support no one missed any opportunity”

Peter Mitchell, Blue Mountains Astro Meet
Event capacity: 20