Borumba Dam Astrophotography Workshop
Multiple dates • Jun – Sep 2025 • Bortle-2 skies • AU $150 pp
Register My SpotSession Length
≈ 3 HrsGroup Size
Max 4Tuition
AU $150Add-On
+ AU $99Online editing masterclass
Pay in full to lock your seat — reschedule free if skies are cloudy or it's raining.
Location Preview
The Allure of Borumba Dam
Tucked in Queensland’s Mary Valley, Borumba offers pristine Bortle-2 darkness. The Milky Way arches vividly above forest-covered mountains, while the dam’s mirror-calm water doubles every star. On the best nights your sensor will even record atmospheric airglow — subtle greens, reds and purples rarely seen by eye.
Workshop Flow
- Meet before Milky Way core optimal shooting window for gear setup
- Twilight blue-hour foreground frames (depending on time of year).
- Milky Way rise & reflections aligned over the dam
- Live coaching on focus, ISO, shutter & composition
- Star-trail & timelapse demo for those keen
- Wrap-up Q&A before midnight drive-out
Hands-On Skills You’ll Master
- Focus & exposure dialled in under 5 minutes
- ISO/aperture sweet-spot for clean, colourful stars
- Shutter choice — freeze pin-points or paint star-trails
- Composition tricks using reflections & the galactic core
- Real-time planning with PhotoPills & Clear Outside
- Optional LR/PS workflow to make the core pop
What to Bring
- DSLR/Mirrorless + wide-angle ƒ/1.4 – ƒ/4 (14 – 24mm ideal)
- Sturdy tripod & quick-release plate
- Fresh battery & empty SD card
- Headlamp (red & white modes)
- Warm layers, snacks & water
- Intervalometer (optional but handy)
What’s Included
- Guided 3-hr field workshop
- Astro Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet
- Free Composition eBook
- Personalised gear advice & partner discounts
- Access to post-processing video library on YouTube
- Add-on: live online editing masterclass (+ AU $99)
Weather Guarantee
If heavy cloud or rain is forecast 24 hours in advance, simply reschedule to any future date — free of charge. Clear-sky odds are highest April – August.
Is This for You?
- First-timers chasing their first Milky Way ✅
- Intermediates refining focus/exposure workflows ✅
- Comfortable walking short grassy tracks with gear ✅
- Ready for late nights & dark-sky magic ✅
Experience Queensland’s Darkest Lake
AU $150 secures three immersive hours under the stars — plus lifelong skills.
Register My SpotFAQs
Fitness level?
Short, easy walks on grass/dam banks — no steep climbs.
Can I rent gear?
Feel free to email me prior to the workshop about your gear. I can offer recommendations for gear hire if needed.
Weather backups?
Free reschedule if heavy cloud/rain forecast 24 hr ahead.
Editing add-on?
Join a 60-90 minute online masterclass (+ AU $99) covering stacking, noise reduction & colour grading.
Beginner friendly?
Absolutely — basic camera knowledge is enough; we’ll guide you step by step.
Travel insurance?
Recommended — protect your gear against accident or theft.
Testimonials
“I was absolutely stoked with the workshop, was a bit unsure with the constant rain but Dylan kept me up to date every day and honestly gave me peace of mind. I’d been trying to learn on YouTube how to capture the Milky Way but honestly wasn’t having any luck until I got hands on and Dyl clarified a lot of the questions I had. Would love to do this workshop again and soon!”
“Dylan was an attentive and knowledgeable instructor who was prepared to put in extra time in order to make sure the group had an opportunity to capture the images in a night of changing cloud conditions. He made sure to check on all photographers in the group and provided tailored advice to each individual.”
“The Astro photo workshop was excellent. Dylan was very knowledgeable and professional. He went over and above to ensure we all had a great experience and followed-up with addition information to assist us further. I would highly recommend a Nikon School Workshop and Dylan Knight.”