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WATER & LIGHT
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LIGHTHOUSES OF MICHIGAN
When: July 7-14, 2026
Style: Astro-Landscape
Activity Rating: Moderate
Max Students: 10
Includes: Lodging, Meals, Airport Pick Up / Drop Off and Transportation During Workshop!
CRISP-(WEB)
Point Betsie (WEB)
Frankfort Lighting
CRISP-(WEB)
1/8
PLEASE NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP DOES INVOLVE HIKING / WALKING THROUGH SANDY / ROCKY BEACHES, WATER, AND TRAILS TO REACH SOME SHOOTING LOCATIONS / COMPOSITIONS!
Prepare for an extraordinary 7-day, over 500-mile journey through some of the most photogenic waterscapes in America. This exclusive adventure takes you from the golden-sand shores of Northern Michigan to the wild, wind-swept coastlines of the Upper Peninsula, immersing you in a world of historic beacons, crashing waves, and night skies ablaze with stars.
Our lighthouse targets are a photographer’s dream: the Frankfort North Breakwater standing proud against Lake Michigan’s turquoise waters, the towering dune-side sentinel of Little Sable Point, the remote and rugged Big Sable Point with its dramatic black-and-white bands, the wave-battered Crisp Point perched on Lake Superior’s lonely edge, the stately Point Iroquois watching over the St. Marys River, and the timeless beauty of Point Betsie glowing in evening light.
You’ll photograph these icons in a variety of conditions—bathed in golden hour glow, silhouetted against fiery sunsets, under blankets of stars, and with the Milky Way arcing overhead. This workshop blends in-field adventure with classroom precision, guiding you through composition, long exposures, light painting, astro-landscape techniques, and the post-processing magic that turns your captures into fine art.
From sunrise to well past midnight, each day holds a fresh challenge. We’ll traverse more than 500 miles of breathtaking scenery, staying in comfortable lodging near our key locations. Scenic travel days will wind through sleepy harbor towns, past endless forest, and along stretches of shoreline where the water meets the sky. If time and conditions allow, while in the U.P., we may even visit some the stunning Tahquamenon Falls!
Your journey begins and ends in Traverse City, Michigan, where airport pickup and drop-off are included. Simply fly in, meet your fellow adventurers, and let us handle the logistics. All you need to do is bring your gear, your creativity, and your sense of adventure. With small group sizes, one-on-one instruction, and access to some of the most spectacular lighthouses in the Great Lakes, this is more than a workshop - it’s a voyage into the heart of Michigan’s Water & Light.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN TUTION?
Your tuition for this workshop covers the following:
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THREE Professional Photography Instructors!
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SEVEN Nights Lodging
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Meals from Day One though Final Day
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Airport Pick Up / Drop Off
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Transportation During Workshop
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Park Fees
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Photography Guide Service
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In-Field Photography Instruction
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Classroom Instruction
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Classroom Materials
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Time and Talent of Professional Instructors
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN TUITION?
Tuition DOES NOT include the following:
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Travel to / from Traverse City, MI
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Meals Outside of those Provided
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Incidentals & Alcohol
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Travel and/or Equipment Insurance
WHAT WILL I LEARN DURING THIS WORKSHOP?
During this workshop, you will receive hands-on, direct instruction on several topics related to landscape photography and astro-landscape photography, to include:
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Planning & Scouting Landscape & Astro-Landscape Images
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Camera Operations & Settings
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Best Practices for Landscape Photography
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Best Practices for Astro-Landscape Photography
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Capturing Landscape Images to include techniques such as focus stacking and long exposure
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Capturing Single Image Astro-Landscape Images
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Capturing Foreground (Landscape) Images for composite/blending purposes
- Capturing Night Sky and Milky Way Images for composite/blending purposes
- Stacking Night Sky Images for Noise Reduction using Starry Landscape Stacker (MAC) or Sequator (PC)
- In-Depth Post Processing for images using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop
- Composite (or blending) Foreground and Night Sky Images to Create a Stunning Final Image
- Preparing Your Images for Print & Social Media Use!
WHY DOES 319 TEACH COMPOSITE / BLENDING AND STACKING?
In short, stacking images for noise reduction combined with composite blends yields higher quality final astro-landscape images, and truthfully, sometimes it's the only option. During this workshop, we will focus on landscape images, single shot astro-landscape images, and composite astro-landscape images. While composite blending will not be our only focus of this workshop, it will be one of the educational goals!
It is part of 319 Photography's ethos to present and teach the best practices that yield the best results. Composite blending paired with image stacking for noise reduction are two approaches that yield high quality final images. Moreover, many National and State Parks have (or soon will be) banned the use of artificial light during nighttime photography.
When we say we "teach," we actually mean it. We do not do a simple overview or demonstration on how to composite or stack images, we actually teach it and you get hands on experience with doing it in the classroom on your own computers during our dedicated classroom time! This is something you will only find at a 319 Photography UNIQUE / Workshop!
PHYSICAL FITNESS & ACTIVITY LEVEL ADVISEMENT
THIS WORKSHOP INVOLVES HIKING / WALKING THROUGH SAND, BEACHES, ROCKY AREAS, AND WATER
Some of the exact areas that we will visit will require maneuvering through sand, water, rocky beaches. In all cases, we cannot drive up to the base of a lighthouse and will have to park and walk up to shooting locations. Some locations require more walking than others.
The longest possible hike/walk would require a two mile ONE WAY hike/walk on a very well defined dirt path that is mostly flat. This is, by far, the longest hike/walk that will be involved and there is potential that we may get access to drive this portion versus walk it. But, it's better to be prepared than not.
Overall, students SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK A DISTANCE OF 2 MILES (ONE WAY), UNASSISTED, WITH THEIR CAMERA GEAR from where the vehicle will be parked to the shooting area.
In Addition, the following normal physical ability requirements of our workshops apply. Students should be able to:
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Walk unassisted over uneven terrain while carrying their camera equipment
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Traverse and manage terrain that includes sand (both loose and hard packed), wet rocks, uneven rocks, loose sand/gravel, and level changes
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Stand or be on their feet several hours (don't worry, you can bring chairs!)
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Successfully maneuver and negotiate walking at night by flashlight in a sandy, rocky, beach environment
If you have specific questions about the physical aspects of our workshops, contact Tony via email at tony@319photography.com
WHAT SKILL LEVEL IS REQUIRED?
Our workshops are specifically designed to cater to photographers of ALL SKILL LEVELS! We simply ask that you have at least a basic understanding of how your camera functions and that you bring the required and recommended equipment that we suggest so that you may get the most out of this workshop!
WORKSHOP ITINERARY
Day 0 - Tuesday, July 7, 2026
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Plan to arrive in Traverse City, Michigan anytime between early morning and mid-afternoon.
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TBA - Initial orientation, instruction and group dinner in Traverse City!
Day 1 - 6 July 8-13, 2026
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The adventure truly begins as we depart Traverse City and head to Ludington for the nights 1 & 2, then to Paradise for two nights, and then Frankfort for the last two nights!
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Each day will see an ample amount of time in-field shooting landscapes and/or night skies!
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In addition, each day will provide classroom time for post-processing training and image editing/review!
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The daily schedule will remain flexible as to allow us to visit specific locations at the right time of the day or night!
Day 7 - Tuesday, July 14, 2026
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TBD - Final Classroom / Image Review and final wrap up.
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Delivery to TVC airport
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Plan for departing flights to depart NLT early afternoon.
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NOTE: Our itineraries are always fluid and may change due to shooting conditions or opportunities. We will always strive to put our students in the best positions and locations to capture epic images. Outside of Day 1 of the workshop, specific times of the above-listed itinerary may change as necessary.
WHAT GEAR DO I NEED?
The following is the basic gear you will need for our workshops. When you register you will receive a specific gear list by email.
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DSLR or Mirrorless Camera capable of ISO 10000
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Wide Angle lens capable of at least f/2.8
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Medium Telephoto Lens
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Quality, Sturdy Tripod
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Wired or Wireless Intervalometer
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Memory Cards & Card Reader
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Camera Batteries
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Laptop Computer (PC or Mac) with at least:
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Adobe Lightroom Classic (latest version)
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Adobe Photoshop (latest version)
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Starry Landscape Stacker (Mac Only)
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Sequator (PC Only)
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On-Camera Filters - Circular Polarizers and Neutral Density Filters (square type preferred)
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Quality, climate appropriate clothing
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Hiking Poles
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Quality WATERPROOF footwear with ankle support
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
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Second Camera Body, Lens, Intervalometer, and Tripod
HAVE SPECIFIC GEAR QUESTIONS?
We want YOU to get the most you possibly can from our UNIQUE / Workshops.
Part of getting the most you can from our Workshops is making sure you have the right gear for this style of photography. Unfortunately, not all digital cameras and lenses are made equal.
If you have any questions, whatsoever, concerning cameras, lens, tripods, intervalometers, laptops, or other accessories, please reach out to Tony via email at tony@319photography.com and he will gladly help you choose the right gear for the workshop.
WHICH NIGHTS ARE INCLUDED AND WHERE ARE WE STAYING?
Tuition for this workshop INCLUDES SEVEN NIGHTS lodging spread through four different hotels! For this workshop, tuition covers the following nights:
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Tuesday, July 7, 2026 - Traverse City, MI
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Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - Ludington, MI
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Thursday, July 9, 2026 - Ludington, MI
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Friday, July 10, 2026 - Paradise, MI
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Saturday, July 11, 2026 - Paradise, MI
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Sunday, July 12, 2026 - Frankfort, MI
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Monday, July 13, 2026 - Frankfort, MI (Last Lodging Night. Workshop ends July 14, 2026)
Once you register, you DO NOT need to call the hotels to set up your accommodations. We will take care of that for you!
We are staying at four separate hotels in the different cities listed above throughout this workshop. Once you arrive, we will handle taking you to each of the hotels and all transport between hotels.
GETTING TO TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN
You will need to book your inbound and outbound flights out of Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse is centrally located in North Central Michigan and there is an excellent commercial airport in Traverse City. Airport information is below. This is where you will fly in on the first day and and fly out from on the last day. TVC - Cherry Capitol Airport 727 Fly Don’t Drive Traverse City, MI 49686 Website: https://tvcairport.com Phone: (231) 947-2250 TVC is serviced by the following airlines: Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, JetBlue, Sun Country, and United.
WHAT IS THE CLIMATE LIKE?
We have planned this workshop during an amazing time of the year that will net us multiple opportunites for amazing landscape and astro-landscape images! July in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula offers photographers a season of long days, warm light, and rich opportunities for both landscape and astro-landscape work.
Daytime temperatures generally range from the low 70s to near 80°F inland, while the Great Lakes shorelines tend to stay slightly cooler, often in the upper 60s to mid-70s. Nights cool to the mid-50s, with clear evenings inland sometimes dipping lower—ideal for reducing sensor heat during long Milky Way exposures. Rainfall averages between 2.5 and 3.5 inches for the month, most often from isolated afternoon or evening thunderstorms. Mornings frequently begin clear or draped in fog along the shorelines, giving way to midday cumulus clouds that can create dramatic skies. Late-day storms, when followed by rapid clearing, often deliver stunning post-storm sunsets and crisp night skies.
Regardless of the weather, there will be amazing opportunities for stunning images!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP?
This workshop is for photographers of ALL SKILL LEVELS who love lighthouses, the night sky and all its glory, fresh water beaches, dramatic landscapes, and have the desire to capture amazing images all while improving their abilities as an artist!
Our workshops are designed to TEACH first and foremost! If you are looking to learn and grow as a photographer, our workshops are the right choice for you!
CAN I BRING A NON-PHOTOGRAPHER SPOUSE / GUEST?
For this workshop, you may bring a NON-PHOTOGRAPHER guest along with you if you so choose, but they will have to register at full tuition price as we are arranging and providing all aspects of this workshop.
A small discount maybe available if you you and your non-photographer spouse/guest share a hotel room.
On the registration form, please indicate if you will be bringing a guest and if they will participate in meals.
HOW DOES TUITION WORK?
The total tuition for this workshop is $4950.00.
A deposit of $1500.00 is required at booking to reserve your slot.
This deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE* and will guarantee you a slot in the workshop.
Initial Deposit Transactions are completed online via the 319 Photography booking system. Payment methods for initial deposits include all Major Credit Cards or PayPal. Transactions are secure transactions.
If you would prefer to fulfill your initial deposit in an alternate manner (check, Venmo, CashApp, etc), please email tony@319photography.com to arrange this.
Final tuition payments are required by April 1, 2026.
Final Tuition Invoices will be sent out approximately one month prior to final tuition payment due date. Checks are preferred for Final Tuition payment fulfillment. Final tuition payments made via an electronic method (Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, etc.) will incur a 3% electronic payment fee.
IMPORTANT STUFF WE SHOULD TELL YOU ABOUT
319 Photography, LLC. is certified and authorized by the National Park Service (NPS) to host and conduct photography workshops within National Parks.
319 Photography, LLC. is First Aid and CPR certified through the American Heart Association and we carry medical supplies with us during our workshops.
Our transactions are secured via PayPal for your peace of mind! No PayPal account needed!
Your personal information is secure. 319 Photography, LLC. grantees that we will never sell or otherwise provide your information to anyone. Any information obtained from you will be used solely by 319 Photography, LLC. for administrative, advertising, and contact purposes.
GET IN TOUCH
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