Astrophotography Masterclass with Tom Rae

This is a two-part masterclass, including an astrophotography photo shoot (Friday 7th August), and an editing masterclass (Sunday 9th August).

Maximum of 8 people, so get in quick to secure your spot!

Part 1 Masterclass details:

This hands on astrophotography field workshop is designed to help participants confidently capture the night sky in real world conditions. Working on location in the Canterbury region, attendees will be guided through the full process of shooting the Milky Way, from arrival and setup through to creating strong images under the night sky. The focus is on practical, in field skills, including reading conditions, choosing effective compositions, and positioning subjects to create compelling results. Tom will provide real-time guidance throughout the session, helping participants refine their technique, dial in camera settings, achieve accurate focus in the dark, and adapt to changing conditions. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a clear, repeatable approach to astrophotography in the field, along with the confidence to plan and execute their own shoots independently.

The shoot will run for approximately 4–5 hours on location, covering:

– sunset setup and planning

– composition and foreground selection

– Milky Way shooting techniques

– real-time troubleshooting and guidance

Attendees should bring:

– Camera (DSLR or mirrorless with manual control)

– Wide-angle lens (ideally f/2.8 or faster)

– Tripod

– Spare batteries

– Headlamp (preferably with red light mode)

– Warm clothing as August can be very cold

When: Friday 7th August from 4pm, for 4-5 hours. If the weather is unsuitable, this masterclass will take place on Saturday at the same time. If the weather is unsuitable for both days, you will be refunded the portion of this masterclass, which is $300.

Where: Meet at the Majestic on Durham at the registration desk, transport will be provided.

Masterclass Part 2:

Darkness to Detail

In this masterclass, Tom Rae shares the complete end to end process behind his nightscape imagery, offering extensive insight into both the creative and technical decisions that shape his work. From identifying and planning locations in New Zealand’s dark sky environments, through to precise capture techniques and advanced post-processing, Tom breaks down a refined workflow designed to produce high resolution, impactful results. With a focus on both detail and intention, this session goes beyond settings to explore how strong images are crafted from concept to completion. Attendees will leave with a clear and practical framework for elevating their own night photography to a professional standard, with real world practical advice to help them to create their own competition worthy night sky images.

What you need to join in:

An understanding of Lightroom / Photoshop and experience with a camera.

Preferably you will bring a laptop with processing software (LR, Photoshop).

WHEN: Sunday 9th August 2026

TIME: 9.30am – 1pm

WHERE: Venue to be confirmed. We will update ticket holders in due course, this masterclass will be held in central Christchurch.

PRICE: $795.00 for conference ticket holders, $1395 for general admission.