2026 Erie Street
Capture the Milky Way above one of Arizona’s most unique historic streets, in the heart of Bisbee’s International Dark Sky Community.
This is our most popular workshop. Working with the City of Bisbee and the local shop owners, we have arranged to have the lights turned off on one weekend in March and one weekend in April when the Milky Way is perfectly aligned with the street.
Participants will learn to master Milky Way and Night Photography during our three-day workshop while capturing iconic images of this throwback street.
Our Milky Way workshops will not only teach you how to shoot the night sky in all its beauty but how to shoot it in a scenic environment that allows your composition to tell a story.
Workshop Description
There are a lot of places you can photograph the night sky. There is only one Erie Street. This small stretch of historic storefronts, vintage signs, and classic architecture sits on the outskirts of Bisbee, Arizona, now recognized as an International Dark Sky Community. That means darker skies, better stars, and Milky Way arcs that rise above a cinematic old west mining town.
On this workshop, we slow things down and focus on creating story-driven night images. You will learn how to plan a Milky Way shoot on Erie Street, how to balance the glow of storefronts with the night sky, and how to use light, color, and composition so your images feel like scenes from a movie instead of simple snapshots.
Whether you are just starting with Milky Way photography or have been shooting the night sky for years, our goal is the same: you leave with a set of portfolio-quality images and the confidence to repeat the process anywhere dark skies and great foregrounds come together.
Unlike most Milky Way workshops, we teach all three methods of capturing the night sky: single image, stacked exposures, and tracked exposures. We are one of the few workshops that teach students how to use a star tracker properly, giving you multiple techniques to create sharp, detailed night sky images regardless of your equipment or skill level.
Our Signature Locations
Erie Street
Planning Milky Way shoots using apps, sky charts, and moon phases
Dialing in exposure, focus, and white balance for clean, low-noise night images
Composing with historic buildings, signs, and streets to tell a story in a single frame
Balancing ambient light with the night sky so stars stay bright and the street still feels alive
Simple post-processing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop to bring out detail in both the sky and foreground
Erie Street gives you something most dark sky locations do not: strong, character-filled foregrounds. We will work the street from twilight through full darkness, building images that tie together neon, storefronts, cars, and the Milky Way overhead.
The Secret Saguaro is exactly what it sounds like: a location known only to us and the students we bring there. After extensive exploration of prime saguaro habitat running parallel to Saguaro National Forest, we found this centuries-old giant standing alone under perfectly dark skies. With over 200 years of growth evident in its branching structure, it aligns beautifully with the Milky Way's arc and offers something you cannot get in the crowded, overshot locations of the national forest: exclusivity and creative freedom.
The Secret Saguaro
This is where we focus on tracked exposures. The flat, unobstructed horizon gives you a clear view of the Milky Way's rise, making it the ideal location to master star tracker technique. We will also work through stacked exposures, single-frame captures, and light painting to bring out the saguaro's texture and form. By the end of the night, you will have portfolio images no one else has, shot in a location no one else knows.
We also visit a third location chosen based on weather conditions and the Milky Way's position during your workshop dates, ensuring you maximize your shooting opportunities throughout the experience.
Workshop Details
Location: Erie Street, in the Lowell district on the outskirts of Bisbee, Arizona
Base: Sierra Vista, AZ (you are responsible for lodging; we will provide hotel suggestions)
Group Size: Limited to 6 participants per workshop so that we can give you individual attention
Skill Level: Beginner through advanced. You should be comfortable operating your camera in manual or semi-manual modes.
Physical Requirements: Light walking, working with a tripod at night, and being out late
Late afternoon meet-up and orientation
Twilight scouting and composition planning
Milky Way shooting session on Erie Street once the sky is dark
Follow-up image review and post-processing session (in person or via Zoom, depending on dates and logistics)
Schedule
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
|
|
|
* We typically bring extra equipment including star trackers, ND filters in common sizes, Canon cameras and lenses, and tripods to the workshop. If you forget something, we probably have you covered. |
|
What's Included / What's Not Included
Workshop Dates
Session 1: March 19-22, 2026 – Erie Street Milky Way Workshop
Session 2: April 16-19, 2026 – Erie Street Milky Way Workshop
| Category | Required Items |
|---|---|
| Camera & Accessories |
We recommend MoveShoot Move Nomad |
| Lenses |
|
| Filters |
We recommend Breakthrough Filters |
| Support Equipment |
We recommend ProMediaGear Tripods |
|
Note: Some product links above are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend gear we use and trust. |
|
Required Equipment
FAQ / Itinerary
We will meet in Sierra Vista for a short orientation, then drive to Erie Street. Final details, including Hotel recommendation, exact meeting time and location, will be sent to you by email as the workshop approaches.
Where do we meet?
What time do we shoot?
We typically begin in late afternoon or early evening, scout and set compositions at twilight, then photograph the Milky Way once it is high and visible in the sky. Exact timing depends on the date, weather, and Milky Way position.
What happens if it's cloudy?
If clouds move in, we shift to long exposure night cityscapes, light trails, and creative street scenes. When possible, we will adjust timing to give you the best chance at clear skies.
Transportation to the workshop is not included. Once there, we will coordinate a small number of vehicles to Erie Street to keep things simple and safe.
Is transportation included?
Do you help with camera settings?
Yes. We will work with you in the field to set exposure, focus, and composition. You will not be left guessing your settings in the dark.
Your Team
Robert Gallucci
Workshop Director
Robert Gallucci is an internationally recognized, award-winning photographer and writer who portrays his life's journey through imagery and words. His work has appeared in major publications, numerous books, and on major television networks. He is currently the Willcox City Night Sky Ambassador. He teaches photography and post-processing at Cochise College Center for Lifelong Learning and in private classes and workshops.
His photographic journey to discover the world's beauty and diversity has taken him to three continents and many cultures. In all that, he has found that the southern Arizona high desert provides the most magnificent and unique visual experience if a person allows themselves to see it. He is currently working on a book of images and stories highlighting the beauty and adventure of his southern Arizona high desert home.
Jim Hazen
Senior Instructor
Jim's nickname could be "detail," for he is a master of details. Whether it is in the planning for complicated shoots such as eclipses or Milky Way shots or shooting with unparalleled expertise, Jim brings the professionalism from a career as an Air Force Officer and the charm of an Iowa country boy to all our workshops.
As a master photographer who shoots a Canon system, he excels at Milky Way and Storm Chasing photography.
