2026 Erie Street

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 just outside 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.

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.

Two Iconic Locations

Night 1: Erie Street

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.

• 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

Workshop Details

• Location: Erie Street, in the Lowell district just outside Bisbee, Arizona

• Base: Bisbee, AZ (you are responsible for lodging; we will provide hotel suggestions)

• Group Size: Limited to 6 participants per workshop so 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 on paved streets, working with a tripod at night, and being out late

Schedule

• 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)

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

Required Equipment

FAQ / Itinerary

Where do we meet?

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.