🌌✨ Capture the Milky Way Over Giants of Sand
A Premium Astrophotography Workshop at Great Sand Dunes National Park
July 21–24, 2025 | Limited availability
📍 Where: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
📸 What: 3 Nights of Milky Way Imaging • Editing Sessions • Adventure in the Dunes
🕯️ Certified International Dark Sky Park
🏞️ Framed by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
🏜️ Why Great Sand Dunes?
Towering up to 750 feet high, these are the tallest sand dunes in North America—a surreal and otherworldly landscape set against the jagged alpine backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. By night, the area transforms into a true Milky Way theater under some of the darkest skies in the U.S.
This workshop is for photographers ready to push creatively and physically, hike into unforgettable locations, and come away with gallery-level images few others ever capture.
📅 Workshop Overview
Dates: July 21–24, 2025
Group Size: Max 6 photographers
Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
🏕️ Daily sunset-to-midnight shoots on the dunes
🧗 Moderate to strenuous hiking required for access (sand is no joke!)
💻 Daily editing instruction with 1:1 support
📚 Learn composition, focus stacking, blending, star reduction, and more
🌠 Capture the Milky Way from peak dune ridges and reflective playas
🧭 What’s Included
✅ 3 Nights of Guided Field Instruction (sunset to ~12:30 AM)
✅ 2 Daytime Editing Sessions (Photoshop + Lightroom focused)
✅ Personalized Image Review + Portfolio Coaching
✅ Astro Planning Tools & Field Techniques
✅ Access to My Premium Astro Editing Group:
🎁 3 Months Free Access to “Groth Galleries Astro” ($1,500 value)
🚶♂️ Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding workshop.
You must be comfortable hiking 1–2 miles round trip on sand dunes
Elevation gain varies (up to 500–700 ft)
You’ll carry your gear in soft, shifting terrain
We’ll work at a manageable pace, but the effort is real—and so are the rewards.
🗣️ Testimonials
“Colorado offers many unique places for astrophotography and Sam is great guide. First for finding the best location and then guiding through the entire process from the sky to hanging on your wall.”
— Jared, Tennessee
“We took a 2 day private workshop with Sam. It was extraordinary. Sam was a great teacher. He showed us how to use the star tracker and gave us all kinds of crucial tips we would not have been able to figure out from YouTube videos. We were able to make amazing photographs of the Milky Way on our own by the second night. Sam is incredibly knowledgeable and patient. I highly recommend him.”
— An-my, New York
🏨 Lodging & Amenities
Stay just 30 minutes away in Alamosa, CO, which offers:
Full amenities: hotels, restaurants, grocery, fuel
Easy access to the park entrance
Optional camping nearby at Piñon Flats Campground or private sites throughout the San Luis Valley
💡 Lodging and meals are not included, allowing flexibility for every budget.
🌌 Why July?
Prime Milky Way visibility with galactic core rising before 10 PM
Warm nighttime temps on the dunes
Seasonal monsoons often clear by nightfall—adding drama and texture to your skies
Perfect timing for Perseid meteors beginning to increase
🎒 Gear Checklist
DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual control
Wide-angle lens (f/2.8 or faster)
Solid tripod
Intervalometer (optional but helpful)
Star tracker (optional)
Headlamp (with red light mode)
Lightweight hiking boots or gaiters
Backpack + water + snacks
📋 A full prep guide will be sent upon registration.
❌ What’s Not Included
Lodging & meals
Transportation to/from Alamosa
Park entry fees
Camping gear
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Book now
Limited availability