La Palma Astrophotography Workshop

With Simon Waldram

27th August – 3rd September 2027 | 4 Spaces Remaining

Capture the Milky Way, cloud inversions, and volcanic landscapes in Europe’s premier Dark Sky Reserve

About This Workshop

Join professional photographer Simon Waldram for an immersive, expert-led astrophotography workshop on La Palma, Canary Islands – globally renowned as one of the finest locations on Earth for nightscape photography. This carefully curated programme is designed to help you master advanced night photography techniques while exploring the island’s dramatic volcanic terrain, ethereal cloud inversions, and exceptionally clear, light-pollution-free skies.

Why Choose La Palma?

La Palma is uniquely positioned to deliver an unrivalled astrophotography experience:

• UNESCO Starlight Reserve: Protected status ensures near-perfect dark skies with minimal light interference
• Roque de los Muchachos: Access shooting locations at Europe’s highest-altitude observatory, rising above cloud cover for unmatched celestial clarity
• Caldera de Taburiente National Park: Photograph from the rim of a vast volcanic crater, with unobstructed views of the Milky Way, planets, and deep-sky objects
• Spectacular Atmospheric Phenomena: Regular cloud inversions create breathtaking "sea of clouds" compositions beneath star-filled skies
• Consistently Favourable Conditions: Stable weather patterns and high-altitude sites make it ideal for long-exposure work throughout the season

Getting There

La Palma is easily accessible from major UK and European hubs:

• By Air: Flights operate regularly from UK airports including London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, and across Europe, via carriers such as British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, and Canary Islands airlines. Most routes connect through Tenerife North or Gran Canaria for the short onward flight to La Palma Airport (SPC).
• Note: International and domestic flights to and from La Palma are not included in the workshop fee.

What You Will Learn

Delivered through a mix of field sessions and classroom guidance, you will develop proficiency in:

• Milky Way framing, star trail creation, and timelapse production
• Precise manual focusing, long-exposure optimisation, and noise-reduction stacking
• Mission planning using moon phase data, weather forecasting, and location scouting
• Professional post-processing workflows in Lightroom and Photoshop
• Golden hour and blue hour landscape photography to complement your night portfolio

Who This Workshop Is For

This programme is suitable for photographers of all levels – from enthusiastic amateurs to experienced practitioners – who wish to elevate their nightscape work. It is perfectly suited for:

• Landscape and astrophotographers seeking hands-on, expert tuition
• Creatives looking to build a standout portfolio in a world-class location
• Travellers who value immersive, nature-focused learning experiences
• Anyone eager to capture unique, high-quality imagery under pristine skies

Fitness Requirement: Moderate fitness is needed. Participants should be comfortable hiking short uphill sections, traversing uneven ground, and carrying photography equipment during extended outdoor sessions after dark.

What Is Included

• Full professional instruction and one-to-one guidance from Simon Waldram
• All ground transport between accommodation and shooting locations
• National Park entry fees and access to restricted photography sites
• Accommodation in a private villa on La Palma’s dark-sky west coast
• Complimentary use of star trackers (subject to availability)
• Pre-workshop planning pack and comprehensive equipment checklist
• Dedicated image review and post-processing workshops

What Is Not Included

• Flights to and from La Palma
• All meals, snacks, and beverages
• Travel insurance (mandatory for all participants)
• Personal photography equipment (star trackers are available for loan; all other gear must be provided by the attendee)