Milky Way Photography Course by Dan Zafra | Capture the Atlas

Tired of getting low-quality Milky Way photos?

Take your Milky Way Photography to infinity & beyond!

Master the skills it takes to create breathtaking images of the Milky Way – whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced photographer.

Black Friday is here!

– Our biggest sale of the year –

Days
Hours
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Seconds

Use the code: BLACK60

Black Friday is here!

– Our biggest sale of the year –

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Use the code: BLACK60

Tired of getting low-quality Milky Way photos?

Take your Milky Way Photography to infinity & beyond!

Master the skills it takes to create breathtaking images of the Milky Way – whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced photographer.

Capture the Milky Way

– summer sale –
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
USE CODE: “SUMMER30

From planning and composition, to shooting techniques and post-processing, Milky Way photography requires knowledge and experience in many different areas.

However, this is not as easy as it seems…

You have probably already purchased a good camera and lens, watched countless tutorials and Milky Way photography videos on YouTube, and tried your best to create a compelling image in post-processing.

And yet you’re not getting the result that you want, so you end up thinking: 

My images are noisy and look low-quality

The focus in my images is off – I can’t get pinpoint stars

I feel lost in post-processing, I just make random adjustments and hope for the best

I got a tracker but I can’t capture the images that I want

My blendings look unnatural and distract the viewer’s eye

I know how to shoot the Milky Way but my images are lacking something

If you identified with any of the above statements, don’t worry, I’ve been there too. 

I know how frustrating it can be to spend lots of time and energy on Milky Way photography without seeing any results.

I started shooting the Milky Way many years ago. At first, my images were terrible. They had a ridiculous amount of noise and the quality was very poor.

My Old Photography

With time and practice, I managed to get much better results and cleaner images that were better quality:

However, my images were still lacking something; I couldn’t get the details, colors, or impact that I was looking for.

That’s when I realized that, if I wanted to improve, I had to immerse myself in this photography genre.

I.

I learned how to plan using the best apps and astronomy tools.

II.

I studied composition and analyzed why the best Milky Way images worked.

III.

I researched the best gear and got my first star-tracker, the biggest game-changer for my Milky Way photography.

Iv.

I spent hundreds of hours in the field testing the best adjustments and shooting techniques…

V.

…and hundreds of hours in the studio learning complex astronomy post-processing techniques and implementing them in my workflow.

After all of this hard work, I managed to capture what I was looking for: images with impactful compositions and zero digital noise, that show all the details, nebulae, and natural colors in the Milky Way:

This was a long and arduous process that took me years to learn, develop, and adapt.

Now I want to make this knowledge accessible to everyone. Milky Way photography is one of the most exciting, moving, and rewarding types of photography, and everybody should have the opportunity to capture the best possible images in an easy way, regardless of their skills and astronomy knowledge.

That’s why I created:

Capture the Milky Way

The ultimate milky way photography course

Whether you want to learn the most advanced techniques like tracking, take your current Milky Way photography to new heights, or you’re just starting out, Capture the Milky Way will help.

After completing this online program, you’ll know how to:

Capture quality images of the Milky Way, even with the most basic gear

Use the best techniques to get noise-free images

Create Milky Way compositions with more impact

Decide which star-tracker is best for you according to your budget and goals

Operate your tracker with confidence using the best techniques and settings

Polar-align like a pro to capture the best details and colors of the Milky Way

Gain confidence in post-processing and using advanced software in a straightforward way

Learn an easy and effective 6-step post-processing workflow that works

Blend images in a natural way that creates a feeling of uniformity

Capture the most complex Milky Way images, such as multirow tracked panoramas and mosaics at longer focal lengths

And this is just the beginning… This complete online program provides all the crucial elements that are vital to your success.

Here's what you'll get:

Training

The instruction that you need, organized in an easy-to-follow step-by-step program.

The information is organized chronologically and according to your skill level in three different modules.

Guidance & Support

You’ll never walk alone: Unlimited support whenever you have any questions or need any help. It doesn’t matter what or when; I will be there to assist you with anything you need.

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Materials

The best materials to complement your training.

80+ RAW files and PSDs to practice your post-processing, plus Milky Way planners, charts, and other learning materials so you can keep honing your Milky Way photography skills.

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Community

A powerful community of like-minded Milky Way photographers will share the path with you.

Make connections, share your improvements, and receive honest, constructive criticism without ads, likes, or trolls.

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THIS IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DIFFERENT MODULES:

BASIC MODULE

21 LESSONS | 8 HRS 30 MIN

$197

ADVANCED MODULE

22 LESSONS | 6 HRS 30 MIN

$297

Pro tRACKING MODULE

19 LESSONS | 7 HRS 30 MIN

$397

Get the Complete Milky Way Photography Bundle for $891 $399!

EXPLORE THE COURSE PROGRAM

CAPTURE THE MILKY WAY BASIC MODULE

1.1. Introduction

A brief introduction to the basic module where we outline the content of the course and the best way to get started.

2.1. when to photograph the Milky Way

The first and most important step when planning. We’ll discuss the best times of year and night, the position of the Milky Way in the sky, moon phases, calendars, and more.

2.2. Where to photograph the Milky Way

Find the best locations both when traveling and near you – light pollution maps, altitude,   best weather apps, Bortle scale, etc.

2.3. Milky Way calendars

Learn how to use and read a Milky Way Calendar to plan your photos at a glance.

2.4. Stellarium

Learn the easiest way to use Stellarium, one of the most powerful tools to plan your Milky Way images.

2.5. Google Earth Pro

All the tips and tricks to use Google Earth Pro for finding the best locations and compositions to capture the Milky Way

2.6. Photopills

A step-by-step guide to using Photopills for Milky Way planning. We’ll look at all the tools and hidden tricks in the app.

2.7. Planit Pro

Everything you need to know how to use the Milky Way planner app Planit Pro, including all of its functions and most advanced features.

2.8. 4-Step planning workflow

I describe my complete Milky Way planning workflow in 4 easy steps and show you two real cases from start to finish.

3.1. Camera gear

The best camera gear to shoot the Milky Way – cameras, lenses, tripods, headlamps, and more. My recommendations for the best possible gear according to your goals and budget.

4.1. Focus

Learn how to focus like an expert with a real-life example and avoid making the #1 mistake in Milky Way photography ever again.

4.2. Camera settings

The settings you should use in your camera to get the best results. We cover everything, from the key exposure settings to ALL the adjustments that you should set in your camera.

4.3. The histogram

Learn what the histogram should look like in your photos and how to read the histogram in the field with many examples.

5.1. Composition

A complete masterclass in Milky Way composition to learn the best rules and elements that you can use to capture images with impact.

6.1. Introduction to Lightroom

All the basics to get started using Lightroom to edit your Milky Way photos.

6.2. Introduction to Photoshop

A complete beginner’s guide to using Photoshop for Milky Way photography. Basic workflow, adjustments, tools, best settings…Photoshop won’t be daunting anymore!

6.3. Denoise AI Noise Reduction

A full tutorial on how to use the best noise reduction software on the market: Denoise AI.

6.4. Nik Collection

Learn how to make the most of this powerful editing tool and which filters work best in Milky Way images.

6.5. Edit and Post-processing – Lightroom BASIC

In this video tutorial, I will show you my basic workflow for editing images of the Milky Way in Lightroom. 

6.6. Edit and Post-processing – Lightroom ADVANCED

Learn the most advanced tools in Lightroom to edit your Milky Way images through a real-life example – Radial & Gradient filters, color and luminosity masking, color separation, etc.

6.7. start-to-finish using photoshop

Learn how to apply some basic and effective tools and adjustments in Photoshop to finish your Milky Way images

6.8. Start-to-finish

A start-to-finish tutorial where I show my complete basic workflow with all the steps, tricks, and recommendations.

7.1. Conclusion

Some final recommendations that will allow you to have the best possible foundation in Milky Way photography and know the best way to step up your skills before jumping into the advanced module.

CAPTURE THE MILKY WAY ADVANCED MODULE

1.1. Introduction

An introduction to the advanced module where we describe the content of the course and the best way to get the most out of it.

2.1. Foundations of stacking

Stacking is one of the easiest and most powerful techniques to capture less noise and get higher-quality images. You’ll learn what stacking is, how to do it, and why you should stack your images.

2.2. Stacking – File preparation

The file preparation is the foundation of a successful stacking. Learn all the adjustments and export details that you should apply when you are preparing your stacking.

2.3. Stacking in Photoshop

Stacking in Photoshop is possible if you follow all the steps and techniques described in this tutorial.

2.4. Stacking in Starry landscape stacker (Mac)

The best software to stack images in Mac. This is a full tutorial on how to use it and some recommendations to get the best results.

2.5. Stacking in Sequator (Windows)

The best software to stack images in Windows. Learn how to download it, use it, and get clean stacked images in seconds.

3.1. Milky Way panoramas – types and technique

Everything you need to take panoramas – types of Milky Way panoramas, essential camera gear, a step-by-step tutorial of the best technique, and some tips to capture perfect panoramas.

3.2. stitching in Lightroom

We’ll cover different pieces of software to do the stitching process. The first is Lightroom, where you’ll see the easiest process to stitch your panorama.

3.3. stitching in photoshop

A guide to stitching Milky Way panoramas using Photoshop.

3.4. stitching in Ptgui Pro

Full tutorial on the most advanced panorama-stitching software on the market. Learn the basics and the most advanced tools in PTGui Pro.

3.5. Comparison: Which software should I use?

We discuss all the pros and cons of using Lightroom, Photoshop, and PTgui Pro for stitching Milky Way panoramas. We analyze a real-life example and I give my recommendations according to your budget and goals.

3.6. Bonus: Milky Way vertical panoramas

Bonus video that shows how to capture and edit Milky Way vertical panoramas.

4.1. Blendings in Milky Way photography – types

Blendings are crucial for getting the highest-quality photos of the Milky Way. Learn the different types of blendings for the foreground and for the sky.

4.2. Blending post-processing: 1st Semiautomatic selections

There are many ways to make selections, and in this video, we will focus on the first type, also known as semi-automatic selections.

4.3. Blending post-processing: 2nd Luminance and color selections

Learn how to do blendings in complex scenarios, such as shots with trees and branches on the horizon, using luminance and color selections

4.4. Blending post-processing: 3rd Final blending of the images

Create a perfect blend of two images that looks completely merged and uniform with a series of steps and useful tricks in Photoshop.

5.1. Advanced post-processing – Star reduction

Reduce the size of the stars and get cleaner images with more details in your Milky Way with the best Photoshop star reduction techniques

5.2. Advanced post-processing – Milky Way structure

Learn the most advanced techniques to extract and highlight the entire structure of the Milky Way without artifacts or noise.

5.3. Advanced post-processing – Dodge & Burn

Using this Dodge & Burn technique will generate more volume and interesting elements in your Milky Way images.

5.4. Advanced post-processing – Natural colors of the Milky Way

I show you the best technique to extract all the natural colors of the Milky Way and the night sky. You’ll extract and enhance all the colors of the nebulae, the stars, the airglow…in a couple of easy clicks!

6.1. Start to finish – Mobius arch

Complete start-to-finish post-processing tutorial using stacking and all the advanced post-processing techniques explained during the course.

6.2. Start to finish – Badwater basin

Complete start-to-finish post-processing tutorial of a Milky Way panorama with a blue-hour blend and all the advanced post-processing techniques explained during the course.

7.1. Conclusion

Some final pieces of advice to help you grasp all the advanced techniques explained in the course more quickly and get ready for the ultimate goal: Tracking!

CAPTURE THE MILKY WAY PRO TRACKING MODULE

1.1. Introduction

An introduction to the Pro Tracking course. Spoiler alert: this module is going to change your Milky Way photography forever 😉 

1.2. Foundations of tracking

Before getting started, it’s important to know all the basics of tracking. Learn what tracking is, what a star-tracker is, and the pros and cons of tracking. 

2.1. Tracking camera gear – best lenses and focal lengths

We start talking about the optimal camera gear for Milky Way tracking and the best lenses and focal lengths that you can use. I’ll show you different real-life examples and my recommendations. 

2.2. TRACKING CAMERA GEAR – star-trackers

Which tracker should I use? We’ll dive into the different types of trackers on the market, their pros and cons, and my recommendations according to your budget and goals.

2.3. Other tracking accessories

You’ll learn all the must-have and recommended accessories for Milky Way tracking. This will make things much easier in the field.

3.1. Polar alignment basics

The most important step and #1 error when tracking. Learn all the foundations of a good polar alignment to capture pinpoint stars.

3.2. Polar alignment – finding north

Learn how to find Polaris in the northern skies with some easy tips.

3.3. Polar alignment – finding south

Learn how to find Sigma Octantis (“Australis Polaris”) in the southern skies using the best reference.

3.4. Polar alignment – best apps

Finding the North and South Celestial Poles is easier than ever with these apps. I’ll show you my favorite apps to polar align and how to use them.

3.5. How to Polar align – Step by step

The complete step-by-step polar alignment tutorial that I’d have loved to see when I was starting. I go down from the basic steps to the smallest details so you won’t have any problems in the field.

3.6. Polar Alignment tips

Avoid all the trial and error with the best polar alignment tips, like how to correct in the middle of a shooting, or how to polar align inside a cave without using Polaris/Octans. 

4.1. MSM Rotator review & setup guide

Learn all the pros and cons of the MSM rotator, when you should use it, what the limits are…and most importantly, a  complete, step-by-step guide on how to use it in the field.

4.2. Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Review & Setup guide

Full review of and complete setup tutorial for one of the most popular trackers in the market: the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro.

4.3. ioptron skyguider pro REVIEW & SETUP GUIDE

Full review of and complete setup tutorial for one of the most popular trackers in the market: the iOptron SkyGuider Pro.

4.4. Tracked Panoramas

The ultimate next level when tracking the Milky Way. I’ll show you the best gear, techniques, and recommendations to capture breathtaking tracked panoramas and mosaics of the Milky Way!

5.1. tracked camera settings

Camera settings change completely when you track the Milky Way. Learning this can require a lot of time and experience, but In this tutorial, you’ll find a guide that will shorten the process to just 40 minutes.

6.1. Pro post-processing – Advanced star reduction

Learn how professional astrophotographers reduce the stars. The details in your Milky Way images will stand out and you won’t find any artifacts in your shots.

6.2. Pro post-processing – h-alpha simulation

Extract/simulate the H-alpha colors in your nebulae even with a non-astro-modified camera. You’ll learn how to enhance the most beautiful regions in the Milky Way.

6.3. Start-to-finish tutorial – Delicate arch

Complete start-to-finish post-processing tutorial of a complex tracked image with a long exposure blend, and all the pro post-processing techniques explained during the course. Learn how to blend with an element cutting across the horizon. 

6.4. Start-to-finish tutorial – Alstrom Point

The most complex start-to-finish tutorial of the entire course. We process a Milky Way tracked panorama captured with a longer focal length and a blue-hour blend. You’ll learn how to solve the most challenging issues, the ultimate post-processing techniques, and a new method to enhance the airglow in your images. 

7.1. Conclusion

Some final recommendations that will allow you to capture the best possible tracked images of the Milky Way and prepare for the challenges that you’ll find along the way.