Field instruction in the redwoods · Photograph by Ryan Oswald
Workshop datesJune 2–6, 20275 days · 4 nights
Main workshop$2,999 per personFour nights of lodging included
Night strategyFour workshop nightsJune 2, 3, 4 and 5
New moonJune 4, 2027Astro opportunities are weather-dependent
Why these dates
One dark sky window is a gamble. Four is a strategy.
The June 4 new moon is the center of the schedule, not a footnote.
Coastal weather can cover the sky on one night and open on the next. Building the workshop across four consecutive nights gives the group multiple chances to respond to the forecast instead of staking the entire night-photography experience on one evening.
That still is not a promise of clear skies or a specific Milky Way result. It is a deliberate way to improve the odds while keeping seascapes, redwoods, sunrise, sunset and blue hour valuable in every forecast.
01June 2
First workshop night
Set the night workflow and use the first workable sky the coast provides.
02June 3
Second opportunity
A new forecast, a new location decision and another chance to apply the field process.
03June 4
New moon
The workshop is centered on the darkest moon phase of the trip.
04June 5
Final workshop night
One more weather window before the workshop concludes on June 6.
What you will photograph
Coast, forest and darkness demand different decisions.
These photographs were made by Ryan in Oregon. The final field plan follows the strongest safe conditions during the workshop.
Sea stacks and changing light
Build structure through surf, rock, foreground and sky as the light moves toward sunset and blue hour.
Photograph by Ryan Oswald
Redwood scale and atmosphere
Use repetition, fog, backlight and a human figure to give the forest depth and scale.
Photograph by Ryan Oswald
Milky Way over the coast
When clouds and wind cooperate, work through night focus, exposure, foreground capture and stacking strategy.
Photograph by Ryan Oswald
Reflections, surf and tide
Read the moving water and choose shutter speed, position and timing with intent.
Photograph by Ryan Oswald
Blue hour into darkness
Plan the foreground before dark and connect separate light conditions into one coherent final image.
Photograph by Ryan Oswald
What you will learn
Make better choices while the photograph is still possible.
Ryan teaches beside you in the field. The lesson starts with the scene, your camera and the frame on the back of your screen.
01
Composition
Simplify sea stacks, forest layers and busy foregrounds into a clear visual hierarchy.
02
Coastal light
Read cloud breaks, reflected color, blue hour and the changing brightness of wet surfaces.
03
Moving water
Choose shutter speed and timing for texture, energy and clean separation around rock.
04
Night capture
Focus accurately in darkness and plan sky, foreground and stacking exposures when conditions permit.
05
Weather strategy
Use forecasts as decision tools, then adjust when coastal conditions change in the field.
06
Field feedback
Review the frame while the light and location are still available, then make a deliberate correction.
A condition-led schedule
A working rhythm, not a rigid itinerary.
Exact locations and timing change with light, weather, surf, access and recovery after late night sessions.
01Early light
Sunrise or soft morning conditions
Work the strongest available coastal or forest light without forcing a fixed stop.
02Field study
Composition and technique
Slow down difficult scenes, compare positions and make camera decisions with direct feedback.
03Reset
Rest, travel and forecast check
Protect energy for long days and reassess cloud, wind, surf and night-sky potential.
04Late light
Sunset through blue hour
Stay with the transition as wet sand, moving water and foreground balance change.
05After dark
Night photography when workable
Use a clear or partly clear window if it arrives; the schedule remains weather-dependent.
Optional extension · May 30–June 1, 2027
Add the Central Coast before the main workshop.
Three additional photography days for +$1,199, available only with the main workshop.
The extension adds Central Oregon Coast variety, Thor’s Well as a major planning target and more dark-sky opportunities as the moon approaches new.
Current planning shows especially useful sunset windows on May 31 and June 1, with rising medium-to-high tides around sunset and high-tide timing. Ryan will recheck the tide table, swell, weather and safe access closer to the workshop. No surf condition, shooting position or Thor’s Well result is guaranteed.
The lodging distinction between the main workshop and add-on is intentional and shown throughout the page.
Main workshop includes
June 2–6
Five days of field instruction
Four nights of lodging
Photographic location planning
Camera, composition and field feedback
Pre-workshop preparation guidance
Add-on includes
May 30–June 1
Three additional instruction days
Central Coast location planning
Thor’s Well as a conditions-dependent target
Additional dark-sky planning
Lodging is not included
Plan separately
Your travel costs
Travel to and from Oregon
Meals and personal expenses
Camera gear and personal insurance
Add-on lodging
Any travel before or after your booked dates
Difficulty and access
Expect long light, uneven ground and late nights.
The photographic days may begin early, finish after dark or split around weather and recovery. Coastal access can involve sand, wet rock and uneven surfaces. Redwood locations can include roots, forest trails and low light.
The general field level is moderate, but individual locations vary. Ryan can adjust the plan when practical; not every location is suitable for every mobility need. Discuss access, balance, walking distance and night comfort before booking.
Photographers who want field decisions, not a sightseeing loop.
The pace and teaching meet you where you are, but the days remain photography-first and responsive to conditions.
Landscape photographers
You want stronger coastal and forest compositions, not a checklist of scenic stops.
Night-sky learners
You want a field-tested process for focus, exposure and foreground planning without needing prior astro experience.
Experienced photographers
You want direct feedback, better location decisions and enough consecutive sessions to refine the work.
Oregon workshop experience
“Since the workshop my photography has been taken to a whole new level. Ryan is down to earth, genuinely in love with the art and that love really shows in his teaching.”
Jason Browning · Oregon Coast workshop alumnus
Questions answered
Know how the workshop works.
Weather-dependent opportunities, lodging and access are stated clearly so the field experience starts with the right expectations.
01Are clear skies or Milky Way photographs guaranteed?+
No. Oregon Coast cloud, wind and moisture can change quickly. The dates create four consecutive night-sky opportunities around the new moon, but Ryan will only photograph at night when conditions and safety make it practical.
02Why does the workshop include four nights?+
A single coastal night creates a single weather outcome. June 2, 3, 4 and 5 provide four separate forecast windows and repeated chances to use the night-photography workflow. More nights improve the opportunity; they do not guarantee a result.
03Is lodging included?+
Yes for the main workshop: four nights of lodging are included with the June 2–6 experience. Lodging is not included for the optional May 30–June 1 add-on.
04Can I book the Central Coast add-on by itself?+
No. The three-day add-on is available only to photographers attending the main Oregon Coast & Redwoods workshop.
05Is Thor’s Well guaranteed?+
No. The May 31 and June 1 planning windows currently show favorable rising medium-to-high tide timing around sunset, but exact tide and surf conditions must be rechecked closer to the workshop. Ryan will change the shooting position or plan when safety requires it.
06How difficult is the field access?+
Expect moderate field access with sand, wet or uneven coastal surfaces, forest roots and some work in darkness. The schedule can be adjusted, but not every photographic location is equally accessible. Contact Ryan before booking to discuss specific mobility needs.
07What experience level is appropriate?+
Photographers from newer through advanced are welcome. Teaching is personalized around your camera, current skill and the image you are trying to make. You do not need previous Milky Way experience.
08Is the itinerary fixed?+
No. Sunrise, sunset, forest, coast and night sessions are chosen around useful light, cloud, wind, surf, access and safety. The photographic priorities are clear; the exact order stays flexible.
Oregon · June 2–6, 2027
Ask about a place on the workshop.
$2,999 per person with four nights of main-workshop lodging included. Add the Central Coast for +$1,199; add-on lodging is separate.
