Night Sky Photography

Light Painting at Shaniko Ghost Town 2026

August 15, 2026

Milky Way and Night Sky Photo Workshop

With Zack Schnepf

Join us for an evening of creative photography at Shaniko Ghost Town. A historic Old West setting in the Oregon Outback.
Enjoy photographing this historic town in the late afternoon. We will light paint the buildings in combination with the night sky and Milky Way.

This Workshop is limited to 8 participants to give everyone enough space to shoot.

If you want a more private experience, book one of our Private Night Sky Photo Tours.

$225 per person

$65 online post processing on August 16. Sunday afternoon

Max 8 participants

Beginner to intermediate

Car pool

Itinerary:

Saturday, August 15, 2026

4:45 pm: Meet in Bend at a location disclosed after booking and self drive/car pool to photo location.

5:00 pm: Drive to Shaniko.

6:45 pm: arrive in Shaniko. Shoot town during low light

8:25 pm: Sunset, then Light painting and Milky Way Photography in Ghost Town

10:50 pm: head back to Bend

Book your own hotel accommodation early

What to bring:

nights cool down in the High Desert. Bring a jacket or warm sweater
mosquito repellent
sturdy tripod
camera with wide angle lens. Ideally with f.2.8
fully charged extra battery
flashlight/headlamp with red light

INQUIRY

Book

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Perseid Meteor Shower Photo Outing 2026

August 12, 2026

August 13, 2026

Dark Sky, Milky Way & Meteor Shower Photo Workshop

With Zack Schnepf

What better place than Central Oregon to experience the annual meteor shower. The dark sky of Bend’s surrounding desert and mountains is world-renowned.

Join our local pro photographer for a once-in-a-lifetime photo experience and learn to capture the night sky with your camera.

Our photographer will determine the exact location due to current conditions to make sure you have the best possible night sky experience.

Two evenings / nights available to choose from, or join both nights to get the most out of it.

If you want a more private experience, book one of our Private Night Sky Photo Tours.

$225 per night

$425 for both nights

$65 online post processing on August 16. Sunday afternoon

Max 8 participants

Beginner to intermediate

Car pool

Itinerary:

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Thursday, August 13, 2026

6:30 pm: Meet in Bend at a location disclosed after booking and self drive/car pool to our chosen photo location.

Our photographer will determine the exact location due to current conditions to make sure you have the best possible night sky experience.

7:00 pm: Photographing the landscape at sunset. Familiarize yourself with the area and get your camera set up for night photography.

8:25 pm: Sunset, then Milky, Way, Night Sky and Perseid Meteor Shower photography.

11:50 pm: head back to Bend

Book your own accommodation early.

What to bring:

nights cool down in the High Desert. Bring a jacket or warm sweater
mosquito repellent
sturdy tripod
camera with wide angle lens. Ideally with f.2.8
fully charged extra battery
flashlight/headlamp with red light
Wear shoes with good traction—we may be walking on uneven ground
Water and snacks if needed

INQUIRY

Book

POLICY

Oregon Dark Sky Photo Safari 2026

Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary with Crater Lake National Park

July 16-20, 2026

with Zack Schnepf

The Oregon Outback, part of the Great Basin of North America, is one of the darkest places in the world. Far from light pollution, you can see the starry sky in all its splendor.

The Milky Way, close enough to touch, rises from the sage steppe and transforms the sky into a sparkling sea of stars.

What also makes the area photographically attractive are several ghost towns and bizarre juniper tree forests, which are ideal as subjects for light painting in this western landscape.

We photograph at favored places like Crater Lake National Park, Shaniko Ghost Town, Fort Rock, and Painted Hills National Monument. We will explore the landscape during the day and photograph the sunset at the location. Once stars appear, we will ease into astro- and night photography. Since we stay up late, we usually will not do a sunrise session.

Professional photographer Zack Schnepf leads a small group on a 5-day tour of some of the best places to see and photograph the breathtaking night sky and landscape.

The Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, it covers 2.5 million acres.

US$ 2,475 / per person / shared room

US$ 425 / additional cost for single room

US$ 200 / transportation from Bend, OR with Zack, limited space

US$ 75 / per person / online post-processing

If we can’t find you a room partner, the cost of a single room applies.

4-5 persons

Beginner – Advanced

Self drive

Included

Workshop fee
4 nights accommodation in Motels.
Guided by Zack Schnepf

Not included

Meals
Entry fees, because of self drive arrival
Personal expenses
Tips
Transportation

What to bring:

nights cool down in the High Desert. Bring a jacket or warm sweater
sturdy tripod
camera with wide angle lens. Ideally with f.2.8
fully charged extra batteries, or charger
flashlight/headlamp with red light

inquire

BOOK

Thursday, July 16

Overnight in Madras, OR.

Arrive late afternoon at the Motel.

Photograph Night Sky with light painting in Grass Valley, Kent and Shaniko Ghost Town.

Friday, July 17

Overnight in Prineville, OR.

From late afternoon into the night, with Night Sky at Painted Hills and in Mitchell.

Saturday, July 18

Overnight in La Pine, OR.

From late afternoon into the night with Astro photography at Fort Rock

Sunday, July 19

Overnight in La Pine, OR.

Late afternoon into the night with Astro photography at Crater Lake National Park

Monday, July 20

Check-out of Motel in La Pine and end of Photo Workshop

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Stargazing and Astro Photography Locations in Bend, Oregon

Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary

My favorite spots to capture the Milky Way near Bend, Oregon.

Before you go.

The best time is from spring to fall, with my favorite time in August and September.
Check the moon phases, so the moon is not visible, since that will spoil your photo.
Go to the location to familiarize yourself with the terrain while there is still light.
Yes, you can get lost at night in the High Desert.
You can hire one of our guides or go on your own.
Make sure you have your Northwest Forest Pass or National Public Lands Pass handy to display on the dash of your car.
Make sure you have warm clothing, since the High Desert gets cold once the sun sets.

Bend Badlands: Roughly 12 Miles East of Bend on Highway 20 from the traffic light at 27th Street, is a pullout on the right that allows southern vistas. There are several snagsâ€”dead Juniper trees that lend themselves to light painting.

Make sure to pull off far enough from the Highway to keep you and your car safe from speeding traffic.

Further east are several access parking lots for the Badlands Wilderness, which are good places to light paint and take photos of the night sky. It is very dark out there. The traffic on Highway 20 can be a source of light pollution. Therefore, I like photographing from the south side of the highway.

Lava Butte, Lava Lands Visitor Center Nature Trail: Just south of Bend along Highway 97 is Lava Butte, part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. You can park there all year long, even if it is closed. Simply use the exit to the parking area, which is further west from the main entrance. West of the Visitor Center, there is a nature trail – Trail of the Molten land – that leads into the open lava flow area. There are views towards Mount Bachelor. This is a nice and safe area for Astro- Photography, looking southwest. The trail is paved and wheelchair-accessible.

Dillon Falls, Deschutes National Forest: Heading towards Mount Bachelor on Southwest Century Drive, you turn left on Dillon Falls Road, right before the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station. This is only 7 miles outside the town center. At Dillon Falls, you can follow the Deschutes River down towards the falls, where you have fine views to the southeast and the Milky Way, or head upriver, where you have views over calm water. There are cliffs and a strong river there, so be aware of the dangers at night. Wear sturdy shoes and stay away from the edge. This is a good place to visit when it is still light to know your surroundings.

Sparks Lake, Deschutes National Forest: Further on Century Drive (Cascade Lakes Highway), past Mount Bachelor, you reach Sparks Lake. You can drive past the road leading to the boat ramp. After a large mountain meadow, you get a fine view of Mount Bachelor to the East. Here, you can photograph the last light hitting the volcano and wait for the Milky Way to rise. There are many opportunities here for Astro photography and reflection in the water.

Fort Rock: The town, named after a nearby tuff ring that resembles a fortress and its surroundings, located 67 Miles, southeast of Bend is located in a large area of high desert full of Sage, Bitter and Rabittbrush. You can take some images across the fence of the Fort Rock Homestead Village Museum and light-paint the buildings, or simply photograph the rising Milky Way nearby. In August and September, the Rabittbrush is in bloom and very pretty for landscape photos.

Dee Wright Observatory: Located on the Old McKenzie Highway, west of the town of Sisters. From the view point and further on along the highway, which winds through the lava fields, you get stunning views towards the Three Sisters volcanoes and the rising Milky Way after dark. (Check your Astro App for time and season for the exact location of the Galactic Center)

Shaniko Ghost Town: Located 80 miles north of Bend – you may want to stay overnight in the town of Madras – is the living Ghost town of Shaniko. Although you get some light pollution from town, there are great opportunities for Astro-photography in combination with the light painting of old barns and other buildings.

Favorite spots to photograph the Milky Way By Christian Heeb, International Photographer.

Check out our Nigh t Sky Workshops and Tours

Milky Way & Night Sky Photography Outing in Central Oregon

August 19, 2023

Learn how to capture the milky way and the night sky in the High Desert with your camera

Central Oregon’s high altitude, crisp, clear air, low humidity and cool nights provide excellent conditions for Milky Way and Night Sky Photography. August is a wonderful time to head out and take photos here in Bend, Oregon.

Join Professional photographers Zack Schnepf and Barb Gonzalez for night sky outing to a scenic mountain lake. Learn to capture the milky way as its core rises over the landscape. If the conditions are right you can see and photograph the reflection in the water.

Learn how to use your head lamp as a creative light paint tool…

We self drive to a dark location near Bend. We select the location in regards to weather conditions.

We also offer Private Night Sky Photo Tours which can be booked all year.

$195 per person

Max 6 / instructor

Beginner to intermediate

Car pool

Itinerary:

Saturday, August 19, 2023

6:00 pm: Meet in Bend at a location disclosed after booking and self drive to photo location. Once we arrive at our location, we will capture the sunset and wait for the milky way to appear. We will also light painting and night sky photography.

11:00 pm: Drive back home

BOOK

What to bring: