Course Goals

• Learn how to create emotionally compelling visual imagery — from the concept and planning, through gear selection and shooting, to the final edit.

• Build a complete post-processing workflow using techniques such as single exposure, stacking, focus stacking, blending, panorama stitching, and star trails.

• Master methods for achieving distinctive and inspiring results when processing the night sky and foreground, with the goal of producing a well-balanced, artistically finished image.

• Create a polished final file, ready for both digital presentation and high-quality printing.

Module 7 – Panoramas from Single Exposures

Topic: Creating wide and complex compositions

• Preparing for panorama shooting: framing, rows, overlap

• Suitable lenses and panoramic heads

• Stitching software: Photoshop, PTGui Pro

• Projections and distortion handling

Practical session:

• Two-row panorama — one row for the sky, one for the foreground

• Stitching and processing

• Fine tonal and color corrections

Module 8 – Tracked Panorama

Topic: Advanced landscape astrophotography techniques

• Shooting tracked sky panels

• Separately photographing the foreground

• Preparing and processing individual frames

• Blending tracked sky with the foreground

• Software: PTGui Pro, Photoshop

Practical session:

• Building a complete tracked panorama

• Color and contrast balancing

• Final workflow for print and digital publishing

PROGRAM

Module 1 – Fundamentals & Single-Frame Processing

Topic: Introduction to landscape astrophotography and basic workflow

• Recommended equipment: astro-modified cameras, full-spectrum vs. astro mode

• Star tracker devices — advantages and limitations

• Zoom lenses vs. primes — when, why, and how

• Planning your session: light pollution, Moon phases, location scouting, useful apps and websites

• Exposure settings by camera and lens

• Example images from leading landscape astrophotographers

• Practical session:

  • Working with Adobe Camera RAW and Photoshop

  • Single-frame processing workflow (contrast, color balance, noise, sharpening)

Module 2 – Stacking & Processing Stacked Images

Topic: Improving image quality by combining multiple frames

• What stacking is, when to use it, and why

• Software: Sequator, Starry Landscape Stacker

• Difference between single, stacked, and tracked frames

• Stacking tracked exposures — pros and cons

Practical session:

• Stacking demonstration

• Processing the resulting file in Photoshop

• Noise reduction and color balancing

Module 3 – Masks & Light Control

Topic: Working with masks and local adjustments

• Why masking is essential in landscape astrophotography

• Types of masks: hand-drawn, luminosity, and color masks

Practical session:

• Creating and using luminosity masks

• Combining multiple exposures

• Controlling highlights and shadows without losing detail

Module 4 – Focus Stacking

Topic: Achieving maximum sharpness from foreground to stars

• What focus stacking is and when to use it

• Software: Photoshop

• Shooting recommendations for focus stacking

Practical session:

• Merging exposures with different focal planes

• Final tonal and color adjustments

Module 5 – Star Trails & Time-lapse

Topic: Dynamic night compositions

• Shooting star trails — settings, intervals, timing

• Stacking software: Photoshop

• Blending sky and foreground

• Basics of time-lapse sequences

Practical session:

• Processing star trail images

• Building a clean, finished composition with balanced foreground

Module 6 – Working With a Star Tracker

Topic: Precise tracked night-sky imaging

• Differences between single and tracked exposures

• Tracker setup and balancing

• Stacking tracked frames

• Foreground–sky blending techniques

Practical session:

• Blending a tracked sky image with a separately captured foreground

• Fine processing and color balancing

Final Module – Completion & Project Presentation

• Exporting final images: formats and archiving

• Preparing for print — profiles, sizing, sharpening

• Preparing for social media — compression and quality optimization

• Participation in competitions — pros, cons, and how to interpret feedback

• Platforms for sharing astrophotography

After each online session, participants will receive the recorded lesson and will be able to practice the techniques using the provided RAW files. At the beginning of every meeting, we will review the previous week’s edited images, allowing participants to progress through constructive critique and guidance.

Price: €350

Payment can be made via bank transfer or Revolut. An invoice can be issued upon request.
The price includes all online sessions, recorded videos, and the RAW files for practice.

Start: January 2026
Minimum participants: 5
Maximum participants: 10
Platform: Google Meet

Registration deadline: 19 December 2025

Sign Up

Duration:
8 weeks (one session per week, 3 hours each. The exact weekday will be coordinated with all participants.)

Format:
Live online training with demonstrations and hands-on practice. All sessions will be recorded, and every participant will receive access to the files so they can repeat and practice the workflow as many times as they wish.

Participant Level:
From beginners to advanced astrophotographers (basic knowledge of Photoshop and photo-editing software is required).

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