Workshops

For beginners and professionals alike. Join the world's only workshop devoted to capturing sunset and nighttime storms along with the red sprite and transient luminous event phenomena.

A photo tour with a unique blend of storm chasing and astrophotography.

Pursue the most beautiful of storms and the most coveted night sky image trophies with Paul M Smith Photography, a guide that has years of experience in capturing hundreds of such images from all over the USA. Join in on the ultimate nighttime photography/ chasing adventure under lightning-filled skies during the notoriously volatile spring and summer storm season of the US plains. Ultimately, be one of a small collection of people who can say they have seen/captured an amazing and beautifully unique red sprite event on camera. Currently in the fourth year with a 100% success rate for Red Sprite captures. Whether a photography beginner or a seasoned professional, this will be a night sky adventure you will never forget.

A little-known fact is that transient luminous events are not only super cool and rare, but they are also highly sought after by the scientific community. Your capture could actually have some unique scientific merit when shared with citizen science projects through NASA! 

2024 Workshops

 

Three night workshop dates 2024:

Workshops will involve two guests plus Paul, and will take place within 2-6 hours drive of Oklahoma City. Although it is certainly possible to get sprite images when there is light interference from the moon, in an attempt to provide the best possible conditions for captures the following dates have been chosen to coincide with the darkest phases of the moon or when the moon rises late in the night.

 

 

 


May 4th-6th 2024 (3 nights- Arrive early May 4th leave May 7th). This workshop takes place through the new moon period of the peak severe weather season on the southern plains. There will be incredible opportunities for sunset supercells, distant nighttime updrafts, lightning, and other storm structure before red sprite photography. This is a great opportunity to observe classic sprite storms, as large storm systems sweep across the plains. Great potential exists for large dancing sprite events and secondary jets among other TLE's. Also coincides with the eta Aquariids Meteor shower peak on May 4th.

Buy May 2024 Sprite Photo Tour Here

 

 

June 6th-8th 2024 (3 nights- Arrive early June 6th leave June 9th). This is the peak season for severe weather opportunities in the northern plains and central U.S. The Milky Way is high in the sky, and lightning bugs can be found to complement night time shoots. This is a great chance to chase sprites over large and powerful storm systems from some of the darkest and most picturesque terrain in the U.S. There is a great likelihood of catching the green ghost phenomenon during this period, as large, charge-pooling storms move slowly during the overnight hours. 

 Buy June 2024 Sprite Photo Tour Here.

 

July 5th-7th 2024 (3 nights- Arrive early July 5th leave July 8th). This workshop could end up chasing anywhere from the desolate deserts of the southwest to the Canadian border. Many exciting opportunities await with chances of the aurora, noctilucent clouds, and strong airglow bands to complement red sprite and storm scenes. It is also a period in which the conditions for super rare gigantic jets are riper. 

Buy July 2024 Sprite Photo Tour Here

 


Three night workshop, what is included?:

 

  • Accommodation for all nights through the trip. (Single occupancy)
  • Transportation throughout the duration of your trip including pick up and drop off at designated airport**.
  • Personal image post-processing tips from Paul Smith.
  • Private tours, hotel upgrades, and vehicle upgrades are available, email for details.
  • What is not included: airfare, equipment, and meals.

 

What to expect from a stormy night sky workshop:

**First and foremost due to their nature, we cannot guarantee naked-eye viewing of sprites. If we are lucky enough to get the perfect distance from a strong sprite storm in dark skies, perhaps we can view them with our night-adjusted eyes. But, these workshops are essentially set up for photographers or those who fully understand that sprite viewing may be restricted to a screen.**

The workshop will take place over the southern plains and may end up in any of the adjacent states to the fly-in airport. Usually, there will be 2-6 hours of driving to get positioned for storms and dark skies on any particular night. There will be two passengers per vehicle and Paul will be your personal guide throughout.

Forecasting of a general area can be done a couple of days in advance, but usually honed decisions will be made around 4 pm the night of the chase. An early, hearty supper is recommended before the chase begins- there will be opportunities for gas stop breaks as the night goes on but they will be few and far between.

 

 

Though focusing mostly on sprites, blue jets and other TLE's, the workshop will also include other stunning photographic opportunities. Spectacular sunsets, storm structures, lightning, and possibly even a long-range tornado or two could be encountered at any time. Paul prides himself on finding the most amazingly photogenic skies and scenes wherever they may be.

 

Taking full advantage of the sunset, twilight, and early morning hours, some epic images can be captured of all these severe weather-related events with the most amazing of light.

Typically, if clear skies look to be completely out of the question for any given night, we will probably opt to get closer to the storms for some lightning and storm structure photography.
**Please note, safety comes first in our workshops and we are not a tornado-chasing tour. We will not be attempting nighttime tornado chases or severe storm punching. **

 

 

If storms are non-productive or out of range, we may opt to capture some dark sky milky way imagery. The southern plains are littered with unique photogenic subjects.

With the potential of a heavy travel schedule and lots of travel in the dark, it is recommended that you try to arrive well-rested. The typical chase will involve a 3pm meetup for early supper and from there the adventure takes place until the early hours of the morning. We will plan on getting to a hotel before sunrise. Usually, a 3-4 am arrival at a hotel close to our chase end, and a late check-out planned for early the next afternoon.

What to bring?

  • To be discussed upon booking.

SINGLE NIGHT MEET-UPS :

Already involved in a tour or local and just looking to get together for a night of captures? Contact me for single-night flex opportunities:

 

---- Please note that full refunds will be given if tours do not come to fruition due to the host----

 



COVID CONSIDERATIONS :

Your host has been vaccinated and will still adhere to local and CDC guidelines for best practices. The grouping has been kept small and we ask all guests to adhere to best practices also.

 

Registration and inquiries

Contact smith.paul.michael1@gmail.com