Broome Astrophotography Tours

Not at all. The only prerequisite for joining us is a love of beauty and an eye for the extraordinary.

This tour is designed for everyone — from serious photographers wanting to develop their night sky skills, to complete beginners who simply want to spend an evening under one of the most extraordinary night skies on earth.

If you have a camera, a smartphone or nothing at all — you are very welcome. I will show you how to get the best out of whatever you have with you, and the evening is genuinely spectacular regardless of whether you take a single photograph. But please note the minimum requirements re equipment if you want to make pictures of the night sky.

If you want to take your own photos you will need a tripod — whether it is for a mirrorless, compact or DSLR camera, or a small one you can connect to your iPhone if you are shooting on a phone. Keeping the camera still for the long exposures required in night photography is critical to getting a good result.

Absolutely — and it is a particularly wonderful experience for both.

Solo travellers will find themselves in a small, friendly group of like-minded people who share a love of beauty and the natural world. With a maximum of four participants the atmosphere is relaxed and personal rather than a large group tour.

Couples will find this a genuinely special shared experience — watching Broome's extraordinary light transform through sunset and into the blue hour together, then staying on as the Milky Way rises above one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth.

If you would like to take your own night sky photographs you will need:

1. A digital mirrorless or DSLR camera with manual control of focus, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. When referring to focus this means a manual focus ring with infinity markings on the lens. Some cameras that don't meet this focusing requirement may still be able to take photos of the night sky but I can't guarantee it without seeing the camera beforehand.
2. A wide angle lens — 24mm or wider for full frame cameras, 16mm or wider for crop sensor cameras. If you don't have lenses that wide, longer focal lenses can also work, although you will be honing in on aspects of the night sky rather than getting that wider view.
3. A sturdy tripod — absolutely essential for night sky photography. If you are shooting on an iPhone a small tripod adaptor will help. I can supply a tripod in certain situations for an additional cost.
4. Fully charged batteries.
5. Sufficient memory cards.
6. Head Torch.

If you are coming along simply to enjoy the experience without photographing, no equipment is needed at all.

Make sure your batteries are fully charged and your memory cards have plenty of space before you leave your accommodation.

One very important thing….

There are seemingly a million different cameras out there of various makes and models. And it's impossible to understand the operation of them all. Even people using cameras exactly the same as my own can be difficult to operate for me because people can customise the camera to how they want it to work which may be very different to how my camera is set up.

Ideally people will have an understanding as to how to set their camera on manual focus and how to change aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings - though this is not essential. The main thing is that people download their camera instruction manual if their knowledge of their camera is limited.

Where people bring gear that doesn't meet the above criteria I will do my best to assist you (within the parameters that I've also got to assist others), but I can't guarantee results.

This is an evening photography experience first and foremost — an opportunity to spend several hours in one of Broome's most beautiful locations at the most extraordinary time of day, with a photographer who has spent almost 30 years capturing the Kimberley night sky.

We begin in the afternoon light, photograph through sunset and blue hour, and stay on as darkness falls and the Milky Way rises above the horizon.

This tour is very different to my half day tour where significant focus is directed to showing people how to get more out of their cameras and how to take better photos. So learning to take photos in Manual Mode adjusting things such as aperture, shutter speed and ISO and then mixing those things around is the subject of much of an afternoon tour and it's impossible to teach people those things and photograph the night sky in a single evening.

My aim is directed exclusively at showing you some of the techniques I use to photograph the night sky and then helping you make your own photos of the night sky.

Do I need photography experience?

None whatsoever. This tour is pitched at all levels — from experienced photographers wanting to deepen their night sky skills, to those who have never picked up a camera but simply want to experience one of the world's most extraordinary natural spectacles. But for those wanting to get the most out of photographing the night sky it is helpful to have a basic understanding of how your camera works - and, if you don't have that understanding, please download your camera instruction manual with you and bring it with you on the evening.

For the non-photographers among you, the evening is a wonderful opportunity to slow down, slip into Broome time and sit under a sky most people never get to see.

Is this a photography workshop or an experience?

This is an experience first and foremost — not a workshop. What it is, is an opportunity to spend an evening with a photographer who has worked around the world for almost 30 years — to see how I read light, find compositions and make the most of Broome's extraordinary night sky. You will learn a great deal simply by being there and asking questions

I strongly recommend bringing the following:

See above re camera equipment.

• A head torch — essential for moving around safely in the dark.
• Sturdy closed toe shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground.
• Warm layers — temperatures can drop significantly after sunset even in the Broome dry season.
• A hat and sunscreen — we may be out in the afternoon sun for the first part of the evening.
• Insect repellent — particularly useful around sunset and into the blue hour.
• A water bottle.

Prior to your tour I will make contact to find out a little about you, what you are hoping to get out of the experience and whether there are any particular aspects of the Broome night sky you would love to photograph. This helps me tailor the evening to get the best possible outcome for everyone.

When I call we will also discuss transport/pickup arrangements.

From there we head out to a carefully chosen location selected for its light, subject matter and dark skies.

We photograph through sunset and stay on into the blue hour — that brief and magical window after the sun drops when the sky turns deep blue and the landscape glows with a quality of light that simply cannot be replicated.

As we wait I will talk you through the camera settings, techniques and little known tricks I use to photograph the Broome night sky. And also give you some insight into my understanding of photographing the night sky.

We spend approximately an hour photographing the Milky Way before returning to Broome at around 8.30pm.

Tours are strictly limited to a maximum of four participants to ensure a genuinely intimate and personalised experience.

That limit is deliberate. Four people is small enough that every participant receives genuine individual attention — time to ask questions, to experiment and to absorb. It also means that the time we spend at the location will be quiet and peaceful and allow people the fullest opportunity to soak in the magic of what we are experiencing.

A minimum of four participants is required for the tour to proceed. If minimum numbers are not reached guests will be notified the day before the tour and offered the choice of a refund or credit or the opportunity to proceed but at an additional cost.

If you are interested in booking for a larger group please get in touch directly and I will do my best to accommodate you.

How do I book a tour?

Simply click the Check Availability button to see available dates and complete your booking online. If you have any questions before booking, feel free to contact me directly.

What does the tour cost?

Standard pricing is as follows - but please note these prices are subject to minimum numbers of four people per tour:

• Adults — A$185
• Couples — A$360
• Pensioners — A$180
• Children aged 12 to 15 — A$170

All prices are in Australian Dollars and include GST.

Is there a private tour option?

Yes — if you would like to book the evening exclusively for your own group please get in touch directly to discuss arrangements and pricing.

When do I make payment?

Full payment is required at the time of booking. This confirms your place on the tour and ensures your date is exclusively reserved for you.

How far in advance should I book?

I recommend booking as early as possible, particularly during peak season between April and October. Tours are strictly limited to four participants and popular dates fill quickly.

The following things ARE included in the price:

1. An evening of personalised photography guidance from an international photographer and author with almost 30 years experience capturing the Kimberley night sky.
2. Access to a carefully chosen location that showcases Broome at its most beautiful on any given day — through sunset, blue hour and into the night.
3. Practical night sky photography skills and techniques you can apply for the rest of your trip and beyond.
4. Free pick-up and drop-off from your Broome accommodation or a convenient meeting point.

The following things are NOT included in the price:

1. Personal photography equipment — camera, lenses, tripod, batteries and memory cards.
2. Travel insurance or personal accident insurance.
3. Medical or evacuation costs.
4. Clothing suitable for night conditions or changing weather.
5. Insect repellent or personal comfort items.
6. Image processing tuition beyond the scope of the tour.
7. Purchase of prints, books or digital images.
8. Any costs arising from late arrival or early departure by the guest.
9. Costs resulting from weather conditions or circumstances outside the operator's control.

I will contact you the day prior to our tour to arrange a pick-up/meeting location and exact time.

Our return time is approximately 8.30pm, depending on conditions.

We have a number of locations we work around Broome and the surrounding area. The location chosen on any particular evening will be a function of star position, weather conditions and light.

What I can tell you is that the Broome area at sunset and under the Milky Way is one of the most extraordinary places on earth to have a camera in your hands.

The tour is suitable for teenagers aged 12 to 15 at a discounted rate of A$170.

Due to the nature of the experience — running after dark for several hours in a remote location — children under 12 are not able to attend.

If you have any questions about suitability please don't hesitate to contact me before booking.

This tour involves some walking on uneven ground and spending several hours outdoors in a remote location after dark. A moderate level of mobility is required - and sufficient fitness to walk roughly 500 metres along a beach one way.

If you have any mobility concerns or specific needs please get in touch before booking and I will run you through the requirements in more detail. Depending on the number of people coming I may be able to design something that specifically accommodates people with more limited movement.

I want everyone to have the best possible experience and will always try to find solutions that work for your circumstances.

If you have any health issues that might be relevant to you coming on my tour please get in contact to discuss those with me first. I'm not first aid trained and I would be mortified if something happened to anyone on my tour. Even 20 minutes out of Broome can be remote if a health condition is serious.

No question is too small — please just ask so we can make a more informed assessment before you book.

What is your cancellation policy?

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email.

• More than seven days prior to your tour — your booking may be rescheduled to another available date or a credit issued for future use.
• Within seven days of your tour — payments are non-refundable.
• No-shows or late arrivals — no refund or credit is available.

The bottom line? I'm not here to nickel and dime anyone and will do my best to accommodate all reasonable requests. If something comes up please just get in touch and we'll work something out.

Please refer to our full Booking Terms and Weather Policy for further details.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The Broome night sky is one of the clearest in the world, but occasionally the weather doesn't cooperate. If conditions are deemed unsuitable I will contact you as early as possible — ideally the day before — to discuss your options. In the event of a weather cancellation you may reschedule to another available date at no additional cost, or receive a full credit.

Can I reschedule my booking?

One complimentary reschedule is available if requested more than seven days prior to your tour. Rescheduling requests made within seven days will be treated as a cancellation and the above policy will apply. That said, I will always do my best to accommodate people so please just reach out and we will see what we can do.