Alpha Camera Workshop (Grey Chow) May 2026 - Milky Way Photography

Foundational concepts cover why the Milky Way appears when it does, how Earth’s rotation affects star motion, and how moon phase and light pollution influence visibility. You’ll learn the reasoning behind exposure choices, the tradeoffs between ISO and noise, and when to choose tracking or stacking based on the scene and desired result. The theory portion also includes planning tools and methods—using apps and maps to find the Galactic core, timing shoots for new‑moon windows, and scouting foregrounds in daylight.

Will teach stacking to improve signal‑to‑noise, calibration frame use (darks/flats/bias), and targeted noise reduction. You’ll get step‑by‑step demos for color balance, contrast, and star‑detail enhancement, plus techniques for blending tracked sky exposures with untracked foregrounds, panorama stitching, and removing light pollution gradients.

Workshop learning outcomes:

• Night-sky planning and scouting — Learn how to choose dark-sky locations, read moon phases, use apps and maps to plan Milky Way shoots, and time your sessions for the Galactic core.
• Camera settings and exposure control — Master aperture, ISO, shutter speed trade-offs for single exposures and techniques for minimizing star trails.
• Composition and foreground integration — Practice composing dramatic nightscapes that balance foreground subjects with the Milky Way and use blending or panoramas when a single frame isn’t enough.
• Tracking, stacking, and multi‑exposure workflows — Get hands‑on with star trackers, capture multiple frames for stacking, and learn when to use tracked vs. untracked exposures.
• Post‑processing for astrophotography — Learn practical editing steps for noise reduction, color balance, contrast, and enhancing star detail using stacking and targeted adjustments.
• Advanced techniques — Explore panoramic stitching, exposure blending, and creative approaches for Milky Way + subject composites.
  
   

• Please bring along your own Sony Camera, Lens, SD Card & Tripod.
• Limited unit of camera and lenses are available for loan.

Workshop Itinerary/Rundown

Session 1: 16 May 2026, Saturday
Time:  10:45am to 1:00pm
Location: Sony Store, The Curve

10.45am: Meetup at The Curve Sony Store
11.00am: Workshop start by Alpha Guru Grey Chow
01:00pm: Workshop end by Alpha Guru Grey Chow

Session 2: 16 May 2026, Saturday
Time:  9:45pm to 12:00am
Location: Kuala Kubu Bahru Dam

09.45pm: Meetup at Kuala Kubu Bahru Dam
10.00pm: Workshop start by Alpha Guru Grey Chow
12:00am: Workshop end by Alpha Guru Grey Chow

*Might optional wait until sunrise