Utah Astrophotography Workshop

Capture the Atlas is a photography project created by travel photographer Dan Zafra and travel writer Ascen Aynat. What started as a small travel blog in 2016 grew into an international platform that combines travel guides, photography education, and photography tours around the world.

Today, the team guides over 300 photographers each year on photo tours in some of the most spectacular locations on the planet, from Iceland and Norway to the national parks of the United States and remote landscapes across the globe.

Their workshops focus on helping photographers improve their skills while exploring extraordinary places and capturing unique landscapes, night skies, and natural phenomena.

2027 Utah Astrophotography Workshop takes photographers into the dramatic desert landscapes of Utah to capture the Milky Way above some of the most iconic locations in the American Southwest. This workshop focuses on astrophotography in Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park during one of the best seasons for photographing the night sky.

Participants will photograph giant arches, red rock formations, deep canyons, and expansive desert scenery under dark, clear skies far from major light pollution. Spring conditions in Utah offer excellent opportunities to capture Milky Way panoramas early in the night and diagonal Milky Way compositions later in the evening.

The workshop is designed for photographers interested in improving both field techniques and post-processing skills. Guidance is provided on photographing the Milky Way, planning compositions, scouting locations, and working with astrophotography settings from beginner to advanced levels.

Although the main focus is night photography, the itinerary also includes opportunities to photograph sunrise, sunset, and daytime desert landscapes when conditions are favorable. The schedule remains flexible throughout the tour to adapt to weather and sky conditions and maximize photographic opportunities.