Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse, and PhotoPills Planning Photo Workshop<p><br>August 26-29, 2026

Full Moon Photography and PhotoPills Planning Eastern Sierra, California DATES August 26 – 29, 2026 4 days LOCATION Bishop, California OVERVIEW The full moon is one of the most breathtaking sights in the sky, and yet capturing interesting photos of it is a surprisingly difficult challenge. In this fun and exciting landscape photography class you will learn how to overcome the major challenges of shooting the moon so that you can create truly stunning and one-of-a-kind photographs. Join professional landscape photographer Joshua Cripps in the gorgeous Eastern Sierra to photograph the moon alongside the beautiful landscapes of this unique area. PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE In the evening of August 27th, the moon will undergo a partial lunar eclipse (93%). We will discuss techniques for photographing the eclipse, then create a plan to shoot it as it rises over the desert. WORKSHOP DETAILS This class is comprised of field excursions, classroom sessions, and processing sessions. In the classroom we will learn everything that goes into making beautiful moon photographs, including the required gear, using the PhotoPills App, artistic and technical approaches to shooting the moon, understanding the moon’s motion, planning the shot, problem solving, and best practices. We will work together as a group to plan our shots, then go into the field to bring them to life! During the workshop we will have multiple opportunities to photograph the moon in alignment with the wonderful natural features of the area, such as Mt. Whitney, the Corcoran Pinnacles, the Minarets, the White Mountains or others. All our shoots will take place around sunrise and sunset, allowing us fantastic opportunities for landscape photography in addition to shooting the moon. TUITION $1195 In this class you will learn: How to overcome the 4 main challenges in photographing the full moon. PhotoPills, PhotoPills, PhotoPills! We will spend plenty of time getting deep into this amazing app and how to use it to plan moon photographs. How to use PeakFinder to align and plan moon photos. Best practices for getting high quality moon photos with sharp details and low noise. Photographing and processing a partial lunar eclipse. Post-processing techniques to bring out the best in your moon photos. Field instruction and guidance on how to execute your planned moon photos. Tuition Includes: All classroom instruction, including multiple planning sessions. Field shoots for moonrise and set as appropriate. Post processing instruction and Q&A. Class limited to 8 participants Sold out. Please email learn@joshuacripps.com to be put on the waitlist. LEARN TO PHOTOGRAPH SCENES LIKE THESE YOUR TEACHER Joshua Cripps – Professional Photographer, Guide, and Chief Moon Nut Josh is an acclaimed landscape photographer and educator from California. He gives presentations for companies like Nikon and leads exciting photo tours around the world. Josh has been obsessed with photographing the full moon since 2017 and is known as “that crazy moon guy.” His photo of the 2019 annular solar eclipse earned worldwide attention and was published by NASA, CNN, dozens of other media outlets, and won him “PhotoPills Photographer of the Year.” ITINERARY AND LOGISTICS Getting to the class This full moon photography class meets in Bishop, California, 4.5 hours north of Los Angeles, 4.5 hours west of Las Vegas, or 3.5 hours south of Reno. Transportation during the class You are responsible for your own transportation during this class, but we will organize carpools for the excursions. Lodging and Meals Lodging and meals are up to you. Bishop has a wide array of dining and lodging options, from inexpensive to high end. Itinerary* Day 1 Arrive at our classroom after lunch (the exact time and location will be sent to you in advance of the class). Early Afternoon: Classroom sessions on moon photography fundamentals, PeakFinder, and PhotoPills planning. Mid afternoon: break. Evening: sunset / moonrise photography excursion Day 2 Morning: moon post processing techniques. Midday: break. Early Afternoon: Deep dive into PhotoPills planning. Mid afternoon: break. Evening: Partial lunar eclipse at sunset photoshoot. Day 3 Early morning: sunrise / moonset photography excursion Mid morning: break for breakfast. Late morning: moon post processing techniques. Midday: break. Afternoon: Deep dive into PhotoPills planning. Evening: Optional sunset shoot (no official moon shoot planned). Day 4 Early morning: Moonset over Mt Whitney photoshoot. Mid morning: break for breakfast. Late morning: final review and post processing session. Midday: class ends. * times are approximate and will be specified in advance of the class Weather Although the skies are often clear, the weather in the Eastern Sierra is unpredictable. We make no guarantees regarding clouds, clear skies, rain, sun, or moon visibility. No refunds will be given in the event the weather prevents us from photographing the moon. Terrain and Physical Requirements Usually our shoots take place from easy-to-access roadside locations. Depending on the plans we create, there may be some short hikes up to about 30 minutes. Generally speaking the terrain will be flat and open, but there can be rocks, bushes, and uneven areas. Good balance is a must. Click Here to Register EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING Camera Gear You Should Bring Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Lenses. I highly recommend you have the following four lenses (or equivalent) to take advantage of the wide variety of scenes you will experience: Long telephoto, 100-400mm or 200-500mm (required) Short telephoto, 70-200mm (recommended) Midrange, 24-70mm (optional) Ultra-wide, such as a 14-24mm or 16-35mm (optional) A sturdy tripod Comfortable camera backpack you can hike up to 30 minutes with Filters (We will not use filters for the moon shoots, so this is completely optional, only if you want to shoot traditional landscape photos as well. 10-stop ND, 6-stop ND, Polarizer) Remote shutter release Rocket blower and shammy cloth, lens/sensor cleaning fluid, lens wipes, sensor swabs Extra batteries, charger, and memory cards Recommended Clothing and Items Due to variable conditions, we recommend bringing multiple layers of non-cotton clothing, like Merino wool, fleece, or synthetic fibers. Specifically you should bring: Base layers for top and bottom A warm jacket and pants A windproof rain jacket A warm hat and gloves Lighter layers for warm days, like a sun hoodie or long-sleeved sun shirt A wide-brim hat and sunglasses Wool or synthetic socks Sturdy footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy. Lightweight hiking boots or hiking shoes are recommended for most outings. A large water bottle and sunscreen Flashlight or headlamp Trekking poles COST – $1195 Tuition Includes: All classroom instruction, including multiple planning sessions. Field shoots for moonrise and moonset as appropriate. Post processing instruction and Q&A. Not Included: Airfare / transportation to Bishop Transportation during the class Lodging and meals Personal items, souvenirs, passport/visa fees as applicable Optional activities Trip insurance Click Here to Register “Just finished a full moon workshop with Joshua Cripps in Alabama Hills. The workshop was a combination of classroom time in Joshua’s impressive gallery and on location shoots. I’m sure I was not alone in the group who found Joshua to be extremely knowledgeable, thorough, patient with such a comfortable teaching style. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of photography workshops over the years and this one is one of my favorites!” Jim Cahlin Cancellation Policy See our cancellation and other policies. HELPING MOTHER NATURE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY Fully Insured and Permitted, Leave-No-Trace Advocates We take pains to ensure our activities are 100% above board. We obtain all the necessary permissions, certifications, and insurance required in order conduct our tours. We are also strong advocates of Leave No Trace (LNT) wilderness ethics. We teach responsible photography practices and never sacrifice the environment for the sake of a photo. Our goal is to leave our tour locations in better shape than the way we found them. CLASS POLICIES Cancellation and Refund Policy Payments are refundable up to four weeks before the class, less a $100 administrative fee per space booked. If we cancel this class due to unforeseen circumstances, we will refund your tuition or transfer it to another class. Trip Insurance We HIGHLY recommend you purchase trip insurance to cover your tuition in the event you need to cancel last minute. No refunds will be given for last minute cancellations unless we can fill your space. Weather Policy We make no guarantees regarding clouds, clear skies, rain, sun, or moon visibility. No refunds will be given in the event weather prevents us from photographing the moon. COVID-19 Policy We do not currently have any COVID-19 requirements. That being said, if you feel sick before the class, please stay home and let us know. We will transfer your registration to another class of your choosing. This policy will be updated as CDC, WHO, Federal, and state guidelines change. QUESTIONS? LET US KNOW! learn@joshuacripps.com