Perseid Meteor Shower Workshop 2023 - Cornwall
4 nights of Meteor Showers, Noctilucent Clouds, and the Milky Way in the dark skies of Cornwall!
Included
Dates & Times
Wed 9th – Sun 13th August 2023 (max ~77 meteors/hour!)
Fitness Level
Easy – Moderate
Price
£ 895 (single room)
£ £650 (twin share)
Availability
Single rooms – Sold Out!
Twin Share – Sold Out!
Join Us
This year our dark sky destination of choice for the Perseid Meteor Shower is Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most anticipated events of every year’s astrophotography calendar. Peaking on warm summer nights, it is a joy to set up the camera, sit back on a blanket, and simply observe the wondrous spectacle in our dark sky location. The annual event can peak with over 100 meteors per hour in some years!
We’ll be heading to various locations during our tour and with the Perseid Meteor Shower being visible over several nights, we’ll have the opportunity to take unique shots of the night sky at multiple locations, where we’ll also practice our Milky Way photos. We’re lucky enough that it will also be noctilucent cloud season so we’ll also keep an eye out for being able to capture that rare and unique phenomenon.
We’ll be just a few minutes drive from Bodmin Moor, the largest part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and which was designated an International Dark-Sky landscape in July 2017.
One of our location options is The Hurlers standing stones (opposite), a Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age series of stone circles over 2000 years old.
Scattered nearby are several old derelict tin mines which make great foreground elements for night sky photography. We’ll also have the option of scaling up to The Cheesewring, an interesting arragement of stacked smooth stones above the Moor.
Other highlights for any spare time include the rapids of Golitha falls, the rugged south coast beaches, or spending time getting to know and photographing the farm animals!
Depending on conditions during the workshop we’ll also have the opportunity to take advantage of any spectacular sunsets, and should our night skies prove unusually troublesome for astrophotography, we should still be able to explore the amazing and unique landscapes and seascapes in the daytime to make the most of our trip!
By joining our astrophotography workshop, you’ll gain a comprehensive knowledge of how to capture awe-inspiring shots of the Perseid Meteor Shower. We’ll equip you with all the essential skills you need, from planning your shoots to what camera settings to capture your images and enhancing your photographs with post-processing software.
Our workshop will provide you with the fundamental knowledge necessary to confidently set up your camera for how to photograph meteors and meteor showers, capturing striking photos of the celestial bodies above. We’ll also delve into the intricacies of night sky photography, further enriching your astrophotography skillset.
To help any participants without a dedicated astrophotography lenses, we have multiple highly regarded astro lenses available to share between the group, including:
1 x Samyang 14mm f/2.8 – Canon fit
1 x Samyang 14mm f/2.8 – Nikon fit
1 x Samyang 14mm f/2.8 – Sony E mount fit. We also have some Kase filters astrophotography filters available to use, including the Starglow filter created by famed astrophotographer Alyn Wallace, plus the excellent light pollution (neutral night) filter and the focus assist filter.
Recommended Equipment
- Wide angle lens – 16-35mm, 10-24mm, 14-24mm
- Walk around/kit lens – 18-55mm, 24-70mm, 24-105mm
- Longer focal length lens – 70-200mm (less used)
- Tripod
- Remote shutter release – we prefer a wired trigger as it saves battery over using your phone with wifi/bluetooth or a wireless trigger to reduce camera battery drain. Must have a lockable on switch so you don’t have to press the button every time.
- Spare camera batteries – the multiple long exposures taken during astrophotography and the cold evenings will reduce battery life. You may also consider bringing your battery charger as we have a dedicated power station that takes wall sockets and USB.
- Lens warmer & power bank (in case of condensation on lenses). An alternative is to wrap hand warmers around your lens.
- Battery Charger (we have charging facilities on our vehicle)
- Extra memory cards
- ND Filters – optional/recommended for long exposures during the day – we have multiple sets of Kase ND filters available to borrow (please let me know the filter thread size of your lenses prior to the workshop)
- Full wet weather gear – just in case!
A full packing list will be provided prior to the tour.
Included / Not included
- Included:
- Professional photo guide & tuition.
- Return transportation fom central London in our comfortable 8 seat vehicle.
- Cottage accommodation with own room.
- Kase filter kits if required
- Battery charging facilities in vehicle
Not included:
- Personal & travel insurance
- Food & drink
- Travel to start point or from end point of tour.
- Anything not specified as “Included”
- Professional photo guide & tuition.
Fitness Level
This tour involves walking of up to 30 minutes along paths/trails and requires occasional short steep steps or inclines. A person of average fitness level should have little difficulty.
Where we'll meet
Collection point for the tour is outside West Acton Station at 10:30 am.
West Action Station is on the Ealing Broadway branch of the Central Line. The post code is W3 0DS.
The return journey will have two drop-off points. The first is in central London, close to Warren Street, Euston Square, Euston, & Great Portland Street tube stations.
The second drop-off point will be West Acton Station.
We expect to return to London around 6-7 pm.
Gallery
Testimonials
I have learnt so much on this trip – taking the most amazing photos! Yourself and Phil gave me so much help which I am very grateful for.
If you do another trip to the Lake District I would love to join you again!
Many thanks for a wonderful trip last week, I really enjoyed it and have taken away so much 😊.
I’m about 80% through post processing, it’s really difficult to choose as there are so many great shots!
I’ve been considering buying Kase filters too!
Guide
Dion Hitchcock
UK Photo Tours is owned and operated by professional photographer, Dion Hitchcock.
Dion brings over a decade of expertise in teaching and guiding photography. He is an expat Australian and when not running photography tours, resides in London, UK, running photography workshops or as a locum pharmacist. His extensive travel experiences, spanning over 40 countries, ignited his passion for photography as a means to chronicle his journeys. This passion quickly evolved into a profound interest, leading him to actively participate in various camera clubs, assisting them in conducting workshops. Today, Dion independently operates his own workshops mainly across the UK, and occasionally internationally.
His London-based photography Meetup groups have 7,000+ members and over 500 5-star ratings.
Dion still maintains his registration as a pharmacist professional, dedicating his time to aiding patients and educating pharmacy students. However, he has transitioned his time into the realm of photography, where he assists clients in understanding the craft’s technical and artistic aspects. This shift, though unconventional, aligns with his upbringing; both of his parents were artists who nurtured his appreciation for the world’s inherent beauty. His extensive photography experience, professional background, passion for teaching, and numerous five-star reviews ensures you’ll be in the best of care whilst on tour.
You can reach Dion at info@uk-photo-tours.com
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Terms of Service
Please note that our tours and workshops are always in high demand and usually sell out. We historically have over 90% occupancy so we strongly advise to book early.
As photographers ourselves, we always do our utmost to ensure each participant has the opportunity to get the best shots possible on every tour. However, we are dependent upon the weather, which is highly unpredictable. Your photo guide will monitor local weather conditions and adjust any proposed itinerary according to conditions and any local weather warnings.
We highly recommend that you have your own travel and medical insurance. For our overseas clients, please be aware that your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme may not cover you whilst you are overseas.
Bookings and Acceptance of Terms & Conditions
By making a payment to UK Photo Tours by Paypal, bank transfer, Stripe or other means, you have agreed that you have read and understood these terms and conditions and therefore have entered into a contract with UK Photo Tours.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We strongly recommend you to get a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip. If you cancel your booking and the tour is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a £150 service fee. If you cancel and the tour does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of tour:
Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus the £150 service fee.
75 days or more: 75% refund
60 days or more: 50% refund
Less than 60 days: no refund
Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.
If UK Photo Tours have to cancel a tour then you’ll be offered another place on an existing tour or a full refund. We cannot be held liable for any loss of any kind resulting from the cancellation of a tour beyond the tour ticket price.
Pricing
Prices listed on the UK-Photo-Tours.com website are per person, unless otherwise specified.
Price quotations are subject to change without notice, until a booking has been confirmed.
Unless otherwise specified, prices do not include any local taxes or use-fees, including foreign departure, security, port charges, park fees, customs, immigration, agricultural, passenger-facility charges or international transportation tax.
Prices do not include tips/gratuities to tour directors, drivers or local guides; passport and visa fees; baggage and personal insurance; any items of a personal nature; and any beverages or food not specifically listed under “Included” on the product pages of the UK-Photo-Tours.com website
Tour start/end
Our tours have a designated start and end point and it is each participant’s responsibility to ensure they are at the designated starting point on time and the tour price does not include any flights, accommodation, transport, taxes or charges, etc prior to our start or after our end points/time. We are happy to give advice on such should it be needed.
Passports, Visas, & Insurance
It is the responsibility of all passengers, regardless of nationality and destination, to check with the consulate of the country they are visiting for current entry requirements.
As visa and health requirements are subject to change without notice, we recommend that you verify health and visa requirements with the appropriate consulate prior to departure.
We strongly advise all travellers to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to minimize possible losses due to unforeseeable situations prior to, during, and after your tour.
Disclaimers & Limitations of Liability
It is the sole responsibility of all participants to take out adequate insurance protection for themselves to cover any loss of belongings, theft, accidental damage, injury, cancellation and costs incurred resulting from any event with UK Photo Tours.
UK Photo Tours holds Public Liability Insurance, Motor Vehicle Business Insurance, and Tour Operator Insurance, and will not cover anything excluded under the terms of those policies. Policy details are available on request.
UK Photo Tours cannot be held liable for any loss, damage, accidents, injuries or sickness during your tour. The same applies for any changes in tour schedule due to weather, strikes, industrial action, viral pandemic, civil disturbance, wars, floods or sickness, or any other force majeure. UK Photo Tours reserves the right to change routes, schedules and itineraries if needed because of weather, road, boat route conditions or should the necessity arise because of unforeseen reasons.
Covid-19
We are taking great care to follow the current guidance from the government regarding Covid-19 ( https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus ), along with up-to-date advice from tourism organisations such as VisitEngland.com and VisitScotland.com in order to keep safety a priority.
All of our guides are fully vaccinated and have had booster doses. We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated if clinically able to.
To further reduce risk, we’re continuing with requiring masks to be worn in the vehicle (unless medically expempt). Vents will be open and windows lowered in the vehicle to increase fresh airflow. We provide antiviral hand gel in the vehicle and at any accommodation, along with spare surgical 3-ply face masks for participants if required.
We’ve adopted the tour industry standard of requesting a negative Covid-19 lateral flow test within 72 hours of the start of the tour, and ideally for the result to be logged on the government website. This test can be done at home.
By asking for a negative test we hope you’ll agree it is for everyone’s protection and helps to provide a smooth and safe tour. In the UK, you can obtain free lateral flow tests from either your local pharmacy scanning a QR code, or sent direct to your home through the website https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests , or by calling 119.
We ask all participants to please be vigilant in reducing their exposure risk to Covid-19 in the 10 days leading up to the tour, and remember to test if you have any symptoms and ensure that you have adequate travel insurance in place.