September 21st-26th Fall Equinox Workshop

Join us during this fall for what could be one of the strongest aurora seasons in 20 years!

LIMITED AVAILABLITY!

It’s predicted that the peak of the Solar Maximum will hit this fall 2024 instead of 2025! Join us on our small group aurora workshop in capturing this phenomena taking place before your very eyes!

Fall Equinox AuroraWorkshop

Experience one of nature's most spectacular displays with our Northern Lights workshop. Witness the captivating lights dance overhead and create unforgettable memories. Join us as we venture out each evening in search of clear skies to view and capture this awe-inspiring sight in all its glory.

Although predicting the Northern Lights can be challenging, the month of September during the fall equinox is widely considered to be the peak season for viewing this natural phenomenon. Our team will ensure that you are in the right place at the right time, from the start of the night until the early morning hours, to witness the Northern Lights at their most vibrant.

The equinox period can trigger some strong aurora activity due to the angle of the north and south magnetic poles.

Don't miss this chance to embark on an epic adventure. Find out more information below and reserve your spot now before our workshop fills up quickly!

Workshop Information

Dates: September 21-26, 2024

Group Size: Limited to 6 people

Cost: $3,500.00pp

Deposit: 50% deposit due at the time of booking to reserve your spot with remaining balance due 90 days before the start of the workshop. Or you can pay in full.

Included: Lodging, Guiding/Transportation, Meals; As much laughter as possible and our wealth of local knowledge making sure we put everyone in the best possible locations for light and compositions to capture their own stunning images.

Not Included: Airfare, Alcohol, Meals outside of lodge, Lodging outside of workshop dates 9/21-9/26, Gratuities for instructors and/or guides.

Booking: The workshop will need to be paid in full 90 days prior to the day the workshop begins. Refunds are not available after the 90 day mark unless we can find another person to fill your spot.

Reserve Your Spot!

Click to book online now!

Workshop Instructor

Led by Michael Schultz, founder of Face The Outdoors Photography, this Light Chasing Photo Tour Workshop offers an unparalleled opportunity to advance your photography skills. With Michael's experience in landscape and nature photography, he brings a wealth of local knowledge and expertise to the workshop. His relaxed and fun approach creates a comfortable learning environment where participants feel free to ask questions about camera gear, settings, techniques, and composition. As an aurora tour guide, Michael leads participants to breathtaking locations and sites, providing them with the perfect setting to practice their photography skills. This workshop is an excellent opportunity for photographers at all levels to enhance their skills and take their photography to the next level. We encourage you to join our upcoming fall equinox aurora workshop, and Michael is available for any questions you might have. Email Michael

What will we photograph?

On this bucket list adventure our photography will include these stunning opportunities for you to capture:

  • Northern Lights

  • The famous Denali Highway

  • Reflections of aurora on open water

  • Fall colors

  • Trans-Alaska Pipeline

  • Snow capped mountains

  • Potential wildlife that may include caribou, moose, bears, wolves, fox, and lynx

The Schedule

Our workshop starts at 9am on September 21st, where we will start picking everyone up at their lodging in Fairbanks. It’s advised you arrive the day before to prevent any schedule issues that may arise during traveling. Our base camp destination is about 4 hours away from the Fairbanks, deep in the Interior of Alaska, away from the city and its light pollution, so get ready to see the Northern Lights!

We should arrive at our base camp, the Tangles Lake Lodge, no later than 5:30pm. After the meet and greet dinner, we'll head to our assigned rooms, get camera gear ready, and meet in the common use area at TBA to kick off the workshop and head out in search of the aurora.

During the afternoons we will set aside time to meet and go over any post processing questions and techniques. For those feeling up for heading out prior to dinner for some wildlife/landscape photography we can make that happen, just be prepared to head back out chasing the lights that night.

Meals are included and breakfast is served from 8am-11am. Lunch/Dinners are served from 11am until 7pm when the kitchen shuts down for the night, but arrangements can be made if we are running late for any reason. We won’t be heading out chasing the lights until after dinner, and if we’re out during the day a sack lunch will be made up to take along with us.

Be ready for cold temperatures ranging from 10F to 30F, and dress in layers as we'll be in higher elevations, where it will be cooler in the evenings. Depending on the weather, each night we could be out until sunrise the next morning for the best photo opportunities and drive up to 100 miles. Our relaxed and fun atmosphere will help create a superb experience, where you can gain confidence to take your photography skills to the next level. Our workshop will end on the morning of September 27th, and checkout of Tangles Lake Lodge is at 11am. We will depart back to Fairbanks, and if you are extending your stay or catching a later flight, we will drop you off at your hotel or the airport. It is advised not to book an early flight after the workshop, as we should be back between 4-5pm depending on how many times we stop to photograph along the way.

  • Day 1: 9am, start picking everyone up and depart Fairbanks to our lodging for the remainder of the trip. We will have photo opportunities along the 4 hour drive of the vast landscapes of Alaska as well potential wildlife as we embark within the Eastern Alaska Range. After we arrive at the lodge rooms will be assigned and we will get settled in and after our meet and great dinner we will prep and get ready to set out in search of the aurora.

  • Day 2-6: Breakfast is included ( 8am-11am )and will be available for anyone who is up for it after a long night of aurora chasing. We will have opportunities during the day depending on how folks are feeling to take in the sights of the Eastern Alaskan Range and photograph some amazing country as well keep an eye out for any wildlife. During this time the caribou will be migrating and frequent the area as well moose will be in the rut and can provide some amazing photography opportunities. When setting out during the day a sack lunch will be provided and we will return in time for dinner and to rest up before setting out to photograph the aurora. Depending on weather, we may endure putting on some miles in search for the perfect viewing conditions to photograph the aurora. We can also opt to shoot close around the lodge during the day and use that time to go over any post processing questions before the night of aurora hunting begins. The night of the 26th will be our final dinner together.

  • Day 7:  After breakfast we check out of the lodge the morning of the 27th and will depart back to Fairbanks. Again we will take advantage of any photograph opportunity along the way. We will reach Fairbanks late afternoon and can drop you off at your arranged lodging if you’re staying longer or the airport. It’s advised if you are flying home after the workshop to schedule a later flight on the evening of the 27th.

Itinerary

Lodging, Travel, Transportation

Lodging at the Tangles Lake Lodge is included with single occupancy. You do not need to make a hotel reservation during the dates of the workshop 9/21-9/26. We have secured rooms with single occupancy so everyone will have their own room. We will reserve your room for you and assign you your room once we get to the lodge. You will need to secure your own accommodations on dates 9/20 and 9/27.

Amenities include restaurant in the lodge, gratuities for the lodge, showers, Free WiFi.

Note that our rooms are only booked and scheduled from September 21st through the 26th. It’s advised to arrive in Fairbanks the day before, please be sure to set up your own hotel accommodations and let us know where you are staying so we can pick you up. We suggest Pikes Waterfront Lodge as it’s close to the airport and has free shuttle service.

Travel: Plan to arrive in Fairbanks the day before on 9/20 no later than 6pm. Make sure to let us know where you’re staying and be ready to be picked up at 9am on the 21st to go to the Tangles Lake Lodge which is 4 hours away from Fairbanks where we will have photo opportunities along the way.

Transportation: We will be traveling in a 15 passenger van, by keeping the group small there should be plenty of room for everyone and their gear, but please pack accordingly.

RECOMMEND GEAR AND DIFFICULTY OF WORKSHOP

Some areas will require short hikes through uneven terrains with some mild elevation gains. Our shooting areas will give you the most remote breathtaking views to enhance your experience. The following clothing and equipment are recommended.

  • Warm base layers top and bottom ( avoid 100% cotton )

  • Hiking boots.

  • Warm jackets/Rain jacket.

  • Warm hoodies.

  • Beanies, gloves, face mask covering.

  • Wool socks.

  • Headlamp with a red light.

  • Hand/toe warmers.

  • Make sure you always bring water and some snacks for the nights.

RECOMMENDED CAMERA GEAR

Depending on how bright the Northern Lights are on any given night we will be doing long exposures anywhere from 5 sec to 25 sec also make sure you have a cable release for you camera or that your camera has a 2 second delay! Items with ( * ) are optional.

  • DSLR or mirrorless or camera that can handle high ISO values

  • Lenses: 12-16mm wide angle,*20mm Prime, *24-70mm,*70-200mm

  • Wide angle lenses should have a minimum aperture of F2.8 for shooting the aurora

  • Solid tripod with a ball head

  • Remote shutter release or built in 2 second delay

  • Filters (Circular Polarizing Filter, Graduated ND Filters and Solid ND filters for daytime exposures)

  • Extra batteries; at least 3 full batteries charged every night

  • Memory Cards

  • Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc.

  • *Laptop for post processing

INSTRUCTION PROVIDED DURING THE WORKSHOP INCLUDES:

  • A guided photography tour of Alaska by Michael Schultz, born and raised here in Alaska

  • Long exposures night time photography

  • Shooting in manual mode (Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, depth of field)

  • Lens selection for composition and lighting

  • Creating stunning compositions (rule of thirds and simplicity)

  • Finding foreground elements

  • Capturing grand landscape photos

  • Creating panoramic images

  • Focus stacking, bracketing, histogram usage

CANCELLATION POLICY

Any changes or cancellations will incur a $300 USD change fee per person.

All payments after the 90 day period ( 6/21/2024 ) will need to be paid in full.

  • At the time of booking, you have the option to pay a 50% deposit or the full workshop amount.  If you pay the deposit, the remaining balance will be charged 90 days prior to workshop start, after that 90 day period the amount due will be 100%.

  • For cancellations more than 90 days from workshop, we will fully refund all money paid and charge the change fee once we fill the vacancy. If we are unable to fill the vacancy, your deposit can be applied to a future workshop within 365 days of the cancellation date.

  • Cancellations within 90 days of workshop cannot be refunded. If we are able to fill the vacancy, your payment minus the change fee can be applied to a future workshop within 365 days of the cancellation date.

  • We strongly recommend that all participants purchase Travel Insurance to cover any non-refundable deposits and workshop fees. workshop must be paid in full 90 days prior ( 6/21/2024 ) to the day the workshop start date. Client cancellations prior to 90 days before the workshop will be eligible for a full refund or transfer of funds paid to another workshop. Refunds are not available after the 90 day mark unless we can find another person to fill your spot.

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance to cover such costs. Please read the Terms and Conditions for more information.

Secure Your Spot!

Book online now!


  • Guest Speaker

    Vincent is a professional aurora photographer and Ph.D. student studying the aurora. Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Vincent began chasing auroras when he was 16 years old. Receiving his B.S. Physics from the University of North Dakota in 2022, he brought his passion for aurora chasing to North Dakota and colloquially earned the name "The Aurora Guy." Now, he is studying the aurora as a Ph.D. student does aurora chasing and tours professionally. His work has been featured on Good Morning America, ABC World News, FOX Weather, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more!

Meet the Teacher

I get asked all the time if it ever gets old seeing the aurora since I’ve grown up watching this as a young boy. Being born in Alaska definitely has it’s advantages, but the real joy is reliving those moments through the eyes of others for the very first time!


  • Founder

    Michael, a native of Alaska, has long had a deep appreciation for the wonders of the natural world. Having grown up exploring the seasonal changes and unique landscapes of his home state, Michael has always found solace in the majesty of his surroundings. Over the past 15 years, Michael has honed his photographic skills, traveling across the globe to capture and share the beauty of the natural world with others. A true entrepreneur, Michael recently founded Face The Outdoors Photography, offering authentic Alaskan aurora experiences to guests. With the support of his wife Elisabeth, they realized their lifelong dream of establishing their own aurora viewing tours, which operate from their beautiful cedar log home nestled in the heart of Interior Alaska. Guests can rest assured that Michael's passion and expertise will provide an unforgettable and authentic Alaskan experience.

Guest Speaker

Vincent Ledvina will be giving a presentation on the aurora via Zoom during the workshop. Vincent is a PH D student at University of Fairbanks and also known as “ The Aurora Guy”.