Night Sky Photography Workshop at Oracle State Park

Oracle State Park

Thursday, March 5, 2026   6:30-9:30 p.m.

Join us on Thursday, March 5 for a unique night sky photography workshop at Oracle State Park — an International Dark Sky Park! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to take long exposure photos with your camera while enjoying the incredible star-filled skies the park is known for.

We’ll begin with a 30-minute presentation at the Kannally Ranch House, where we’ll cover the fundamentals of night photography — including how to adjust shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, and focus. During the talk, you’ll have time to ask questions about your specific camera and see real examples of night sky images with the settings used to capture them.

Afterward, we’ll head out to the ranch house patio to practice what we’ve covered. You’ll experience just how much your camera can capture in low light and will get to try your hand at a variety of shots — including the Milky Way, compositions featuring the historic ranch house, and the surrounding landscape. During this event, the full moon will rise shortly before 9 p.m., giving us a unique chance to photograph the full moon rising over the horizon! 

This will be an enjoyable, hands-on way to connect with the dark skies out here at the park!

What to bring:

• A camera that allows manual control of settings (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) and your smartphone
• A tripod or other way to stabilize your camera for long exposures
• (Optional) A red flashlight to preserve night vision
• (Optional) A wide-angle lens to capture more of the night sky

This workshop is free with regular day-use admission or a valid Arizona State Parks annual pass.

Register online at https://azstateparks.com/reserve/Activities/Search.aspx (filter place by Oracle State Park) or call the park at 520-896-2425.

Have any questions? Feel free to email Ranger Michael at mbain@azstateparks.gov.