Kiama Coastline
Multiday Photography Workshop
4 Days · 3 Nights — Cathedral Rocks · Bombo Quarry · Minnamurra Headland
Next intake: 19–22 February 2026
Reserve Your SpotDuration
Group Size
Workshop Price
Overview
This is a seascape-first workshop focused on landscape and coastal photography. We shoot twilight/blue hour → sunrise and golden light → sunset, building elegant blends and long-exposure control at world-class locations like Bombo Quarry, Cathedral Rocks and Minnamurra Headland.
Stay Partner — Nova Kiama: modern, central and minutes from all locations. Workshop guests receive 15% off, with no upfront payment and free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. February is busy in Kiama — please book your room early (no holding deposit required).
Astro, Compliance & Dark Skies
Because of permits with Sydney Water and Kiama Council, night photography sessions are not approved inside the Kiama LGA. Rather than risk client safety or operate outside our agreements, we elevate the experience.
After twilight/blue-hour seascapes in Kiama, we transition ~30 minutes south to a South Coast dark-sky beach (Shoalhaven). This site is fully approved and sits under Bortle 3 skies — two classes darker than Kiama/Wollongong — delivering cleaner Milky Way detail and richer colour.
In practice you’ll learn to track & stack the Milky Way for near-noiseless results, then create ethical blends by combining twilight foregrounds with your astro data. We reference PhotoPills for alignment so composites remain true-to-scene.
Why this workshop?
World-class locations
Basalt cathedrals, explosive wave hits, tidal pools and sweeping headland vistas — all within a tight radius.
Local’s shortcut
Years of on-the-rocks experience: tide windows, swell angles, safe access and composition blueprints.
Capture → Print
Post labs covering blue-hour blending, ethical astro compositing and print-ready finishing.
Small group, big learning
Maximum four photographers for true side-by-side coaching.
Locations at a Glance
- Bombo Quarry — volcanic hexagons, wave plumes, glass-off reflections.
- Cathedral Rocks — twin sea stacks and natural arch; side-lit sunrise colour.
- Minnamurra Headland — layered shelves, tidal pools; blue-hour fades and sunset colour.
- Shoalhaven dark-sky beach — wide, low-glow skies for tracked/stacked Milky Way under Bortle 3 conditions.
Field astro inside Kiama LGA is not included; Milky Way sky capture occurs in Shoalhaven to remain compliant.
What You’ll Master
In the Field
- Reading tides & swell for dynamic seascapes
- Wave motion vs tack-sharp drama via shutter control
- Twilight colour management & blue-hour foregrounds
- PhotoPills alignment planning (ethical composite prep)
In Post
- Natural blue-hour/twilight blends
- Ethical Milky Way compositing that stays true to location
- Noise-free sky with stacking/tracking data
- Print-ready sharpening & soft-proof workflow
Weekend Rhythm
| Day | Session | Location* |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Morning | Arrive & collect hire car | Sydney Airport |
| Thu 14:00 | Check-in & orientation | Kiama township |
| Thu Sunset | Golden-hour seascapes | Cathedral Rocks |
| Fri Pre-dawn | Blue hour → Sunrise | Bombo Quarry |
| Fri 09:00 | Post 1 — Coastal tones & exposure blending | Editing room (Nova Kiama) |
| Fri Sunset | Golden-hour seascapes | Cathedral Rocks / alt. |
| Sat Pre-dawn | Blue hour → Sunrise | Bombo / Minnamurra |
| Sat 09:00 | Post 2 — Ethical astro composites (PhotoPills, stacking) | Editing room (Nova Kiama) |
| Sat Sunset | Golden-hour seascapes | Minnamurra Headland |
| Sat Night | Tracked & stacked Milky Way session | Shoalhaven dark-sky beach |
| Sun Pre-dawn | Blue hour → Sunrise | Cathedral sea cave (tide-dep.) |
| Sun 08:30 | Post 3 — Final polish & print prep | Editing room (Nova Kiama) |
| Sun 11:30 | Farewell & depart | Kiama township |
*Exact spots flex with tide, swell & cloud cover. Milky Way sky capture is performed in Shoalhaven to remain compliant.
What’s Included
- All guided shoots & ground transport (airport pickup + local transfers)
- Daily post-processing labs (Lightroom & Photoshop)
- Comprehensive PDF field guide, cheat sheets & eBooks
- Lifetime email support for image feedback & gear questions
- Exclusive discounts on tripods & accessories (10–30% off)
- Personalised gear advice based on your current setup
Accommodation: self-book at Nova Kiama (15% off, no upfront payment, free cancel to 24 h). February fills fast — please reserve early.
Pricing
Workshop Tuition + Ground Transport
A$2,650 Early-Bird
A$3,250 Standard
Includes expert tuition, all transfers, guided shoots, editing sessions, permits and ongoing support.
Accommodation: self-book at Nova Kiama to access the 15% partner rate + flexible cancellation.
Reserve Your SpotFAQs
What skill level is required?
All levels welcome. We start with fundamentals and progress to advanced blue-hour blends and ethical astro composites.
Do we shoot astro in Kiama?
Night photography is not permitted inside Kiama LGA. We deliver astro in Shoalhaven under darker Bortle 3 skies with full approvals.
Why don’t you publish the exact astro spot?
We protect fragile coastal environments, minimise crowding, and reward paying students. You’ll receive precise coordinates and safety notes in your booking pack.
What camera gear do I need?
Interchangeable-lens camera with manual controls, wide-angle (14–24 mm or 16–35 mm), sturdy tripod, remote/intervalometer; ND/CPL optional.
Where do we stay and how does transport work?
Self-book at Nova Kiama (15% off; no upfront payment; free cancel to 24 h). Airport pickup and all local transfers are included.
What if the weather turns?
We adapt locations and run hands-on editing labs using pro-grade seascape and Milky Way source files.
Secure Your Spot
Four seats only per intake. February books out — reserve your Nova Kiama room early (no deposit required).
Reserve Your SpotTestimonials
"Dylan has put a lot of time and effort into this workshop. He is easy to understand and ensures each student gets the time they need to grasp the concepts. I really appreciated that there were only four students—Dylan spent plenty of time with each of us. The follow-up eBooks he created and published are a terrific way to reinforce the weekend and make sure the new techniques and knowledge really stick. Thank you Dylan—I really enjoyed the weekend and can’t wait to see what’s next."
– Jo
"Highly recommend Knighty’s Photography! You won’t be disappointed! I’ve done a few private workshops with Dylan over the last five years and it’s been great! Looking forward to my next workshop with Dylan!"
– Wendy K.
"Knighty's Astro photography session was an amazingly transformative and immersive experience as a beginner photographer... I came back with marvellous photos and newfound confidence."
– Amber
"I was absolutely stoked with the workshop... Dylan clarified a lot of the questions I had. Would love to do this again!"
– Workshop Participant
"Dylan was an attentive and knowledgeable instructor who was prepared to put in extra time... He made sure to check on all photographers and provided tailored advice."
– Participant Feedback
"The workshop was excellent. Dylan was very knowledgeable and professional. He went over and above to ensure we all had a great experience."
– Nikon School Attendee
"Even with the constant rain, Dylan kept me up to date and gave me peace of mind. The workshop clarified so many things that YouTube never could. Highly recommended!"
– Workshop Attendee
"I would highly recommend a Nikon School Workshop and Dylan Knight. He followed up with extra resources and provided a professional experience from start to finish."
– Nikon Workshop Participant