Noosa & Borumba Dam Workshop
Four days shooting Noosa's world-class headlands and rainforest textures by day, then a dedicated dark-sky Milky Way session inland when September's west-setting core aligns. Small group. Real feedback. A workflow you can repeat.
Want to see the kind of images this trip produces? Take a look through the gallery.
Why Noosa. Why Borumba.
Noosa National Park offers some of the most photogenic headlands in Queensland — orange-lit granite, textured rainforest canopy, protected bays, and clean swell. September is prime for west-setting Milky Way season, but coastal light pollution means the real astro action happens inland. Borumba Dam is around 40 minutes into the Sunshine Coast hinterland and offers meaningfully darker skies for the western core.
The Headlands
Tea Tree Bay, Granite Bay, Hell's Gates, Dolphin Point — Noosa's headlands are defined by their textured rock platforms, sheltered bays, and the interplay between swell and light. In the first and last twenty minutes of sun, when the rock glows orange and the water turns green, it's among the finest coastal light in SEQ.
The Rainforest
The rainforest sections of Noosa National Park are a genuine contrast to the coast — ferns, filtered canopy light, creek textures, and micro-compositions that reward slower, more deliberate shooting. The soft, diffused light that makes coast shooting difficult makes rainforest texture work exceptional.
The Milky Way
September puts the western Milky Way core in ideal position for hinterland shooting. Borumba Dam gives you a dark foreground, open sky, and the kind of separation from coastal glow that makes the difference between a photo and a properly dark-sky image. This is a planned, purpose-built session — not an afterthought add-on.
The Editing
Daily Lightroom and Photoshop sessions from 9:00am–12:00pm let you consolidate what you shot the evening before. You're not waiting until you get home to figure out your workflow — you're building it in real time on your own files, with live feedback on what's working and what's not.
What you'll shoot
- Noosa headlands: sunrise and sunset seascapes, long exposures, wave motion, rock platform compositions
- Rainforest: texture studies, ferns, filtered light, micro-compositions, controlling highlights
- Borumba Dam: Milky Way session when conditions align — framing, setup, exposure, dark-sky workflow
- Bays and coves: sheltered options on high-swell days, alternative compositions and light angles
What you'll come home with
- A repeatable seascape workflow for any coastal location — exposure, timing, shutter choices
- Stronger composition instincts built on complex foregrounds: rock, water, sky
- Rainforest technique: texture, light management, micro-composition systems
- A reliable night focus and Milky Way setup routine that transfers anywhere
- A daily Lightroom/Photoshop workflow you can run at home from memory
- Confidence planning by conditions — tide, swell, wind, cloud, moon phase
What's included
- Guided field sessions across all sunrise, sunset, and night windows
- Daily editing sessions — Lightroom/Photoshop, 9:00am–12:00pm Fri–Sun
- Checklists, cheat sheets, and pre-workshop gear advice
- Post-workshop email support
- Access to NiSi filter discounts (I'm an authorised reseller)
Not included
- Accommodation (self-booked — Noosa Heads, Noosaville, or Sunshine Beach recommended)
- Meals and personal expenses
- Transport (self-drive with clear meeting points)
- Adobe Creative Cloud subscription
Who this is for
- Keen beginners through to intermediate photographers
- Anyone who wants a repeatable system, not just better snapshots
- Photographers chasing their first proper Milky Way shot with a structured plan behind it
Pricing
- AU$2,850 per photographer
- AU$700 deposit secures your place
- Balance due 30 days before the start date
- Maximum 4 photographers — small group, 2 places currently available
Logistics
- Self-drive to Noosa Heads — clear meet points provided after booking
- For the Borumba night session, you'll get a driving plan, timing notes, and a safety brief
- 48–24 hours before each session: conditions update (tide/swell/wind/cloud) and current Plan A/Plan B
- Questions before you commit? Email and I'll tell you plainly if it's a good fit
Four days, built around the light
Locations are conditions-led. We go where the light and swell take us — the schedule below is the target plan, with flexibility built in.
Arrive + brief + Noosa sunset
Settle in, meet mid-afternoon for a quick brief and settings check. Sunset session on the headlands (location chosen for best conditions on the day). Optional night technique foundations if skies allow.
Sunrise + editing (9am–12pm) + rainforest + Borumba astro*
Sunrise seascapes on the headlands. Editing session 9:00am–12:00pm — workflow, colour, local adjustments on last night's files. Rainforest texture session in soft afternoon light. Evening: dedicated Borumba Dam Milky Way session (conditions permitting).
Sunrise + editing (9am–12pm) + headlands sunset + optional night*
Sunrise session (conditions-dependent). Editing 9:00am–12:00pm — finishing, blending basics where relevant. Rest and conditions planning. Sunset on the headlands or sheltered bay. Optional second night session if skies and energy support it.
Editing + critique + debrief + wrap
Editing and workshop review 9:00am–12:00pm — finish your best files from the week. Personal critique and a tailored next-steps practice plan. Departure.
Locations and access
Sessions are chosen based on conditions, light, and what will deliver the best results on the day. We plan around tide and swell — some headland sections are unsafe in certain conditions and we'll always choose the better, safer angle.
Noosa National Park
- Tea Tree Bay
- Granite Bay
- Dolphin Point lookouts
- Hell's Gates
- Alexandria Bay (conditions permitting)
- Rainforest track sections (texture and canopy work)
Permitted commercial sessions. Sunrise, sunset, and rainforest sessions throughout the workshop.
Borumba Dam — Dark Sky Astro
- Around 40 minutes inland from Noosa Heads
- Planned dedicated night session on Day 2
- Western Milky Way season — Sep is prime position for the core
- Self-drive with a clear meet plan, timing notes, and safety brief provided
*Astro is always conditions dependent. If cloud or haze blocks the sky, you still work through the full night workflow on downloadable Milky Way RAW data from a clear night — the learning transfers regardless.
Gear you'll need
- Camera with manual controls (any brand)
- Sturdy tripod — non-negotiable for long exposure and astro
- Wide-angle lens (14–24mm ideal for astro and seascapes)
- Spare batteries and lens cloth
- Headtorch for night sessions
- Closed shoes, warm layers, and water for headland walks
- Laptop strongly recommended for editing sessions
Fitness and access
Expect walks of roughly 1–6km with uneven ground and headland sections. Moderate fitness and comfort on coastal terrain in low light is all you need. We plan around tide and swell and always choose the safe, workable angle.
Not a fit if: you want guaranteed astro, can't manage uneven ground, or are uncomfortable near coastal edges.
What past participants say
Real feedback from recent workshops.
"Before the workshop, my approach was simple — just take the shot. Now it's all about planning, preparation, and waiting for the light. Understanding light as the most fundamental element of composition was the real revelation. The total experience will exceed expectations."
"Dylan brings a depth of knowledge and experience that's rare — but what sets him apart is his genuine willingness to share all of it. I learned an enormous amount over the workshop, yet never once felt overwhelmed. The pace was right, the instruction was clear, and every concept built on the last. I'd recommend this without hesitation."
"I've done quite a few workshops with Dylan now, and I keep coming back for good reason. The planning that goes into finding the right locations at the right time for the best light is exceptional — nothing is left to chance. And the Milky Way sessions? Absolutely fantastic."
FAQs
Direct answers before you book.
What's the price and how do I book?
Is the Milky Way shot inside Noosa National Park?
Will we definitely see the Milky Way?
Do I need to know manual mode?
Is accommodation included?
Do I need a tripod?
Do I need ND filters?
Are permits in place?
What if the weather is bad?
Is the workshop insured?
Final 2 places. September 2026.
Noosa headlands, rainforest, and a dark-sky Milky Way session at Borumba Dam. AU$700 secures your spot.
*Astro sessions are weather and conditions dependent. If skies don't cooperate, the full workflow is still taught using downloadable Milky Way RAW data captured on a clear night.
