Noosa + Borumba Dam Photography Workshop (10–13 Sep 2026)
September is prime time for the west-setting Milky Way, but the coastline around Noosa is too bright to shoot it reliably. This small-group workshop is designed as a two-environment intensive: Noosa headlands and rainforest textures by day, then a dedicated dark-sky Milky Way session at Borumba Dam (around 40 minutes inland) when conditions align. You’ll shoot in the field, then consolidate with daily Lightroom/Photoshop labs (9:00am–12:00pm) so you leave with a workflow you can repeat.
Answer-first: This Noosa + Borumba Dam photography workshop (10–13 Sep 2026) is designed for photographers who want stronger sunrise/sunset seascapes, rainforest texture studies, and a repeatable Milky Way setup at a darker inland location. With max 3 participants, you’ll get hands-on coaching in the field, then consolidate with daily Lightroom/Photoshop labs (9am–12pm). Accommodation and transport are self-booked.
“Dylan clarified a lot of the questions I had. Would love to do this again!”
“An amazingly transformative experience as a beginner… I came back with marvellous photos and newfound confidence.”
Want a head start on Noosa compositions? Read the Noosa locations guide.
*Astro is always conditions dependent (cloud/haze/moon). The Borumba session is included because it offers darker skies than the coast for western Milky Way season (Jun–Oct).
Workshop snapshot
Short version: shoot hard, learn fast, and leave with a workflow you can repeat.
Noosa headlands, rainforest textures, and a dark-sky Milky Way session inland when conditions align.
Composition, settings, stability and focus checks with quick 1-on-1 help.
Lightroom Classic + Photoshop fundamentals for clean, natural-looking files.
More shooting time, more feedback, and less waiting around.
What happens after you book
This reduces travel stress. You’ll know where to be, what to bring, and how the weekend runs.
- You’ll receive a short confirmation email with next steps and a simple gear checklist.
- We’ll confirm meet points (general Noosa Heads area) and timing for the first shoot window.
- You’ll get recommended accommodation areas (Noosa Heads, Noosaville, Sunshine Beach) based on access.
- 48–24 hours out, I send a conditions check (tide/swell/wind/cloud) and the current Plan A/Plan B.
- On the ground, we brief before each session: safety, access, and the shot plan.
- Editing labs run Fri–Sun, 9:00am–12:00pm (bring a laptop if you have one).
- For the Borumba night session, you’ll get a simple driving/meet plan and timing notes.
- Questions before you commit? Email me and I’ll tell you plainly if it’s a good fit.
Workshop outcomes
Built around repeatable systems: how to plan, shoot, and finish images with less trial and error.
- Sunrise/sunset exposure control (including harsh contrast and sea spray)
- Long exposure technique: shutter choices, ND filters, stability, sharpness
- Composition on headlands: foregrounds, leading lines, visual hierarchy
- Rainforest shooting: texture studies, micro-composition, controlling highlights
- A simple, reliable night focus routine (so you stop guessing in the dark)
- Lightroom workflow: culling, global edits, colour, local adjustments
- Photoshop fundamentals: blending/stacking where relevant (kept practical)
- How to plan by conditions: tide, swell, wind, cloud and safer access windows
- Milky Way setup basics: framing, timing, exposure intent, clean files
- Personal critique + a next-steps practice plan you can follow at home
Locations and access approach
We keep it calm and practical. Locations are chosen based on light, conditions, and safe access.
- Noosa targets may include Tea Tree Bay, Granite Bay, Dolphin Point lookouts, Hell’s Gates, and Alexandria Bay (conditions permitting).
- Rainforest sessions focus on textures, ferns, creeks/waterfalls, and repeatable composition systems (exact spot chosen for safety + light).
- We plan around tide and swell. Some headland sections can be unsafe in certain conditions.
- Astro is not shot in Noosa National Park. For western Milky Way season we use Borumba Dam for darker skies.
- Permits/permissions are used where required for locations and activities.
- If conditions are poor, we shift to safer bays, different timing, or deeper editing labs.
Why Borumba Dam is included
A purpose-built astro session for west-setting Milky Way season (Jun–Oct).
- Noosa’s coastal light pollution makes western Milky Way scenes unreliable.
- Borumba Dam is around 40 minutes inland and typically offers darker skies for the western core.
- We run one dedicated Borumba session when forecasts and moon phase support it.
- This isn’t a “bonus add-on”. It’s planned as a highlight session with a clear workflow: setup, focus, exposure intent, and framing.
- If cloud or haze blocks the sky, you still learn the full night workflow and editing approach so it transfers to your home location.
- We keep it safe: conservative access, clear meeting points, and a fatigue-aware schedule.
Itinerary snapshot
A clear plan, with flexibility built in for weather and conditions.
Day 1 (Thu) – Travel day + Noosa sunset + brief
- Arrive and settle into your chosen accommodation
- Meet from mid-afternoon for a quick brief and settings check
- Sunset shoot (location chosen for safest conditions)
- Optional night technique foundations (conditions permitting)
Day 2 (Fri) – Sunrise + editing lab (9am–12pm) + rainforest + Borumba astro*
- Sunrise seascapes (conditions-led)
- Editing lab 9:00am–12:00pm (workflow, colour, local adjustments)
- Rainforest texture session (soft light focus)
- Evening: Borumba Dam Milky Way session when conditions align (around 40 minutes inland)
Day 3 (Sat) – Sunrise + editing lab (9am–12pm) + headlands sunset + optional night*
- Sunrise session (conditions-dependent)
- Editing lab 9:00am–12:00pm (finishing, blending basics where relevant)
- Rest and conditions planning
- Sunset on the headlands or sheltered bay option
- Optional second night session if skies and energy allow (technique-first)
Day 4 (Sun) – Editing + critique + wrap
- Editing + workshop review 9:00am–12:00pm (finish your best files)
- Photo critique and personalised next-steps plan
- Departure
Note: exact shoot times/locations are conditions-led for safety and the best workable light windows.
Inclusions, exclusions, and logistics
No surprises. Tuition is the focus so you can choose your own accommodation and travel style.
Guided field sessions, editing labs (9:00am–12:00pm), checklists/cheat sheets, and post-workshop email support.
Accommodation, meals, park fees (if applicable), and transport are self-booked. You’ll get recommendations in your pre-departure info.
We plan around safe access and conditions. We use permits/permissions where required and ask participants to follow park rules and on-site guidance.
Pricing and booking
Progressive tiering rewards early commitment. Pricing is in $AUD.
Deposit: AU$450 to secure your spot. Balance due 60 days before the workshop (full payment if booking within 30 days).
Safety, fitness, and night considerations
Coastal and night sessions are conditions-led. Safety and responsible access come first.
- Expect walks of roughly 1–6km with uneven ground and headland sections.
- We plan around tide, swell and wind, then choose the safest workable location.
- Bring closed shoes, a headlamp/torch, warm layers, and water.
- Night sessions depend on conditions and access, and may not run every night.
- Dylan Knight Photography holds $20M public liability insurance (details available on request).
- Permits/permissions are used where required for locations and activities.
- Drones are not part of the workshop. Rules can change, check CASA and local restrictions.
- Not a fit if: you want guaranteed astro, you can’t do uneven ground, or you’re uncomfortable near coastal edges.
Gear and software
Bring what you have. I’ll adapt the teaching to your kit.
DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls, a wide-angle lens, sturdy tripod, spare batteries, lens cloth, and a headlamp/torch.
ND filters (useful but not required), remote/intervalometer, fast wide lens for astro, and a laptop for editing labs.
Editing labs use Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. Subscriptions are not included.
Conditions plan (Plan B)
You still get a strong outcome even if swell, wind, or cloud changes the plan.
- High swell or unsafe headlands: we switch to sheltered bays and safer angles, and focus on composition and timing.
- Strong wind: we adjust shutter speeds, stabilisation, and subject choices, then tighten technique in the labs.
- Heavy cloud: we still shoot seascapes and rainforest, then use lab time to build a clean finishing workflow.
- No clear night sky: Borumba astro may not run. We’ll still teach the night setup process and editing approach so it transfers to your home location.
- How changes are communicated: a brief update 48–24 hours out, and a short on-the-day brief before each session.
- Success still looks like: better field decisions, cleaner files, and a repeatable workflow.
FAQs
Short answers first, then the detail that actually matters.
Is this a Noosa National Park workshop with astro?
Is the Milky Way shot inside Noosa National Park?
Will we definitely see the Milky Way?
Do I need to know manual mode?
Do I need a tripod?
Do I need ND filters?
Do I need a laptop for editing labs?
Is accommodation included?
Is transport included?
Are permits required?
Are drones part of the workshop?
What if the weather is bad?
Is the workshop insured?
What’s the cancellation and refund policy?
Helpful links: 2026 workshops overview · Priority list · Private workshops
Testimonials
"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