This is a two-part masterclass, including an astrophotography photo shoot (Friday 7th August), and an editing masterclass (Sunday 9th August).
Maximum of 8 people, so get in quick to secure your spot!
Part 1 Masterclass details:
This hands on astrophotography field workshop is designed to help participants confidently capture the night sky in real world conditions. Working on location in the Canterbury region, attendees will be guided through the full process of shooting the Milky Way, from arrival and setup through to creating strong images under the night sky. The focus is on practical, in field skills, including reading conditions, choosing effective compositions, and positioning subjects to create compelling results. Tom will provide real-time guidance throughout the session, helping participants refine their technique, dial in camera settings, achieve accurate focus in the dark, and adapt to changing conditions. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a clear, repeatable approach to astrophotography in the field, along with the confidence to plan and execute their own shoots independently.
The shoot will run for approximately 4–5 hours on location, covering:
– sunset setup and planning Â
– composition and foreground selection Â
– Milky Way shooting techniques Â
– real-time troubleshooting and guidance Â
Attendees should bring:
– Camera (DSLR or mirrorless with manual control) Â
– Wide-angle lens (ideally f/2.8 or faster) Â
– Tripod
– Spare batteries Â
– Headlamp (preferably with red light mode) Â
– Warm clothing as August can be very cold
When: Friday 7th August from 4pm, for 4-5 hours. If the weather is unsuitable, this masterclass will take place on Saturday at the same time. If the weather is unsuitable for both days, you will be refunded the portion of this masterclass, which is $300.
Where: Meet at the Majestic on Durham at the registration desk, transport will be provided.
Masterclass Part 2:
Darkness to Detail
In this masterclass, Tom Rae shares the complete end to end process behind his nightscape imagery, offering extensive insight into both the creative and technical decisions that shape his work. From identifying and planning locations in New Zealand’s dark sky environments, through to precise capture techniques and advanced post-processing, Tom breaks down a refined workflow designed to produce high resolution, impactful results. With a focus on both detail and intention, this session goes beyond settings to explore how strong images are crafted from concept to completion. Attendees will leave with a clear and practical framework for elevating their own night photography to a professional standard, with real world practical advice to help them to create their own competition worthy night sky images.
What you need to join in:
An understanding of Lightroom / Photoshop and experience with a camera.
Preferably you will bring a laptop with processing software (LR, Photoshop).
WHEN: Sunday 9th August 2026
TIME: 9.30am – 1pm
WHERE: Venue to be confirmed. We will update ticket holders in due course, this masterclass will be held in central Christchurch.Â
PRICE: $795.00 for conference ticket holders, $1395 for general admission.
All tickets purchased are NON REFUNDABLE. We have a very stringent policy in place. If you purchase a ticket in any of our sales, please do not ask for a refund. Purchase of a ticket is acceptance of these terms and conditions.
You may onsell your ticket to someone of the same ticket tier as you but must notify NZIPP of the name change as soon as possible. I.e: If you are an NZIPP member you may sell your ticket to an NZIPP member. You cannot onsell your member ticket to a non member.
Please print your emailed receipt following payment. Tickets will not be sent to you, but will be available at the front desk at New Zealand Photography Show, Majestic on Durham, Christchurch for collection from 4th August 2026.
Lunch is included for the New Zealand Photography Show on both Friday and Saturday.
Additional charges apply to activities outside of the New Zealand Photography Show two-day conference.
The event management reserve the right to amend speaker selection at any time.
Late arrivals may result in non-admittance until a suitable break in performance.
Members Tickets:
Purchase of the New Zealand Photography Show tickets at Member rates, based on relevant Institute/Society/Association, is conditional on being a full financial member at both the time of purchase and time of attendance at the event. The non-member rate will apply and any difference invoiced and payable if respective membership is not maintained.
If you are a Tertiary Student studying a relevant qualification you can apply for membership at NZIPP and take advantage of our NZIPP Member rates. Contact us today for more information
This ticket give you entries to the Sony prize draw. Visit www.nzphotoshow.co.nz/prize for more information.
Covid 19 Information for attendees:
This event will be held in line with governing laws that are in place at the time, and at the location of the event.
Non-Compete and Promotion Restrictions To protect the integrity of the New Zealand Photography Show and ensure a fair environment for all exhibitors, sponsors, and participants, ticket holders agree to the following conditions:
No Competing Events Ticket holders must not organise, host, or promote any event, workshop, session, or gathering — paid or unpaid — that directly competes with the New Zealand Photography Show during the dates of the event and within a 50-kilometre radius of the event venue.
No Promotion of External Events Attendees may not advertise, market, or distribute promotional material for any external events, workshops, tours, or commercial activities that are not officially approved by NZ Photography Show organisers.
No Solicitation Soliciting business, selling products or services, or recruiting attendees for external events or commercial activities is strictly prohibited unless expressly authorised in writing by the event organisers.
Breach of Terms The organisers reserve the right to remove any attendee who breaches these conditions, without refund, and to decline future ticket purchases.
Code of Conduct Policy:
We believe our community should be open for everyone. As such, we are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, beliefs or religion. We invite all sponsors, speakers, attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and other participants to help us realize a safe and positive experience for everyone. All attendees agree to the NZIPP Code of Conduct Policy which can be found here.
