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Perseid Meteors over Mount Rainier

Sunrise Side of Mount Rainier
National Park

SKILL LEVEL

ACTIVITY LEVEL

CLASS SIZE

All skill levels

Easy

8 students

July 25th - 28th, 2025

One seat left!

3 DAYS |  $1,495

Trip Overview

  • We will explore the eastern side of Mt. Rainier National Park during this photo tour.

  • We will visit the Sunrise Side, which gives views of the Milky Way vertically aligning over Mt. Rainier.

  • You will capture breathtaking images of the Milky Way and alpine meadows around Mt. Rainier.

  • You will advance your photography skills in an exciting group setting.

  • As a former Mt. Rainier Astronomy Ranger and photographer of the Mt. Rainier National Park Service Forever Stamp I will show you the best locations for capturing the perfect photo.

Information

What is included?

  • Guided photography lessons in the field.

  • Learn proper camera settings for astrophotography and landscape photography.

  • Learn how to plan and scout locations.

  • Classroom time for image reviews with post-processing training in Photoshop and Lightroom.

What is not included?

  • Park entrance fee

  • Airfare, lodging, or rental car (when booking lodging please ensure you find a location on the eastern side of the park such as Packwood, WA)

  • Meals

  • Travel insurance

What should I bring?

  • DSLR/mirrorless SLR digital camera.

  • Wide angle lens such as 14-24mm. Also worth bringing are a 24-70mm and 70-200mm.

  • Sturdy tripod and ball head.

  • Multiple charged batteries, battery charger, and empty memory cards.

  • Shutter release cable (intervalometer).

  • Headlamp with a red light setting.

  • Laptop computer with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom installed.

  • Warm clothing, thermals, and rain gear.

  • * I recommend ordering a L-bracket for your camera body if you do not already have this accessory. L-brackets allow quickly swapping between landscape and portrait orientation while keeping portrait shots to remain centered over the tripod.

Physical Fitness Requirement:

  • Ability to hike up to 1 mile will be helpful for this workshop. Most photography locations are near the parking lots where we will be driving to and require only a few minutes hike.

Pricing:

  • This workshop costs $1,495 with a $800 deposit required to reserve a spot. The remaining balance is due 3 months prior the workshop. 3 % card processing fee is added at checkout.

Permits and Certifications:

  • We hold a valid National Park Service CUA permit to conduct a workshop in this park.
  • In the event of an emergency, I am certified in CPR and First Aid.
  • I am trained in the practice of Leave-no-Trace hiking and camping to protect the natural resources.
  • Lastly, I served as an Astronomy Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park where we received Interpretive Ranger Training on how to best facilitate visitor experience and learning!

Itinerary

Day 1:

 

We will start our adventure by meeting as a group at the Sunrise Visitor Center in Mt. Rainier National Park. Introductions will be made for students. After dinner, we will hike around the Sunrise area capturing the beautiful dark night skies. Sunrise offers a lot of great compositions, especially of the Milky Way directly over Mount Rainier.

Day 2:

 

Today we will meet for image reviews and photo editing covering basic and intermediate post-processing techniques. Tonight we will shoot at Tipsoo Lakes to photograph the night sky. This is a perfect location for capturing star trails, or panoramas of the lake.

Day 3:

 

Today we will meet for image reviews and photo editing covering advanced post-processing techniques. Tonight we will shoot at Sunrise again to photograph the night sky. This is a perfect location for capturing panoramas of the Milky Way with Mount Rainier in the frame.

Day 4:

Departure day.

Your Teacher

Hi! My name is Matt and I am a professional photographer with nearly two decades of experience and a passion for education. Along with a Master's degree in Geology and Planetary Science, I hold a teaching degree and was a National Park Service Astronomy Ranger. The goal of my workshops is to help teach my students so they reach their full photographic potential. Having students push their creative boundaries and enjoying themselves in the field behind the camera means everything to me. I know how exciting it is catching that inspiring moment with a camera and I love sharing that excitement with my students! When you sign up for my workshops you are not only enrolling in an educational trip, but you are joining a family of other workshop photographers who share your passion for travel and self-improvement.

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Cancellations + Refunds

Full refunds (excluding the deposit) will be given if a student has to withdraw, but must be requested no later than 6 months prior to the start of the workshop. 50% of the workshop payment (not including the deposit) will be refunded if requested within 4 months to the start of the tour. In the event of a weather related emergency, or any other circumstance causing the workshop to be canceled, a voucher for an upcoming workshop will be issued. We recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover your trip.

Acknowledgement of Risk

By joining this workshop you are acknowledging there at inherent risks during hiking and being in the outdoors. You accept full responsibility for taking care of yourself during this workshop. By joining the workshop you agree to not hold Matt Dieterich Photography, LLC liable for any injures or damaged equipment. I recommend having insurance on your equipment to protect your investment.

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Cell: +1 (412)-680-6408      Email: Matt@MattDieterich.com

© 2025 Matt Dieterich Photography, LLC. All rights reserved.

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