Pre-Conference Program

Aurora Summit 25: Photography Bootcamp

Join us for our highly sought-after night photography bootcamp! Please note that all details for the Aurora Summit will be finalized by June. We will launch registration in June, as we do every year, and we will also open the hotel block for room reservations in June. Details below are a good representation of what you will get in our Photography Bootcamp, however they are subject to change.

Instructor: Marc Rassel
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: The Aurora Summit grounds, Red Cliff, Wisconsin (Learn More)
Meals: Lunch included!
Cost: $89, in addition to conference admission
This is an exclusive offer for Aurora Summit guests only, must be registered to attend.

AS25 Photography Bootcamp Program

Program may be subject to change. Admission to Aurora Summit 25 required to attend.

Boot Camp 2025
9:00 – 9:15: Introduction and Background
9:15 – 9:45: Gear and Equipment for Night Photography
Field safety, cameras, lenses, tripods, ball heads, accessories, filters, example kits from budget-friendly to intermediate and advanced, stability, remote versus delayed shutter, intervalometers, night shooting etiquette and our responsibility as nature photographers.

9:45 – 10:00: Setting up for success
Key settings; manual focus; ways to focus, including zoom on a star, focus filter or bahtinov mask, the question of tapping your lens from the internet; learn your camera in the dark before the shoot, know how to adjust ISO, shutter and aperture.

10:00 – 10:15: Break Time
10:15 – 11:30: Night settings
Understanding noise and other technical considerations; Basic settings and things to consider (make sure everything is tight!); Understanding composition and adjusting for a moving subject (aurora); Adjusting for the light; Fast aurora versus slow settings.

11:30 – 12:00: Discussion about Timelapse
Settings changes from manual imaging (Setting your WB); Setting up the timelapse
o Composition and Planning for changing skies, including Understanding and setting your intervalometer and Theory on timelapses : what will make or break them.

12:00 – 1:30: Lunch
1:30 – 2:00: Basic Single-Image Processing
Basic editing in Lightroom, Intermediate techniques in Photoshop

2:00 – 2:45: Timelapse Pre-Processing
Lightroom; Basic Adjustments and what NOT to edit; Batch processing vs Lightroom sync; What do you want to emphasize? What makes a timelapse appealing? Should we be using Photoshop?

2:45 – 3:45: Timelapse Rendering
LR Timelapse – the premiere option; Can it be done in Lightroom or Photoshop?; Tips and tricks for better quality.

3:45 – 4:30: Small group support on specific camera settings
and functions. (With the help of brand ambassadors in the
room)

Coming Soon! Check back to see the full Aurora Summit 25 Schedule.