NightVision
Banff
Introduction to Night Photography
Take your night photography skills up a notch with the guidance of world-class astrophotographer and photo educator, Paul Zizka.
January 16-17, 2026
Banff, Canada
Join us under the dark skies…
Paul Zizka is an award-winning astrophotographer and Canon Pro renowned for capturing the magic of the night sky in some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. Featured by National Geographic, Washington Post, Outside Magazine, and Canadian Geographic, his work has inspired thousands to see the stars in a whole new way. Through his workshops, Zizka shares the techniques, creativity, and insider knowledge that have made him a leader in night photography—giving participants the tools and confidence to capture their own unforgettable images under the stars.
Banff National Park offers some of the darkest skies in Canada, thanks to its vast protected wilderness and minimal light pollution. Over this two-day workshop, Paul Zizka and his assistants, Stasia Schmidt and Lee Nordbye, will lead participants through a variety of night photography concepts, from preparing for an astrophotography session to image capture in the field and post-processing.
In the classroom, the event will include time for editing demos, critiquing, slideshows and lectures. In the field, we will be visiting a handful of locations that are known for their beauty in the daylight, but that look even more gorgeous under the night skies.
This workshop is suitable for all levels of photography.
Workshops Includes
all instruction with Paul and assistants
location scouting
classroom venue rental at The Juniper
in-class coffee/tea and refreshments
coffee/tea and snacks for field time
group dinner (Day 2)
You’ll Take Care Of
accommodations (see discount at The Juniper below)
transportation to and in workshop destination
most meals
alcoholic drinks
national park pass
travel insurance
Note: The workshop does not include accommodation and most meals, allowing you to plan according to your budget (find a discount code below). While transportation is not included, we will start a group forum prior to the workshop to help you connect with other participants to arrange car-sharing options.
Workshop participants receive a discount on
accommodations using the following details:
THE JUNIPER
15% off the best available rate
1 (403) 762-2281
USE THE CODE: GRB26
*Subject to availability.
Testimonials
“When you view Paul’s night time images, you know that learning astrophotography from such an accomplished photographer is your ticket to creating your own amazing images.”
— Terry Wityk
“Paul always runs great workshops that are fun and super informative. Paul and his associates are approachable and down-to-earth, which is very encouraging for beginners and experienced photographers alike. I always look forward to these events.”
— Isobel Springett
As a first-time attendee of Paul’s workshop, I was impressed with how organized the workshop was. The information brochure I received beforehand was detailed and sent out well in advance of the event, so I could plan on what I needed to bring. As a plan-ahead person, I appreciated this. The weekend, while professionally run, was casual and so much fun. Whatever level of photography you are at, you feel welcome in this group. I’m looking forward to Paul’s next workshop!
— Wendy Bertovic
“Whether you are just looking to get into astrophotography or hoping to take skills you may already have in that genre to the next level, learning from Paul and his staff will help you accomplish either of those goals. Watching Paul and his staff work in the field was a very rewarding experience and classroom learning was presented in a manner that made all concepts very easy to grasp for anyone with a general understanding of basic photography concepts.”
— Trevor Wold
“I’m not one to enjoy group workshops but thought I’d give the Banff at Night workshop a try. Paul’s workshop is a gem from the meticulous planning of the workshop to personalized instructions and eye-opening photo critiques. The environment was fun and conducive to learning. Light painting is something I’ve never done and I realized how useful this is in cloudy/snowy conditions. I highly recommend Paul’s workshops.
— Leah Raquino
The Itinerary
Itinerary is subject to change.
Day One
We will welcome you at 1pm at our in-class venue for introductions and workshop kickoff! For next next four hours we’ll take a deep dive into how to create compelling, eye-popping nighttime imagery. Among other topics, we’ll tackle how to prepare for a night out, how to properly capture images in the field, and how to overcome common hurdles associated with astrophotography. Coffee, tea, and refreshments will be served. After a break for dinner we’ll meet in the field at blue hour where Paul will be giving a demonstration of how he captures night images, followed by hands-on learning and instruction. We’re here to turn you into proficient night photographers! We will end the field session around 12:30am.
Day Two
Day Two starts with sleeping in so you can absorb as much as possible as we resume our learning together! We’ll start off at 12:30 with a little troubleshooting session of the previous nights’ issues, and then we’ll hop into more advanced topics, like aurora, start trail and Milky Way photography, followed by the always-inspiring image critiques. After a full afternoon of learning, we will head to a group dinner around 6pm, and meet again in the field at approximately around 9pm. Over the next 3 hours we’ll help you take your night photography up another notch, before we end with a group photo and say farewell!
Our Team
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Paul Zizka
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Paul Zizka is a Canon Pro mountain landscape and adventure photographer and a sought-after photo educator based in Banff, Canada. Whether it’s wading waist-deep into a glacier-fed lake or chasing auroras from dusk til dawn, Paul is known for an adventurous spirit that draws him to the extraordinary. In addition to eight published books, Paul’s award-winning photos have also been featured in a variety of publications, including National Geographic Adventure, Maclean’s, Outside Magazine, Washington Post, and Canadian Geographic. His client list includes the NHL, Apple, Westjet, Panasonic and Panasonic. [Photo: Stasia Schmidt]
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Stasia Schmidt
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Stasia Schmidt is an acclaimed fine art photographer based in Calgary, Alberta. Her landscapes and portraits show attention to simplicity and form; she is drawn to unexpected surrealism and creativity within the natural environment. Her work has been part of group exhibitions in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In addition to being the 2024 Canadian awardee of the Leica Women Foto Project, Stasia was recognized for her Ephemerality series in her home province of Alberta and she was declared the 2024 Emerging Artist of the Year by the Exposure Photography Festival. Her first art photo book, also titled Ephemerality, was released this spring.
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Lee Nordbye
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Lee Nordbye is a fine art landscape photographer, speaker, and teacher based in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. An award-winning and published photographer, Lee is known for a bold photographic style that highlights the intimate details and nuances of the natural world. His elegant and soulful approach to photography is matched by a passion to challenge himself, explore wild places, and have fun while doing it. Because who ever said that dad jokes, belly laughs and chocolate don’t belong amongst the finer things in life? [Photo: Amy Liu]
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Meghan J. Ward
MARKETING + LOGISTICS
A writer and creative entrepreneur based in Banff, Meghan takes time on the side to flex her sales and marketing skills for Paul Zizka Photography. She’s the ‘other half’ to Paul in numerous ways: as his wife, fellow adventurer and business partner. At Paul Zizka Photography she manages everything from brand to website, photo licensing, corporate sales and workshop logistics. She is the author of several books including a children’s book, The Wonders That I Find and a travel memoir, Lights to Guide Me Home. [Photo: Paul Zizka]
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Sabina Litherland
ADMIN + CLIENT RELATIONS
Sabina grew up in a household of creatives, raised by a ballet dancer and a pianist. It was inevitable she would pursue a career in the arts. After earning a degree in Drama and Music and a Certificate in Law from Queen’s University, she brought her passion to the Rockies, working in festivals and live events. She is thrilled to support the Paul Zizka Photography team in an administrative role. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, paddle boarding, and reading.
Workshop Dates:
January 16-17, 2026
Max 16 participants / Min. 8 participants
Investment:
$1,350 CAD + GST
Optional:
Deposit: $500 CAD + GST (non-refundable)
Balance due one month prior to workshop (we will send an invoice).
Workshop participants receive a discount on
accommodations using the following details:
THE JUNIPER
15% off the best available rate
1 (403) 762-2281
USE THE CODE: GRB26
*Subject to availability.
Cancellation:
Deposits and installments are non-refundable, unless you are able to sell your spot. In this case, we can provide a refund minus a $125 administration fee.
This workshop must have a minimum of 8 participants to run. Paul Zizka Photography will issue a full refund in case the workshop is fully cancelled.
We highly recommend that all participants have travel/medical/cancellation insurance.
