ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

Are you ready to spend 5 days in the Florida Keys with two of those nights 2 nights at Dry Tortugas National Park / Fort Jefferson and have the experience of a lifetime? If so, then this is the workshop for you!  Fort Jefferson is an extremely isolated island 75 miles west of Key West, FL. Fort Jefferson is actually closer to Cuba than Key West. The first two days/nights will be spent in lower keys, followed by 2 incredible nights camping at Fort Jefferson / Dry Tortugas. The annual Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is underway during our stay and we will be rewarded with meteor's both nights! The price of this workshop includes the ferry ride out to the island, and back! 

During the day, we will be explore the Fort and it's amazing architecture, beautiful crystal clear waters, wildlife and much more. Snorkeling gear is included with the ferry ride and it is a ton of fun. We will also have time to relax and soak up that beautiful Floridian Sun while we enjoy one of the best kept secrets in the National Park Service. Each night we will shoot sunset and get ready for another night filled with the zodiac light, milky way, and some truly dark and secluded night skies. 

ETA AQUARID METEOR | FORT JEFFERSON

We will be self sufficient the ENTIRE time on the island, with camera gear, food, water, etc. An entire camping list, photo gear list, packing tips, maps and all specifics will be sent out to all participants. If you don't like the beach, camping, or incredibly dark skies, this probably isn't the right workshop for you. If you love stars and want to experience something very few people do, this is the place to be, trust me! The crescent moon (22%) will set at midnight giving us opportunity to photograph the island in a variety of lighting conditions. The moon will set as the milky way rises giving us dark skies for the entire night. You will need to buy your water, food, and ice to put in the cooler for the duration of the stay. The ferry will also be docked each day between 10:15am and 3:00pm where you can purchase food and drinks. After 3:00pm the ferry and day visitors leave and the island is ours! Not to worry, I have never seen a mosquito here, so you do not have to worry about bugs either!

ETA AQUARID METEOR AND FORT JEFFERSON FORT JEFFERSON | DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK

WORKSHOP INCLUDES

• Commercial Permits & Special Use Permit Fees                  ($1,000.00 value)
• Park Fees / Camping Fees for 2 nights on Dry Tortugas        ($50.00+ value)
• Ferry ride to Ft. Jeffersona and back to Dry Tortugas          ($200.00+ value)
• Milky Way & Meteor Shower photography and observation
• Sunrise and Sunset Shoots
• Zodiac Light photo ops
• Star Trail Photography
• Timelapse Photography
• Post Processing in Adobe CC/CS,  Adobe Lightroom Video Tutorials
• Weather guards for your cameras
• 1 FREE lunch on the Ferry / 1 FREE breakfast on the Ferry
• Maps and trip details
• ** possible special access to private locations inside the fort**
• 5 days of picking my brain

FLORIDA KEYS MILKY WAY

PHOTO EQUIPMENT LIST

• DSLR
• Fast Wide Angle Lens for Night Sky and Architecture Photography
• Mid Range and Telephoto for wildlife and nature (optional)
• Sturdy Tripod for night sky photography
• Cable Release
• Headlamp with a " RED LIGHT"   (INCLUDED IN THIS WORKSHOP)
• A back up flashlight is always a good idea.
• If you want to rent a lens check out www.borrowlenses.com  They have some great deals there
• Bring your laptop if you wish to go over post processing tips and techniques with me on the island
• At times dew may form late at night, I suggest bringing a dew heater or some hand / foot warmers.

DRY TORTUGAS MILKY WAY STORM

CAMPING EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDED 

• 1 person lightweight tent  ( you can find some online for around $100.00 / Let me know if you need help finding one)
• Sleeping Bag / Sleeping pad
• Camping Pillow
• Towel / swimsuit / suntan lotion
• Hat / glasses
• Cooler for food, beer, water, ice, etc..
• A decent photo bag to carry everything for 2 nights. includes, cameras, clothes, tent. Most items can be attached to the bag.
• You do not need many pairs of clothes for the island. Every time I go, I always bring too much.. basically what you wear over and 1 change
• A full checklist will be supplied to all registered photographers. I have done this 6 times and I always pack way to much, a suggestion list will be sent to all registered patrons, but really just one change of clothes is all you need to bring with you to the island and a swimsuit + towel.

ZODIACAL ISLAND LIGHTZodiacal Light

SOME THINGS YOU WILL SEE

WEATHER

The weather is typically gorgeous here in May, but we never know what the weather will bring . The only way to stay overnight at Fort Jefferson is by camping. Rain or shine, we will battle through whatever it is we are faced with and come away with amazing images during the day and at night. We will spend 2 nights on the island to make sure we maximize out chances of getting those amazing pics. I have been on the island 12 nights in April and May and have always had great weather, one time, we had a storm around midnight and then it cleared up right after for the rest of the night! But we got some nice storms shots! If there is a storm, we can hang out sinde the fort until is passes.. it is so much fun

HEAVY SKIES

MOSQUITOS / WILDLIFE

My experiences at Fort Jefferson have been amazing. Matter of fact, I have never seen a mosquito there in my 12+ nights camping here. I have seen some nice hermit crabs, but they never bother anyone. Mosquitos like standing water, you will not find that here at Fort Jefferson since you are completely surrounded by ocean and a constant breeze blows away any insects that could be around. Odds are we will see no bugs at all, well... maybe a fly!

THE FORT

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation to and from the workshop is not included. Your ferry ticket to the island and back is included in this tour. I will give you our reservation # when you sign up, but there is nothing you need to do. There is a small chance the boat could be delayed departing to the island and that is the rish that we all take here.

TROPICAL MORNINGDry Tortugas National Park, Fort Jefferson, Florida

LODGING

Lodging is provided at Dry Tortugas in the form of tent camping for 2 nights. There are no hotels there or food shops, just a Fort, Sand and beautiful waters with millions of stars. The first 2 nights hotel accommodations are not included in the workshop. Please make a reservation in Key West for the nights of May 2nd and 3rd, 2022. 

FORTIFIEDSunset at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida BROKENBahia Honda State Park, Florida, 2015

DEPOSIT

A non-refundable deposit of $800.00 is due to reserve your spot on the trip. If you need to cancel at any point, you will be credited the amount paid towards a future workshop, unless we find someone to take your spot. If someone can take your spot a full refund will be issued. We are sorry, but due to the nature of this workshop, no cash refunds can be issued once you commit to this adventure. The remaining balance is due no later than 4 months before departure.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Jeff Berkes Photography reserves the right to make changes to the schedule, dates if need be. We are not responsible for bad weather, delays or cancellations from airlines or from our transportation to and from Dry Tortugas. We are also not responsible for lost or stolen items, injuries, sickness, death or damages to personal equipment and lost of personal travel expense. Failure to comply to park rules, regulations and will result in you being ejected from the workshop.  

COALING DOCKS UNDER MOONLIGHT

SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY!