Astroscape is a genre of photography where we photograph the night sky with something on Earth in the foreground. We are heading to a total dark sky area in various country or coastal locations where we will have something in the foreground like a lake, trees, rock formations etc. We will teach you how to photograph the night sky to get amazing images of star trails, stars and the Milky Way.

All levels of photographers are catered for from beginner to professional. A camera and lens capable of full manual settings is necessary along with a tripod. Ideally your lens needs to be wide angle, with an aperture of between F1.4- F4.

The evening will start with a Sunset shoot at our location followed by a light meal after which we will return to our cameras for the main Astro shoot.

The all inclusive price of $175 includes a meal and all photographic instruction from Anna-Mair Francis, a formally trained photographer with years of experience teaching people to become better photographers. Full details will be given on booking.

Please note that these workshops take place in various locations and on different dates. Please check that you have chosen the correct venue that you wish to attend when you fill out your booking information.

Current dates: Point Peron, Sunday Sept 22nd 2024 (during the King's Birthday long weekend)

The world renowned extraordinary Numbang (Pinnacles) Desert with limestone pillars as far as the eye can see are a photographers dream. At sunset, which is often spectacular, we are provided with the perfect light to take photographs of this unique and other worldly landscape.

Although the Pinnacles (the Nambung Desert National Park) is our final destination we will stop along the way at various photographically interesting locations.  

After being picked up we will head to Yanchep Lagoon which offers many opportunities to practice seascapes. We travel north, stopping for a BBQ lunch en route, heading to Cervantes to check into our accommodation then on to the Pinnacles to photograph them in the changing afternoon light before sunset. As the sky changes colour it gives us an ethereal light on the rock formations around us.

We will have a picnic tea and then set up our cameras ready for some astro photography and the spectacular Milky Way.   

Day 2 we will head to the stromatolites before heading south to photograph some pristine sand dunes that are only accessible on foot. We will stop at some other points of photographic interest whilst heading back to Perth. 

The price includes transport pick up and drop off at Midland or Currambine Station; overnight accommodation; meals (2 lunches, 1 evening meal and 1 breakfast) and refreshments; Entrance fees to National Park and photographic support from Anna-Mair Francis. 

All levels of photographer  and cameras are welcome.

The tour is lead by accredited guide and professional photographer, Anna-Mair Francis who has many years experience in leading tours in Western Australia.

Please Note: the accommodation is in a 3 bedroom cottage with a shared bathroom. If you would rather stay at the nearby motel please contact us for rates. 

Please note: This tour needs a minimum of 2 people to run. Please contact me for details if you would like the price of a private experience.  

Although the Pinnacles (Nambung Desert National Park) is our main destination we will stop along the way at various photographically interesting locations and these can be changed if you would like to visit other places so long as time permits.

Our Journey will start either at a lovely nature reserve in the Chittering Valley which has a good variety of different wildflowers and orchids plus many iconic Balga or grass trees or Yanchep National Park which will give us the opportunity for wildlife, birds and flowers.  We will have a BBQ or picnic lunch along the way.  

We will enter the world renowned, extraordinary Numbung Desert with limestone pillars  as far as the eye can see are a photographer’s dream. We will be there in time to explore  the rock formations and textured sands before we set up for sunset. Sunset is often spectacular, with the rocks appearing to change colour as the Sun gets lower in the sky, providing us with the perfect light to take photographs of this unique and other worldly landscape.

We will depart to Perth after a picnic tea or BBQ and weather permitting, we will return to the sand dunes for some shots of the Milky Way before returning to our pick-up point at approximately 11pm.

All levels of photography are catered for from beginner to professional, point and press cameras to the latest DLSR model. We have knowledge of different makes and models of camera including full framed, cropped sensor and micro four thirds mirrorless cameras. We can provide tripods if required at a small cost. 

We provide for yourself or your party:

Transport to and from our pickup points either Midland Station, Greenwood Station  or Currambine Station (hotel pickup can be arranged at extra cost)

Water, Morning tea, Lunch, afternoon tea and picnic tea or BBQ after sunset

Photographic input from a professional photographer

Park entry fees

Children over 10 with a photographic interest are welcome to join you on tour but this is not suitable for children with no photographic interest. 

This tour will run with a minimum of 2 people. 

Day One: Following pickup at either Midland or Currambine Stations we head north stopping at either Yanchep National Park or the beautiful Yanchep Lagoon. Our Journey towards a bush reserve which has a wide variety of native flowers and if lucky some amazing lizards and golden orb spiders.

We then carry on our journey north, stopping at some pristine sand dunes before our BBQ lunch. 

The world renowned, extraordinary Numbung Desert with limestone pillars  as far as the eye can see are a photographers dream. At sunset, which is often spectacular, we are provided with the perfect light to
take photographs of this unique and other worldly landscape. 

Although the Pinnacles (the Nambung Desert National Park) is our final destination we will stop along the way at various photographically interesting locations.  

We will arrive at the Pinnacles well before sunset and give ourselves time to explore the area before the light begins to change. We will depart to Perth after a picnic tea in the Park whilst it gets dark before setting up for Astro photography with the Pinnacles as our foreground. 

We head to the harbour for our cruise with Turquoise Safaris to swim with the Sea lions (if you are not a swimmer you can observe the sea lions from the boat). Turquoise Safaris offers an authentic offshore Eco adventure specialising in smaller, more personalised groups exploring the Jurien Bay Marine Park and is operated by a Jurien Bay Local with the knowledge to ensure you experience the best the area has to offer.

All equipment including wetsuits is supplied, we have snacks, light refreshments and sunscreen on board. If you do not have an underwater camera a GoPro or similar can be hired for $50. We will need to know in advance if you require this to be arranged. 

We will explore Jurien Bay on our return and will have morning tea before heading Southwards towards Perth stopping at other places of photographic interest. Returning to your drop off point in the late afternoon. 

All levels of photography are catered for from beginner to professional, point and press cameras to the latest DLSR model. We have knowledge of different makes and models of camera including full framed, cropped sensor and micro four thirds. We can provide tripods if required at a small cost. 

We provide:

Transport to and from our pickup points either Midland Station or Currambine Station (hotel pickup can be arranged at a small charge)

tea/coffee/water, breakfast, lunch x 2 and evening meal (picnic tea in the Numbang National Park)

Overnight accommodation in a one or two bedroom holiday unit in Jurien Bay

Photographic input from a professional photographer

Park entry fees

Swimming with the Sea loins experience with Turquoise Safaris  (wetsuit, snorkel included) There is a non swimmer option too. 

What's not included: 

Meals not listed

Underwater camera or other camera equipment (hire of some equipment can be arranged) 

Pick up from hotel (can be arranged at additional cost) 

We recommend travel insurance for all our tours

Customising your own tour means that you can have everything you would like to do and see without sharing the experience with strangers. We can go at your pace so that you can slow as you like and not having to keep up with the masses. 

Choose from one day tour to as many days as you want to travel for. We will arrange your accommodation, transport, most meals (on a guided tour), entry fees, activities and photographic input. Each itinerary will be priced according to the content and duration so please send me an enquiry via my email below and start a conversation. Although the initial contact comes at no cost, a non refundable charge of $AUD 550 will be invoiced to you for me work on producing your itinerary. If you book the tour this amount is considered part of your deposit and will be taken from your final balance. If your tour is more complexed or for a large group involving more research and background work for me than that amount will double but again will come off your final balance if you go ahead with the tour. 

Whilst most of our tours are guided by Anna-Mair Francis I have also organised self guided tours for clients within Western Australia and other states & territories. I have many contacts with other tourism business so can arrange extra experiences such as scenic flights (with the doors off if you want uninterrupted views), cruises to view sealife or swim with seals or whale sharks, hot air ballooning and many other amazing experiences. 

I welcome the opportunity to produce a tour for your camera club, wildflower society, bird watching group or other organisation that wants to see Western Australia in a different way. The price can end up with you having a tour which per head ends up very competitive and it will be organised by someone with not only has great photographic knowledge and skills but is also so much local knowledge of the State and wildflowers as well as being fully licenced, insured and accredited with Quality Tourism Western Australia. 

Contact Anna-Mair Francis via [email protected] or call +61 (0)401 840 516 remembering that Perth uses GMT+8 time zone. I am on WhatsApp. 

Numbang Station is a working cattle station at the back end of the Numbang National Park (The Pinnacles). It has private access to some spectacular sand dunes of different coloured sands which continually change covering or uncovering pinnacles. It's part of what is called the Painted Desert with some sand is white whilst others are almost red and shades in between. As it's on long way from the public access and although you could walk there from the main site people rarely do so the only way to get there is to stay at the station and visit on their guided tour.

There are 4 different prices starting at $275 for an unpowered tent site to single occupancy of onsite caravan at $565 all details below. 
We will head out in the afternoon to shoot the landscape during the golden hour and then return just after dawn to photograph in the soft morning light as well. The different light will give us very different results giving us beautiful photographs of the rock formations and the textured sands.
We have chosen a dark sky night so that we can do some astro photography as well although this will be near the accommodation site and not the Pinnacles.
The area will give us the opportunity for wildflowers too with the station having large areas of bush with some orchids and other wildflowers for us to practise macro photography. There are also animals, both wild and agricultural, around which we can shoot as well.
This is self drive so I will meet you on site by 2pm. I may be able to take a couple of people with me but that will be at an extra charge.
I will provide dinner, breakfast and lunch tbc plus the photographic input.
There are 3 levels of accommodation which gives us 4 price choices.
There are a few old onsite caravans which do not have a bathroom but they are close to the toilet/shower complex. The caravans are basic but clean and can accommodate between 1-4 people. I am quoting for either single occupancy or twin share but get in touch with me if you would like to bring a few friends and share one caravan together then please get in touch with me for a revised price. There are also powered and unpowered sites so if you want to bring your own caravan, camper or tent then you can do that. I have quoted camping with one person on site but again if you are going to share the site with other people please get in touch for a new price.
On site caravan Single occupancy $565
On site caravan Twin occupancy $365 each
Powered camping site $295
Unpowered camping site $275

If you need to get in contact with me if you have any questions via [email protected] or text me +61(0)401 840 516