NIGHT (panoramic) PHOTOGRAPHY theory, practice, and editing

online course

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10th January - 11th January 2026

Turn your night skies into print-ready masterpieces in just one weekend — live online training in landscape & panoramic night photography, aurora and pro-level editing with Jan Šmíd, Master QEP.

Master Night & Panoramic Photography — Learn, Shoot & Edit Like a Pro | Online Course

🚀 I’d like to invite you to join my comprehensive two-day online training in night and astro landscape photography. This intensive course goes far beyond the basics — we’ll dive deep into night panoramas, Milky Way photography, aurora borealis, and advanced post-processing techniques.

Across two packed days, you’ll gain a complete workflow:

  • 🌌 Theory and preparation — how to plan, scout, and approach night shooting in different conditions.

  • 📸 Field practice — the exact steps to capture sharp stars, clean foregrounds, and seamless night panoramas, including the use of star trackers and dedicated night filters.

  • 🖥 Post-processing mastery — from raw development to blending exposures, noise reduction, and preparing professional-grade files for large-format prints.

  • ❄️ Special focus on aurora borealis — how to photograph and edit northern lights for maximum impact.

And here’s the best part: if you can’t join live, you won’t miss a thing. Every participant receives over 6 hours of recorded sessions, so you can rewatch, pause, and practice at your own pace.

This is not just another photography tutorial — it’s a complete online course designed to transform how you approach the night sky.

Milky Way over the Dolomites used as promo image for Jan Šmíd’s 2-day Online Night Photography Editing Course 2026 (cz: online kurz úpravy nočních fotografií 2026).

❓ FAQ: Night Photography, online course fall 2026

  • Landscape photographers of all levels who want to master night and astro photography — from panoramas and Milky Way shots to aurora borealis.

  • No problem. All participants receive over 6 hours of video recordings, so you can learn anytime, anywhere.

  • Absolutely. We dedicate time to both capturing and editing the northern lights, with practical examples and workflows.

  • Yes! A full section is dedicated to post-processing — from RAW development and blending exposures to preparing files for professional print.

  • Ano. I když je kurz veden v angličtině, čeští i slovenští fotografové se účastní velmi často. Všechno vysvětlujeme jasně, srozumitelně a krok za krokem — úpravy, maskování, skládání panoramat, práce s hvězdami i aurorou. Jazykové bariéry se bát nemusíte, podporu máte po celou dobu kurzu.

Night landscape of the Dolomites with stars above Cinque Torri – example photo from Jan Šmíd’s online night-photography course (cz: kurz noční fotografie).

✨ Why This Course Stands Out

Are you just starting out with night landscape photography? Have you been practicing night landscape photography but still feel it’s not quite right? Have you captured numerous night photos in the field but struggle with editing them? Unsure how to create masks properly? Are you facing issues with masking errors, such as in compositions with trees in the sky? Do you not know how to create a night panorama? Uncertain about photographing the aurora borealis? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then this course is perfect for you...

Milky Way arch above a small illuminated chapel in Šumava during a night-landscape photography session – promo image for Jan Šmíd’s Night Photography Editing Course 2026 (cz: noční fotografie Šumava, foto kurz úpravy nočních fotek).
  • Location: online

  • Date: 21st November - 22nd November 2025

  • Number of participants: max. 6 photographers

  • Lecturer: Jan Šmíd (Master QEP certification)

  • Price per person: 499 USD

  • Language: English

    (🇨🇿 kurz je veden v angličtině. Pokud vám to nevyhovuje, informujte se termíny připravovaných kurzů, které probíhají výhradně v češtině)

  • If the scheduled date doesn’t work for you and you wish to participate in the course live (rather than just accessing the recording), please inquire about other possible or individual dates!

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Northern Lights over Lofoten coastline – vibrant aurora arch reflecting in winter fjord (cz: polární záře Lofoty, noční fotografování, fotoexpedice).
Aurora Borealis above Norwegian mountain ridges during night landscape photography workshop (cz: polární záře Norsko, noční fotografování).

👩‍🎓 Is This Course Right for You?

This photography course is designed for photographers interested in night landscape photography. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced landscape photographer or just starting with night photography. In this course, you will learn about the theory and practice of night photography, including techniques for editing, especially panoramic images - from processing RAW files to preparing final photographs for print. You'll also discover how to capture and edit the aurora borealis and more.

Milky Way above Tuscan cypress grove during night landscape photography workshop (cz: Mléčná dráha Toskánsko, noční fotografování).

🌌 2-Day Night Photography Program

👋 Online meeting of participants – quick welcome, technical check, and introductions.

📖 Introduction to the program – overview of the 2-day agenda and course goals.

🌌 Lectures on theory and practice – planning, shooting techniques, night panoramas, and photographing the aurora borealis.

🖥 RAW editing & software workflow – PTGui for panoramas, Photoshop for exposure blending, masks, precise selections, sharpening, and preparing images for web and print.

💬 Discussions & Q&A – interactive session to answer questions and provide direct feedback.

Included

✅ 2 online meetings 3 h each.

✅ RAW files.

✅ Video recordings of the meetings.

✅ Free consulting after a period of practice (usually it’s suggested after some months).

Milky Way above ancient tree on Madeira during night landscape photography workshop (cz: Mléčná dráha Madeira, noční fotografování).

Recommended equipment

A laptop or computer with a camera, Zoom (online version, no payment required). Software: Photoshop and PTGui Pro (trial version is sufficient, available for free download on the PTGui website).

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