Join us on an adventure of a lifetime to capture the 2020 total solar eclipse in Chile!
During a solar eclipse, you'll witness the world around you becoming darker in what can only be described as a mesmerising and awe-inspiring moment. The Moon will pass between the Sun and the Earth, obscuring the light. As this occurs, the Moon's shadow is cast onto Earth, shrouding parts of it in darkness.
When a solar eclipse is viewed from most locations on our planet, the Sun will seem to be only partially covered by the Moon. A total eclipse is when the Moon completely obscures the Sun, leaving a faint ring of light in the sky known as a solar corona. This type of eclipse is rare and can only be witnessed in a narrow area within certain parts of the world.
In the current year, there will only be 2 solar eclipses, only one of which will occur in totality on the 14th December, 2020. It will be best seen from Chile and what makes this photography workshop unique is that you'll be perfectly placed to capture this rare natural phenomenon in all of its mindboggling beauty.
Although the focus of this photography workshop will be the solar eclipse itself, you'll also have the opportunity to experience the diverse and sprawling wild landscapes that exist in this remote region of Chile. From ancient araucaria forests to active volcanoes, deserts and salt plains, this mountainous area is bursting with photographic opportunities that will leave you breathless. Due to its location, there is very little light pollution at night and the dark skies make for the perfect recipe to observe the constellation of Orion rising over the Andes, as well as to spot the Magellanic Clouds – two irregular dwarf galaxies – which are able to be sighted on Earth only from the southern hemisphere.
For the duration of this tour, you'll be guided by three world-renowned photographers who are experts in planning and capturing solar eclipse phenomena. They'll make sure that you'll be in the best location at just the right time to make the most of this extraordinary event. Not only will they share their wealth of knowledge with you but they'll help you to capture photographs of the solar eclipse that you've only been dreaming of until now.
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to photograph the total solar eclipse in Chile 2020! Check availability by choosing a date.
On day two, we'll have breakfast before delving straight into the heart of the Conguillio National Park. Situated in the Araucanía Region of Chile, this park is home to spectacular lakes, lagoons and ancient forests rising high into the sky amidst remnants of volcanic activity.
Our first shoot for the day will be at the Trufultruful waterfall, one of the most marvellous attractions within the area. This waterfall makes for an astonishing sight, surrounded by lush green vegetation and beautiful mountains. We'll take our time capturing long exposures of this dreamlike scene before making our way to the next destination – the Arcoiris lake that appears to take on a myriad of colours just like a rainbow.
As the sun begins to near the horizon, we'll weave our way through the ancient araucaria forests that line the sides of the road, arriving at Lake Conguillio for a sunset session. If we are lucky, then we may spot a native fox or a giant woodpecker in the vicinity.
We'll then return to the hotel in the evening for dinner.
On day three, we'll continue our exploration of the Conguillio National Park, this time heading to the west. Along the way, we'll have views towards the glaciated Sierra Nevada stratovolcano, with its snowcapped peak rising high towards the sky, overlooking the plateau. This section of the park also offers spectacular prospects of capturing the snow-covered Llaima volcano with its astounding ridgelines, looming over the surrounding landscape.
On day four, we'll have breakfast before checking out of our hotel and moving on towards the adventure town of Pucón, deep within the Patagonian Andes. Here you will find a remarkable landscape characterised by natural hot springs, impressive waterfalls and stunning lakes. It's no wonder why we've chosen this location to witness the total solar eclipse.
Upon arrival in Pucón, we'll check in to our hotel and have lunch before heading back out with our cameras in hand. Our goal for the afternoon will be to capture the dreamlike quality of a number of waterfalls within the local area.
This evening, if the conditions are favourable, we'll head out for a night photography session beneath the stars. Our subject will be the Villarica volcano, which makes for a spectacular sight when the stars rise over its snowcapped peak. This permanently active volcano holds an active lava lake within its crater and often erupts with pyroclasts and lava flows, making for truly sensational images!
This is the day that we've all been waiting for – the advent of the total solar eclipse. In the morning, you'll receive a briefing from your guides to ensure that you'll be well-prepared to capture this extraordinary natural phenomenon when it occurs.
When the time is right, you'll head to a nearby location for the best view of the sky. Though this will depend largely upon the weather, your guides have some wonderful locations up their sleeves to make the most of what the conditions may bring.
Witnessing a total solar eclipse is one of the most unforgettable experiences on this planet. As the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, you'll have only a couple of minutes to capture this rare cosmic occurrence. It will be an exhilarating moment as you work quickly to make the most of your shots so don't forget to enjoy it as it happens!
Once the total solar eclipse is over, we'll enjoy a lovely picnic at the site, accompanied by fine Chilean wine. There may even be the opportunity for a spot of astrophotography at night if the skies remain clear.
Day six sees us rising early for a journey towards the Chilean-Argentinean border. This region is home to the icy, cone-shaped volcano, Lanín. Its iconic peak makes for a sensational sight, especially with its glaciated sides glistening beneath the light.
The highlight of the day will be capturing the unspoilt beauty of the Andean lakes as we cross through mountain passes, admiring the views all around. Fingers crossed that we'll spot the national bird of Chile, the Andean Condors – one of the largest flying land birds in the world.
We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas. The tour is always dependent on weather, as the weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, wildlife sightings are dependent on favourable conditions and there is no guarantee that they will appear on a given day.
Daniel was born in the Moscow area, Russia.
After graduating from art school he studied at Moscow’s institute of Physics and Technology, which pointed him toward a career as an optics physicist. During his studies he developed expertise not only in physics, but in mountain climbing and hiking.
He regularly led tourist groups during the holidays through the Russian mountains. Right after graduation he became a guide of photo workshops and chief editor of Continent Expedition magazine, a publication about travel and adventures all over the world.
Daniel has received several awards in photography: Golden Turtle’ 13 Nature nomination winner, National Geographic Russia contest 2013 and 2014 finalist, Best of Russia ’13 and ’14 winner, Best Photographer ’13 finalist, among others. He currently spends most of his time in Norway, scouring the Lofoten islands and in Tuscany, guiding groups of keen photographers.
Daniel was born in the Moscow area, Russia.
After graduating from art school he studied at Moscow’s institute of Physics and Technology, which pointed him toward a career as an optics physicist. During his studies he developed expertise not only in physics, but in mountain climbing and hiking.
He regularly led tourist groups during the holidays through the Russian mountains. Right after graduation he became a guide of photo workshops and chief editor of Continent Expedition magazine, a publication about travel and adventures all over the world.
Daniel has received several awards in photography: Golden Turtle’ 13 Nature nomination winner, National Geographic Russia contest 2013 and 2014 finalist, Best of Russia ’13 and ’14 winner, Best Photographer ’13 finalist, among others. He currently spends most of his time in Norway, scouring the Lofoten islands and in Tuscany, guiding groups of keen photographers.
Iurie Belegurschi is an award-winning fine art nature and landscape photographer, as well as the founder of Iceland Photo Tours.
Born in Moldova, Iurie developed an interest in photography from an early age after his uncle converted the family bathroom into a darkroom.
Iurie moved to Iceland in 2006. Drawn in by the incredible light and landscapes, he began traveling the country, with the camera in hand, in search of inspiration and honing his skills. Continually winning awards in international photography competitions, his images have been published and put on display in a number of leading publications and exhibitions.
In 2012 Iurie founded Iceland Photo Tours, with the ambition of sharing the many wonders Iceland has to offer with passionate photographers from around the world.
Iurie Belegurschi is an award-winning fine art nature and landscape photographer, as well as the founder of Iceland Photo Tours.
Born in Moldova, Iurie developed an interest in photography from an early age after his uncle converted the family bathroom into a darkroom.
Iurie moved to Iceland in 2006. Drawn in by the incredible light and landscapes, he began traveling the country, with the camera in hand, in search of inspiration and honing his skills. Continually winning awards in international photography competitions, his images have been published and put on display in a number of leading publications and exhibitions.
In 2012 Iurie founded Iceland Photo Tours, with the ambition of sharing the many wonders Iceland has to offer with passionate photographers from around the world.
Yuri is a professional astronomer and an award winning nightscape photographer based in Chile. He conducts scientific research and deals with modern astronomical instrumentation at one of the largets optical telescopes located in Atacama desert. He is an expert in astronomical photography and panoramic imaging of the night sky in particular. His images are known worldwide and have been featured in various books, magazines (Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, The Times magazine), popular websites, and on TV.
Yuri is an active contributor to NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), having more than 50 featured images on the NASA website. When not at the observatory, you can find him traveling around the world and sharing his passion for astrophotography and nightscape photography through lectures, private lessons, and workshops.
Kerry-Ann’s interest in astronomy started from a young age when she heard in the news that Halley’s Comet would be making a close approach to Earth. After getting her first telescope at the age of 11 and then her first SLR film camera as a teenager, she began to think of the possibilities of astrophotography.
As a space science undergraduate student at York University in Toronto she was a volunteer at the observatory where she aided in tours, observing sessions and research. Over the course of more than 15 years, she dabbled in astrophotography but it wasn't until the beginning of 2007 that she started to make big strides in the hobby.
She worked hard to improve her post-processing skills while dealing with light pollution and equipment shortfalls. Her work has ended up winning awards and has been featured in science textbooks, astronomy-related calendars, magazines and online publications such as Sky & Telescope, Sky News and NASA APOD. She shares her knowledge by doing speaking engagements and workshops for star parties, astronomy and camera clubs, plus the general public.
While enjoying this intensive hobby, Kerry-Ann lives in the Niagara region of Ontario Canada with her family. She works for The Weather Network (a Canadian National TV station) as a senior meteorologist and in her spare time flies small aeroplanes and travels around the world to capture unique nightscapes.
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