Madera Canyon Star Trails - Wednesday 12/09/2026
Trip Cost: $10
The Milky Way is not visible in Green Valley from November until March, but there are plenty of stars! Star trails is an interesting and creative way to practice astrophotography in December. And Madera Canyon is a truly dark spot in our neighborhood and a great place to capture star trails!
We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 6:00 PM for carpooling, departing at 6:15 PM for the Proctor Parking Lot at the entrance to Madera Canyon. This is an outdoor event, so be sure to dress appropriately and wear comfortable shoes. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $2.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.
You'll need a camera with manual settings and a sturdy tripod. It is highly recommended that your camera also support timelapse, and we will shoot for 100 minutes or so of total exposure time. You can try and use a cell phone with a tripod, but a full camera will produce better results. It is important that you know how to set up your camera in the dark with minimal lights so as not to disturb other’s images.
If the weather does not look good, we'll reschedule for either December 10 or 11.
Cliff DeJong will be the trip leader. For questions, call Cliff at 720-340-9194 or email at CliffDeJong@gmail.com. He will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event. Please add your trip leader's email and phone number to your contact list so you don't miss out on any important updates.
Cliff will host a session at the club a few days after this field trip to show how to process multiple star images into star trails and even produce a short video of the star trails.
GVR requires that every person participating in the club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability. You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs if you haven't already done so.
The last date to cancel for a refund is December 2, 2026. If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at 719-351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com. We may have people on the wait list to take your place.
If you have to cancel on the day of the trip, please call Cliff as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.
NOTICE:
All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.
Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement. To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.
We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.
In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.
The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.