Workshops / Photo tours
For beginners and professionals alike. Join the world's only workshop devoted to capturing sunset and nighttime storms, along with the red sprite and transient luminous event phenomena.
A photo tour with a unique blend of storm chasing and astrophotography. Established in 2020 and with a 100% success rate.
Pursue the most beautiful of storms and the most coveted night sky image trophies with Paul M Smith Photography, a guide who has years of experience in capturing hundreds of such images from all over the USA. Join in on the ultimate nighttime photography/ chasing adventure under lightning-filled skies during the notoriously volatile spring and summer storm season of the US plains. Ultimately, be one of a small collection of people who can say they have seen/captured an amazing and beautifully unique red sprite event on camera. Currently in the fifth year with a 100% success rate for Red Sprite captures. Whether a photography beginner or a seasoned professional, this will be a night sky adventure you will never forget.
2026 Workshops
Three-night workshop dates 2026:
Workshops will involve three guests plus Paul, and will take place within a 2-6 hour drive of Oklahoma City. Although it is certainly possible to get sprite images when there is light interference from the moon, to provide the best possible conditions for captures, the following dates have been chosen to coincide with the darkest phases of the moon or when the moon rises late in the night.
Apr 16th - 19th Photo tour (3 nights- Arrive before noon Apr 16th, leave afternoon Apr 19th). Fly in and out of Oklahoma City.
This workshop takes place within the new moon period of the early severe weather season on the southern plains. Dark skies and storms await on the plains of the central US as wildflowers bloom and the Milky Way returns on the horizon, complementing the scene. A great time to observe huge mesoscale convective systems form and grind their way across the plains in the overnight hours. Any manner of TLE can be expected as sweeping dry lines, warm fronts, and moisture collide with electric fury. Being close to the Lyrid meteor shower peak, this period could also include some stunning fireballs in the night sky.
Transportation during the workshop and single hotel rooms are included in the price. Flights and food are not included
Buy April 2026 Sprite Photo Tour Here
May 15th - 18th Photo tour (3 nights- Arrive before noon May 15th, leave afternoon May 18th). Fly in and out of Oklahoma City.
This workshop takes place within the new moon period of the peak severe weather season on the southern plains. There will be incredible opportunities for sunset supercells, distant nighttime updrafts, lightning, and other storm structures before red sprite photography. This is a great opportunity to observe classic sprite storms, as large storm systems sweep across the plains. Great potential exists for large dancing sprite events and secondary jets among other TLE's.
Transportation during the workshop and single hotel rooms are included in the price. Flights and food are not included.
Buy May 2026 Sprite Photo Tour Here
June 13th - 16th 2026 (3 nights- Arrive before noon June 13th, leave afternoon June 16th). Fly in and out of the Oklahoma City airport. This is the peak season for severe weather opportunities in the plains. The Milky Way is high in the sky, and lightning bugs can be found to complement nighttime shoots. This is a great chance to chase sprites over large and powerful storm systems from some of the darkest and most picturesque terrain in the U.S. There is a great likelihood of catching the green ghost phenomenon during this period, as large, charge-pooling storms move slowly during the overnight hours.
Transportation during the workshop and single hotel rooms are included in the price. Flights and food are not included
Buy June 2026 Sprite Photo Tour Here.
July 12th - 15th 2026 Photo Tour (3 nights- Arrive before noon July 12th and leave afternoon July 15th). Fly in and out of Oklahoma City.
This workshop could have us chasing anywhere from the desolate deserts of New Mexico to the plains of the Dakotas. Many exciting opportunities await, with chances of aurora, noctilucent clouds, and strong airglow bands complementing red sprites and storm scenes. It is also a period in which the conditions for super-rare gigantic jets are ripe.
Transportation during the workshop and single hotel rooms are included in the price. Flights and food are not included
Buy July 2026 Sprite Photo Tour Here
Three-night workshop: What is included?:
- Accommodation for all nights through the trip. (Single occupancy)
- Transportation throughout the duration of your trip, including pick up and drop off at the designated airport**.
- Personal image post-processing tips from Paul Smith.
- Private tours, hotel upgrades, and vehicle upgrades are available. Email for details.
- What is not included: airfare, equipment, and meals.
What to expect from a stormy night sky workshop:
First and foremost, even though every single one of Paul's workshop guests has observed Red Sprites with their eyes, we cannot guarantee naked-eye viewing of sprites. If we are lucky enough to get the perfect distance from a strong sprite storm in dark skies, we could likely view them with our night-adjusted eyes. This is the experience Paul strives for with each of his guests.
The workshop will start in Oklahoma, the center of tornado alley, and may end in any of the adjacent states. Usually, there will be 2-6 hours of driving to get positioned for storms and dark skies on any night. There will be three passengers per vehicle, and Paul will be your personal guide throughout.
Forecasting a general area can be done a couple of days in advance, but usually, honed decisions will be made around 4 pm the night of the chase. An early, hearty supper is recommended before the chase begins, and then there will be opportunities for gas station breaks as the night goes on. The schedule is organic with ongoing forecasting and repositioning possible during the day, and some days may involve long travel, with fast food dining as the best option.
Though focused mostly on sprites, blue jets, and other TLEs, the workshop will also include other stunning photographic opportunities. Spectacular sunsets, storm structures, lightning, and possibly even a long-range tornado or two could be encountered at any time. Paul prides himself on finding the most amazingly photogenic skies and scenes wherever they manifest.
Taking full advantage of the sunset, twilight, and early morning hours, some epic images of severe weather-related events with the most amazing light can be captured.
If cloud-free skies seem to be completely out of the question for any given night, we will probably opt to get closer to the storms for some lightning and storm structure photography.
**Please note, safety comes first in our workshops, and we are not a tornado-chasing tour. We will not be attempting nighttime tornado chases or severe storm punching. **
If storms are non-productive or out of range, we may opt to capture some dark sky Milky Way imagery. The southern plains are littered with unique photogenic subjects.
With the potential of a heavy travel schedule and lots of travel in the dark, it is recommended that you arrive well-rested and ready for an adventure. The typical chase will involve a 3 pm meetup for an early supper, and from there, it is go time until the early hours of the morning. We will plan on arrival at a hotel before sunrise. Usually, a 3-4 am arrival at a hotel close to our chase end, and a late check-out planned for early the next afternoon.
All these times and schedules are flexible. Paul prides himself on having a 100% success rate, and sometimes that involves extreme perseverance, patience, and tenacity during the chase days.
What to bring?
- To be discussed upon booking.
SINGLE NIGHT MEET-UPS :
Already involved in a tour or local and just looking to get together for a night of captures? Contact me for single-night flex opportunities:
---- Please note that refunds will be given if tours do not come to fruition due to the host. Refunds will not be available for other reasons ----
PUBLIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS :
Your host has been vaccinated and will adhere to local and CDC guidelines for best practices. The grouping has been kept small, and we ask all guests to adhere to best practices.
The workshop liability form is to be signed on the date of the workshop. The form can be viewed here: Liability form
Registration and inquiries:
Contact paulmsmithphotography@gmail.com