Summer Nights, Starry Sights: Art, Nature, and Wonder on the Oregon Coast
- Jeremy Likness
- Jun 21
- 4 min read
Whether you're an art lover, night sky enthusiast, or someone simply seeking beauty in motion, Newport is alive with events that elevate the extraordinary this summer. I'm very excited to be a part several! From a one-of-a-kind holograph to a trip into the dark skies over the high desert of Central Oregon, there's plenty to do during this amazing time of year. Here’s what’s happening:
Ongoing exhibition: Impressions of the Oregon Coast
Experience the magic of shorelines, sunsets, wildlife, and starlit skies at Impressions of the Oregon Coast—a stunning art showcase capturing the soul of our coastal landscape.
📍 Location: Pacific Maritime Heritage Center
🖼️ Pieces on display: Moon and Milk, The Devil's Den.
June 21: Soft Launch of Fire Rock Ocean Sky Gallery
Welcome the return of a legend. The Fire Rock Ocean Sky Arts and Healing Center will make its debut, but until the building is ready, we are starting with a soft launch at Brian McEneny’s studio space. Celebrate the fusion of myth, art, and nature in this revitalized creative sanctuary.
Although the soft launch was earlier today, my pieces will remain there until we move to the larger space, or they sell. I have some of my largest and most unique pieces on display there. The "taste of" FROS gallery has the full Rosette along with several of my moon pieces. Brian's main gallery hosts my personal favorites. Pieces on display include:
June 25: New Moon Night
The skies go dark—and the stars shine brighter. With no moonlight to compete, this evening promises optimal stargazing conditions and brilliant views of the Milky Way.
July 25: Free Newport Star Party
Bring your blankets, chairs, and binoculars for a free public star party under the open skies at Frank Wade Park. Meet fellow stargazers and soak in the night’s brilliance
.
📍 Location: Frank Wade Park (ballfield)
🕘 Time: 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Night Photography Classes – Thursdays in August
Want to master the art of nighttime photography? Join Jeremy Likness for a 4-week hands-on class at the Visual Arts Center. Learn how to capture the moon, Milky Way, meteors, and even the Northern Lights.
📍 Visual Arts Center (Newport)
🕖 Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
💰 $225 for full course (scholarships available)
📷 All skill levels welcome
If you're curious about what you'll learn, this is the full curriculum:
Week 1: Introduction to Astrophotography
History and background, types of astrophotography
What's possible with a camera
Discussion of equipment and accessories such as intervalometers and star trackers
Introduction to camera settings - discussion of focal length, field of view, f-stop, aperture, exposure, gain, and stacking.
Lab: mini-experiments to understand your camera's nighttime abilities
Week 2: Planning
Introduction to free tools like Stellarium and paid tools like PhotoPills
Weather, moon phases, ISS transits, and aurora predictions with Astrospheric
Importance of composition and how to use various tools to better predict composition
Scouting locations
Safety tips
Equipment checklist and preparation
Lab: plan a shot and share with the class
Week 3: Photographing
Setting up in the location
Finding the target
Star-hopping
Using guide stars to find the Milky Way
Using guide stars to find popular targets
Bright targets including planets and nebulae
Star clusters
Understanding stacking
Dithering and pixel-shift
Calibration frames: what they are, how to take them, and how to use them
Temperature and dew control
Automation
Manual tips and tricks like the smartphone plate-solving trick
Night-time etiquette and the reason why red light is so important
Lab: assemble a set up to be photograph-ready. Weather permitting, go shoot some targets.
Week 4: Processing and Presenting
Introduction to a suite of tools: AstroPixel Processor (APP), Deep Sky Stacker (DSS), PixInsight (PI), Planetary Imaging Preprocessor (PIPP),
Image processing workflows
Understanding Color Filter Arrays, Bayer matrices, and de-bayering
Understanding star alignment
Cropping and Stacking
Dual frequency workflows
Post-processing
How much processing is too much?
Choosing a presentation medium and print options
Lab: process photos
August 16: Astrophotography Workshop
One night. Infinite stars. Join Jeremy for a special evening workshop that begins at the Newport Recreation Center and ends beneath a dark sky—hands-on with your own gear. Not as in-depth as the classes but a sure way to get started.
📍 Location: Newport Recreation Center
🕗 Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🎟 Limited space—register in person or online
🔦 Bring warm layers, red-light flashlight, and a fully charged camera or phone
August 23: Trip to Central Oregon
I'm teaming with the Newport City Parks and Recreation department to help host a trip to the dark skies of the high desert in central Oregon.
🌌 Ready to Shoot the Stars? 📸
Join us on an immersive Astrophotography Adventure to the mesmerizing dark skies of Central Oregon! Whether you're new to night shooting or a seasoned star-chaser, this trip blends hands-on learning, scenic stops, and serious sky magic.
🗓 August 23–24, 2025
What's included:
🚐 Round-trip transportation from Newport & Corvallis
🏨 Lodging at Prineville Best Western
📷 Workshop on night photography (cameras & phones welcome)
🌋 Geological presentation at Lost Lake
🌠 Field shoot at Prineville Reservoir State Park (a certified dark skies site!)
Saturday Highlights:
Scenic stop at Lost Lake
Stroll & lunch in charming Sisters
Workshop + Sunset & Milky Way shoot under expert guidance
Sunday Highlights:
Leisurely morning & hotel breakfast
Cascadia's iconic Covered Bridge
Food truck lunch + final group hang
💲 Price: $275 per person (double occupancy)
$60 single occupancy upgrade
Discounts for triple/quad occupancy available!
🎟 Cancellation-Friendly: Full refund up to 16 days before trip
📧 Questions? Reach out to: j.remillard@newportoregon.gov
Spots are limited—grab your gear and secure your spot under the stars!
Meanwhile, I had a little fun with artificial intelligence and used a special engine to bring dozens of my photographs to life in a "fake" documentary. If you're interested, check out the Oregon Coast at Night:
Regards,
Jeremy
Comments