Photography Tours

Asia Photography Tours balance intensive photography instruction with a unique travel experience.  We avoid the crowds and connect with local people and cultures up close.  Each tour destination and itinerary is carefully crafted to offer varied photo opportunities and schedules are designed to strengthen your photography skills in the field.  As much time as possible is spent hands-on tackling questions as they arise.  Short workshops introduce new techniques and themes, which are taken outdoors and applied in practical sessions.

The 3 and 5-day photographic immersion workshops are designed for all levels, from those who have just bought their first SLR camera to serious amateurs.  Numbers are limited to provide a focus on individual attention and we aim to create a learning environment for participants to make the photographs they always aspired to.  Personal correspondences with the workshop leader prior to travel will assess your personal goals and needs on the trip.  For beginners the focus will be on basic skills, making the most of your camera through structured themes and assignments.  More experienced photographers will be given more detailed technical advice plus exceptional picture opportunities to create a terrific portfolio of images.  Slide show sessions will also be included on longer tours.  Advanced registration is required at www.shanghai-classes.com/event_registration.htm.

3-Day Oolong Tea Harvest Tour, Oct 16-18th '10 (Event Code: EV2B)
Price: RMB 4800 (Price based on two people joining together.  Price for a single participant, please inquire.)

China's southern oolong tea fields offer striking scenery and a travel experience encompassing an insight into China's tea culture.  We'll be visiting the region during the tea-harvesting period, providing spectacular photo opportunities.  Passing through Xiamen the tour includes a day on Gulangyu Island.  RMB 4800 Package based on two sharing includes return airfares, accommodation, photography instructor,  local transportation, breakfast and lunch.

Day 1: Flight and arrival in Xiamen, Gulangyu – focus: street scenes & night shoot

Morning flight to Xiamen.  On arrival we'll take a brief ferry ride to Gulangyu, an island with a rich colonial past and an abundance of European architecture.  The island's vibe, however, remains traditionally Chinese, and we will spend the day exploring its back streets.  Gulangyu is a pedestrian islet, with no motor vehicles allowed on its narrow, winding streets so we'll take full advantage of the tranquility and fresh sea air.  We'll enjoy dinner on a small cove at the end of our first day.

Day 2: An Xi Tea fields & farm – focus: environmental portraits

Early morning we'll travel to An Xi, a region located 1.5 hours from Xiamen in one of China's most famous tea-planting areas.  Our schedule for day two includes a portrait workshop, lunch in a local villager's home, tea processing tour, tea ceremony and appreciation, as well as plenty of shooting of harvesting both in the processing area and around the tea fields.  During the evening an informal download and editing session will be held.

Day 3: An Xi Tea fields & farm – focus: landscapes

We'll rise early to catch the early morning tea market.  On our journey back to Xiamen we'll visit local Minnan villages and spend time shooting local village life and the colorful peak tea harvesting season before an early evening return flight to Shanghai.


5-Day Yangshuo Tour, Oct 8-12th '10 (Event Code: EV2C)
Price: RMB 8800 (Price based on two people joining together.  Price for a single participant, please inquire.)

Yangshuo is one of China's most beautiful destinations, famous for its stunning karst landscape and pristine Li River flowing through the region.  Traditional Chinese and minority villages in the area offer a glimpse at China's traditions and culture while an overnight in the spiraling tiered rice fields (dubbed the Dragon Back Rice Terraces) offers a sight that you truly cannot miss.  RMB 8800 Package based on two sharing includes return airfares, accommodation, photography instructor,  local transportation, breakfast and lunch.

Day 1: Flight and arrival in Yangshuo

Meet in Shanghai's Hongqiao airport for morning flight to Guilin, private transportation to Yangshuo.  After check-in at the Sovereign Hotel we'll spend the afternoon exploring portraiture and landscapes in ancient villages along the Li River.  Evening performance – Liu Sanjie Show (Yangshuo water impressions show directed by the Olympic opening ceremony director Zhang Yi Mo).

Day 2: Markets and cooking class – focus: environmental portraits / food

We'll start the day with a portrait workshop and then leave for a local Sunday market to capture candid and environmental portraits, after a local lunch and a walk around the market town we'll be taking an afternoon cooking lesson in a traditional farmhouse and eating our results for dinner.  Optional evening download and informal editing session.

Day 3: Xingping and Yangdi – focus: landscapes

We'll start early with cormorant fishing at dawn, which is a touristy activity but nonetheless provides a wonderful scene and excellent practice.  After breakfast there'll be a landscape and low-level light workshop.  The afternoon will be some bamboo rafting down the Li River with frequent stops at villages downriver.  The scenery flanking this part of the river is known to be the most beautiful and we'll pass the scene pictured on the 20 RMB note.  Evening group dinner back in Yangshuo.

Day 4: Dragons Back Rice Terraces – focus: photo essay / individual aims + objectives

Private transportation to Longsheng, an area famous for its rice terraces and various ethnic minorities.  After checking in at the Ping An Guesthouse we'll be exploring the surrounding scenery and villages with truly spectacular landscapes.  Trekking will be moderate at a relaxed pace with rest and picture stops along the way.  Our last evening will comprise of an informal download and review session.

Day 5: Rice Terraces + back to Shanghai

Early morning sunrise shoot over the terraces and free time around the village.  After lunch we will have a slideshow presentation of our favorite shots before our return flight to Shanghai.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR ONE OF THESE EVENTS

Registration Procedure:
Please register online first to reserve your place.  After submitting your registration, you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.  Payment days for ELC events usually fall on the last Friday and Saturday of the month for the following month's events.  Your confirmation email will have detailed payment and other information for your specific event.  Please note: Register early to reserve your place.  Payment must be received on time to complete your enrollment and maintain your reservation in the event(s) for which you have registered.
 

For detailed information, please feel free to contact one of our program coordinators: Telephone: 55889133 Fax: 55889133 EMAIL: inquiry(at)shanghai-classes.com
____________________________________________