Discover why is China one of the most amazing countries to photograph with your camera accompanied by an expert travel photographer, who will take you to the best locations, with the best light, in the best season, with the comfort of feeling home.
Este workshop será guiado en español, para ver la información en este idioma, haz click aquí
Esteban is going to take you in an unforgettable trip through one of the most mystic countries of all Asia: China. In this workshop you will take the best photographs of incredible locations that will make you open your eyes to be sure that you are awake; everything looks like a dream.
You will be always accompanied and guided by the best experts to make this workshop an unforgettable experience.
Travelling to China is to discover a new world. Walking the streets, you can find the fascinating remains of a culture that is changing quickly. A mix of traditional and contemporary culture live together to create a country that will trigger your creativity.
Our group will have a maximum of 10 students, meaning that you will have a personalized experience while we visit each one of the locations we will travel to.
From documentary photography to direction of models, we will cover concepts like posed and natural photography, used constantly during the travel photography production.
This experience will be a deep look into the old traditions that are currently disappearing in China. The fishing culture we will photograph in different regions of the country are ancient practices that are getting lost within the years because of industrialization and the accelerated growth of the country.
Esteban will accompany you constantly in your process, while you photograph each location, but also during the one-to-one portfolio reviews you will be part of, to improve your photograph skills.
Travelling to China on your own is not an easy task. The language barrier is really hard, and the access to locations, characters and spots we have already found is something we already solved out for you. When you travel with us, all you have to worry about is your next shot; we take care of the rest.
During our trip you will have exclusive experiences that if you’d be travelling on your own, you would hardly find the photo opportunities you will have with us. All the selected locations, villages and people we will meet have been thought exclusively for photographers.
14 days from October 8th in Shanghai to October 21st in Nanning (hotel included until October 21st noon)
During our expedition we will have a private car that will take us to all the locations in the different regions we will visit. Also, all domestic tickets will be covered. We will have bottles of water and snacks available during the expedition.
DAY 1: October 23rd
Our meeting will be at night on October 8th in Shanghai. We all must have arrived to the city by that day. It is really important to consider the time difference (GTM +8) because that difference can produce confusion in your agenda. Arriving Shanghai can take several stops, including whole days inside an airplane, depending where your flight departures from. That’s why we highly recommend you to keep in mind the date and time of your flights.
19:00: We will meet at the hotel to have our welcome dinner (we suggest you to bring your camera along, you’ll love it!)
21:00 First night in Shanghai
DAY 2: October 24th
One of the highlights of Shanghai are those impressive buildings that makes the city an ideal location to take photographs. Considering that, we will wake up really early in the morning to visit an incredible location where we will have our first creative photography exercise with a secret touch; absolutely helpful to photograph any city in the world.
After resting a little bit, we will visit an incredible view of Shanghai from above, where we will have a new perspective of this huge city. With no doubts you will need your tripod and your camera to get stunning portraits of the city.
Right after the dinner, we will head into the countryside, to visit an ancestral classic Chinese town, where we will spend our second night.
DAY 3: October 25th
We will wake up before sunrise to photograph this classical and beauty town during the blue hour and sunrise. Don’t you know what is the blue and golden hour? Discover it with us while you take breathtaking landscape photographs!
From there, we will move back to Shanghai, to take a domestic flight to the southeast of the country, where we will move to the countryside to visit one of the most amazing locations of this Asian country. We will take a rest to get some good energy for the upcoming days.
DAY 4: October 26th
Early in the morning we will explore our first location to photograph the blue hour and the sunrise. After, we will visit a farm that is going to make you believe you’re inside a dream. Inside there, a farmer with his buffalo cross a forest in the middle of giant trees. An amazing morning light will go through the branches and will create stunning rays of light, that is going to bring you amazing timeless scenarios.
In the afternoon, we will go to catch up incredible fishing traditions from the region, which if we are lucky enough, the tide will help us creating unique images, typical from the wonderful Chinese landscape.
DAY 5: October 27th
In the morning we will go to the beach, not to get a sunbath, but to capture some local models that are going to be waiting for us to create the best images with the sunrise over the sea. After, we will visit an ancestral house where women fix the net they use to fish. Without any doubt, this is a dreamt location with unique opportunities to document the Chinese fishing tradition.
In the morning we will go to the beach, not to get a sunbath, but to capture some local models that are going to be waiting for us to create the best images with the sunrise over the sea. After, we will visit an ancestral house where women fix the net they use to fish. Without any doubt, this is a dreamt location with unique opportunities to document the Chinese fishing tradition.
DAY 6: October 28th
In the morning we will shoot the blue and golden hour from our third location. Then, we will visit the ethnical traditional tribe, the ‘She’. We will have the opportunity to share with them while you learn all our best kept-secrets to take striking portraits. Everything, absolutely everything is covered here: light, how to photograph in hard-light conditions, shadow, model direction and the look of the model, all of it you will learn it here and you will practice it during the experience.
In the afternoon we will visit a surprise location that you will love to photography with the company of the golden hour. You’ll be rapt.
DAY 7: October 29th
In the morning we will be transferred to the nearest airport to take a domestic flight to the middle of the country. After our flight, you’ll have time to rest and recharge energy from the past days and get prepared for the upcoming photoshoots. In our new location you will be delighted enjoying the landscape, which makes it a great time to connect with nature and forget about the camera for a while.
En la tarde-noche nos volveremos a conectar con la fotografía y tendremos una clase sobre composición y las escenas que vamos a fotografiar en los días venideros. ¡Grandes sorpresas vienen en camino!
DAY 8: October 30th
Before sunrise we will be heading an adventure you are not going to forget. You will meet and portrait the traditional cormorant fishermen, who are a minority that are about to disappear and also wonderful people who’ll be hard to believe you are in front of them. It all will look like a dream, and you are going to be taking pictures of that dream. All that while we work with them during the blue and golden hour in one of the most beautiful rivers of the whole world: The Li river.
After an intensive morning, we will have the first one-to-one portfolio review, where you’ll meet individually with Esteban, who’s going to give you feedback from your previous work and is going to tell you some tips to improve your exposure, composition and narrative, and he’s also going to help you with tips for the upcoming photoshoots.
In the afternoon, we will have our second photoshoot with the fishermen. This time, a traditional and wonderful location will be the background to shoot the fishermen. We will have to tell you a special story about this location, once we hit there.
DAY 9: October 31st
In the morning we will hike up a mountain. If you are a hike lover, you are going to enjoy this one. If you are not really into hiking (medium level), we promise that it will be totally worth it. The view up there is simply stunning, as none other in all the Asian continent. Consider as well that you’ll be rewarded by the amazing morning light hitting the mountains, creating a dramatic landscape, like those you’ve always wanted to photograph.
After this hike, we will take a rest and have free time to recharge energy for the afternoon.
Before sunset, we will hike up to an impressive mountain, from where we will have an incredible view to an old town. Do you remember that we told you about ‘shooting from unusual places’? Well, welcome to the landscape photography!
This day we will have an optional helicopter flight through the incredible karst mountains of the region. We only have two seats for this flight because of the helicopter capacity. If you’re interested into have this experience, please check the additional supplements costs and let us know if you want to be part of it.
DAY 10: November 1st
Before the sunrise we will head a short trip to a farm where a buffalo and his owner will be waiting for us, to pose with a dreamt landscape of karst mountains as the background, creating unbelievable scenarios for our cameras.
After breakfast, we will visit one of the prettiest locations of our trip: the incredible Longji rice terraces. The autum will be in its maximum and thanks to that, the rice fields will be ready to harvest, with an amazing orange color, creating spectacular images that we will capture with the sunset golden light.
We will spend the night in a beautiful hotel with a view of the terraces, from where you can enjoy the shape and colors of the rice fields.
DAY 11: November 2nd
The first light will come to meet us with one of the most beautiful traditions that hides the countryside of China: the longest haired women in the world. We will have the fortune to meet them and document their story. These women only cut off their hair when they’re 18 years old, and from then, they never cut it again. Their different hairstyle means whether they are single or married, and something you’ll be surprised of, is that their hair never turns gray. We will portrait them from the golden rice fields and we can document their dresses and traditions.
In the afternoon we will head back to the airport, to face the west of the country, to find more incredible nature locations.
DAY 12: November 3rd
In the morning, after resting from the trip of the day before, we will move from the big city to the countryside, to stay in a fantastic location where the landscape is going to be the main character. The wonderful colors of the fall, the rice fields ready to be harvest, and the enchanting of the farmer faces will turn this into one of your favorite locations to shoot.
Once again, you will meet up with Esteban to have a one-to-one portfolio review. You will discuss the photographs that you have created during the expedition. Exposure, composition and narrative will be the guide to talk about your work. You’ll have an intimate encounter to understand how to improve your photography work.
In the afternoon, we will visit the mountains and the farmers with the sunset, to document their work with the incredible golden light.
DAY 13: November 4th
In the morning we will wake up to visit another zone of the region, to work with the farmers and the dramatic mountains of the place. After breakfast, we will have a collective class where we will talk about our last spot, which is one of the most important natural wonders of all Asia.
After lunch, we will visit Detian falls, the highest waterfalls on Asia. This wonder will be the scenario for incredible landscape and nature pictures that will enrich your nature portfolio, always with the best light, which is our workshops’ signature.
At night, we will have our last diner, where we will share and enjoy the photographs of the trip. Our last goodbye in this magic place where we will stay is going to be the witness of incredible memories for the rest of our lives.
DAY 14: November 5th
After breakfast, we will travel to the nearest airport, where we will head our flights back home or next destination.
End of the workshop
FAQ
When does the China 2021 workshop take place?
Our workshop in China will take place from October 23th to November 5th 2021.
Esteban, why during that time? Couldn’t be another time of the year?
Although we would love to do it during vacations, thinking on those who study and work, we have our goal clear: The light and the color of the autumn. After two years scouting and travelling all China to bring you this workshop, we’ve discovered that the best time of the year is the fall. The orange color on the rice terraces, the flowers in the Yangshuo fields and the life in the waterfalls is stronger during this time of the year. You won’t regret it!
Do I need VISA to enter CHINA?
Most countries require a VISA to enter China. The fee is around $47USD approx. This can change according to the number of entries you need and the consular fares from year to year. However, for our expedition, you only need a single entry.
To obtain the Chinese VISA, you must start the process with enough priority in your nearest embassy. This process can take around two weeks, however, you must consider Chinese holidays, as some delays that may take place. Our suggestion is that you apply at least two months before the trip.
What is the workshop price?
From the launching of the workshop until December 31st 2020, the price is $4000USD
From January 1st 2020 to April 1st 2021, the price is $4500USD
From April 2nd 2020 to August 1st 2021, the price is $5100USD
From August 2nd to October 5th, the price is $5750USD
If you do early booking, you can save up to $1750USD
You can book your seat starting from $1500USD, non-refundable, that will save your seat to the fare of your first payment.
Students of previous international workshops can have $100USD discount over any of the payment dates.
What does the price include?
- 14 days of photography workshop where you will learn about: Documentary photography, travel photography, landscape, portrait, photographic technique, composition and narrative, and two portfolio reviews by Esteban Toro, as well as two more photographers and local producers.
- Breakfast from October 9th to October 21st 2021.
- All western hotels (high standard) with single accommodation, with high cleaning standards, to ensure the greatest experience and comfort during our trip*, starting with the night on October 9th and finishing with the night on October 21st.
- Domestical flights to our trips to the middle, south and west China.
- Transportation in private vehicle during the workshop, comfortable for photographers, thinking about the legs space and the photography backpack.
- All the buildings, balconies, temples, and views specified in the itinerary.
- All the photoshoots specified in the itinerary with the local models, including technical and compositing advices by Esteban.
- Group reviews where you’ll have feedback from your work created during the workshop.
- Bottles of water.
- Snacks inside the car during our trips.
- SIM Card for your phone with a basic 1GB data plan to communicate.
- VPN* to use western social media in China.
*In China, it is possible to find some hotels rated as four or five stars that, compared with western quality standards are filthy, with latrines instead of toliets, apart from the main locations, among many other discomforts. We understand that, to have the best experience, we need to have quality rooms, that we have selected thinking about the comfort of the group.
*In China, western social media as Facebook, Instagram or Whatsapp are banned. Even Gmail does not work once you enter Chinese territory. That’s why the simcard we give you, includes the VPN service that allows you to use your social media on your phone by downloading an app.
What does NOT include this price?
- Chinese VISA (47USD)
- Lunch and dinner*
- Airplane tickets from your destination to Shanghai and from Nanning to your final destination
- Souvenirs or personal purchases
- International calls from hotel
- Damages caused during your stay to the hotels we visit. It will be under your responsibility.
- Tips and additional transfers that you do on your own
- International travel and health insurance
- Helicopter flight
- All the services not mentioned in the INCLUDED list
*For this expedition, we decided not to include lunch and dinner because according to your budget, you can get the kind of food you prefer. You can either try the Chinese food on the street, on a fancy restaurant –which some people love or hate- or join us on any McDonald’s adventure, that honestly, comes really good from time to time. We will have freedom to decide where to eat every day. Of course, we do prefer eating all together, but we are free on this for this trip. Also, those who don’t usually have dinner, can have something light that we will gladly look for you. We can also tell you an ‘approximated budget’ we think you can spend on food during the expedition.
Helicopter overflight
During our visit to Guangxi region, one of the most beautiful mountain chains of the whole world, we will have an overflight tour to capture sunset, only for two people. This is because there’s only one helicopter at the region and they only allow us that quantity of people. We will fly over 25 minutes the mountains and the best views, so you can have the best perspectives from the place.
The price of this helicopter flight, per person, is $570USD, and you must tell us if you want to do it, so we can book your flight.
What camera equipment should I bring for the experience?
- Any DSLR or Mirrorless camera, no matter what brand you have, is just what you need.
- Lenses: Any lens is useful for our expedition. However, if possible: A wide-angle 16-35mm, an intermediate zoom 24-70mm and a telephoto 70-200mm.
- Tripod (You can’t leave it at home!)
- Remote controller
- High capacity and speed memories that you can trust on
- Laptop (optional)
- Hard drive (NECESSSARY)
- A good and comfortable bagpack to take camera, one lens, batteries and a bottle of water for the photo walks
If you need help buying extra equipment, we can help you with that!
Don’t worry about what to take with you. All the information about clothes, how to protect your camera from the water in the Li river, as many other recommendations we will solve them out for you three months in advance with our workshop welcoming letter so you can prepare your luggage!
Do you have a brand-new phone with you? Welcome to take pictures with it. It will allow you to photograph freely during the trip and take good snaps. You can enjoy the whole adventure only with your pocket camera. We are totally phone lovers.
*Although you have to consider that when taking pictures at night, you will have some issues if you decide to bring only your phone. Anyway, it is always wonderful to contemplate the views during a beautiful night.
Who is this experience for?
It does not matter how advanced you are in photography. If you are beginner or professional, Esteban will always be there to guide you. He will check your process, according to your photography knowledge. If you have any doubt about your camera, framing, composition, light, narrative or even all of the above, you can always solve them out with him. His experience as a professor has given him an incredible patience to solve any doubt, even “the most stupid one” (but there are not really stupid questions though).
PAYMENT
We prefer Western Union
Do you know this transfer system?
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union)
https://www.westernunion.com/us/es/send-money/app/start
They have business offices all around the world and allows you to easily transfer money
The company will charge a small amount to transfer the money from the workshop.
CONDITIONS
Once you decide to join us in our photography experience, we will have to start booking plenty of things to guarantee the best prices and quality, because of that, we need a minimum deposit of $1500USD to book your seat with us. As you have read above, we have a maximum availability of 10 people for the workshop and 2 people for the helicopter experience. This is an exclusive experience, which implies that many of the seats will be taken before you finish reading this sentence. Join us now!
The outstanding balance can be paid according to the payment dates mentioned above.
The minimum quorum to the Chinese workshop is 4 people. In case we don’t complete the quorum, we will give you back 100% of your deposit.
Does the price include the airplane tickets to or from China?
No. The airplane tickets to Shanghai and from Nanning must be purchased by you. We can gladly help you to get the best discounts, so please do not hesitate to ask us for that.
Do I need to be athletic to assist the experience?
You don’t have to worry about your physical condition. We will do photo walks, be we will spend many hours taking pictures in the same location, waiting for the best light. We will always be thinking about the comfort of the group, so we will frequently stop and wait for the others. Also, we will always look for the best way to move from one place to the other, to make the greatest experience for everybody, no matter the age or physical condition.
If you don’t feel like hiking up the mountains in Guangxi, we suggest you to book the helicopter option.
What language will be spoken during the expedition?
All our workshop will be guided in English and Spanish. No worries, amigo!
When will you have another photo expedition to China?
These photo expeditions are unique. We might come back to China in 2050, but so far, we don’t have any other planned more than the 2021 experience.
I have another question, who I ask to?
Please, feel free to contact our team any time you need. We will call you back with all the detailed information you need to solve all your questions.
You can send us an email to: contact@estebantoro.com or get in touch by phone (WhatsApp included): +1 917-341-6808.
