Dates: Mar 24th - Mar 30th, 2012

Location: City of Shanghai & Town of Yuanyang, Yunnan Province, China

Cost: USD1,895 (including instructor fees, Hotels, local transportation & Domestic Airfare within China)

Number of Students: 8

Location Background:
Shanghai is the most developed city and the largest city of China. Following rapid development over the last two decades it has become a global city, with influence in commerce, culture, finance, media, fashion, technology and transport. Shanghai is a popular tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as The Bund, City God Temple and Yuyuan Garden, as well as the extensive and growing Pudong skyline. It has been described as the "showpiece" of the booming economy of mainland China. we have ample opportunities to shoot Pudong skyline both during the morning sunrise and splendid light show during the evening hours.

Yuanyang, Yunnan Province, however, is of stark contrast of what Shanghai represents. The town of Yuanyang is a Hani minority settlement atop a ridge of the Ailao mountain range at an elevation of around 1570 meters. It is a popular destination with photographers due to the vast areas of nearby mountains which have been cultivated into terraced rice paddies for at least the past 1300 years by the Hani people. Despite the overwhelming scenic beauty of its landscape and colorful local minorities, mass tourism hasn't developed in this region, mainly due to its remote location, and until fairly recent, relative inaccessibility. The terraced areas of interest to visitors are mainly found between 1000 and 2000 metres above sea level. The winter temperatures here, although never freezing, are such that they only support one rice crop a year. The terraces are filled with water until May, when planting begins.

Workshop Itinerary:

• Mar 24: All group members arrive in Shanghai, and check into the hotel. We will meet everybody at 9:00pm in the Hotel lobby.
• Mar 25: We shoot at Pudong during afternoon, shoot Sunset and evening skylines at bund.
• Mar 26: We shoot sunrise and evening skylines at the Bund. During day time, shooting at old town, and spend some time on post processing on photoshop and lightroom.
• Mar 27: Fly to Kunming, Yunnan Province. Then a tour bus will take our group to Yuanyang and check into the hotel.
• Mar 28 and 29: 2 Full days of shooting. We shoot stair terraces at sunrise and sunset. During day time, people of local ethnic groups with colorful head and body dresses are available, to shoot environmental portraits, with natural and/or flash light.
• Mar 30: Bus will take us to Kunming airport and fly back to Shanghai. Workshop ends.

Note: Although this is not part of the workshop, William will assist on member's personal agenda(shopping, sightseeing, etc) in Shanghai if requested on Mar 31.

What will we cover technically?
The main focus of the workshop is to open up your mind's eye, keenly identify photographic opportunities and make creative decisions, then properly execute it in terms of exposure and composition. The process will cover all elements of design: line, shape, form, texture, pattern and color, as well as techniques like panning, freezing motion, selecting lenses, using of graduated neutral density filter and polarizing filter, etc. Furthermore, you will also learn to make realistic HDR(High Dynamic Range) images from concept to final output; and learn how to shoot great night scenes.

In addition to landscape photography, we will also demonstrate how to shoot "strobist-style" environmental portraits with one hot-shoe flash plus some portable light modifiers. The topics range from lighting equipment, basic knowledge about the use of hot-shoe flash and light modifiers, to portrait lighting techniques. The Hani and Yi people in Yuanyan, with their colorful ethnic dresses will be our perfect subjects.

What is the cost:
The cost of this workshop is USD1,895/person, which includes instruction fees, local transportation, roundtrip airfare from Shanghai to Kunmin, Yunnan Province and 6 nights of hotels. (Meals and international airfares are NOT included).

What will you need:
Digital SLR, tripod, wide-angle to telephoto zoom or prime lenses, filters including polarizer, neutral density, graduated neutral density or any other filters you may have, and of course appropriate clothing for the weather and location. Also, be sure to bring your Model Releases!

Be sure to obtain China Visa from your local Chinese embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens are required to obtain Visa before traveling to China.

Payment:
A deposit of $200 is required for this workshop, and you can pay by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal via PayPal.com. The balance is due by Feb 2, 2012. Please see FAQ section for detailed information.

How do I sign up:
It's easy! Just send an email to william@chinaphotoworkshop.com, and we will hold your spot. Questions on payments, hotel, and where we all meet on the eve of the workshop will be provided after our receipt of your sign up email.

Q: How do I sign-up for the workshop?
A: Simply send an email to hold your spot now to william@chinaphotoworkshop.com and indicate you wish to sign-up for the workshop, and we will send you detailed information on the workshop, hotel, airport and payment options (via PayPal using a Visa, Mastercard or PayPal).

Q: How many students do you allow?
A: Workshop size is limited to 8 students, which ensures that every student will get full attention. We need minimum of 6 students to make the trip. We will let you know whether it's a go or not by Feb 3, 2012, so students can book the flight to Shanghai.

Q: What skill level is required to benefit from this workshop?
A: Any student who has a basic understanding of exposure all the way to the advanced amateur who is in search of a fresh perspective!

Q: Do you require a deposit to hold my spot?
A: Yes, a deposit of $200 is required for this workshop, via PayPal using a Visa, Mastercard or PayPal.

Q: How do I pay for the workshop?
A: Your deposit payment for the workshop is due at the time you book the workshop. Full balance is due by Feb 2, 2012. For the deposit and the balance payments, you will be sent an email via PayPal to pay by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal to the email address you used to sign-up for the workshop. If we do not receive your deposit within 2 days of signing up for the workshop, We reserve the right to cancel your signup and/or fill your spot off of a wait list.

Q: What is your refund or cancellation policy?
A: No refunds will be given for delays or cancellations due to inclement weather, (which interestingly, can result in some of the most some amazing shots!), either before or during your workshop. If the workshop is cancelled by the organizer, we will notify you immediately and you will be issued full refund. We are not responsible for any additional costs you may incur due to any delays or cancellations. Cancellations made before Feb 2, 2012 will receive full refund of the deposit. No refund will be given after Feb 2, 2012.

Q: How do I cancel my spot before Feb 2, 2012?
A: If for some reason you will not be coming, please email william@chinaphotoworkshop.com immediately so that we can offer your spot to another student.

Q: I have some questions, how do I learn more?
A: Please send a email to william@chinaphotoworkshop.com.

Chris Hurtt is a Portland based freelance photographer. His photography career took off when he met and started assisting world-renowned photographer Bryan Peterson on commercial assignments all over the world. Since working with Bryan, Chris has built a successful commercial business of his own shooting for clients such as Pillar Data Inc, Infinera Corp, RN Estate Winery, and The Environmental Protection Agency to name a few. Chris is also an instructor at PPSOP.com where his down to earth explanations of all things photographic have resulted in him accepting invitations to teach in person in Asia, the Middle East, North America, and all over Europe.

Instructor: William Yu

William Yu is a San Francisco based freelance photographer. He frequently travels between USA and China, and makes images of cultural and natural beauties of both countries. He routinely leads photo tours of small group to China. He is also the management member and Chinese course instructor of The Perfect Picture School of Photography(www.ppsop.com) founded by Bryan Peterson. His images have been published in Photographic Travel Magazine in China, as well as Popular Photograhy in USA. Learn more at www.williamyuphotography.com

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