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Become a Better Photographer while Exploring China
Published by Susan Furber, Writer
Country: China 
The Experience
Early morning wake-up calls to beat the rising sun. Forty minute hikes up steep and slippery steps, with camera bag and tripod, to reach a vantage point over the terraced rice fields, as well as the hotel stop for the night. Constantly thinking about what aperture, angle, what light the day has to offer for the potential ‘money shot’. The rewards can be unbelievable. A single moment of calm, the perfect symmetry of a mountain, the glassy glaze on the river in the early morning light. A photo adventure tour can and will provide all this and more.
China is a stunning country, especially in the desirably photographic and often complimented province of Guanxi, along the Li River. As a solo amateur photographer, without local knowledge, the challenge of capturing it would be overwhelming, but a photo tour provides a combination of local knowledge and professional photographer experience as well as fellow photographers to share the experience with. In a new country with long days and challenges to meet, be it lack of sun, long travel days or just ravenous mosquitoes, the camaraderie of a photo group is definitely a lifeline.
Share a lens, an idea, or just a bottle of wine at the end of a long, tiring shooting day and the photo experience becomes more than just a portfolio update or treasured shot to hang on the bedroom wall, it becomes an adventure and group of memories never replaced, and always at the heart of the resulting photos.
At times, it can be tempting to be a tourist and take snapshots in such an amazing and different location. The photo tour helps you to focus on the task at hand and continue to challenge yourself to take technically strong photos and not fall into the tourist snapshot trap.
For anyone who loves landscape and wants to expand their photographic skills, photo tours provide a unique way to combine travel and photography. The workload can be challenging. Typically a five day shoot involves three or four early morning rises to selected locations and light dependant evening shoots as well. Snap visions of terraced rice fields, misty valleys, river side mountains and ancient temples. The key is always in the flexibility, sometimes new opportunities arise at the last minute, weather conditions change or you can choose to take downtime to edit photos or rest. One day is usually dedicated to detail work, taking that step back from the sweeping landscapes to capture the very essence of a town, or country in its often hidden details. There is also plenty of time for photo review and feedback and of course opportunity to taste the local cuisine and brew.
Memories are captured in the carefully crafted and created photos that you take away on your memory card at the end of the trip and... you will want to go back for more.
China is a stunning country, especially in the desirably photographic and often complimented province of Guanxi, along the Li River. As a solo amateur photographer, without local knowledge, the challenge of capturing it would be overwhelming, but a photo tour provides a combination of local knowledge and professional photographer experience as well as fellow photographers to share the experience with. In a new country with long days and challenges to meet, be it lack of sun, long travel days or just ravenous mosquitoes, the camaraderie of a photo group is definitely a lifeline.
Share a lens, an idea, or just a bottle of wine at the end of a long, tiring shooting day and the photo experience becomes more than just a portfolio update or treasured shot to hang on the bedroom wall, it becomes an adventure and group of memories never replaced, and always at the heart of the resulting photos.
At times, it can be tempting to be a tourist and take snapshots in such an amazing and different location. The photo tour helps you to focus on the task at hand and continue to challenge yourself to take technically strong photos and not fall into the tourist snapshot trap.
For anyone who loves landscape and wants to expand their photographic skills, photo tours provide a unique way to combine travel and photography. The workload can be challenging. Typically a five day shoot involves three or four early morning rises to selected locations and light dependant evening shoots as well. Snap visions of terraced rice fields, misty valleys, river side mountains and ancient temples. The key is always in the flexibility, sometimes new opportunities arise at the last minute, weather conditions change or you can choose to take downtime to edit photos or rest. One day is usually dedicated to detail work, taking that step back from the sweeping landscapes to capture the very essence of a town, or country in its often hidden details. There is also plenty of time for photo review and feedback and of course opportunity to taste the local cuisine and brew.
Memories are captured in the carefully crafted and created photos that you take away on your memory card at the end of the trip and... you will want to go back for more.
When to Go to Li River China Photo Tour
My photography tour was with Ocean Capture Photo Tours who specialise in landscape photography workships in Europe and World wide. The tours are led by internationally renowned photographer Jonathan Chritchley and trips to China are offered in May. Prices start at 2199 EUR for a 5 day/6 night tour through China.
Whether you just bought your first camera or are already a photography master, you can explore new cultures, make new friends, and hone your skills by taking a photography tour.
Whether you just bought your first camera or are already a photography master, you can explore new cultures, make new friends, and hone your skills by taking a photography tour.
Odds n' Ends
China visits require Visas to travel from most countries as well as suggested vaccinations depending on the region you are travelling to. If you travel Guanxi during May the weather will be quite humid, with frequent rain showers, so best be prepared for this climate.
Photography tour prices usually include all accommodation, meals, soft drinks, and transport during the tour, tuition and guidance. Most tour prices do not include flights, alcoholic drinks, and entrance fees to any tourist places not included in the itinerary.
If you wish to be reviewing and editing your work as you go, it is recommended that you bring a laptop installed with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or Apple Aperture.
Photography tour prices usually include all accommodation, meals, soft drinks, and transport during the tour, tuition and guidance. Most tour prices do not include flights, alcoholic drinks, and entrance fees to any tourist places not included in the itinerary.
If you wish to be reviewing and editing your work as you go, it is recommended that you bring a laptop installed with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or Apple Aperture.
Want a Guide?
- Ocean Capture Adventures
- Specialising in photo adventure tours world-wise, China is a recent addition to the destinations offered. Led my internationally renowned landscape and fine art photographer Jonathan Chritchley.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Yangshou mountain retreat
- A countryside hotel on the Dragon River. This hotel is in a great location for exploring the Yangshou region and is close to the main city of Guilin.
- Long Ji Ping An Hotel
- Surrounded by the famous Longji terraced rice paddies, this hotel is a comfortable stay with excellent food and of course amazing views.
- Guilin Sheraton
- Located on the Li River in the city of Guilin, this hotel offers 5* Sheraton accommodation, a great place to relax and unwind after the hard days of photographing.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
This eco hotel comes equipped with a full range of modern professional-grade facilities, making it an excellent choice for a comfortable and relaxing Yangshuo holiday ... 0 miles away
Yangshuo Hidden Dragon Villa is situated in Yangshuo County's peaceful countryside, beside Yulong River. It offers affordable accommodation, free computer use and free Wi-Fi throughout ... 0 miles away
$224 CNY+
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More Experiences Nearby
- Catch Your Dinner Cormorant Fishing Along the Li River
- Many traditions are changed or lost over time. Hunting and gathering cultures have long been replaced by online, fast paced and immediate. China a country of contrast, is a busy metropolis around many corners, but in some regions of Guangxi like Guilin and Yangshuo, it still hangs on to some of its traditional conventions. The Cormorant fishermen of China are a small example of this. Once a successful industry in both China and Japan, more efficient fishing techniques have subsequently been developed so that Cormorant fishing is now primarily sustained by the tourism industry. Thankfully foraging forward, it provides visitors ...30 miles away.
While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
Your full-day Guilin city tour begins with two attractions that features sculpted stone: one carved by man and the other by nature. At Fubo Hill, ...28.94 miles away via Guilin.
$89+
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Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!
On this full day sightseeing tour from Guilin you'll be cruising upriver for four hours, sitting in cushioned comfort in the main cabin or enjoying ...
Starting from $97.00 per person.
Starting from $97.00 per person.
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Books and DVDs
- China Country Guide by Lonely Planet
- Wild China DVD
- Beautifully filmed and soothingly narrated by Bernard Hill (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Wild China takes an expansive look at the fourth largest country in the world.
- Reader's Digest Treasures of China
- The book provides a general history and overview of the five major regions (Northern, Western, Central North, Central South and Southern) and contains showpiece sections highlighting landmarks like the Great Wall and the Silk Road.
Media References
- On the Li River, A Landscape in Limestone (newspaper)
- The route from Guilin to the Li River is a half-paved road through stands of laurel and camphor, past long stretches of waterlogged rice and water-chestnut plots, and fields of sorghum, sugar cane, taro, bamboo, pumpkins and the white blossoms of sesame plants.
- Guilin Travel Guide (newspaper)
- The name Guilin may not have a familiar ring to many Westerners, but among Chinese this city in the southern China province of Guangxi is legendary for its beauty.
- Going to Guilin (newspaper)
- The name Guilin may not have a familiar ring to many Westerners, but among Chinese this city in the southern China province of Guangxi is legendary for its beauty.
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Mandarin 
,
Portugese
,
Russian
,
Vietnamese
are some of the languages spoken in China. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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