Thailand Photography

DAY 1: LOS ANGELES LAX (FOR THOSE WHO OPT TO TAKE THE GROUP FLIGHT)

Take off from LAX airport and settle in for a flight over the Pacific Ocean!

DAY 2: FLY OVER THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE

DAYS 3 - 5: AYUTTHAYA

The day we land we will set sail on the Chao Phraya river north towards Ayutthaya, the magnificent capital city of ancient Siam. During our time in Ayutthaya we explore the picturesque Khymer ruins and temples and begin our photography workshop. 

DAYS 5 - 8: CHIANG MAI

Next we board a sleeper train headed north to Chang Mai, the spiritual heart of Thailand that is also a university town buzzing with life and culture. All participants will have plenty of room on the train to get a good night's rest before our morning arrival in Chiang Mai. We will spend three days here exploring the city, swimming in waterfalls, biking past rice paddies, and strolling in the walking markets and night bazaars.

DAYS 8 - 10: MAE HONG SONG PROVINCE (PAI)

After Chiang Mai we will journey to a traditional hill tribe village in the mist-shrouded province of Mae Hong Son, on the northern border of Thailand. You will never forget the time you spend here working on a documentary portfolio of your own with these villagers who are the guardians of traditional ways and culture. You'll spend your final day in Mae Hong Son province going on an elephant trek in the jungle and hiking to a spectacular waterfall. 

DAYS 10 - 11: BANGKOK

Our trip ends in Bangkok, where we will float on the Chao Phraya river and ride tuk-tuks though the streets of this bustling capital city. We'll spend our final day here for one last round of sightseeing, photography lessons and souvenir shopping before we board the plane home with memories and photographs to last a lifetime.

IMPROVING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS

Whether you’re a point-and-shoot beginner wanting to learn how to think like a pro and kick your travel photography to the next level, or an experienced DSLR shooter looking to refine your skills and get fresh ideas, this trip is for you!

Our goal is to teach participants to adopt the mindset of a pro so that with time they learn how to choose their subjects and compose unforgettable shots. In order to provide quality personal attention, we will divide our group into beginner and intermediate/advanced levels. We will concentrate on shooting urban scenes, portraiture, and landscapes, and teach students how to take advantage of available light both at night and in low-daylight/indoor conditions. Basic skills, including proper adjustment of the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture will also be covered.

Essential equipment for all participants:

Digital camera with manual controls (compact or DSLR)

Memory card (minimum 4GB), USB cable, camera battery, charger

Recommended Equipment:

Laptop computer

Lonely Planet’s “Travel Photography: A Guide to Taking Better Pictures” ($14.95 on Amazon). We will be referencing this book throughout the trip.

Intermediate/Advanced Group: To be considered for the Intermediate/Advanced group, we highly recommend that you bring a DSLR camera. 

Lenses: Many DSLR cameras come with an 18-55mm standard lens, which is great. If you decide to bring more lenses, we recommend a 50mm fixed lens, a zoom lens, or a wide angle lens such as 10-20mm.