

China: New Year Traditions and Festivals
Guizhou Province
Feb 6 – 16 , 2019
(SOLD OUT)
NOTE: As a heads up, this is the last time this workshop will be taught. Don't delay your registration.
Check out the book - Cultures In Transition - being published
Chinese New Year is the most important celebration in China. The tradition is for people to go back to their villages and celebrate with their families. There are grand activities planned around dancing, music, food, and traditional craft, with all wearing their traditional minority costumes.
The ethnic minorities we'll photograph are: Miao, Dong, Shui, Gejia, Qingman, Han. We'll experience dance performance at a Biasha village, old Han minorities still dress in their traditional Ming Dynasty costumes, one of the oldest Ground Opera in the world. We’ll experience a traditional New Year offerings at a Miao town center with their ancient buildings as a backdrop. At a Dong village, we’ll participate in their New Year parade, which involves carrying their cherished kids on horses (not to be missed). These are still best kept secrets of ancient China and their minorities.
The Guizhou province features unique landscape and villages. We provide special access to villages and festivals, where locals are happy and friendly with cameras. The environment is magical with hillside, rural village, narrow pathways, and traditional ancient homes.
Here is a quote from the Tao de Ching (translated by Stephen Mitchell), which give you an idea on how this workshop could enhance your photographic vision:
A good artist lets his intuition
Lead him wherever it wants.
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts
And keeps his mind open to what is.
Thus the Master is available to all people
And doesn't reject anyone.
He is ready to use all situations
And doesn't waste anything.
This is called embodying the light.
This workshop is all inclusive: Lodging, all ground transportation, meals, entrance fees, english speaking guide, model shoot fees, and photo instruction.
Our goals are multiple folds, with the following cropping to the top: We want to make your experience memorable by taking you to places most Westerners don't know about. We want to share more than just photography so you can discover new ways of thinking and improving your personal photographic vision. We want you to come back with renewed appreciation for older traditions and dissapearing festivals.
China is changing like the rest of the world, except that changes in China are rapid and much more pronounced. Chinese philosophers have been praising the places we visit for centuries and for good reasons. Come and experience it with your own eyes and soul.
See you in January in China.




Oliver Klink has been photographing in China for the past 12 years. He has visited many minority cultures and National Parks in Hunan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian and more provinces. His image, “Herding Instinct” won the grand prize at the Rayko International Photocontest in 2014, others have received “mentioned” in the Black and White Spidar Awards for the past 5 years. “China is changing rapidly, as the traditions in remote villages are vanishing. We travel with unique privileges from local guides and field experts, and where Westerners have seldom been seen”.
Jeffrey Tang, field expert, has been my guide in China for the past 7 years. His strength is to connect with the local people and make us feel “welcome with them”. His attentive demeanor and attention to details enable us to travel safely and give us privileged access that will make your images “stand out”.
One local expert at each location we visit. The person is a well-regarded artist (photographer, painter, calligrapher), which will enhance our vision with local inspiration.
Local staff members (drivers, helpers) who enrich our stay with the most current information, special activities, and “ways in” to places you only dream about!
- Photographing Traditional cultures and festivals (with special access)
- Photographing ancient villages with special access (model shoot)
- Daily review of images (emphasis on “what else can I do”)
- Brainstorming sessions (theme, story telling, portfolio, hero shots)
- Post processing and workflow (efficiency, accuracy, quality)
- 11 days of guided photoshoot
- Accommodation, meals, ground transportation
- Special permits, private photoshoots, all entrance fees
- Instruction booklet emailed before the workshop
Not Included :
- Transportation to and from Guiyang (KWE)
- Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages
- Travel Insurance
- Extra night(s) in Guiyang (for early arrivals)
- Tips to local staff
Double Occupancy: $3,900
Single Supplement: $600
Deposit (non-refundable):
$400 (Double Occupancy)
$600 (Single Occupancy)
Full payment due by December 20, 2018 (payable by check)
Registration: $3,900
Deposit: $600
Terms and Conditions
- The workshop takes place during winter, where temperatures range from 20F – 40F. Weather can be challenging. Be prepared for moody sky and cold temperature.
- Up to 1 mile walking on cobble stones and muddy terrain in ancient villages.
- We are staying in local hotels and rustic guest houses. Beds can be hard, heating might be sub par, you might get warm water only at certain time of the day.
- We are eating freshly cooked local Chinese cuisine with lots of vegetables, soup, and local meat (not spicy). Chopsticks are the common “silverware”.
- We are traveling on ultra-modern highways to the local unpaved roads.
-However, the photographic opportunities are incredible. It is an amazing adventure and photographic experience.
Where: Guizhou Province (China)
When: Feb 6-16, 2019
Who: Oliver Klink, Jeffrey Tang, local staffs
Airport: Guiyang, China (KWE)
Accommodations: Local hotels, guest houses (single or double occupancy)
Weather: 20 – 40F. Moody Sky
Cost: $3,900 ($600 Single supplement)
Workshop details for Chinese New Year Traditions and Ethnic Minorities (click on a tab)
Example Images from Past Workshops
02-06-2019 China: New Year Traditions and Festivals
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