CHINESE NEW YEAR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP - BANGKOK
February 05 - 11, 2027
With Leica Ambassador Robin Schimko
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
A Week of Street Photography During Chinese New Year
Bangkok during Chinese New Year is a whirlwind of energy: red lanterns strung across alleys, lion dancers bursting through markets, temples overflowing with incense and worshippers. For street photographers, it's a time of non-stop inspiration - perfect light, dense scenes, rich cultural texture.
This 7-day workshop is timed to capture the full breadth of the festival and the vibrant soul of Bangkok itself. You’ll sharpen your instinct, refine your storytelling, and walk away with a deeply personal body of work.
WHY BANGKOK? WHY CHINESE NEW YEAR?
Bangkok is intense on a normal day - but during Chinese New Year, the city enters another dimension. Entire districts transform: red lanterns overhead, firecrackers echoing through alleys, and incense rising from every corner shrine. For photographers, it’s a dream - full of rhythm, light, gesture, and raw, unscripted emotion.
Unlike other festivals compressed into a single weekend, Chinese New Year stretches across two weeks, offering a rare opportunity to go deeper. From the explosive lion dances of the opening days to quieter rituals in temples and markets later on, the visual energy keeps evolving. This isn’t just a one-shot event - it’s a moving story, and you’ll be there to capture it as it unfolds.
In Bangkok’s Chinatown, tradition collides with modern chaos. You’ll shoot families burning offerings at dawn, monks blessing shopkeepers, dancers moving through neon-lit crowds, and timeless moments tucked into the in-between. With access, time, and intentional guidance, you'll move beyond snapshots and into something lasting.
This is what makes Chinese New Year in Bangkok so special: not just the spectacle, but the layered human experience beneath it - and the photographic possibilities that come with staying present through it all
THE JOURNEY
5 February | Arrival & Chinatown
Arrival and check-in.
Late afternoon and evening photography in Yaowarat and the surrounding Chinatown streets as preparations for Chinese New Year reach their peak.
We explore the main streets as well as smaller lanes, temples and markets behind Yaowarat Road.
Focus: festival preparations, street food, decorations, vendors and evening street life.
6 February | Chinese New Year - Chinatown
The main Chinese New Year photography day.
We start early in Chinatown before the largest crowds arrive.
The day is dedicated to exploring Yaowarat, surrounding temples, markets and side streets as Chinese New Year celebrations take place.
Expect decorations, families visiting temples, offerings, performers, street vendors and large crowds.
We continue into the evening when Chinatown becomes particularly atmospheric.
7 February | Chinatown & Chinese Communities
A second day exploring the Chinese communities around Chinatown.
Rather than concentrating only on Yaowarat Road, we move into the smaller streets, markets, workshops and residential neighbourhoods surrounding the main festival area.
This gives us a quieter contrast to the main Chinese New Year celebrations.
8 February | Local Bangkok - Off the Beaten Path
Today we deliberately move away from Bangkok's major sights.
We explore quieter neighbourhoods, canals, residential communities and local streets where everyday life provides the photographic subject.
9 February | Local Markets
Early start for one of Bangkok's local market areas with few international visitors.
Rather than visiting famous tourist markets, we concentrate on markets used primarily by local residents and traders.
We continue through the surrounding neighbourhoods before taking a midday break.
10 February | Thonburi & Wat Arun
The morning is dedicated to the quieter neighbourhoods and local communities of Thonburi, away from Bangkok's major tourist areas.
We explore local streets, markets, river communities and everyday life on the western side of the Chao Phraya.
After a midday break, we head toward Wat Arun in the late afternoon.
Late Afternoon - Sunset | Wat Arun
We photograph around Wat Arun as the afternoon light gradually softens.
The temple provides an impressive setting, but our emphasis remains on street photography: visitors, monks, local activity, river traffic and the interaction between people and the temple environment.
We continue through golden hour and sunset, using the changing light over the Chao Phraya and Wat Arun as the backdrop for our photographs.
11 February | Hidden Bangkok
A final full day exploring another side of Bangkok away from the major tourist areas.
Potential subjects include traditional communities, small markets, workshops, railway areas, canals and residential neighbourhoods.
The day remains intentionally flexible, allowing us to explore somewhere new or return to particularly strong locations discovered earlier in the workshop.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We’ll immerse ourselves in the energy of the streets while also exploring quieter, layered moments that make your photos breathe.
Daily guided street sessions across different neighborhoods — timed to festival processions, rituals, and night markets
1:1 feedback, group critiques, and visual exercises to push your photography forward
Personalized assignments to build clarity and depth in your visual voice
Learn how to shoot in motion, layer stories, work with light and shadow, and navigate cultural context with ease.
HIGHLIGHTS
Access to the Chinese New Year celebrations - with guidance on how to shoot respectfully, confidently, and with cultural awareness
Daily street photography walks - through Chinatown, temples, markets, and off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods
In-depth photo reviews and daily editing sessions
Learn to work up close and with intention - even in chaotic, high-density environments
Improve your composition, timing, layering, and ability to read a complex scene
Discussions on ethics, visual storytelling, and how to approach strangers with respect
Open Q&A: Gear choices, Leica-specific tips, editing workflows, and building long-term bodies of work
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This workshop is ideal for intermediate to advanced photographers who want to push themselves. You should be comfortable shooting on the street and ready to handle fast-paced, high-sensory situations.
You don’t need to shoot with a Leica - all gear types are welcome. But you do need an open mind, a passion for street photography, and a willingness to be part of a tight-knit group for a week.
ABOUT YOUR MENTOR
I’m Robin Schimko, a photographer based in Heidelberg, Germany. I’ve been shooting street for over 15 years - mostly while on the road - and working with Leica since 2015. As a Leica Ambassador, I’ve led workshops, mentored photographers, and pursued long-term projects across Asia and Europe.
This workshop is a reflection of my own photographic journey - full of movement, culture, and moments of unexpected connection.
DETAILS
Dates: February 05-11, 2027
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Group Size: Max 6 participants
Skill Level: Intermediate & up
Language: English (German support available)
Workshop Fee: €1150
- Early Bird: €990 (if booked before December 15th, 2025)Included:
- Daily street mentoring and feedback
- Portfolio and image reviews
- Festival-focused street walks
- Thematic assignmentsNot Included: Travel, lodging, food, insurance, entrance fees (if applicable)
READY TO JOIN?
A week of fast-paced, festival-charged shooting awaits in Bangkok. This is your chance to work deeply, move confidently, and walk away with a portfolio that captures the feeling, chaos, and grace of the city during one of its most vibrant weeks of the year.
→ Limited to 6 participants. Book your place now.
See the dedicated workshop page for details. (click here)
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The exact meeting location will be communicated two week before the workshop.
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You'll need a digital camera capable of manual settings for exposure and focus. I recommend bringing a single lens with a focal length between 24 and 35mm (full frame equivalent). Shooting film is also an option, but ensure you can develop and scan the film on the same day, ready by the following morning. If you have additional questions about required gear, please reach out.
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We can make arrangements—just contact me before the workshop begins.
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If I need to cancel the workshop for any reason, a full refund will be provided. If you need to cancel, a full refund (minus a 10% administration fee) is available up to two months before the workshop. If you cancel within two months, you can attend any future workshop within one year from the original date at no extra cost.
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If you need help choosing a hotel, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to recommend the best areas to stay in and suggest options based on your preferences.