Digital Photography with Robin Fall


Focusing on design principles of photography, the two-day intensive workshop will focus on basic composition guidelines, technique, and camera settings to help improve photography skills.

The largest obstacle impairing anybody with a new camera is the ability to see.  How do people take amazing photos of ordinary things?  While there aren’t any set rules on how to see, there are some basic principles that can help you along your way.

What makes a striking image?  Think of your favorite photograph or go online and find some photographs that you like.  More than likely the photograph is a simple, composed, image with a single theme or idea.  Often they are commonplace subjects, composed in the simplest way.

The first day of the workshop will focus on basic design principles: line, shape, form, texture, pattern, and color.  These principles are the most important aspect of photography and will improve your ability to see.

Day 2 will focus more on the technical aspects of photography: camera modes, shutter speed, aperture, iso, and lenses.

The course is taught by Robin Fall, a professional photographer from the United States, living in in Beijing.  After finishing his MA in photography in Dalian, China, he relocated to Beijing freelancing for various publications.  He’s done work for various NGOs such as Handicap International (China), Hope Worldwide (Philippines), and the UN World Food Program (Nepal). Click here to see Robin’s work.

Click on our calendar to find out when our next class is and to sign up.

Cost: 880 RMB for weekend workshop

The students will also have choices on demos including:

  • The rule of thirds
  • Angle of view
  • White Balance
  • Choosing a lens
  • Exposure Settings
  • Focus Settings
  • Flash photography
  • Photoshop
  • Camera raw
  • Editing workflow
  • Black and white photography
  • Overcast and rainy days
  • Filters
  • Editorial
  • The inverse square law
  • Light meters
  • Studio lighting
  • High Key / Low Key Lighting
  • Macro Photography
  • Events
  • Wedding
  • Studio
  • Natural light
  • Night photography
  • Lightning / Fireworks
  • Editorial
  • Image quality
  • Working with models
  • Metadata
  • HDR images
  • Layer Masks
  • Photographing Groups
  • Series of Images
  • Printing
  • Histograms
  • Street Photography

Intermediate Creative Photography Course

Focusing on creative techniques, this two-day intensive workshop will get you to take your camera off of automatic and shoot creatively.  Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, we will go through different manual settings in different lighting situations.

Panoramas, HDR imaging, and flash photography are some of the skills that will be covered in the course, as well as a number of ‘what if’ lighting situations.

Taking photos on a rainy day, poorly lit rooms, or direct sunlight are challenges that every photographer faces.  We will go over how to deal with these situations and better train you to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

The first day of the workshop will be mostly in the classroom, with hands-on demos.  There will be a demo, followed by students trying it out for themselves.  Most of the lecturing will be done on the first day, to get ready for the second day.

Day 2 will be held mostly outside of the classroom where the students, with the aide of a teacher, will be able to apply what they’ve learned.

The course is taught by Robin Fall, a professional photographer from the United States, living in in Beijing.  After finishing his MA in photography in Dalian, China, he relocated to Beijing freelancing for various publications.  He’s done work for various NGOs such as Handicap International (China), Hope Worldwide (Philippines), and the UN World Food Program (Nepal). Click here to see Robin’s work.

Click on our calendar to find out when our next class is and to sign up.

Cost: 880 RMB for weekend workshop

An SLR camera or camera that allows you to be in manual mode is required for this course.  It is also recommended to bring the manual for the camera.

The students will have choices on demos including:

  • The rule of thirds
  • Angle of view
  • White Balance
  • Choosing a lens
  • Exposure Settings
  • Focus Settings
  • Flash photography
  • Photoshop
  • Camera raw
  • Editing workflow
  • Black and white photography
  • Overcast and rainy days
  • Filters
  • Editorial
  • The inverse square law
  • Light meters
  • Studio lighting
  • High Key / Low Key Lighting
  • Macro Photography
  • Events
  • Wedding
  • Studio
  • Natural light
  • Night photography
  • Lightning / Fireworks
  • Editorial
  • Image quality
  • Working with models
  • Metadata
  • HDR images
  • Layer Masks
  • Photographing Groups
  • Series of Images
  • Printing
  • Histograms
  • Street Photography

Workshop Lesson Plan

Day 1

  • Introduction / Meeting Each other / Showing Work By Robin Fall / Introduction to the course [20 minutes]
  • What do you want to learn? [5 minutes]
  • Famous photographers [30 minutes]
  • Shoot Around the Classroom [30 Minutes]
  • Principles of Design Presentation [45 minutes]
  • Camera Settings [30 Minutes]
  • Shooting Around the Hutong [1 Hour]
  • Critique [1 Hour]
  • Homework and Questions [20 – 30 minutes]

Day 2

  • Homework Critique and questions [1 hour]
  • Demos (chosen by Robin Fall) : Camera Modes, Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Lenses [1 hour]
  • Shooting around the Classroom [15 mintues]
  • Editing Using Photoshop (basic) / Workflow [1 hour]
  • Demos (chosen by students) : [1 hour]
  • Final Questions /  Collecting Everyone’s Best Work / Introduction to Advanced Class [45 minutes]