Those who are familiar with Mike's work will know that he tackles big ideas. Features on great travellers, such as Marco Polo and Zheng He, and physical features, such as the Great Wall of China and Japanese Gardens, lead him on to produce coffee-table books that have stood the test of time.

Mike's credentials as a teacher are also first rate. He has been leading photography workshops for twenty-some years. He is a great believer in a hands-on approach with a special emphasis on pre-visualization of the image. This technique makes best advantage of the opportunity in any situation, which is all that can be asked of the documentary photographer.

Photographers who accompany Mike on this workshop will benefit greatly not only from Mike's knowledge of how use their camera and lenses to best effect, but also from Mike's extensive knowledge of the culture of the people living on these islands. In several of these locations the original inhabitants of these islands, Tanka and Hakka people, still live a traditional lifestyle based around the sea. Their homes and daily activities are sure to be of interest and Mike is ideally suited to make the best of any opportunities arising.

Few visitors to the territory ever reach beyond Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The workshop will be based out of a hotel on the Kowloon peninsula but will the use a mix of public ferries and chartered boats to get to more exotic locations. Names such as Lantau and Lamma may be familiar to some but it is unlikely that anyone other than a long-time resident will know Peng Chau, Po Toi, Tung Ping Chau, Cheung Chau and Tap Mun.

The workshop also visits the New Territories Geopark with its amazing basalt formations, a clear indication that the rugged geography of this area is based on volcanic action long ago.

The workshop will run from April 16 - 26, 2012 and is operated by Tours Abroad, a US operator with a special interest in the photographic opportunities throughout China.

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