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February 24–March 3, 2027: Passionate Taiwan, Streets of Taipei & Beyond

An 8-Day, Seven-Night Journey Through Taipei, Taichung & Tainan

DatesFeb 24 – Mar 3, 2027

LocationTaipei • Taichung • Tainan, Taiwan

GenreStreet • Urban • Travel

Group sizeMax. 8

Skill levelAll Levels

Tuition$7,500.00 USD

Deposit$250.00 USD

Book now

Workshop overview

This intimate, immersive eight-day workshop takes us into the vibrant and visually rich streets of Taiwan. With the Regent Taipei as our home throughout the week, we can settle into the city, return to promising neighborhoods and work beyond first impressions.

Morning markets spill into narrow lanes. Scooters stream through crowded intersections. Incense rises inside centuries-old temples while commuters, vendors and worshippers move through the surrounding streets. After dark, night markets glow beneath neon, handwritten signs and clouds of steam.

High-speed-rail day trips to Taichung and Tainan introduce two distinctly different places without the disruption of changing hotels. Taichung brings together traditional markets, old commercial streets and youthful creative culture. Tainan offers temples, historic lanes, family businesses and one of Taiwan’s great food traditions.

Steve Simon and Soichi Hayashi have designed the workshop around the creation of a strong, personal body of work. Their complementary ways of seeing will help participants move beyond isolated successful images and begin making photographs that connect visually, emotionally and thematically.

The schedule balances guided exploration, independent shooting, assignments, critiques and individual mentorship, while remaining flexible enough to respond to weather, light, local events and the unexpected moments that often lead to the strongest photographs.

The route

Where we'll photograph

Taipei — Markets, Temples and Night Streets

7 nights

Taipei will be our home throughout the workshop, giving us time to move beyond first impressions and return to promising neighborhoods under changing light.

Morning markets, temple courtyards, residential alleys, transit hubs, commercial districts and glowing night markets create an extraordinary range of opportunities for photographing everyday life.

Taichung — Old Streets and Contemporary Energy

A high-speed-rail day trip introduces a different rhythm of Taiwan through traditional markets, old commercial streets, temple neighborhoods and creative districts.

The contrast between historic structures and youthful street culture offers a fresh visual palette without the disruption of changing hotels.

Tainan — Temples, Historic Lanes and Food Culture

One of Taiwan’s oldest cities, Tainan has a slower rhythm and an extraordinary concentration of temples, family businesses, food stalls and intimate streets.

We will photograph through the late-afternoon light and into early evening, when lanterns, storefronts and food vendors transform the city.

Day by day

Itinerary

The schedule will remain flexible so we can respond to weather, light, local events and unexpected photographic opportunities.

Feb 24 — Arrival in Taipei: First Impressions
After settling into the Regent Taipei, our base for the week, we gather in the afternoon for introductions, orientation and a discussion of individual photographic goals. Steve and Soichi will outline their approach and share strategies for photographing confidently and respectfully in Taiwan.
Our first walk introduces Taipei as the city moves from afternoon into evening: scooters, commuters, food stalls, temple activity and streets illuminated by signs and storefronts.
We conclude with a welcome dinner and an optional night shoot.
Feb 25 — Old Taipei: Markets, Temples and Historic Streets
We begin early in a traditional Taipei neighborhood as markets open and the streets come to life. Our explorations may include Wanhua and Longshan Temple, where religious devotion, commerce and everyday life overlap. Covered arcades and surrounding markets offer opportunities for gesture, environmental portraiture and layered storytelling.
After a midday break and instructional session, we continue toward Dadaocheng and Dihua Street. Old shopfronts, tea merchants, family businesses and narrow side streets reveal another side of the city.
As evening arrives, we photograph Taipei after dark, working with artificial light, reflections, movement and the energy of a night market.
Feb 26 — Taichung by High-Speed Rail
We travel by high-speed rail to Taichung for a full day of photography. Traditional markets, older commercial streets, temple neighborhoods and creative districts offer a different visual rhythm from Taipei, including historic structures adapted by a younger generation.
Possible locations include Taichung Second Market, the streets around the old railway station, Zhongxin Market, Yizhong Street and an evening market. Our photographic focus is on contrast: traditional and contemporary culture, old architecture and new uses, quiet lanes and youthful street energy.
Following dinner and an evening shoot, we return to our Taipei hotel by high-speed rail.
Feb 27 — Contemporary Taipei: Movement, Architecture and Urban Energy
After breakfast, we hold our first formal critique and editing session. We look at a selection of each participant’s photographs, identify visual strengths and discuss directions for the developing portfolio.
The afternoon shifts toward contemporary Taipei. Architecture, transit stations, elevated walkways and busy pedestrian areas give us opportunities to work with scale, geometry, movement and juxtaposition. We may explore Ximending, Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan or one of the city’s contemporary eastern districts.
An evening assignment will encourage participants to move beyond their usual way of working, perhaps concentrating on a single color, gesture, layer, distance or type of light.
Feb 28 — Taipei at Street Level: Personal Projects and Deeper Work
Today is devoted to slowing down and going deeper. After an early neighborhood shoot, we discuss developing a personal theme or visual thread. Each participant chooses an area, subject or idea to pursue with greater concentration.
Some may return to a market or temple neighborhood discovered earlier. Others may explore commuters, food culture, portraits, urban solitude, signs, reflections or the relationship between old and new Taipei. Steve and Soichi rotate among participants, providing hands-on field instruction and individual guidance.
We regroup to discuss what is emerging before an evening shoot. Working in the same city over several days gives us time to move past first impressions and make photographs with greater depth and personal meaning.
Mar 1 — Tainan by High-Speed Rail: Taiwan’s Historic South
We depart early for Tainan by high-speed rail. One of Taiwan’s oldest cities, it offers a slower rhythm and a concentration of temples, food stalls, historic buildings and intimate streets.
We photograph around the old city center, exploring temple courtyards, traditional businesses, markets and historic lanes near areas such as Guohua Street, the Confucius Temple and Shennong Street.
We stay through late-afternoon light and into early evening, when lanterns, storefronts, temples and food vendors transform the streets. After dinner, we return to Taipei by high-speed rail.
Mar 2 — Editing the Story and a Final Taipei Shoot
Our final full day brings the week’s photographs together. During an extended critique and editing session, each participant begins shaping a concise portfolio. We discuss which pictures are strongest, how they communicate with one another and how sequencing can create rhythm, surprise and meaning.
The critique may reveal what is still missing: a transition image, a quieter moment, a sense of place or a photograph that completes an emerging idea. In the afternoon, we return to the streets with individual assignments. Participants may revisit a favorite neighborhood, continue a personal project or work in a new area.
We conclude with a final sunset and evening shoot, followed by our celebratory farewell dinner.
Mar 3 — Final Critique and Departure
Our final morning is devoted to reviewing the progress made and discussing next steps for completing each participant’s Taiwan portfolio.
Steve and Soichi offer guidance on editing, sequencing, processing and continuing the work at home. The aim is to leave with a clearer sense of your visual voice and a practical approach to refining the portfolio.
The workshop concludes by late morning or early afternoon. Participants may depart Taipei or extend their stay independently.

In the field and in class

What you'll learn

Street Philosophies

This is a hands-on photographic workshop with plenty of time in the field. We will photograph early and late when the light and street life are most interesting, with midday breaks for rest, editing and discussion.

Our small group allows for personal attention and informal critiques throughout the week.

Expect to work on:

• Finding meaningful moments in visually complex streets

• Anticipating gesture, expression and human interaction

• Approaching people with confidence and respect

• Working with layers, reflections, color, light and movement

• Photographing markets, temples, food culture and daily rituals

• Returning to a location and working beyond the obvious

• Editing individual images into a cohesive portfolio

Steve and Soichi will also share practical approaches to camera setup, focusing, lens choice, organizing, backing up, editing and processing large numbers of photographs. The lessons are intended to simplify the process so you can respond more instinctively to what is happening in front of you.

Travel & logistics

The Regent Taipei will be our base for all seven nights. This lets us settle into the city, photograph its neighborhoods repeatedly and avoid losing time to hotel changes.

Two high-speed-rail day trips—to Taichung and Tainan—will give us distinct visual experiences while keeping travel efficient and comfortable. Local transportation connected with scheduled workshop activities is included.

International participants should arrive in Taipei on February 23, one day before the workshop begins. Our first meeting and photographic activities begin during the afternoon of February 24. The workshop concludes by late morning or early afternoon on March 3. We recommend departing on March 4, although participants with later flights may leave on March 3.

Participants are responsible for booking their own international flights and getting themselves from the airport to the Regent Taipei. We will provide clear arrival guidance before the workshop.

Accommodation

Our home throughout the workshop will be the Regent Taipei, a refined five-star hotel in the heart of the lively Zhongshan district.

Its location makes it an excellent base for photographers. We can step outside and begin exploring on foot, with the Zhongshan MRT station nearby when we want to venture farther.

After long days on the streets, participants will return to spacious rooms and the hotel’s restaurants, sauna and heated rooftop pool. Seven nights’ accommodation and all breakfasts are included in the workshop fee.

Let us know if you would like help arranging additional nights before or after the workshop.

Our home throughout the workshop: the Regent Taipei.

Who you'll work with

Your instructors

Steve Simon

Steve Simon is an award-winning documentary photographer and the author of five critically acclaimed books, including The Passionate Photographer, selected as one of Amazon’s “Top Ten Art and Photography Books.” He has photographed in over 40 countries on assignment, with work appearing in publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Time, Mother Jones, Le Monde, Colors, Life, Harpers, Macleans, and The Walrus.

Best known for his humanistic approach, Steve’s photography explores the complexity and beauty of the human condition—capturing authentic, unscripted moments in real time. His images have been exhibited in solo shows in New York, Toronto, Montreal, and Buenos Aires, and three times at Visa Pour L’Image in Perpignan, France. An excerpt from Empty Sky, his photographic tribute to the aftermath of 9/11, was published by Life Books. The 9/11 Memorial Museum later acquired the complete set of prints for its permanent collection—recognizing the work as both witness and memorial.

A passionate educator, Steve has taught at the International Center of Photography (ICP) and the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, and continues to lead workshops around the world. He is currently working on two new books—one on the art of photographic critique, and another exploring the American political convention.

Soichi Hayashi

Born in 1973, Soichi Hayashi is a freelance photographer and director based in Tokyo. After serving as a creative director for the ad agency, he became independent in photography business. For many years he has been privileged to work alongside the world’s finest photographers with their diverse backgrounds and genres, infusing him with the ability to capture evocative imagery from both a creative and technical perspective.

His photographic interest began early, influenced and nurtured by his father and grandfather – both professional photographers. His skills allow him to shoot nearly any subject whether on location or in the studio but his longstanding passion lies in natural landscape. He travels the world and is available for assignments.

Pricing

Your workshop fee covers all seven nights’ accommodation at the Regent Taipei, local transportation during the workshop, all breakfasts, two special dinners, photographic instruction, group outings, on-the-ground support, and scheduled activities throughout the workshop.

Participants are responsible for booking their own international flights and getting themselves from the airport to the Regent Taipei. Most lunches and dinners are not included, apart from the two special dinners noted below.

Tuition

$7,500.00 USD

Deposit: $250.00 USD secures your place
Balance due: November 26, 2026
Group size: Limited to 8 photographers

The remaining balance may be paid by bank transfer, wire, ACH, or credit card (3% processing fee applies to credit card payments).

What's included

7 nights accommodation at the Regent Taipei
All breakfasts
Welcome dinner on the first evening
Celebratory farewell dinner
Local transportation during the workshop, including high-speed-rail day trips to Taichung and Tainan
All instruction and mentorship from Steve Simon and Soichi Hayashi
Group outings, critiques, editing discussions and scheduled workshop activities
On-the-ground support throughout the workshop
Pre- and post-workshop online lectures and critique

Our goal is to provide a seamless, supportive experience so you can stay focused on making your strongest work.

Not included

International airfare to/from Taiwan; Transportation from the airport to the Regent Taipei on arrival; Most lunches and dinners, apart from the two special dinners included with the workshop; Personal expenses; Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended).

Once you’ve checked in, we’ll handle the workshop logistics from there, with clear guidance before and during the trip.

Before you reserve

Deposit & Cancellation Policy — Taiwan 2027

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. If we need to cancel the workshop, your deposit will be refunded. Group size is intentionally limited to eight photographers, so early registration is encouraged.

If you withdraw more than 90 days before the workshop begins, tuition paid beyond the deposit will be refunded once we receive your cancellation in writing.

If you withdraw less than 90 days before the workshop, a refund is possible only if we can fill your place from the waitlist. In that case, tuition paid beyond the deposit will be returned. If your place cannot be filled, tuition cannot be refunded.

Because hotels, transportation, bookings and local partners require fixed commitments in advance, PhotoEducate and The Passionate Photographer Inc. cannot offer refunds or credits for medical or family emergencies, travel delays, illness, weather, transportation disruptions, political events or other unforeseen circumstances. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is strongly recommended.

A Note on Travel & Medical Insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes international medical coverage, trip cancellation protection that can reimburse your workshop fee, coverage for delays, lost luggage and emergency evacuation, and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions when available. Many policies require this coverage to be purchased within a set period after your initial trip payment.

Insurance protects you from absorbing the financial loss of an unexpected situation and offers added peace of mind when traveling internationally with expensive camera equipment. We recommend www.squaremouth.com as one place to compare travel and medical insurance options.

Testimonials

What participants say

“Best workshop I’ve ever taken! Steve is not only a great photographer, he is also a terrific teacher. He is patient and very hands- on. In some workshops the instructor sends students out to shoot after a short lecture–Steve goes out with his students, coaching them throughout the process. His course is well organized and covers diverse topics. He is funny and engaging and generous with his time and knowledge. I had SO MUCH fun and am ready to sign up for the next one. Highly recommended!”
Anna Blanco, New York City

“My week in Steve’s Street Shooting workshop challenged me tremendously. There’s nothing like taking your work apart and putting it back together with new vision to make you a better photographer. If you take this workshop, I guarantee you will see the world differently at the end.”
Anne Dunford, Ithaca, New York

“What a fabulous experience. I learned more about photography in one week than I had in 5 years. Steve is very knowledgable about the technical side as well as composition. He is very patient, gives excellent feedback and will work one on one with you on any photography subject you want. I asked him for help on night photography and at 10 PM he was out on the streets of Havana with me with step by step instructions on how to take the shot. 5 star plus rating!!”
Gary Niederpruem, Chicago

“Steve’s passion for photography is contagious and his teaching abilities and knowledge extraordinary! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in photography.”
Paul Lavergne, San Juan, PR

“Participating in the NYC Street Photography Workshop was an enriching and exhilarating experience. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to improve my skills. Steve’s curriculum and hands on approach offered me an opportunity to learn new techniques, add some creativity and visualize subject matter from another perspective. Each day presented abundant photo opportunities, resulting with the capture of some amazing images, exceeding my greatest expectations.”
Chapman Solomon, Mountain View, CA

“Not only is Steve a great photographer, he is also a caring, compassionate person as well. He is constantly trying to help participants achieve their photographic goals in a gentle, caring, and sincere manner. The critiques of my work were very helpful. Steve was right-on in terms of his suggestions to better my work. The totality of the workshop was terrific, primarily because the parts were all excellent as well. Choice of shooting locations, image reviews, suggestions, videos shown, and galleries visited were all great. Steve also promoted wonderful interactions among the participants. The venue was perfect for the workshop. We could spread out, leave your things there, use the facilities, and eat the goodies provided. You know you’re in good hands with Steve! An outstanding workshop!!”
Stephen Sholl, New York City

“This is an outstanding workshop, led by a world-class photographer. It is impossible to spend time in a room with Steve Simon and not be inspired to get out there and make great images …I had high expectations and you exceeded them…Steve is very personable, articulate and passionate about photography, very welcoming with a warm, engaging personality. Steve’s style is outstanding. I knew of Steve from the TWiP podcast and would have attended if he was talking about how to watch paint dry…”
Steve Lavelle, London

“I just spent the last three days with Steve Simon, What a wonderful experience, the best time spent in a workshop ever. Steve is a perfectionist, every presentation not only had spectacular photography but also the perfect music to enhance the mood, a roller coaster of emotions. He cannot hide his journalistic background every single image tells a story. His technique is flawless; his teaching patience unparalleled. I am eager to start a new chapter of my photography applying what Steve taught me in the last few days.”
Oscar Piñeyro, Dallas