“Blotched” Photograph

The blotchiness of this man’s skin was real but has been greatly exaggerated by the post-processing of this photograph. It has also exaggerated the graininess elsewhere in the photo which came about as a normal result of the high ISO used for night-time shooting when wanting to keep a reasonably fast shutter speed. The result is not pretty and is a bit unfair on the man but I love the contrast of this blotchiness and the tidy stripes of his shirt. This could be called a photographic caricature in the same way as a cartoonist takes an individual’s features and exaggerates them.

I actually like this picture because it is not attractive. Sometimes we aim for visual appeal without considering the alternatives.

Photograph taken on “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Looming” Photograph

This is a typical view many Thai people have of westerners who are often much taller and thereby tend to “loom”. This is simply a factor of height but an inferiority complex would be an understandable result. However, particularly in urban areas, this is changing with diet and there are many Thai teenagers who now loom over me. Well, okay, as I’m only 170cm (5’7”) tall this isn’t saying much but the fact is that the Thai population is starting to catch up height-wise.

Photograph taken on “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Running Girl” Photograph

Not sure if she is running for chaps or from them.

I often see children running along the Walking Street markets in Chiang Mai and occasionally I see an adult doing so. The adults always look like they’re in a hurry, whilst the children look like they’re running for pleasure.

Photograph taken on “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Ornate Mange” Photograph

This dog could be admiring the marbled flooring or perhaps bowing in respect to Buddha at this temple in Bangkok but most likely it’s just suffering from the effects of heat and mange. As I have said before, pet dogs abandoned at temples may appear to have an easy life but in reality they face hard times on a poor diet in often crowded conditions that mean disease is rife.

Photograph taken at Laksi Temple, Bangkok, Thailand

“Keep Your Head On” Photograph

Lost in his own thoughts this man’s gesture could mean many things. He might have just realised that he’d left the iron on at home or perhaps he’s checking his new haircut or it could be a nervous gesture during a conversation, for example. Seeing him at the time would have at least given a good idea of his underlying emotion although the reason behind it may have stayed hidden. But as a photograph it’s unclear.

Perhaps this means that something has been lost through the act of photography, which is true in part, but I prefer to look at it as opening up other possibilities that didn’t exist at the time.

Another possibility is that he’s thinking, “Good grief, it’s my sister’s birthday today and I haven’t sent her anything!”

Happy Birthday, Debs!

Photograph taken on “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Leaning” Photograph

This was one of the first street photographs with which I tried the High Dynamic Range (HDR) technique. Looking at it now I think I went too far and overdid the effect a little but at the time I was so impressed with how bright it made the interior of the “songthaew” pickup truck that I left it as it came out – in the original photograph the inside of this vehicle was very dark with almost no apparent detail.

This is probably typical when discovering a new technique and more subtle use develops over time (hopefully!).

Photograph taken at Chiang Mai Gate Market, Chiang Mai, Thailand