“Handybags” Photographs

The days are generally cloudless and bright at this time of year and sometimes I wish I also carried a handbag to shield my face from the sun. Although it’s tempting to make a sarcastic comment about people in Thailand avoiding the sun as much as possible to keep their skin as white as possible, I have to admit on this day the sun was so strong that I was avoiding it more than anyone.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Temple Tiles” Photograph

The ubiquitous and unmistakable fish scale/snakeskin pattern of orange tiles on a Buddhist temple roof. For me, the older they are the better, and the more subtle colour variations there are the better. As well as colours from almost yellow to almost red, the roof in this photograph has the added texture of cobwebs and dirt. Unfortunately, that’s not always what the local community values so there is generally a desire for nice bright uniform new roofs which to my eye lack character but to the locals indicate prosperity.

Photograph taken at a temple in Pathum Thani, Thailand

“Four Arms” Photograph

I love photographs that make us focus on things that we usually pay little attention to. There is nothing special about these four men’s arms but the lack of faces make them the subject.

As a photographic composition I wish the tee-shirt of the man on the right did not have writing. It is distracting and irrelevant. A plain shirt would have worked much better. With a bit of effort the text could be removed with photo-editing software and personally I see nothing wrong in doing so but the creases make it hard to do it convincingly.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Vulnerable” Photograph

Naked, short, armless and faceless, this mannequin must feel a little intimidated and vulnerable being stuck on the ground and surrounded by men like this.

There is also plenty of living, breathing (but equally voiceless) vulnerability around our streets.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Left Holding The Umbrella” Photograph

As I stood there shooting a couple of sneaky photographs from the hip of this man and his coffee shop umbrella he just stood there holding it so I took a couple more photos.

Eventually I realised that he was actually politely waiting for me to leave so he could take the umbrella down.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“New Year Itch” Photograph

A new year but the same old itch to scratch away at. This is just an illustration of how artificial our partitioning of time is as there is no real reason to expect today to be any different than yesterday. Certainly won’t be for this dog and almost certainly won’t be for politics in Thailand.

Photograph taken in temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand