“Three Look Back“ Photograph

“Hey, look over there!”

“April fools.”

This is actually one of my favorite photos of all those I’ve taken on the streets of Thailand. I love the synchronized pattern of all three looking back together plus the fact that you have no idea what they are looking at (and that’s how it’s going to stay).

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

“Happy Crowd“ Photograph

What could be causing such a happy, adoring crowd?

The answer is dogs dressed up as little people, of course.

Poor things.

Photographs taken at “Saturday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Would you like ketchup on that, Sir?” Photograph

When I saw this tourist in his saucy, skin-tight, minimalist shorts my reaction was how inappropriate it was to be out on a Thai city street dressed like that. Yes it’s possible to do so and nobody is going to tell you not to but it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Partly it’s the effect it might have on Thai people’s attitude to westerners in general, i.e. that we don’t know or don’t care how to dress properly in public, but I also realised that I would not have reacted in the same way if it had been a Thai man.

Apparently, I put an extra onus on us visitors to show respect for the Thai norms (which are not the same as the Thai reputation from tourist resorts). On reflection, I think this is exactly right. As guests, it’s not our job to influence/change Thai culture in this way. If young Thai’s themselves want to do so that’s up to them but personally I’d prefer it if we didn’t help speed up the process.

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

“Hair” Photograph

Before taking this photograph I had never had the urge to brush or comb somebody else’s hair but for some reason looking at this picture makes me want to comb hers until it’s as close to perfection as I can get it. I did not have this feeling at the time, only when looking at the photo.

This reaction is unexpected and slightly puzzles me. Perhaps I have been conditioned by shampoo/conditioner commercials? Or is there something more fundamental about beauty and perfection?

By the way, she is a blind lady who sings for donations and she only sits in the middle of the road after it has been closed to traffic for the weekly “Walking Street” market.

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

“Male Humor” Photograph

The woman in the background, of course, was not actually “shhhhh’ing” these three men as they enjoyed a joke together. I’m sure she was just pondering what to do next. However, the fact that she is there with her finger up to her mouth adds another dimension to the photograph, one that I certainly didn’t notice when I took it. Making my own photographic luck again.

From a compositional point of view it’s interesting to follow where your eyes go when looking at this picture. Mine go to the middle man’s face, then to the face of the man to the right, then over to the face of the third man. These three faces and the way they are pointing form a nice circuit for the eye which then wanders to other things like the tee-shirts and woman behind, returning again to the men’s faces.

But now I’m stuck wondering why I should never trust a hippie.

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

“Tangled Web” Photograph

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first start to…receive"

I’d like to see the diagram that explains all the connections here. Such tangled overhead cables that gradually get added to over the years are a common sight along roadsides in Thailand but it is unusual that they spill down to almost ground level. If it wasn’t for the little bit of rope tying them into a bundle they would probably sag to about knee level.

Photograph taken in Bang Saen, Chonburi, Thailand