"Nice Hat” Photograph

At first I thought this woman and her floppy sunshade umbrella were quite funny. It looked like either a broken umbrella or a case of extreme shyness. But then I realised that she was actually being quite considerate in a crowded place. I’m sure we’ve all almost been poked in the eye by an umbrella spoke at some time and she was reducing the risk by letting it droop. I wish more people would do the same.

Probably wouldn’t work very well in heavy rain though.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Fruit Head” Photograph

What’s on your mind, lady? Apart from the fruit.

Any little gimmick that attracts attention is probably worth it for a market vendor having to compete with hundreds of other vendors. In this case she is wearing a ripe mango on her head but it didn’t seem to be working as nobody bought any of her fruit while I was there. Perhaps it was backfiring by being too obviously plastic and inedible.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Fanned” Photograph

No way would I buy something from this guy. After an hour of sweating my way around the market, getting jostled and dripped on by other sweaty shoppers, seeing him sitting there smugly with his own private fan made me feel like I was being goaded.

Only after getting home, having a cold shower and sitting down with an icy beer did I realise that the poor guy was probably still sitting there in the oppressive heat trying to find some relief through that increasingly heavy fan.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Bag Boys” Photograph

The roadside outside of the already sprawling Chatuchak weekend market has become an extension for an ever-increasing number of traders. These two lads are offering something for sale out of their red bags but they were quite furtive and I have no idea what was on offer.

The look in his eye perhaps suggests he is hoping for more than a sale.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Scarecrow” Photograph

It’s quite normal (and understandable) for young Thai women to take great pride in their lovely long black hair but a little unusual for it to get long enough to sit on.

I have no idea why she has her arms out like this: perhaps describing how long her hair will be one day or maybe it’s a fish that got away.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Alert” Photograph

I’m not sure what was going on here. This vendor was standing on this crate on tiptoes, saw something then took his cart and scurried off down one of the maze of alleyways in the market. The only explanation seemed to be that he was trying to avoid somebody but who was not obvious. Perhaps the market authorities or police or local mafia? There’s a lot going on at Chatuchak that we mere shoppers have no clue about.

I don’t think I’ll get him into trouble by showing his feet.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“All I Want For Christmas” Photograph

Who needs expensive toys when you’ve got a lump of expanded polystyrene, some old wooden kebab skewers and an imagination? I watched this lad for a minute or so and he clearly had a purpose behind his construction. It might have been a house or perhaps a car that he was making but actually could have been almost anything else, I’m afraid his imagination (and concentration) was working on a different level to mine.

Not having children of my own I had never really thought about the nature of toys and how modern ones tend to direct the child’s play. This boy is educating himself in terms of using his own unconstrained imagination, planning and the practical mechanics of actually making something. He also educated me. Thanks, kid.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Feet Freedom” Photograph

I like not having to wear shoes and socks against the cold here in Thailand. Slip-on sandals and flip-flops give the feet much more freedom to stretch and explore the surrounding world with all its different textures. However, being more exposed and less cossetted does mean that Thai feet generally have a harder, more worn look than their sock-bound cousins elsewhere.

Photograph taken at Zeer, Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand

“Missing the Obvious” Photograph

Considering how well the shapeliness of this woman stands out in this photograph it is perhaps surprising that I hardly noticed her when I took the picture. I was just looking at the man behind who was having a good stretch and staring at something on the ground in a way that I thought might make an interesting picture.

That’s the benefit of a static photograph which allows you to see much more than you notice at the time in an ever-changing dynamic street situation – although, usually this means that you see more detail rather than a whole subject!

Photograph taken at Zeer, Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand

“Trolley Rider” Photograph

Every supermarket has its share of kids riding around in shopping trolleys. The arrangement seems to work well for both the kids who get a free ride and the parents who know exactly where their kids are. If you also keep them quiet with a crispy snack there need not be any trauma involved in shopping with children at all.

Photograph taken at Zeer, Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand

“Coxcomb” Photograph

Thinning but proud, this man is making the most of what hair he has left.

Photographically this photograph is helped by the group of young men in the background adding to the older man’s sense of distracted isolation.

Photograph taken at Zeer, Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand 

“Step Family” Photograph

Last week I posted a photograph looking down at a man from above and said that I liked the angle because it simplified the background. This photo of a family walking down some steps is a good example of the opposite. I still like it as a picture but it would be much better without all the distracting advertisements behind. Sometimes changing the picture to black-and-white can help but in this case the high contrast of the background makes the family stand out even less in monochrome.

Photograph taken at Zeer, Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand 

“Paradox Slogan” Photograph

The shortst slogans are the most confusing.

I tried to take this shirt’s advice and thought the opposite of what it advised, which meant that I should think the same…so I should think the opposite…so…

Stuck in this paradox for a while I eventually managed to extricate myself with the profound insight that perhaps I shouldn’t try to live by what inane tee-shirts tell me.

Photograph taken at Rangsit, Bangkok, Thailand

“Sneaky Leak” Photograph

With a “toy” in each hand this man is watering the roadside plants with some liquid fertiliser whilst chatting away on his cellphone. It is actually quite common for guys to do this in Thailand and I am just waiting to see what happens when video calls become more popular.

I think the stain beside him comes from a leaking gutter rather than previous visits of his.

Photograph taken on Wua Lai Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Fruit ‘N’ Veg” Photograph

The variety of local vegetables and fruit on offer in some Thai markets is only matched by the variety of colours and patterns in the clothes worn by some of the market stallholders. To the extent that I couldn’t bring myself to post the colour version of this photograph.

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

“Two Skirts” Photograph

“Hi Lads,

Having a great time here in Thailand!

I’ve picked up two gorgeous twins. We hang out together and they’re both easy going with lovely legs – I can hardly keep my hands off them. And as they don’t talk much there’s not even a language barrier!

I might even ship them home!

Cheers”

Photograph taken on Saturday Walking Street, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Mannekin Boy” Photograph

It’s common for the whole family including kids to help out with the market stall - better than leaving them at home by themselves.

These three children seem to be absolute naturals.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Waiting for Custom” Photograph

Market trader seems to be one of the first options people think of to earn a living here in Thailand. Unfortunately, for many it ends up in disappointment after long hours fruitlessly waiting for customers.

Photograph taken at Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand

“Stork Pose” Photograph

“Wanna buy a Rolex?”

Not really a “street” photograph but it was taken at a popular temple which has a large breeding colony of these openbill storks (the “openbill”, which is that gap between upper and lower mandibles that remains even when the bill is closed, apparently helps them to catch the large snails that they usually feed on).

Photograph taken at Wat (temple) Pailom in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

“Bird’s Eye Target” Photograph

Urban raised walkways can give a great change of perspective. As well as the different view of people below what I particularly like about this unusual angle is how the background gets simplified and loses so much of the clutter that street-level photographs can have.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Heartache” Photograph

I think this guy would probably make a good actor in a tragic play.

Or perhaps he is just wiping his hand on his shirt?

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Boot Boys” Photograph

Three Thai army cadets stomping their way politely along an overpass.

They might even have been in strike formation with their eyes on those three young women in front.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand            

“Reach Over” Photograph

I have a friend who does this – reach over with his left hand to scratch around his right ear. Once I noticed I couldn’t help making him feel self-conscious by mentioning it every time he did it. I didn’t mention it to this stranger though.

Photograph taken on Saturday Walking Street, Chiang Mai, Thailand

“Far Away” Photograph

She has that far away look in her eyes that makes me wonder whether she’s looking back at the working day just passed or forward to the evening to come.

On the other hand, my experience of Bangkok suggests that the commuter crush may have just knocked all thoughts right out of her head.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

Thai Street View First Year

As a way of celebrating a year of posting on this blog one street photograph a day from the forever interesting streets of Thailand here is a video slideshow of the highlights from the first year.

The background sound comes from a walk around the afternoon market at Zeer, Rangsit, Bangkok.

All photographs taken around Thailand mainly in Bangkok and Chiang Mai

“Left Feet” Photograph

The right feet are doing their job properly but the left feet seem to have minds of their own. Perhaps there is some mental connection between thinking about numbers (they were at an ATM) and wayward left feet.

If you actually asked the young woman to stand like that I wonder if she would be able to – I tried and it’s not easy.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Bargain Hunter” Photograph

I like this photograph as an example of how this type of street photography is generally better with a wide angle lens than a telephoto. Using a wide-angle forces/allows you to get up close which makes for more intimate images where the viewer can feel part of the scene rather than just an observer.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Expressive Skirt” Photograph

Is it just my imagination or is that skirt really smiling at me? It makes for quite a suggestive photograph.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Being Careful” Photograph

This area in Bangkok has a bit of a reputation for pickpockets and a friend of mine had his cellphone stolen here a while ago. Clearly aware of the risk, the woman in the background is being very careful to look after her bag whilst the guy in front is also checking his valuables.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“Pedestrian Traffic Control” Photograph

When policemen stand in the road with legs apart and hands behind their back like this it means both traffic and pedestrians must stop and wait for a royal or political cavalcade to pass by. Although it can be frustrating, particularly when it happens as everybody is trying to get home from work like here, there have been moves recently to cut the waiting time to a minimum.

Photograph taken at Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

“UFO” Photograph

In this case along a walking street market in Chiang Mai, “UFO” is more likely to stand for Unidentified Fried Object but there were actually a lot of aliens around (as we foreigners are lovingly called by the Thai authorities).

Photograph taken in Saturday Walking Street, Chiang Mai, Thailand