"Into the Sun" Photograph

People walking into bright, low sunshine make quite good photographic subjects for me as they are much less likely to notice me taking their picture which means they usually keep whatever natural expression they are wearing at the time.

You can see the shadow of my shoulder and arm on this woman’s shirt as I take her photograph with my camera at belly-level.

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

"Eyes Down" Photograph

As with any photograph of people in dynamic situations the way it looks as a frozen moment might not actually reflect the reality of what was happening. A brief glance can look like a stare, an innocent licking of the gums can turn into a meaningful expression and without the benefit of three dimensions angles can be deceptive. However, in this case it is hard to think of an alternative explanation than the obvious one. 

The chances are that she will never see this picture and he won’t get into trouble but let it be a lesson to all of you: I'm not the only one with a camera so you better behave yourself out there on the street.

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

Starting the New Year

I have felt like this on New Year’s Day a few times and it never feels like a good way to start the year, although it does at least ensure that things will get better.

I have no idea if there was really something wrong with her or if she was just wrapped up in her own thoughts whilst waiting for someone perhaps, but a woman nearby smiled reassuringly at me when I took the photo so I left her teetering on the curb. I hope she didn’t jump.

Photograph taken at the “Sunday Walking Street”, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Onward

Climb on board, a new year is about to begin.

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

The Beauty of Digital Photography

This photograph makes me think back to the days of film when the gap between taking a picture and actually seeing the result was usually a few weeks. And now a whole generation has grown up enjoying the immediate gratification of instant results, photographically speaking.

This is, of course, a great feature of digital photography but there are still people around using rollfilm cameras and I hope they never totally fade away for they offer something different in both process and quality that the digital world lacks.

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

Small Seat Photo

This seat ain’t big enough for the two of us!

Thai people in general have a wonderful ability to get down low that many of the rest of us lose somewhere in our school years. All the way up to old age they can comfortably sit cross-legged on the floor, squat for a chat in the street or perch with ease on the tiniest of chairs. Just looking at this photograph makes my knees ache.

Taken at “Sunday Walking Street” market, Chiang Mai, Thailand

'No Left Foot' Photo

The strange thing about this photograph is the way the woman’s loose trousers combined with her walk has made it look like she doesn’t have a left foot. 

She does have one.

Photograph taken in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Child's View of a Busy Thai Street

This wasn’t what I had in mind when I took the photograph as the blurred man in the shirt just rocked backwards at the wrong moment but I love the accidental result. To me it looks like a child’s view peeking out from amongst the adults. It could have been taken anywhere but was actually photographed in Chiang Mai's busy night bazaar.

Shooting from the hip results in many photographs that I delete straight away but also some unintended compositions like this one that work well.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thai Street Vendor Bending Photo

This was photographed as people were preparing for one of the popular weekly street markets in Chiang Mai. The old Thai lady wearing a traditional ‘pasin’ wrap-around skirt is, I think, marking the ground where a market stall will be.

If I stare at this picture long enough, she starts to topple forwards.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Model Shoot Photo on Thai Street

The Chiang Mai “walking street” markets seem to be as much a place for photography as commerce especially in the main tourist season (Dec-Feb) and I am as big a culprit as anybody!

Whenever I look at this picture I wonder if the two young women in the photo have noticed me taking their picture in the background of their own photograph, and if so, what’s their reaction? My guess is that they wouldn’t notice as I shot-from-the-hip and the camera never left my side but I still worry that I might be perceived as doing something sneaky to the extent of creepy. I was, after all, taking a low angle shot of a woman in a short skirt but hopefully you agree there’s nothing distasteful about the result.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

A Very Minor Mystery in Chiang Mai

I don’t know who this woman is but I see her several times a week, particularly around the local street market and she is clearly an ‘old-face’ around our area in Chiang Mai. This photogenic old face of hers has the soft, approachable quality that is so typical of elderly Thai ladies and you just know she’s always ready with one of those Thai smiles that help to make the country so livable.

When I see her she is often carrying a tray of noodle condiments (vinegar, sugar, fish sauce and ground chili) or drinks as in this photograph. It would be very easy to find out why she wanders around like this but I think I prefer to leave her with her little mystery.

Chiang Mai, Thailand