No Escape

Tried to have a weekend free of politics, starting with a Saturday afternoon stroll to Pantip joining a party later on. But no politics is hardly possible in the metropolis Bangkok that’s just not getting rid of its provincial charm.

You can meet anyone anywhere. At the party I ended up with meeting … well, have a look at the little photo essay below shot with my cheap Fuji cam, please bear with the quality. Once he started singing karaoke I called it a day and left. What can you do.

Politics seem to have taken infiltrated every corner of the place. He was a nice guy, until the moment I asked him about Hun Sen. As if struck dumb with horror his eyes seemed to say: “Not here!” Wasn’t “no politics” my plan, me jerk …

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November 15, 2009 | Filed Under Nightlife & Entertainment, Photography, Politics, Truly Bangkok | 3 Comments 

Asean Buzz

Asean buzz & first broken glass that is to say. The day before the opening of the 15th Asean Summit in Hua Hin the delegation from Laos suffered a mid-severe accident on the infamously coned Petchkasem main road aka “Asean Lane.” Didn’t see any blood traces, hope the driver and passengers are fine. See the images below – among other visual impressions. Yes that’s Korn.

Where superstition and magic are part of politics, can such a prelude of an accident only be seen as a bad omen? Hua Hin looks kind of eerie. People seem to avoid the sleepy town, everywhere security forces, restaurants empty. Thailand doesn’t leave anything to chance. Around Hua Hin and in Bangkok 36,000 security personnel are on duty. The probably biggest security operation in Thailand’s history shall not only avert a repeat of the Pattaya incident.

Thailand presents herself as a comeback destination of choice. Not only are journalists treated with delicious lunch and dinner buffets at the Sheraton Resort & Spa – you should have tasted Thursday’s Tiramisu. Asian leaders and delegations are pampered with the utmost in luxury. 16.5 million baht for the gala dinner alone – including golden giveaway cutlery? You don’t wanna know what wine they are served.

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October 22, 2009 | Filed Under News & Media, Photography, Politics | 1 Comment 

Life In Motion

Had a dream. Making a living with photography. All there would be is meeting, observing and capturing people and their moments. But reality sets in quickly. Have obligations, not enough talent anyway and – yes – no gear at the moment as I’m about to decide between a 5D II and an M9.

The more pleasing it is to see true, outstanding photography. Not just properly focused and exposed shots, but true, unique photography. A master of this art is Italian Enzo Beretta who dedicates much of his work to Thailand. Beretta stands for uncropped, unedited photography.

No Photoshop, no tone mapping, no retouching. And Enzo’s work is all about motion, silent motion, the most difficult art of photography I’d say. The freezing of time. Not by means of the latest autofocus, but by means of intuition, patience, an eye for the hidden and irrecoverable. Enzo’s blog Life in Motion guides you through his hunt for motion and “discontent with the trend of most images altered in post-production.”

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September 16, 2009 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Photography, Society, Truly Bangkok | 3 Comments 

Sodom & Gomorrah

Here’s a little photo report of Jatujak, of the there caged and tied down animals’ Sodom & Gomorrah. There’s hardly anything you can’t find at Jatujak.

And no pet that isn’t for sale, be it dogs, cats, birds, fishes, scorpions, turtles, spiders, snakes, etc. In apocalyptic conditions that is.

It’s heartbreaking to stroll along Jatujak’s animal shops. Animal rights, like other basic rights, are no speciality of Thailand.

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August 30, 2009 | Filed Under Culture Shock, Nature, Photography, Truly Bangkok | 8 Comments 

Tidbits: CIA, King Power, Shots

Torture in Thailand. Never. Under this government that is, we’re told. But remember, during the regime of Thaksin Shinawatra CIA-planeloads of terror suspects and terrorists got shipped around the world to countries with less strict anti-torture laws.

The use of Thailand as a safe haven for torture is well documented. The evil Washington Post has a latest detailer. Yet Prime Minister Abhisit Vajjajiva is not only protecting the name of the kingdom. He’s not even putting the blame on Thaksin. What could be easier than to say: “See, that kind of man he was.”

In another saga hurting Thailand’s international standing media worldwide are pointing warning fingers against King Power, the country’s duty-free monopolist. Newspapers, travel blogs and embassies (!) are deploring the Bangkok airport scam, yet that scam goes on unchecked – and King Power is concerned over damage to its reputation.

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July 22, 2009 | Filed Under News & Media, Photography | 3 Comments 

The Face Of Thailand

He’s old school, Ronn Aldaman, photographer and Thai resident, who once tried digital cameras. He had a Nikon D200 and Canon 5D with a few zooms. He’s using film again exclusively.

And “limits” himself to primes, with basically only the 35mm and 50mm. “Once the 50 finds its way onto a camera it tends to stay on for a while,” says Ronn who “likes to get in and blend and be a part of it.”

It’s photo journalism of the finest Ronn is exhibiting at I-Gallery from June 5th until the end of the month – even though “The Face of Thailand” is a selection of a selection of about 1% keepers from thousands of photos.

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June 3, 2009 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Photography, TTT - Top Thai Things | 6 Comments 

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