CHINA DAILY

EXPERIENCE YAOWARAT IN BLACK AND WHITE THROUGH THE ‘CHINA DAILY’ EXHIBITION BY NIWAT KOONPHOL

TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO: NIWAT KOONPHOL EXCEPT AS NOTED

(For English, press  here)

Black-and-white photography continues to hold a certain magnetism, never losing its appeal among photographers and audiences alike. Stripped of color, the focus shifts to light, shadow, and form, creating compositions with a compelling sense of weight and spatial depth. The interplay of objects, structures, and negative space enhances the storytelling within each frame, making the images all the more engaging.

That visual language is at the core of China Daily, an exhibition by Niwat K Fotografie—also known as Niwat Koonphol (Tick). It is on view throughout March at MON Izakaya, located on the third floor near MRT Wat Mangkon at the Plaeng Nam intersection in Bangkok. The series is a collection of black-and-white photographs taken around Yaowarat during the Chinese New Year holiday, captured specifically for this exhibition. Originally an interior designer, Niwat developed a serious interest in photography after spending time in Austria.

“Being an interior designer, I would usually photograph spaces without people—documenting architecture, different design works, and buildings,” he says. “It was a way of learning through my profession. I’d shoot, develop the images, and post them. At one point, a friend suggested I put them together as a collection. They said my compositions were strong—especially the way I framed buildings, captured light and space—but that if I wanted my images to have more movement, more life, I should try photographing people as well.”

That advice led to a shift in his work. Once human figures entered the frame, the same spaces felt transformed. The presence of people altered the composition, adding a dynamic quality and new layers of narrative. From there, Niwat found himself drawn toward a different photographic approach—one that naturally led him into the world of street photography.

“Since living in Vienna, my approach to street photography has always had architecture as a backdrop. More than that, though, light and shadow play a role in shaping the space—it’s the light that carries the narrative. There’s a story in the contrast between darkness and brightness, and the gestures of people within that space capture fleeting moments. They are snapshots of the time I spent there.”

Why Black and White?

“I used to shoot in color, but after converting a few images to black and white, I realized I liked the look better—it added a deeper sense of mystery. When I moved to Vienna, I started experimenting with film cameras, trying out different models and brands, each with its own distinct character. I kept switching between them, learning more and more about black-and-white photography along the way.”

Why Yaowarat?

“There’s so much life here. Working on this project opened my eyes to new details. It’s not just a road; it’s a neighborhood with layers of history and an ever-evolving identity. There’s the context of tourism, the long-established business owners who’ve been here for generations, and now their children and grandchildren are returning to revive old family businesses. Across Yaowarat, Song Wat, and Plaeng Nam, you see this generational shift—third-generation entrepreneurs reimagining these spaces while still holding on to their family legacies. But there’s another side to the area that fascinates me: the working-class community, both Thai and migrant, living in apartments and tucked away in hidden corners of Yaowarat.  There are so many untold stories here—stories I want to keep exploring.”

For this series, Niwat used a newly acquired Leica SL, the first-generation model known for retaining a film-like quality. The images have a slightly soft, grainy texture, a signature of older cameras before the digital era took over. The result is a collection of street photography that captures Yaowarat from a different perspective—passing strangers, longtime residents, travelers, workers, even the birds and stray cats that have made the neighborhood their own.

“I did my homework beforehand. I had taken some daytime shots before, but this time, I wanted to see the city at night. I walked through the area, taking in the neon lights, the storefronts, the glowing signs—but it all felt too familiar. So many photographers had already captured this scene in countless ways. I started thinking about a different moment, one that hadn’t been explored as much—the early morning hours, after 3 AM. That’s when the city shifts into a new rhythm. The garbage trucks are gone, market vendors begin setting up, and the streets belong to the locals. Elderly shopkeepers, market traders, and business owners start their day, browsing for fresh goods. Morning vendors are different from the evening ones, who mainly cater to tourists. At dawn, you find shops selling fish maws, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbs—businesses that open before the city fully wakes. The streets are nearly empty, which allows me to step into the middle of the road and capture perspectives of Yaowarat that would be impossible during the day.”

“I frame my shots carefully. I want the background to include gold shops, old cinema signs, and, if possible, animals—birds, dogs, or cats. I look for beams of light streaming down from above, illuminating the center of the frame, or soft morning light cutting across old buildings at a 45-degree angle. Once I have the background set, I wait for the right character to step into the frame.”

On His Favorite Photographers

“There are two—both masters of black and white: Henri Cartier-Bresson and Fan Ho. Cartier-Bresson’s street photography is all about capturing the impossible—those split seconds that seem almost unphotographable. A person leaping over a puddle, someone running across the street, a fleeting, unexpected gesture. Fan Ho, on the other hand, was a true master of black-and-white composition. His work still resonates today, constantly referenced and studied.”

Beyond exhibiting his work, Niwat also runs Bangkok Photograph, where he organizes Photowalks—guided walks through Yaowarat, where participants explore the area, capture striking street moments, print their images, and engage in discussions about their work.

“The participants in our Photowalks are followers of my page, Bangkok Photograph, so we already have a sense of each other’s shooting styles. This isn’t a formal workshop, and we don’t take on the role of instructors—it’s more of a collective exploration. We roam the streets together, capturing the city as we see it, challenging each other to find the best angles, and then sharing our shots afterward. It becomes a game of wit and instinct, making the experience all the more fun and exciting.”

Advice for Beginners in Black-and-White Photography

“The tip I always give is to first find what truly interests you—whether it’s cats, cars, or people. Once you know what you love to shoot, then approach black and white by learning to see light. Try viewing everything in black and white by switching your camera or device to monochrome before you shoot. This helps train your eye to understand contrast and tonal depth. Later, when you go back to shooting in color, you’ll start to recognize how different colors translate into black and white, giving you better control over composition and light.”

Niwat K Fotografie’s exhibition, China Daily, runs through the end of March. Following that, selected works from Photowalk participants will be showcased, with each photographer presenting their favorite image. This second exhibition will be on view for an additional two weeks, until mid-April, at the third-floor gallery of MON Izakaya. Visitors are welcome to experience both shows.

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