Tag: Photo essay

PHOTO ESSAY : WAT ARUN

May 11, 2024
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TEXT & PHOTO: TANAGON TIPPRASERT

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From ancient times to the present, Wat Arun Ratchawararam, or the ‘Temple of Dawn,’ locally known as Wat Arun, remains a significant religious beacon and cultural destination, celebrated by both Thais and international visitors for the stunning beauty of its iconic Prang (spire). Yet, with every visit, a fresh perspective awaits discovery, complemented by the captivating surroundings that never fail to impress. A crucial element that adds delight to exploring Wat Arun is the presence of tourists from around the globe, offering a novel outlook through their eyes. Enriching the experience, some visitors choose to don traditional Thai attire, transporting themselves back in time for an authentic glimpse into a bygone era. Even on exceptionally hot days, the joyous atmosphere prevails, with visitors reveling in the experience. Access to Wat Arun is conveniently facilitated by both road and boat services, ensuring a smooth journey for all visitors. This collection of images aims to present unique vantage points and special moments, inviting viewers to let their imaginations wander with the hope that the essence of Wat Arun, from past to present, will endure forevermore.

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Tanagon Tipprasert is a freelance photographer who specializes in wedding photography. He has a keen interest and passion for street and documentary photography.

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PHOTO ESSAY : HUMAN TRACE

September 16, 2023
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: DITTA SUTHEPPRATANWONG

(For Thai, press here) 

We all walk and build our homes on the ground of this earth. We cultivate the land, search for food, nourish ourselves, and lead our lives. Our existence thrives on this planet’s horizontal plane, bound by gravity’s embrace. This place is filled with human traces, unsurprisingly so. 

In every moment of our lives, journeys embarked, endeavors pursued, we have left traces or fragments of ourselves, both tangible and abstract. 

I got curious. I set out on a journey to explore and unravel the depths of human nature.  I hypothesized that through documenting and linking human traces, the nature of humanity may be reconstructed, like assembling Lego pieces.  We gather fragments left behind by others, weaving them into our own, sharing pieces of ourselves, as others do with us. And there are times when we unknowingly leave parts of ourselves behind, along the way. 

This series of photographs captures human traces that have been left on the earth. Through displacement, those traces are emphasized. These images beckon you to reconsider and redefine humans and humanity, with nothing but your own thoughts and judgments. So, have fun.

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Ditta Sutheppratanwong was a student of structures, now a capturer of architectural beauty, an independent artist, and a photographer for W Workspace.

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PHOTO ESSAY : FISH AND CHIPPERFIELD

September 9, 2023
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: KARJVIT RIRERMVANICH

(For Thai, press here) 

David Chipperfield once said, “Good architecture provides a setting, it’s there and it’s not there.” And his works embody just that. If there is anything recognizable about these buildings, I think it is a very fine line separating brilliance from something absolutely banal.

The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield
Turner Contemporary, Margate
One Pancras Square, London

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Karjvit Rirermvanich is an art4d editor, an architect, founder of Physicalist, and an Asian tourist.

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PHOTO ESSAY : THINGS THAT QUICKEN THE HEART

August 19, 2023
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: YOSSAWAT SITTIWONG

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Things that quicken the heart

The heart of an average person beats 60–100 times per second. This is considered normal. But, as I traveled from place to place, coming across these creations quickened the beat of my heart.

They drew me in as my curiosity developed. I became interested in and intrigued by all the processes that go into these creations—designing, sculpting, framework building, color selection, and the rationale behind deciding where they would be placed.

I imagined the days when these works had been completed, when they were installed, how the artists felt, and how everything came to be.

Why do they make me feel these strong emotions?
Why was I so passionately drawn to them?
How can they make my heart beat so fast?

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Yossawat Sittiwong
‘underdoc film’ Advertising Director / Photographer / Artist M Yoss

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PHOTO ESSAY : JAPAN WAY

July 22, 2023
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: THANACHAI TANKVARALUK

(For Thai, press here) 

‘Japan Way’ is a captivating journey that delves into the exploration of flaws and imperfections within Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun is currently in full bloom, akin to an intriguing flower that entices outsiders with its enchanting scent and radiant beauty. It offers a unique and extraordinary experience that surpasses one’s imagination. 

Photographs of events that have been extensively documented reflect the diverse moments in history, passed down through generations and influenced by the evolving societal context. These images capture the ongoing changes with past traditions, cultures, and history that have shaped the present and will continue to shape the future, like a distant shadow.

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Thanachai Tankvaraluk, who was born in Udon Thani, Thailand, earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication arts with a Journalism Major from Rangsit University. He is currently a business owner, but has always had a keen interest in everything around him, as well as an unwavering love and passion for travel and photography.

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PHOTO ESSAY : CONTEMPLATING IN RAMADAN1444

April 8, 2023
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: TEECHALIT CHULARAT

(For Thai, press here) 

If you ask me when the most anticipated time of year is for Muslims, I will provide you with an answer right now: it is Ramadan. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Fasting is intended to be a time of spiritual discipline, a deep contemplation of one’s gratitude and relationship with God. When compared to other months of the year, Ramadan is the time when Muslims refrain from entertainment and engage in extra religious activities. However, faithful Muslims welcome Ramadan with joy and consider this faithful experience as a great blessing for the spiritual advancement they will receive during the holy month.

One of the things that makes Ramadan so special to me is being able to observe people’s lives and activities during this special time. This series of photographs depicts the way of life of Muslims in Thailand at the start of Ramadan this year (2023 is the year 1,444 in the Islamic calendar). I spent time photographing people at work or on their way to mosques to participate in religious ceremonies, as well as how they stopped to buy food in the afternoon to prepare for their first meal after sunset. Throughout different periods of the day, I noticed a different color, felt something different in the air, and witnessed people’s lifestyles differ from how they would normally live in other months of the year.

This is the first year I’ve had the opportunity to experiment with my own photography as I contemplated life during the month of Ramadan with a simpler perspective while my own personal emotional experiences were hidden inside each picture. I hope viewers will join me on this journey and discover new dimensions of life during this sacred time.

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Teechalit Chularat graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. He is currently working as a freelance architect under the name TEECHALIT ARCHITECT, the studio that he founded, with a portfolio that includes the architectural design of four mosques. He is also a photographer and the administrator of the Facebook page, Thai Minimal Photography.

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PHOTO ESSAY : STAY AT HOME 2020

September 24, 2022
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: THANACHAI TANKVARALUK

(For Thai, press here)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on people’s daily lives with new implemented rules, regulations, and measures to prevent the spread of the infectious disease. Under the New Normal way of life, people are required to make significant adjustments. This series of photographs is a documentation of memories and a reflection of the beauty and spirit hidden in the simplicity and ordinariness of life’s mundane stories, at a time where there is a significant shift in how humans live and a society evolves. Under entirely new circumstances and conditions, people are adapting to their new way of life. And before we know it, despite all the changes and disruptions, we have found some peace and happiness. We are currently more optimistic than ever that the pandemic will end and we will be able to resume our normal lives  in the near future. 

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Thanachai Tankvaraluk, who was born in Udon Thani, Thailand, earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication arts with a Journalism Major from Rangsit University. Currently, he is a business owner, but has always had a keen interest in everything around him, as well as an unwavering love and passion for travel and photography.

instagram.com/thanachai_diary
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PHOTO ESSAY : A LONELY JOURNEY

September 17, 2022
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: SUPAKORN SOONTARARAK

(For Thai, press here)

We’ve heard the phrase ‘traveling is a journey of self-discovery’ so often that it’s almost become a catchphrase. But even so, we’ve seen it inspire countless individuals to pack their bags and explore the globe. On the other hand, if the statement were changed and ‘alone’ was added to the equation. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people had second thoughts or abandoned the idea out of fear of the word and what it implies. But this assertion made me question myself. After a period of reflection, I overcame my fear and my thoughts became clear. I established a goal that I hoped would enable me to discover more about who I am. I began planning my first solo trip and haven’t looked back since. My journey to self-discovery has revealed that solo travel has become an important and meaningful chapter of my life. I’ve learned more about myself simply by spending time alone. Traveling alone allows me to linger longer over something or a location, appreciating all the details, my surroundings, and my emotions on a deeper level. 

Upon observing architecture and design, I began recognizing the intention behind each work, how light and shadow affect a space at various times of the day, and the beauty that has been meticulously crafted and conveyed. It would not be incorrect to say that the famous quote is accurate. If I hadn’t been able to overcome my fear, I would have never had the courage to travel alone, and I certainly wouldn’t know myself as well as I do now. 

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Supakorn Soontararak used to be an architect. Now working full-time as a Senior Business Developer with a part-time job as an architectural photographer for SynSpaceStudio, he is the only Thai person ever to win the internationally renowned photography awards Arch2O by Architecture and Design Magazine in 2021 and Cyberpunk2077 World Photo Contest in 2020.

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WE SEE OUR SOULS BETTER IN THE DARK

October 15, 2021
by Ratchadaporn Hemjinda
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TEXT & PHOTO: WAN CHANTAVILASVONG

(For Thai, press here)

I was traveling alone on a cloudy and misty day when I found myself in a total serenity among the Ajanta caves: a world heritage site that Buddhist monks had lived in over a thousand years ago. The caves and the structures are what is left from an arduous act of digging on the stones. The deeper into the mountains, the dimmer and more blurry the light becomes one with the darkness. There, in the darkness, sit small dark rooms surrounding the main hall. Each room is a void absence of light, which is left for us to contemplate on the nature of our souls.

In this darkness, 2 craftsmen used their small lights to prolong the life of these dark voids that enrich the nature of our souls.

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Wan Chantavilasvong is a city planner and a researcher, who cherishes photography as her serious play. Her photography often portrays the similarities and differences of the environments and the lives of people in different parts of the world.

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PHOTO ESSAY : YOUR HOUSE DOWNSTAIRS

September 4, 2021
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: JONATHAN TAN

(For Thai, press here)

Singapore is known for quality public housing where more than 80% of Singaporeans stay in Housing Development Board (HDB) flats. What is lesser known are the architectural wall features at the void decks of HDB flats. This “hole-in-the-wall” feature comes in various shapes and bright pops of colours which jazzes up the void decks, common spaces for Singaporeans to gather. While they are more commonly found in older flats, these “holes” are recognisable by Singaporeans as part of Singapore’s landscape and heritage.

This series aims to compile these “holes” that are found in what Singaporeans would colloquially describe as, “your house downstairs”.

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On his occasional free time, Jonathan dabbles in creative side projects. His photography works like “Singapore Pantone” and “Your House Downstairs” gained coverage across local and global publications. Most of his work stems from the belief that you can find art all around us, especially in the sights that often go unnoticed just because we see them every day.

Jonathan currently works in advertising at 72andSunny Singapore as a Senior Brand Manager. Despite being in a non-creative role, Jonathan believes that everyone has a creative side.

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