TEXT & PHOTO: CHANAPONG SRIWEERAPONG
(For Thai, press here)
A walk up to the summit of Phu Kradueng Mountain is a tough one and demands quite a lot of patience and strength. But what’s waiting at the destination makes everything worth the effort. There, nature changes through seasons, and each season has its own unique beauty.
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Chanapong Sriweerapong works as a video editor and photographer at interior design form, DUDE DECORATE. He loves art and nature.
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.
TEXT & PHOTO: TOMMY KWAK
(For Thai, press here)
After the destruction of Hurricane Andrew on Miami Beach in 1992, the city of Miami commissioned a redesign of the lifeguard towers in vibrant fashion to uplift the spirits of the town. In the tradition of the Becher’s water tower series, this series of Tommy Kwak’s photographs methodically examines the 30+ iconic towers that have become symbols of South Florida’s revitalization. This award-winning series of photographs utilizes similar framing and long exposures to produce minimal sky and sea backdrops in order to highlight the traits of each tower, inviting the viewer to appreciate and compare the electric color palettes and eccentric forms. This body of work shows Tommy’s distinct approach recognizable by the composition of the pictures, sophisticated usage of the angles, and manipulation of light, shadow, and colors. Tommy’s style of photography celebrates a kind of ephemeral beauty, and at the same time transforms these entities into more graphic forms, bringing a fresh perspective on the lifeguard towers of Miami Beach.
Check out the entire project via
Kickstarter – Lifeguard Towers: Miami
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Tommy Kwak’s work explores the transience of landscapes and natural forms through ethereal large-format color photographs. His work has been exhibited internationally, most recently in commissions for Louis Vuitton at their locations in NYC, Seattle, and Cologne, Germany. He earned a BFA in Graphic Design from California College of the Arts in 2002 and completed photography courses at International Center of Photography from 2006 to 2008. In 2010 and 2016, Tommy participated in the SÍM Residency program in Reykjavík, Iceland, as well as the international arts festival, Villa Reykjavík. Tommy grew up outside of Chicago, lived and worked in Brooklyn, NY for 13 years, and now resides in Montclair, NJ. He has been a member of Fowler Arts Collective in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and SONYA (South of Navy Yard Artists).
