Tag: Street Photo

PHOTO ESSAY : THE CITY’S COLORS: BANGKOK

September 28, 2024
by admin
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Julachart Pleansanit
Julachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart PleansanitJulachart Pleansanit

TEXT & PHOTO: JULACHART PLEANSANIT

(For Thai, press here) 

Bangkok stands out as one of the most fun cities in the world, well-known for its rich cultural mix and vibrant environment. A key element that sets Bangkok apart is its explosion of color, which defines the city’s unique character both day and night.

Color in Bangkok is not just a detail; it plays a crucial role in shaping the city’s atmosphere and identity. The city’s bright colors are evident everywhere, such as advertising signs, street fabric, colorful vehicles, fashion, buildings, and its people. Red, yellow, and blue are among the most prominent, popping up everywhere throughout the city, along with many other exceptional colors.

In street photography, color becomes one of the first elements I look for. It can create a visually striking photo when combined with the right composition. Vibrant colors can also make for a more interesting storytelling narrative in the shot.

This set of photographs shows a striking color scheme while capturing the unique quality of Thainess. Each image reflects how Bangkok’s colors contribute to its lively street scenes and cultural identity, offering a glimpse into the city’s soul through its colorful environment.

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Julachart Pleansanit, Bob, is an event designer based in Bangkok. About a year ago, he took up street photography as a serious hobby. Since then, he’s been capturing the streets of Bangkok through his own perspective. He believes that every street has its own uniqueness. It’s like a treasure hunt for him, in which he tries to find the hidden gems that are hiding in plain sight.

instagram.com/longstreet_bob

PHOTO ESSAY : THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY

September 22, 2024
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The Fabric of Society
The Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of SocietyThe Fabric of Society

TEXT & PHOTO: BARRY MACDONALD

(For Thai, press here) 

‘The Fabric of Society’ is a metaphor that refers to the underlying structure, relationships and interconnectedness that hold a society together. Just as fabric is made up of individual threads, woven together to create a cohesive whole, the Fabric of Society is composed of various elements such as shared values, norms, laws, institutions, and cultural practices. These bind individuals and groups together, and make us all a part of the common thread of society as a whole.

Phaa Bai (blue & white plastic tarp) is the flag of the working class, but everyone’s life depends on it. Every meal we eat, the food is grown, fished, transported, sold, cooked or eaten with Phaa Bai being involved somehow in the process. All construction, plumbing and electrical work will rely on this versatile material, every building has needed it at some point. All of the things that we buy might have used Phaa Bai for the transportation, storage or even making entire market stalls. Floor, table, walls, roof and all. From simple objects on the street to the most precious Buddhist Statues in a temple, Phaa Bai is trusted to protect them all.

This project is about Phaa Bai, but is also about society as well. Through focusing on Phaa Bai you can see globalisation and homogeny of design, with everyone using the same products from the same suppliers. Environmental issues of plastic production, reuse and upcycling, as well as the Thai flair for improvising materials into new forms and functions. It is also linked to issues with migrant workers and the trades they take up in Thailand, and how they sometimes live in housing constructed with Phaa Bai.

Without it the country would not be able to function, It is literally the embodiment of the social fabric.

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Barry Macdonald (born in 1984) is a freelance photographer from London, England. He started off shooting musicians and found out about the enjoyment of travelling from going on tour with bands around Europe and the USA. His work has evolved into a hybrid of street and documentary. He is interested in sociology and tries to look at culture and human nature through his photography. He has lived in Bangkok since 2022.

barrymacdonald.co.uk
instagram.com/barrymac84

PHOTO ESSAY : SPECTRUM OF SOLITUDE: A TAPESTRY OF URBAN LIFE

March 23, 2024
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: CHEVAN LIKITBANNAKON 

(For Thai, press here) 

In “Spectrum of Solitude,” a captivating series of photographs, the lens delves into the intricate dynamics of urban existence, capturing moments of connection, introspection, and cultural immersion amidst the backdrop of parks, museums, and bustling streets. Each image is a brushstroke in the larger canvas of urban life, revealing the nuanced interplay between solitude and companionship, culture and art.

The series opens with scenes of people basking in the warmth of companionship, laughing, and sharing stories in the verdant embrace of city parks or cozy cafes. Friends and lovers alike find solace in each other’s company. Their joy is palpable against the backdrop of urban landscapes. Yet, interspersed among these moments of camaraderie are glimpses of solitary figures lost in thought amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. These solitary moments offer a poignant counterpoint to the vibrant energy of communal gatherings, inviting viewers to contemplate the beauty of introspection and self-discovery.

As the series unfolds, cultural immersion takes center stage, with photographs capturing the diverse tapestry of traditions and expressions that define urban landscapes. From the hushed halls of museums, where art and history intertwine, to the vibrant streets pulsating with the rhythms of different cultures, each image is a testament to the richness of human experience found within the city’s embrace.

“Spectrum of Solitude” is more than just a collection of photographs; it is a visual symphony that celebrates the multifaceted nature of urban life. Through the lens of street photography, viewers are invited to explore the delicate balance between connection and solitude, culture and art, discovering beauty in the everyday moments that shape our urban experiences.

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With a background in filmmaking, Chevan Likitbannakon is a Thai-Egyptian passionate visual storyteller, particularly through the visual arts – painting, photography, music videos, and filmmaking. There are fleeting moments where I glimpse the essence of the subject(s) I capture. That is the story I tell. And I become part of that story by being behind the camera and documenting that particular moment. It could be a feeling, or a thought, or a look, that is revealed in the captured moment – one that was perhaps previously unseen. 

chevan.myportfolio.com

 

PHOTO ESSAY : DIY THAI CHAIRS

March 10, 2024
by Ketsiree Wongwan
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TEXT & PHOTO: BARRY MACDONALD

(For Thai, press here) 

I am a photographer and I have been documenting the DIY-repaired chairs of Thailand’s streets. When something is broken it is not thrown away, but mended with found materials and given a new lease of life. Where some people would see a useless piece of furniture, the people who repair the chairs see possibilities and solutions. These chairs can be found everywhere from motorcycle taxi stands to markets, public seating is limited and making your own place to rest is important.

The designers and engineers are normal people who use their ingenuity and the best of up-cycling and recycling philosophies to make their creations. A lot of the time the design is purely practical, but sometimes it creates a different kind of beauty when assembled from lots of different materials. Techniques such as carpentry, weaving, tying, welding, glueing, cable tying, carving, taping, bungee cording etc are all employed. Sometimes the objects around can become part of the support, and the street and the chair merge, like the chair that sits inside the tree branch to make an armchair.

Cheap products that break quickly encourage waste and more consumerism, the art of repairing anything we own is becoming lost as companies employ planned obsolescence. These chairs symbolise urban design, working with the restrictions of damage and limited materials, to create seating that makes working on the street possible. These kinds of skillets are important as global resources become limited, the mindset to repair and not replace will be just as important.

I think the resourcefulness and flexibility of these designers is an important part of the fabric of Thailand, and should be considered and embraced when planning the future of public spaces.

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Barry Macdonald was born in London, UK. His dad used to take photos with a 35mm film camera as a hobby and taught him how to use it when he was quite young. He had his own film camera by the time he was 15. The camera opened up a way to interact with the world that made sense to him. Composing a frame and timing the moment brings satisfaction when everything falls into place. His camera has allowed him to travel and meet a lot of people, and he is always grateful to it for changing his life and helping him make sense of the world.

instagram.com/barrymac84

THAI TAXI TALISMANS

March 16, 2023
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ATTRACTED BY A COLLECTION OF MESMERIZING ITEMS IN THAI TAXIS, DALE KONSTANZ DOCUMENTS THAI TAXI INTERIORS, RESEARCHES THE MYSTICAL OBJECTS HE CAME ACROSS, AND COMPILES THEM INTO THE BOOK WHICH MIRRORS THE QUINTESSENTIAL THAI CULTURE
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PHOTO ESSAY : SUPERNATURAL

July 15, 2020
by pratchayapol

TEXT & PHOTO: SANTANA PETCHSUK

(For Thai, press here)

Human beings live in our surrounding environment we collectively call ‘nature’ but with our combined ability, intellect and creativity or even fear, we attempt to control or overcome nature through our inventions, both tangible and intangible. 

It is somewhat safe to say that our abilities to sense and experience the supernatural does not need to rely on any special power nor sense, but rather a look into our own surrounding environment. We may be able to see supernatural powers or even a miracle we ourselves create. We eventually perceive them as normal even though such things have always been supernatural from the very beginning.

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Santana Petchsuk, an independent photographer with an interest in art and psychology considers photography as a tool that helps convey his views and thoughts on certain matters. Misplacement and imperfection have always been what he finds appealing, for they implicate and reflect behaviors and thought processes from which such fault originates. Petchsuk’s current focus is on still life photography and collage art. 

santanapetchsuk.com
fb.com/Santana-Petchsuk-Photography
ig: @santanapetchsuk