Travel & Humanitarian Photos
As we’re heading back to Chinatown on Saturday for the Bangkok Photo Walk I thought I’d dig out a few images from the area. All of these have been taken on recent Photo Workshops.
I photographed these two ladies on Sunday when out with the incomparable Larry. Larry’s a diving photographer and more used to seeing Hammer-Head Sharks at close-quarters but he made the transition to dry land like a duck to… err… water. Chinatown slows down on a Sunday evening, shop owners begin to tidy up, market traders gather their belongings and the area becomes quieter. You might think that this would not be the best time to visit but I’ve found it to be very rewarding. This is the time of day when there are fewer visitors and when the locals begin to wind down and relax. The light is warming up and the narrow alleyways often seem to benefit from the diffused, amber light that we sometimes see in Bangkok.
Larry and I were walking up a narrow alleyway, empty of people, no market stalls, no hurrying shoppers. A less patient man might have asked why on earth I was bringing them up this deserted back-street but Larry took it in his stride. I’d been explaining how this was a time when photographic gems sometimes present themselves, Larry was nodding in agreement but no doubt silently thinking “Really?”.
I think that when you’re photographing a lot you begin to see potential in many subjects: different angles, different compositions, different viewpoints. However, some subjects just sit there waiting for you and don’t require any extra work from the photographer. Well, no more than was required to position yourself at that time, in that place.
These two ladies are a great example of that and I swear that some people are part of some massive, worldwide conspiracy to provide me with wonderful photographic opportunities. Why else would they be sitting in this deserted alleyway, in front of a rustic wall just as we walked past?
I try to teach my workshop participants that the best expressions often come after the first photos are taken and that they should be prepared to capture moments after they first take the camera away from their eye. Equally, if you’re with a friend and the friend shows photos in the LCD screen of their camera then this invariably gets a positive reaction and you should be prepared to catch those moments. Here, the photo on the left was taken when Larry was photographing this beautiful old soul and the photo on the right was taken a few moments later when he showed her the result in his LCD monitor. The temptation to snap a couple of frames and to start chimping* is often difficult to resist but when you’re inspecting your great images there’s potentially an even better one unfolding right in front of you.
More images from Chinatown tomorrow.
* Chimping: verb – inspecting photographs in the LCD screen of your digital camera and pointing at the good ones whilst making a noise like a chimpanzee: “Ooh, ooh, ooh, that’s a good one, ooh, ooh”
“Chimping” love it!!
Another great post Gavin! I ALWAYS wondered what chimping meant (I thought it was slang for something techie that you are suppose to do with your camera- like, um, bracketing or something- see I REALLY need your help back here in the UK!) and finally I have the answer!
I absolutely agree with what you are saying re don’t put that camera away after you “think” you have the shot. I find that when I am photographing people and I ask them to stand a certain way or put their hands somewhere, they often look uncomfortable… but once I drop the camera or start chatting to them they look much more relaxed and I get a half-decent shot.
p.s. loving your ISO 1600 work! That canon rocks
[...] and chewing gum outside an ATM on the main road. I’ve already suggested this week that you can’t beat old ladies and here’s further proof. You can never have too many tissues or too much chewing gum in my [...]
Beautiful portraits, thanks!