Travel & Humanitarian Photos
Regular readers of my blog will know that when things go quiet it’s because I’ve been busy with… well, you know… work. Yes, one of the drawbacks of being a working photographer is that occasionally one has to actually work. Hence the paucity of blog posts in recent weeks, for which I offer my humble apologies. The good news is that one of the results of all that work is a deluge of new and exciting images that will be coming your way in the near future.
The summer classes of the increasingly popular Bangkok Photo School have been going with a swing with full classes of enthusiastic photographers. I try to end each Photo School workshop day with a quick thank you to the students who invariably enrich the teaching experience by being attentive, inquisitive and keen to learn. As I always say, it really is a treat to spend all day talking about photography and I’m further encouraged when I see some of the great images that students upload to our online forum after their classes.
When not teaching, I’ve been working on a number of projects, one of which is the seemingly mammoth task of compiling a Photographer’s Guide to Bangkok. It seemed like a good idea when we began but Bangkok has such a rich variety of potential photo opportunities that our list of locations to capture doesn’t ever seem to get any smaller. However, I’m making good progress and have been pleased with the variety of images that I’ve captured so far.
One of the most iconic sights in Bangkok is the Skytrain. Visitors to the city will have seen the red, white and blue carriages snaking their way between the skyscrapers on an elevated rail system that sits, rather elegantly, above the gridlocked traffic. It is one of the city’s greatest attributes and makes the otherwise time-consuming task of getting from one side of the city to the other so much quicker and simpler. It’s fast, reliable and enormously photogenic.
Our self-imposed photo mission has taken us from one station to the next, hopping along the platforms one at a time in order to gain the best vantage points. Photographing the BTS offers many opportunities and the good news is that if you don’t quite get the shot you were after, it’s OK because another train will come along five minutes later.
After dark, the long lines of the elevated railway provide compelling lines along which photographers can practice their “Leading Lines” compositions – a compositional guide that will be familiar to students at the Bangkok Photo School. Slow shutter speeds blur the movement but as tripods are not permitted on the platform, this technique demands either a supernaturally steady hand or a willingness to shove your lens through the barriers at the end of the platform and to leave your camera precariously balanced on the end of a cable release.
More pictures from our “Photographer’s Guide to Bangkok” will appear shortly, closely followed by the publication itself. A must-have for anyone visiting Thailand’s capital with a camera. Watch this space!
Oh that guide sounds fantastic. I’ll definitely be picking one up when it’s published. I’ll likely be coming through there in 2011.
Mark Olwick
The image with the two arrows on the floor is amazing, always inspiring, thanks for sharing.
What a great idea, and great photos. I guess it’s a book I need next February.
I had a really great time during the workshop in BKK.
A “Photographer’s guide to Bangkok”? I had a similar idea for Tokyo. Although it will most probably never occur because of my schedule…
Oh, the image with the two arrows and the buildings reflected on the blurred sky train = AWESOME!
Lovely images. Best of luck with the photo guide. I started something similar for Taipei last year but haven’t managed to make the time to do the writing side of it. After reading this, I may ask a writer friend in she’s interested in collaborating on that side of things.
Wonderful work Gavin.
Awesome photos. I so want to go back to BKK. Loved it there!
That guide sounds good, will be following up.
Love the photos Gavin. A photographer’s guide to Bangkok is an excellent idea, but like you said a mammoth task! It’s always good to aim high! I went to the fish market in Jimbaran the other day without my camera and am going back with it next week, as it is a photographer’s dream. So if you ever do a guide to Bali, or come back here again, make sure you go there. Will send you a couple of photos next week.
great pics! Show off!
Colors of Bangkok !
you didn’t need any special authorization? I thought it is mentionned that no picture are allowed there?
Hi Gavin,
There are some very inspirational images there, and I shall aim to try out a few of these wonderful ideas at Southampton or Winchester railway stations.
THANKS.YOUR PHOTOS VERY GOOD.