Chiang Mai Photography - 5 random shots

lots of characters bussing around the streets of Chiang Mai

Missed focus but I like the calmness of the monk

Aiyah buying some delicious Pad Thai - she has to specify no peanuts

Chiang Mai is quite flat, perfect for cycling

I thought I would experiment with this one and actually quite like it, what do you think?

Makati in Manila Street Photography

This is where it all began for me last year. I started with my phone on the first day and then took the Panasonic G7 out with the 12-32mm kit zoom the next day. I was hooked on street photography immediately and bought a black permanent marker to blacken my G7's Lumix branding to be more stealthy.

It was the best time of the year to be in Makati, the Philippines central business district, because it was Easter's Holy Week and nearly everyone was out of town. If you need to visit Manila this is the time to go.

I was nervous on my first day doing street photography in Makati, hence the wonky image and motion blur



This is my favorite from the set, love that attitude hehehe.

Street selfie

B&W felt right for my first couple of days, this place is rarely this quiet. 

Chiang Mai Weird Food Photography

I am no expert when it comes to taking photos of food, but here are some of the weird (and not so weird) options available in Chiang Mai.

bugs chiang mai food
That's right, people eat these things. A yummy selection of the finest bugs Chiang Mai has to offer. 😅


duck market
Duck!


local market butcher
Vegans look away. A local market butcher's stand.


edible bugs Thailand
These edible bugs look like maggots to me, now way Jose.


pork BBQ Thailand
This pork BBQ is a popular snack in Thailand

Black and White Photos from Chiang Mai

Here is a small collection of my black and white photos taken in 2017 in Chiang Mai.


Chiang Mai tuk tuk and umbrellas
Chiang Mai tuk tuk and umbrellas


black and white photo chiang mai
Mopeds or scooters are often the family car in Chiang Mai. Most people drive slow, so it is quite safe.


B and W mall Chiang Mai
The iconic orbs inside the Central Festival Mall

Street Photography in Vientiane Laos

We have to go and get our visa renewed in a few days, so I am scheduling this post with some photos from our last trip. Now that I have just bought a Fuji camera for street photography I will be taking full advantage whilst in Laos. We even booked an extra night so I can explore more of the less touristy spots.


street photography woman oriental hat in Laos
Street photography in Vientiane is very rewarding with interesting local dress and culture


tuk tuk driver sleeping asia
The heat seems to be worse in Laos in May, making many tuk tuk drivers want to curl up in their hammocks in the middle of the day.



Vientiane is never short of unique street scenes


street photography laos tuk tuks
The tuk tuks are shaped like this in Vientiane. Aiyah is to the right snapping away.
We shall get some more photos added from our forthcoming Laos trip very soon. We are staying farther away from the river this time to experience more of the "real" Vientiane.

Chiang Mai Street Photography 2018

street photography chiang mai
Nice lady at Thapae Gate
street photography chiang mai warorot market
This is always the busiest stall in Warorot Market.
street photography chiang mai night market
A happy chef at a night market in Chiang Mai

Relaxing Nature Video Filmed in Koh Kood

We filmed this lovely sunset scene whilst visiting Koh Kood in Thailand recently. It is one of the best islands we have ever been to with amazing white sand. It is well worth the hassle to get there. The beaches are quieter than places like Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Phuket.



Koh Kood Sunset AKA Koh Kut from a Secret Beach

Koh Kood, or officially Koh Kut to many people, is an oasis and a nice break from busy beaches with too many people and vendors. It is great to explore on a scooter (moped).

The video above was filmed from a deserted secret beach at the north of the island facing a mini island which is probably swim-able at low tide, but it is risky with currents. There are lots of little tours which will stop there for snorkelling.

Videos like this are one way of making your lounge look and feel better cheaply

Moon Photo from Chiang Mai

Moon photo Chiang Mai


I got a new toy this week from Film Camera Shop Chiang Mai , who has a good selection of old lenses and cameras. Its a Pentax f4.5 80-200mm. I would have stopped it down a little to at least f5.6 for this photo and this is fully zoomed in (400mm full frme equivalent) and I still needed to do quite a big crop. I guess a moon shot needs a lens more like 800mm FF eq. ?

Very happy with the sharpness of the lens, it was a good deal for 1,500 Baht. There is another seller in Chiang Mai for those interested, whose Facebook is Retro Photo Gear. He has a smaller collection and just rents out some of his cameras and lenses, so you know he is a real enthusiast.

Loy Krathong Yee Peng 2017 Buddhist Monks Ceremony with Candles Video

Here is a video I finally got around to editing from last year's Loy Krathong festival here in Chiang Mai. It is a simple scene of young Monks praying with candles and lanterns surrounding them. Unfortunately there are lots of flashes from tourists, so that's one reason I won't mention the temple as I don't want it to get even busier next time. 😁

 

This is a Uscenes video, which means it is available for download as an MP4 video or as a computer screensaver. 

Film street photography in Chiang Mai

Recently I bought a Canon rangefinder Canonet QL17. It wasn't quite for me so I changed to an Olympus XA2 film camera, which is a smaller plastic camera. It is pocketable and very simple to use. Below are crude photos of prints from my first roll of film; Kodak Pro 100, next I am trying Fujifilm.

the park has been left very nice after the annual Flower Festival
In future I will be doing much more film photography in Chiang Mai because it is fun, I love the results and it makes me slow down. It is highly recommended for any one into photography and the Olympus XA2 is a perfect camera to start with as it is so easy to use, good quality and can be found very cheap on eBay. I think mine was £30 plus postage.

a street vendor at the Chiang Mai Sunday night market (get there early to avoid crowds)

my wife Aiyah appreciating the revamped gardens in the park


the Italian guy who can often be found at Thapae Gate 😎

just film street photography









These photos were taken at the park in the old city of Chiang Mai, Sunday night market in the center of the old city and Thaepae Gate. The reason there is no sky is partly because they were shot on film, but also helped along by the Chiang Mai smokey season which affects the air at the moment with thick smog.

On my digital cameras I am now going through a black and white phase as I believe that will make me a better photographer. This is because you are forced to focus more on light and composition, rather than colours and characters which is my current way.

Chiang Mai Photography at Night

This stopped motorcyclist was perfect for a slow shutter speed shot to capture some rushing commuters on their way home.
There were actually three adults on this bike. They looked dressed up as if going to a party that evening.
Malin Plaza is a night market for locals, mostly students. It is very popular and even spills out onto the road.
When it rains in Chiang Mai it pours. This very wet scene was shot at the Maya Nimman Road junction (my camera only just survived the water)



Coming soon...

I just purchased this old film camera to try using film like the old street photography masters used to use. Some people say you need a rangefinder for street photography, we shall see... This camera has been referred to as the "poor man's Leica". After seeing prices in MBK mall in Bangkok last week for a third of a million Baht, I think the "normal man's Leica" is more appropriate. 😉

Canon Canonet QL17 rangefinder film camera for street photography, originally released in 1970.