Thailand Lightstalkers - New group

Hi Christopher,
I am a Documentary photographer working on travel
and tribal life.Thailand has always fascinated me
and I would love to photograph this beautiful country
and the charming people.It’s nice to have a friend
there.Can I join the Thai LS ?

Oh sounds like a plan….

Hi Devraj,
Welcome.

Hi Daniel,
Was hoping this might stir up some discussion around photography in Thailand and then no one commented so I just figured there was no interest. I guess things move slowly around here. But anyway looking forward to any Thailand related topics people want to post about.
Chris :)

Oh there are loads of topics here, mainly about pressure from the current junta on media conforming to how they see the world (ok nothing new there then really) but how it impacts anyone wanting to get stuff published in thailand

Ok, I’ll have to admit I’ve never even thought about trying to publish any work in Thailand. I am aware that the media here is rather limited in what it can do. Not being in the position of wanting to publish I don’t know much about it.

I think there are probably two levels to consider. First, there is political influence to keep things running favourably for the “powers that be”. And then there is also Thai people themselves, who in my experience, aren’t even aware of many concepts or interested in anything beyond what they have always known. That’s not to put them down but one grows up under certain conditions and lives ones life accordingly. It takes a long time to work out from under the norms of society. The lack of involvement and desire to force change is so very typically Thai. As westerners we are often impatient to see change. I’m not saying there shouldn’t be. Of course, there should but things won’t change until the Thai people themselves work towards that. Obviously some are or there wouldn’t be the events of the last year. I’m in Phetchaburi now but I lived for 4 years in Banglumphu and while they were having the protests at Sunam Luang. I went to a one of them with my girlfriend and sat on plastic foil trying to take in the crowd. She felt strongly in support of “the yellow guy” as I called him.

On another topic – I saw the Natchwey interview you did with Gregoire some time back and was impressed with his answers. Too short but what I read was interesting.

Totally agree with all your points, it would be nice to see the culture of putting so much blind trust into elders, finally seen as the ultimate present for any corrupt old man (or woman).

Natchwey was damn cool to interview, not up his own arse like the other photographers there and very down to earth. I too wish we could have published more, but alas…

I’m based here in Bangkok so i’d be interested to hear more.

Hi Simon,
I’ll add you to the group.

I’m pretty new here and haven’t really figured out how the group thing works anyway. It appears when you choose a group from the menu you move yourself into a set of forums similar to the main ones but restricted to just group member posts. I tried that but then couldn’t figure out how to easily get back to normal posts.

Also when I post here it takes me to a confirmation page. After that it’s difficult to get back here again. Seems the only way to find this post is to do a search on posts with the keyword ‘thailand’. I have to say the forum arrangement on Lightstalkers is quite novel, perhaps experimental. I find it difficult to use, and I wonder if others have the same experience. Maybe that accounts for the staleness of many topics. Looking around there are areas that a post every few months is the norm. Or maybe I just haven’t figured it out yet.

When I’m on my profile page it says I’m logged in but when I click on a forum page it’s says I’m not logged in. I can never find this post were on, but I expect the whole point of the group idea is that we post messages in the group. But I also suspect that no one will ever see them there. Catch 22.

Simon, I should also say “welcome”.

I’d prefer people could just add themselves to this group but it appears the way it’s setup I have to act like a manager of it. For others, please don’t let that put you off – anyone interested in Thailand is welcome here. Besides there is hardly any “here” yet to talk about.

Thanks Christopher :-)

Hey folks,

I will be in BKK this weekend—and at the FCCT on Sept 7 (tomorrow!) for the opening of the Stateless in Asia exhibition. Will any of you be there? It would be nice to say hello in person.

Alan

I’m around and up for drinks/hello

Stateless in Asia
Exhibition by Greg Constantine
Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Sept. 3-8
Openng reception & slide show: Friday Sept. 7 @ 7PM

sounds cool. please include me too?

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your welcome.It looks as if i have triggered some activity in our group.

Hi Daniel,
If my words sounded like I am going to crash into your nest
in Thailand sometime,don’t worry.That’s not my style.If you happen to be in Chennai give me a buzz.

Dev

Devraj I didn’t even think that :)

Christopher, you going to the Stateless show?

maybe we could all have drinks then?

Hi Daniel,
That clears the mist.Good to know your true self.let’s
be friends.
Dev

Was i being blonde and miss something i said?

What prompted you to think this chain of thought?

Daniel,
I’m near Phetchaburi (Hat Chao, on the beach). I won’t be in Bangkok tomorrow. It would have been nice to meet up but perhaps some other time then.

BTW, for all, I don’t mind Chris and it’s a lot less letters to type.
Besides it might save some confusion. I just realized there’s two of us talking here.

Chris :)

Hello Chris, Devra and Daniel,

My name is Stacia, and I’m living in a hill tribe in Northern Thialand where I’m working on a photo project to raise money for the education of the children in the rural areas of Thialand. I’m brand new to lightstalkers, but I’m super excited to see a group for people in Thailand!

I’m way way up north, so probably won’t be able to connect much with all of you down near Bangkok, but still would love to chat!

Peace.
Stacia

Hi Stacia,

Welcome to our small group. It’s just in it’s infancy and as yet nothing much as been happening but perhaps over time it will pick up as more people join in. Though the arrangement here is a bit unorthodox it would seem we should be moving into communicating more in the “group” area. Ha ha, all in good time I suppose.

Anyway, I read through your write up on your page and it sounds like a good project you’ve got yourself into. I’ve never been up to see the Karen people. In fact, I’ve been north only once for a week in Chang Mai a few years ago. I have been out to the rural northeast (Issan) quite a few times though and manage to do some photography each time. I hope you’ll keep us posted with your progress.

Chris :)

Hello Everyone! I am photographer/videographer based in Chiang Mai, and covering most of Asia for Christian publications. Thanks for creating the group and looking forward to what this group becomes.
Thanks
Steven

Dear Contributors, this is my first post so not sure if I am allowed to change conversation or I should be in another section. However, I am wanting to know if I can buy Polaroid 669 (8,5×10,8cm) in Bangkok. I have contacted Foto File and they only do Fuji. I cant tell if AV Camera sell it or Camera Collection sell from their web sites.Am arriving in Bangkok for the first time in two weeks and cant wait! Hope you can help, Howard

You could email Eddie Siu of Camera Collection directly and ask him? eddie@cameracollection.net
Photo Hobby third floor of the Silom Complex might stock but you’d need to check on arrival (i have just been there pricing up film for a friend coming from Australia but i wasn’t looking at Polaroid.