Photo Trip to Thailand 2005 #3

On my part, I managed to squeeze in 5 rolls of film during the trip. 2 Fuji Superia 400 rated at ISO250, 1 Provia100F, 2 Tmax400, 1 mistakenly rated at ISO200. As I get the films digitized, I would be posting more photos here.

This was shot at Wat Chai Wattanaram at Ayuthaya, Thailand. Climbing the steps to the top of this temple to take the bird's eye view of the place is pretty scary. The steps are steep, small and stony. Finally with the sky slightly on the bluer side, the Provia was put to good use.Fuji Provia 100F

This is another view from the same place. This shows a wider view of the place taken at the peak of the building shown in the next picture.Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

I actually took this shot before I embarked on the climb which led me to takethe two shots above. Going up was easy, coming down was a bit scary. More care had to be taken to ensure the camera were intact. Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

This was still at Wat Chai Wattanaram. These headless buddhas are located just beside the building shown at the above pictures, to the right hand side of the first and second picture to be specific. Fuji Provia 100F.

Another shot of the headless Buddha using the fisheye. I actually carried two film cameras. One would be carrying a negative while the other one positive, or one colour and the other black and white. Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

Finally, a group shot of the outing members!! This was actually taken to provide proof of presence!! Heh. Of course, camera was on tripod. Just a point to note, the shots of Ayutthaya was mainly done with Polarizer on, contributing to the saturated look of the sky. The disadvantage here would be the vignetting at the corners. Nonetheless, I would trade the vignetting for the saturated blue. Fuji Provia 100F

Another shot of the ruins at the same place. If in the old days they can trade stones with metal and technology would be more advanced, doesn't this look like a couple of missiles or rockets? Fuji Provia 100F

Still at Wat Chai Wattanaram, I did some PS on this shot to bring out the Buddha's face. I wanted to take the silhoutte of the buddha, but guess it doesn't look appealing on screen. I might just post the original up just for comparison.Fuji Provia 100F

I've some difficulty on recalling where was this taken. Nonetheless, this is one of the rare group shot taken!! The shot came out a bit underexposed. Luckily it was taken on slide film. Wonders of Photoshop eh? Fuji Provia 100F,

Another shot at the same place. The building is sooo high. And the sky is so blue!!! Polarizer + Slide film rocks! Fuji Provia 100F,

Finally we reach 1 of the 2 initial destinations we had in mind when we were going to Ayuthaya, Wat Phra Si San Phet. The first one was the Wat Chai Wattanaram. Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

This is a closeup of the 'rubbles' lying around Wat Phra Si San Phet. Why 'rubbles' with the inverted commas? Look on to the next picture. Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

When we were there, there were construction workers working on retouching/renewing/maintenance of the ruins. Hence, the use of the term 'rubbles'. The white dots at the top right hand portion of this pic was not intended. I believed some thing went wrong while I was developing this in the dark room. In another roll, the dots look like snow flakes!! Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

When I was taking this shot, I was thinking whether the pointed end of the shadow would look nice with the runis. Gosh, was the sun ever so hot!! That's the irony. Bad weathered day is cooling but not good for photographing. Good photographing day is so hot! Blue sky, no clouds, and us fully exposed to the sun. Kodak Tmax 400, rated 200, developed at 320.

Photo Trip to Thailand 2005 #2

For the 3 Days in Bangkok, our plan was to explore Bangkok on Day 2 and then Ayutthaya on Day 3, when on Day 4 we would be returning to Singapore. We decided to drop off at the "Marble Temple". To go to the place, we instructed the driver to drop us off at King Chulalongkorn Statue, which was located near to the temple. When we reached there, we saw a statue in the middle of the road, with people paying their respect with flowers, with police around ushering the people to leave once they are done. It seems that it was the King's birthday, according to another fellow tourist.

After the area around the King's statue, we headed off for lunch at Siam Square area and headed to the Grand Palace. Actually the Grand Palace is in the same compound as the Wat Phra Kheow. The above is the Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn. The entrance fee was a whopping 250THB. Thai speaking individual who can pass off as locals could have gotten in for free! The sky was finally blue, better than Phuket, but still not as blue as I wish that it would be. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Oh yes, before we entered the Grand Palace, there was this flock of pigeons outside. Imagine the BirdFlu scare lingering around SEAat that point of time. "See bird, shoot bird". Well, of course we did shoot birds. Not with firearms, but with you-know-what. Really shoot and run. There were actually people there trying to sell bird feeds to us. Obviously we declined. Kodak Tmax 400

Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

This was taken in the same compound as the Grand Palace. The slight vignetting at the corner is due to shooting at 24mm, with Cokin P ND Gradx8 filter attached, I think. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Finally, we reached the Grand Palace itself. It was under renovation!!! To think that we paid 250THB each to get in. To make the visit worth it, I decided to try multiple exposure. Made three shots on the same frame with people timed to walk at particular parts of the picture. Too bad the buildings are bit blur. But I still quite like this pic. Maybe it's time to change tripod? Exposure wise, I did 3 shots of -2, -1.5, -1.5 exposure. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

The Grand Palace was basically the last potential photo shooting opportunity in the compound. As we were walking out, there was this two gigantic, towering doors. 1 side of which looked like it would crumble just in front of us. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

After the Grand Palace, we wanted to go visit Wat Arun, which was just across Chao Phraya River, or known as Menong Chao Phraya. This was when the tuk tuk drivers became a pest. Our driver took us for a spin. Particularly dropping of places where I believe he would benefit. Not much pain for us, no gain either. Only time was sacrifice. In any case, we managed to reach the pier opposite Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn, though ironically it looks better at night. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

I shot a lot of this Wat Arun. The boat across the river was only 3THB per trip per person! So decided to jump on the one which is leaving, even though not sure of what is over the other side or how to come back. I noticed that changing the exposure time produces slightly different colours of the temple. In any case, it made the temple lited at night to look like it's made of gold! Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

Another close up view of the Temple of Dawn. Fuji Superia 400, rated at ISO250.

This is the Temple of Dawn shot from across the river. Fuji Provia 100F

Photo Trip to Thailand 2005 #1

I had a short photo trip to Thailand with Chin Wee. We came back even before some people has yet to sit for their last paper. We stopped by Phuket, Bangkok, Ayutthaya then came back to Singapore. Phuket stop was rather disappointing. The weather there and then wasn't conducive for photo shooting. We ended up eating under shelter when the drizzle became unbearable.

This was taken at a stall at Patong Beach. Patong beach was damaged by the Tsunami disaster. When we were there, it seems that tourists were returning, locals are resuming business as usual. When it drizzled, we decided to enter the stall to have some snacks and beverages. 1 big coconut drink for only 30THB! This pizza cost only about 120THB if I remember correctly. Fuji 400 Superia, rated at ISO250.

Since weather wasn't really much in our favour in Phuket, we try to take pictures whenever we can - Streetshoot. Bearing in mind we were carrying our four-day-luggage, camera gears and tripod(which weighed 2-3kg! measured at airport), it was d*mn tiring. The above was taken at Phuket Town. Fuji 400 Superia, rated at ISO250.

To travel from Phuket to Bangkok, we planned to take an evening bus. Hence, we decided to have our dinner at Phuket before boarding the bus. As usual, with the lack of opportunity to shoot in Phuket, what better to shoot than the food itself! This was Phad Thai wrapped in egg. I decided to open up the egg to reveal the content inside. Fuji 400 Superia, rated at ISO250.

When we reached Bangkok, we ended up going to the Guesthouse to put down our luggage. It was enough carrying it wherever we go at Phuket. We stayed at Thong Lo, Soi 55. Travelling was relatively simple there. We just need to walk about 20min to reach Thong Lo skytrain station. This pair of statue, as well as the elephants below were kinda cute, don't you think so? Nearly symetrical, but not symetrical as yet. Fuji 400 Superia, rated at ISO250.

Fuji 400 Superia, rated at ISO250.

The fruit seller above was located just beside the staircase to the station. I like the motion of the vehicles happening behind him while he is there running his business. Fuji 400 Superia, rated at ISO250.

Finally we reached Thong Lo station. I took this shot before our train arrived. This shot was suppose to record the Exit sign in Thai. I guess you can figure out that we were quite early birds judging from the time on the clock. Kodak Tmax 400.

Judging from the experience in Phuket, the trigger-itchy finger was just calling to fire the camera. So, on the train, when there isn't much to do, I decide to shoot the feet! I think the shutter speed was around 1/10 seconds? Would you find this photograph acceptable though there is motion blur? Kodak Tmax 400.