A Photographer’s Guide to Songkran

April 13, 2021 in Travel, Photography

As a Thai-American, taking a trip to Thailand has never been too out of reach. My mother makes it a point to visit home frequently to help out family and return to her roots, so whenever I get the chance, I’ll tag along. From the fast-paced city of Bangkok, to the jungles of northern Thailand, to the southern seaside shores and resort islands, each area has its own flavor and every trip brings on a new experience.

The best time to visit Thailand is usually when it’s a bit cooler, less humid, and ideally not flooded with tourists: January until early-April. The week of April 13th, as Thailand enters it’s hot season, is dedicated to Songkran (Thai New Year), which is essentially the world’s biggest water fight. This year, I decided to venture to all of my favorite areas of Thailand during Songkran to see how they compare.

First, you’re going to want a fast camera with lenses that are versatile and can work in a variety of environments seamlessly. I always lean towards a kit that will help me capture street photography, portraits, and the madness of Songkran. My go-to kit included a Sony Alpha a7 III, 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master, 70-200mm f/2.8 GM, and either a 50mm or a 35mm f/1.4 GM.

For accessories, I brought several extra batteries, a waterproof phone case, a Rainsleeve (if you happen to own an underwater housing, that might work better), a water-resistant bag, an adapter, a converter, and a small waterproof neck pouch to hold valuables such as your phone, passport, and money (pick-pocketing is serious).

As you make your final preparations, make sure to cover yourself in every way. Travel insurance is a must, especially if you’re bringing expensive gear and if you plan to live a little; waterproof sunblock with a high SPF because the sun can be brutal; UV protecting safety glasses to protect your eyes from both the sun and water guns.

The best place to begin would be none other than Bangkok. Street vendors, lots of shopping, and a range of architecture surround you. Explore the various modes of transportation for different perspectives: tuk-tuks (you will get wet), taxis (if you enjoy shooting while stuck in traffic), BTS (sky train), and the railway stations that can take you further outside of Bangkok if you’re feeling adventurous.

If you’re looking to be in the action, look no further than Khao San Road, a popular street full of bars, restaurants, and shops. If you’re looking to be above the action and get a birds-eye view, one of the best viewpoints of Bangkok is from Baiyoke Tower. You might be a little too high up to see the people but the view is worth the trip regardless. If shooting from the Baiyoke (or any other viewpoint), the 70-200mm was my favorite way to capture it.

The next place I visited during Songkran was Phuket. The province is engulfed in rainforest and crystal blue waters giving it an interesting background for the festival. All of the main action occurs in Patong as you walk closer to Bangla Road. Expect it to be jam-packed once you arrive. Music is blazing and no one is safe from being soaked or having “din sor pong” rubbed on your face, which is a white paste that is traditionally used in light of the New Year. Because of how crowded it was, I found the 35mm to be the best lens for this area. It was not only fun to get up close and personal with individuals who are celebrating but the wide aperture coupled with the Sony a7 III’s low-light capabilities allowed me to shoot later through the night with no problems.

The last place on my list was Chiang Mai. In this area, they spread out the festival for several more days, which is why it’s the best place to visit last. The town is filled with vendors, cultural shows, Muay Thai boxing, beauty pageants, and more. The water festival is centered within the main roads in Si Phum that circle the moats. My favorite lens to use in this area was the 24-70mm, which allowed for versatility throughout the day (perfect for when you don’t have an opportunity to switch lenses around).

I’d like to end with a few golden rules for anyone attending Songkran for the first time:

Be smart. Don’t bring anything with you that can’t get soaked and keep an eye on your valuable belongings.
Be safe. Don’t squirt water into people’s eyes or mouths, especially while they’re operating a vehicle.
Be courteous. Don’t use dirty water.
Have fun! Otherwise, stay inside.

Songkran can be as chaotic as it sounds and therefore is not suitable for everyone. However, if you have the energy and ability to live like a kid again even if it’s just for one weekend, then it’s definitely something to try at least once. Plus you’ll get some pretty epic photos along the way.

Originally written 5/22/18 for Adorama: https://www.adorama.com/alc/a-photographers-guide-to-songkran-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-thai-new-year-celebration/

Butterfly Migration

November 05, 2020 in Documentary, Travel, Photography

On February 17th, 2020, I embarked on a journey to Michoacán, Mexico with Studio Elsewhere to document the migration of the monarch butterfly in photos. For the next week, our team would wake up at dawn, pack our vans, drive an hour to the parking site, hop on a horse, and head up the mountains of the various reserves where the butterflies were most concentrated.

The experience is something I can’t really put into words. I remember the excitement I felt when we saw our first cluster, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the spiritual experience of being immersed in the flutters of a beautiful, endangered species. Walking deeper into the forest, they suddenly surrounded us. The term “butterfly kisses” took on a very literal meaning as they brushed past our faces and landed on our clothing. We sat and lay in silence, mesmerized as hundreds of thousands of monarchs glistened in the slices of light that shone through the trees. It took my breath away and I can still hear the sound of them when I close my eyes, like streams of water or leaves blowing in the wind.

The migration itself is an amazing phenomenon. The monarchs are one of the few migratory insects that migrate annually to a warmer climate. That long trek every winter involves 3-4 generations of butterflies. It’s fascinating to think about the millions of monarchs that travel upwards of 3,000 miles throughout all of North America to migrate to the oyamel fir forests of Mexico. However, due to climate change, urban development (such as illegal logging), and a decline in the milkweed habitats that they pollinate, numbers of monarch butterflies have dropped significantly and that species is now facing extinction.

The fight against climate change likely is a long uphill battle but there are many ways that we as caring humans can help. We can create way-stations, avoid pesticides in our gardens, and one of the easiest things anyone can do is plant native milkweed and nectar plants. Just a couple of plants can make a difference in helping them on their journey.

As a visual storyteller, I am inspired and committed to pass on some of this knowledge. My trip to Michoacán to document the migration of the monarch butterfly is one I’ll never forget. The experience of taking these photos raised my awareness for this delicate species, one that contributes to the health of our planet. Now it’s our turn to help them.

Halloween 2020

November 02, 2020

We were in our pajamas at 9pm when we decided to shoot around the city (masked, obviously) on Halloween night. We didn’t know what to expect but it ended up being the entertainment we needed.

All shot on 35mm with CineStill.

Coney Island

September 12, 2019

Coney Island is one of my places in New York to shoot. The people you come across feel like characters in a movie so I’m always entertained. It reminds me a lot of Venice Beach, which reminds me of home.

I challenged myself to only shoot with one camera and lens, so I chose my Mamiya 7 with the 65mm f/4. The lens is a lot wider and a bit slower than I’m used to, plus I’m still getting the hang of rangefinders, but the test was stimulating.

Two of my favorite photos happened at the end of the night when it was so dark that I had to push my film two stops. When I saw my negatives I could barely make out the images but once I scanned them, I realized it was just enough. The scans had a lot of dust but I decided to leave it because it looks almost like a starry sky. A perfect blue hour with a faux starry night - not a bad way to end my summer.

Generational Artisans

July 30, 2019 in Photography, Travel, Documentary

Last month while in Oaxaca, our friend Vera introduced us to Josefina and her family of weavers. Josefina immediately welcomed us in with open arms and between our translations and body language, we were able to piece together a bit of what goes into weaving and being a textile artisan. We met her mother Hermelinda (78 years old and has been weaving for 70 years), her daughter Gloria, and her husband Portefino. We were also told her father and a few other family members help out. It was the definition of a family business that has been passed on through generations.

Josefina and her mother then demonstrated the process of how they created their dyes all with natural materials and the tedious steps involved in prepping the materials to be woven. For example, using the base plus pomegranate creates a purple, but adding a little lime changes the color entirely. The brushing, spinning, and dying of the materials alone often takes at least two weeks.

I began to appreciate the value more once I learned about the process. Depending on the intricacy of the design, one textile can take anywhere from three weeks to a couple of months. It’s important to learn about the artistry, where things are from, who creates them, and the time and effort that goes into the items that you purchase. I left their house that day with a new rug made by Portefino himself and an expanded understanding of why it’s important to support artisans directly.