This photo was made in the Klong Toey boxing gym where I have photographed extensively since about 2012. I have sort of become a regular there and am now trying to arrange to help the trainers who are in search of foreign boxers (they make money if they train foreigners, they teach the Thais for free or almost free).
The gym is rather an intense place when the boxing starts but otherwise it's as friendly and open as most places in Thailand. I feel quite comfortable and welcome in the gym and plan to continue shooting there for many years to come. I also donate some money now and again to help out with the funding of the place as most boys there come from disadvantaged situations, drug use in the family, orphans etc.
The boxer in this photo was the son of one of the trainers, his uncle is the man training him here. What was a bit shocking was the intensity this man trained at, how hard he worked. The ironic part was I went to watch a match this boxer (Bon) fought in a few days after this photo was made. Bon 20 was punched out cold in the the 3rd round of his match, he was knocked completely senseless. You can see a photo I made of him in the recovery room. Check out the blog entry below, what was really strange was how the TV guys interviewed him when he was still semi unconscious.
Tech stuff: Leica M6, 28mm lens (?), Tri-x rated 800, stand development with Rodinal.
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| Muay Thai boxer in Klong Toey slum gym, Bangkok Thailand 2012 |
