Todays (2nd Last Day?) Photos From Under The Freeway

Here are a few photos from todays time working on the "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" project in Bangkok Thailand. I am going tomorrow morning to make some more photos but then that might be about it for now. I will try to get back t and make a few more pictures but I have a duty and obligation to the people in the Mae Sot dump to live up to. I also made promises to all my dump donating people back in Edmonton that I need to fufill. Got to get my lazy ass to the dump and do the donations and photos there as soon as I can. More "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" work will probably have to wait until my next trip to Thai. 
I was only able to edit part of the pics made today. Shooting lots of digital images and not many film images so far. That is mostly because of the lighting conditions. With digital I can shoot at higher ASAs than I can with film cameras. I will shoot more film in the dump, in the coming days.

Due 35, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Bangkok Thailand 2019

Dao, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Bangkok Thailand 2019

Jack, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Bangkok Thailand 2019

Todays Photos, Under The Freeway

Continued work on the "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" Series this afternoon. Met several new people in a new under the freeway area. An older lady as well as a lady named Ying 37 and a man named Dui who is 35. I also photographed Mew, Chompoo, Jack and Dom today. Did a few photos of a young couple fighting on the street, not sure what their story was. Ying and Dui have no children and are not married but live together in the same cloth walled room, they have been living under the freeway for 3 years.

Running our of time, need to get to the dump soon.

"The People Who Live Under The Freeway" Photos From Today

Not a lot of time for editing as I need to get up a t 7am and it is after midnight now. Here are a quick few shots made this afternoon. as part of the "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" photo series here in Bangkok's Klong Toey Slum.

Bia home, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Chompoo 62, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Young woman "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Chompoo , "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Jack, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway". Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Email To A Friend: LOVE THE WIDE ANGLES

Hey Larry

Made the right choice when I bought the 16mm and the 21mm wide angles for the R cameras. I am using those lens on the Canon 5D Mark 3 with an adaptor. The only issue is focusing at times. I need to get a wide angle for the Canon that does auto focus for me (especially in really low light). Looking at the 11mm to 24mm (or is 20?) lens from Canada. Retails at about $1800 USD used, expensive for me but I think I could do some good work with it. The 11mm would allow even more use in confined spaces and the auto focus would allow for me to shoot quickly and more accurately. My dream outfit on my return to Canada is the Canon 5D Mark 4 body with the 11-24mm F4 lens. PLEAE PLEASE sell me yours when you move on. PLEASE PLEASE give me a good price. I will shoot the camera to death when I do get it and try to make important photos with it. Photos that can have a positive effect on the world, I hope!

The thing I love best about the 16mm is it allows me to include a lot more in my compositions to give a real sense of place. The distortion does not bother me as it does you, I like the visual effect of bent lines a lot!! The Canon lens is supposed to have less distortion than my 16mm R Leica lens which was made int he 1970s (I think). 

I can now climb into a small room and include so much more of that room, or I can shoot large open spaces like under the freeway and include both entrances. LOVE IT!!!!!!! "Ain't Photography Grand!!!!" 

Am on a real natural high right now. I just came back from photographing under the freeway. Did a series of shots of various kinds and some photos of drug use before and after. This is the first time I have photographed drug taking since I was 21 in West Oakland. It was in a small shack along a roadway in Klong Toey Slum, a man named ------- smoking something he called nam king (ice) in a water pipe device made with a water bottle and a straw taped together with a glass pipe section he heated with lighter as he inhaled.. Afterwards I photographed him in his shack sleeping etc...the wide angle worked great for all of this stuff. Am trying to tell this young mans story in a fair and balanced way. He trusts me in his life making pictures, I need to do right by him and tell his story fairly, and honestly with compassion and und udnerstanding.

Really looking forward too making more photos here in Klong Toey (found my new story!!) and in the dump with these new wide angle lens later in June. Need to shoot more film as well been shooting mostly the digital so far. Also need to shoot a bunch of 120mm film on the Rolleiflex.

Feeling GREAT today. Making the photos I always wanted to make my whole life, dreams coming true.

Best wishes...Gerry!!!!!!!!! Included a few wide angle examples...

Apanpon, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" 2019

Dom, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" 2019

See, Dom, Chompoo "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" 2019

Apanpon, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" 2019

Dom, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" 2019

Bia "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" 2019

Quote: Hinmahtoo-Yahlahket (Jefe Joseph)

"The Earth is the mother of all people and all people should have equal rights in it."

Today's Under The Freeway Photos

Went out in the morning this time to shoot under the freeway. Was out between about 8am and around 1030 or 11am. Here is a selection of those images.

Lava, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Ooh 40+, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway",  Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Dom 58, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok Thailand  2019

Ooh 40+, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok Thailand 2019

Vee 40, Dom 58, Chompoo 62, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Khun Ooh, With Her Dog

Here is Khun Ooh with her beloved dog, she walks him every morning before going to work (collecting bottles). She has had the dog for over 6 years. She pets and kisses him constantly, and helps keep his fur clean. He protects her and is a loyal friend and companion.

Facebook: Photos Of Bia And Jack From Today

Shot for 2 hours this evening, here is one pic, Will post more later when I have time to edit. Khun Bia lives in a shack near the freeway. Bia in his slum room, filled with pictures of the royal family. Bia told me he got sick last night when rain came through his poor roof (mostly scavenged wood and cardboard. It rained tonight again, I hope he did not get wet again and more sick. Jack never said a word to me, I got him to smile one time but the rest of the time he just stared like int he photos. He looked in poor shape emotionally.

Bia 61, "The People  Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Jack, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thiailand 2019

Self Portrait on Security Guards Cell Phone, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok Thailand 2019

Video: With Champoo, Jack, And Dao

With Champoo, Jack, and Dao on the street.

Video: Under The Freeway Area

Far view of under the freeway area.

Video: Khun Bia

Here is a video of khun (Mr) Bia, he is 61 years old. In the video he told me he has bee separated from his wife for 20 years and lives completely alone. He has one daughter in her 40s who is not married. He works odd jobs and lives in this slum shack next to a very busy road (earlier video). A kind and generous man, everyday I come to visit him he offers me a cold cup of ice water. He said he had no friends, I told him I was his friend which made him laugh and say "Then I have 1 friend!"

Facebook: Slept In, And A Few More Shots From Yesterday

Meant to get up early and go under the freeway today to do photos but slept in again, damn!! Sometimes it is hard to leave the nice a/c hotel to go out on the hot dirty streets. Am oing to do a night time visit in 30 minutes...and try again for 630am tomorrow...got to get out there on days, need to follow my friend Larry's method-exaple who gets up very early to make his photos. I am running out of time to make the "under the freeway" pics, the dump is calling, lots of work to there both donation and photo..
Here are a few photos shot last night for "The People Who Live Under The Freeway'

Anapon 53, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Bia 55, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Another 4 Pics From Yesterday

Shot both film cameras and my Canon 5D mark 3 yesterday. Sometimes I use an adaptor ring that allows me to put the Leica R lens onto the Canon. The film stuff I will not see for many months but these digital files are immediately available, which is fun and cool. I can see what is working and what is not.

A fair amount of action with various people goes on under the freeway everyday. I stand around part time but can shoot a fair amount with multiple subjects. I saw some drug dealing going on in the area as well. Young Thais on motorbikes coming to buy brown pills, possibly Yau-bau. Which translates to CRAZY MEDICINE, a dangerous and illegal drug that does lots of damage to Thai society. Some of Thais that were buying the pills were freaking out a bit when they saw a big faring (Westerner) hanging around the area with 4 cameras on him. One young girl looked at me 4 times before and after she got on a motorbike with her boyfriend (he had done the drug buy while she waited nearby).

Note* Will try to go a bit later tonight to photograph. I want to make pics lady who lives there Khun Ooh. I have known her for around 6 years.  Khun Ooh works everyday collecting bottles and comes back later.

Here are 4 more photos of Dom 58.

Dom 58, "The People Sho Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

3 Photos From Today "The People Who Live Under The Freeway"

Here are 3 new photos from "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" photo series, made today. Khun Anapon 53 and Khun Dom 58

Dom 58, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Anapon 53-2, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019.jpg

Anapon 53, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019.jpg

Video: Khun (Mr.) Dom 58 And A Safety Warning

Another day photographing -Under the Freeway- The weird moment of the day was when a slightly older Thai lady came up to me speaking English. The way she dressed and her level and type of English made me suspect she worked the bar scene with farang men (Westerners). Her eyes got very very big when she first saw me and she came right over and warned me of the dangers in the area (I was wearing 4 camera bodies). She seemed shocked that I was there and spoke to me of theft, violence etc. We had a nice chat after that in Thai and English, she ended up leaving laughing and was very friendly, nice of her to warn me. Here is Khun Dom, he is 58, and has 2 daughters in there 20s who is not in contact with any longer. He is in poor shape, only 3 years older than I am. He cannot use his left arm, not sure why. Trying to treat him with much respect, learn about his life. He did not know the exact ages of his daughter, said they were in their 20s, that is as specific as he could get.

Video:Facebook: Khun (Mr.) Owen 52

Am diving into the "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" project. Trying to make friends, and get to know everyone in the area. Today met 3 men named Owen (Fat), Jack, and Chompoo (Pink). Here is a sort video of Owen, the nearby motorcycle taxi driver told me Owen was a bit crazy. In the video he is talking of the police arresting him while trying to bend and break some rebar in concrete. Khun Owen was very nice to me, I gave him 20 baht and he brought some things then gave me a caffeine drink and some cookies and gave some water to Anapon.

Video:Facebook: Khun (Mr.) Champoo 62

Here is a video of Khun Champoo (54). Later he told me of several things I should photograph. In the video he was looking through a garbage bag for anything of value. He also speaks a bit about his family, he has 2 sons who are not with him now. Another friendly man, meeting lots of nice folk under the freeway.y.

Found My Story, Will Continue With "People Who Live Under The Freeway"

Found a photo story to do in Bangkok, it is actually an old story I started 5-6 years ago, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway".  In the next few days I will be spending more time working on  this photo series. Will try to do more detailed photographs and dive deeper into the lives of the people under the freeway.

The three main subjects are Khun Anapon, Khun Ooh and a new gentleman Khun Dom. Will try to learn more about their former lives, about how they ended up living under a freeway. I know that Khune Anapon is a former boxer and in his early 50s but that is about it. I know almost nothing about Khun Ooh or Khun Dom. Many people seem to wander through the area occasionally stopping and staying, they might a bit of depth to this series of pictures. Two days ago a younger lady named Mew was there, drunk and asking for money.

Mew, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, 2019

Khun Anapon, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, 2019

Dom, "The People Who Live Under The Freeway", Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, 2019

142 AM, Dreamed Mom Was Sick Again

Just woke up at 142am in my Klong Toey Bangkok hotel room. I dreamed that mom was sick again with her dementia. Dreamed that she was confused again, that she was out front her house at 2am talking to my cat but calling her by the name of a different cat I had growing up named "Tofee". Mom was incoherent and did not know the past from the present. It was a scary dream. A nightmare that I know will probably happen some day. I was frightened in the dream, and am frightened now thinking of moms future.

First Day In Klong Toey Slum

Went out at about 3pm today. Walked through some of my regular haunts in Klong Toey Slum. No boxing going on, Khun Anapon (People Who Live Under The Freeway series) was there today as always. Khun Ooh was working so did not see here, I guess she does not have a dog any longer. To bad she does not have the dog any longer, she loved it. From what I gather it is still alive but went somewhere else.

One weird event was tat  I met several people in Klong Toey Slum near the boxing gym who knew me. One lady said that I took her photo with a baby before. I gave her a print and she remembered me like 6 or 7-8 years later. Here is the photograph I took, one of my favorites:

Picture of the lady with her baby in Klong Toey Slum, 2011 or 2012

Another older lady who I did not know, said I had lost weight and was thinner than before. That was nice to hear,  guess the diet worked. I told her I stopped eating bread and chocolate. These two were part of a large group of 5 people who spoke to me at once. An older man in the group was trying to marry me off to a local girl who had no husband, she shyly looked down when that was going on.

The migrant area where people lived before is now closed down The rooms they lived in are different, the buildings are renovated and newer looking. There is a big sign out front saying that the place is free of ILLEGAL WORKERS, so I guess that means the Cambodians and Burmese are out, and this place is only for Thais now. The immigrant worker, especially illegals get the short end of the stick world wide. I wonder where the Burmese and Cambodians live and work now? So many good people just want a job to help their families, support their loved ones. Hard working family people should be rewarded not attacked and demonized. We need to see our common humanity and forget all his country crap.

Overall it was a nice nice first day in the dump. I shot 4 cameras, not sure I got anything of value. Tried to shoot the 90mm Leica R lens and the 16mm R lens on the Canon 5D Mark 3 but it was very hard to focus in the low light conditions where Khun Anapon lives.

Me And Hannibal Lecter

Spent sometime with Hannibal Lecter last night. He was in the plane seat next to me on the Taipei, Taiwan to Bangkok, Thailand flight. An American, guy in his early 40s. He completely zoned out with matching black neck pillow, full black skin tight fitting face mask,  black eye mask and black earphones hooked up to his black cellphone. I think the plane could have gone down in flames and he probably would not have noticed. The guy said like 5 words to me the whole 5 hour flight,  and only after I initiated the talk. Not a people person I guess.

Note* First order of business, get a haircut. Been saving my hair to get a cut here in Thai. Thai barbers are a joy, they massage your head and neck area while washing your hair, cut your hair carefully and slowly, then wash and massage your head again. They also blow dry and style it for you. All of that at a much cheaper price than the 10-15 minute  expensive rush jobs in Canada (where you end with cut hair down your back). Will try to get Thai hair cut in the next few days, then get a second before before I leave for Canada in July.

Facebook: At My Bangkok Hotel

Well made it to my hotel in Klong Toey Bangkok. Dragging the 4 bags on the sidewalk in the heat was a bit of an adventure but got it done, now safely in my room (see photos).

A few opening thoughts:

- The taxi guy at the airport tried to take advantage of me. I usually get a taxi for a cheaper rate at the 4th floor departure area (drivers are technically not allowed to pick up customers there) but this time a bit of a con man was waiting for me. After I got my bags in his taxi he told me in Thai, "THE KINGS BIRTHDAY IS TODAY, EVERYWHERE THERE IS A TRAFFIC JAMS, ALL AROUND YOUR HOTEL AREA IS A TRAFFIC JAM" He then asked for 500 baht. I know the taxi price to the hotel is around 280 baht plus tollway costs so I refused, got out and removed my bags. The next guy was a nice fellow who just turned on his meter with no issues and a smile, cost to the hotel was 277 baht plus 2 tollway costs of 25 baht and 50 baht. I paid the tolls as the passenger always does in Thailand and gave him 300 baht for the trip, a small tip, which is normal.

- It is weird as always speaking Thai again. I had to jump into the language quickly on arrival. It has been over a year since I spoke any Thai. Speaking does not feel effortless as it well later, lots of thought involved it, marbles in the mouth sometimes. Some topics of conversation with the second taxi driver, were, all the new condos, where I was from, 2 new apps taxi drivers and people in Bangkok use now, tricks taxi drivers use to get more money, and that it was NOT the kings birthday. I told him the 500 baht story which he thought was quite funny, he kept laughing and laughing.

- Final thought, Thai dogs are smart! I had forgotten this but saw it again when I went to buy supplies at the nearby 7/11. Thai dogs will lay outside a 7/11 door on the concrete step just in front of the automatic sliding door. Why do they do this? because every time the door opens, which is often, they get a blast of a/c in the face. They never come inside the stores which is not allowed, they just lay outside looking hot and waiting for the next out pouring of cold air from the store. Smart animals, street dogs here are wise, even seen them using walking bridges over roads before.
Here are some photos of my room, $27 CAD a night. Hot shower, A/C, cable TV, free WiFi and very quiet. I like the location of this place as it is next to (actually part of) Bangkok's Klong Toey slum, where I make my photos.

$27 CAD a night

Facebook: Am In Bangkok

Am in Bangkok Thailand. My taking two carry on bags only, did not work out. I have two carry ons with cameras, film, books, computer, iPad etc. And two check in bags with other things like my dump rubber boots, steady cam device, tripod, toys and clothes for the dump kids.
The flights were OK, slept without taking drugs on 2 planes, food better and the long Vancouver to Taipae Taiwan section was in a newer plane with more leg room and a GLORIOUS empty seat to my right.
Will go to the hotel and sleep for a while, then have some good Thai food before trying to photograph Khun Anapon and Khun Ooh who live under a freeway near huge hotel. Been photographing them for abot 6 years now “The People Who Live Under The Freeway” series. Should make it to the garbage and the families in a week or so.

At the airport, after the 3 airplane flight into Bangkok

Cameras For Trip

This is my final gear selection for the coming 7 week Thai trip. Lots of stuff, not sure if I will use them all, but I want to have it available if I need it.

-  3 Lecia R (6, 6.2) bodies
- 16mm, 21mm, 24mm, 35mm, 60mm, 90mm R lens
- Canon 5D Mark 3 with 28-105mm lens
- Rollieflex
- Contaxt G2 Camera with 2 flashes
- Metz Flash for Lecia R sytem
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema  Camera
- Small tripod
- Old style Stereo Camera
- 65 rolls of Tri-x 35mm
- 50 rolls of Tri-x 120, 2 rolls of HP5
- Adapter to allow Leica R lens to be used with Canon digital cameras

Trip Cameras