Bride?

I did not see the 15 year old bride from the wedding. Where is she? What has happened to her? Is she OK?

I photographed the groom many times today, he seemed very down, never smiled, depressed. I hope nothing bad happened to his young wife, I remember him singing with such joy after his wedding night.

I wish I could speak fluently to the families, maybe I should hire a translator.

Will Post Videos On My Return To Canada

I plan on posting many more videos on my return to Canada. I will probably go with a low resolution version video on the blog only but might do something up for YouTube and Vimeo as well. So far I have shot a few vids of the people in Bangkok who live under the freeway, a few from Klong Toey slum, some boxing stuff and now a few from the Burmese families at the dump.

Closeups

I am using the new (used) 60mm lens quite a bit. I shot a number of closeups today, these type photos are inspired by Sebastaio Salgado's work. I did closeups of faces, hands and feet. Hopefully these photos turn out and tell part of the story of the peoples lives, the hard work they deal with daily is etched in their faces, hands and feet.

More Rice

I have 2 care packages of rice, soaps and other things to hand out ready for tomorrows trip to the dump. I am not sure about giving out the 100 baht notes but will continue with what worked last time, 2 small care packages to 2 families a day. I want to be fair to everyone and hand things equally as much as I can, I need to try to avoid favoritism and conflict.

Today I watched as a man filled up a 5 gallon white pail (2/3s full) with rice found in the dump garbage. The rice was cooked already and in small plastic bags, he emptied everything into the big white pail, I assume to be shared by everyone later (will post video later).

Exhausted

I left the hotel at 7am (tomorrow will leave at 6am) and shot until 11am. I ended up shooting 15 rolls of Tri-x along with a bunch of digi photos (to print and give to people) and some videos.

After walking up and down the garbage, climbing around everywhere, meeting everyone again, handing out photos and shooting all that film I was pretty much exhausted. The difference for me as compared to the people who live in the dump is I got a comfortable ride home then take a nice long hot shower in my beautiful a/c hotel room. My life in the dump is only 4 or 5 hours a day then its all I can eat, a clean bed and cool room. I get a nice quiet nights sleep after watching movies on my cable TV.

I have no real knowledge of the hardships the people in the dump face. I need to get beyond the superficial to a deeper understanding of who they are.

New Families? Two Boys Sleeping In Flies

There are new families here in the dump, families that have almost nothing. These new families, these new people are sleeping mostly in the open with only the most rudimentary of shelters. I plan on giving my first care packages to these new families tomorrow.

Amongst these new groups I photographed 2 young boys maybe 12 or 13 years old sleeping on the ground, one was barefoot, they were covered in flies. It was something I have only seen on TV, people sleeping in garbage, exposed to the elements, dirty and desperate (will post video later).

The Garbage

There is way more garbage this time around. There was a fresh rainfall last night and everything was wet and slippery (I fell one time on my backside as I crouched to do a photo). The dump seems to have more of everything this time around, more people and more garbage, there are stronger smells and even more flies than before. In many places the garbage is piled up on what last time was a small dirt road. Mae Sot must be producing more and more garbage as a second dump is open now. This new second dump also has Burmese families working there scavenging for recyclables. Sometimes when you walk on the garbage your feet sink over 1 foot down the flies swarm around you and its slippery. I need to get full rubber boots as my shoe style often fill up with dump debris.

Often people walk very close to the garbage trucks and bull dozers as they work, any mistake, any slip up could lead to a fatal injury as there is almost no medical care close by. There is a free clinic for Burmese in Mae Sot but by the time a seriously injured person gets there it would probably be to late to help them (will post video later).

Thumbs Up For The Hat

I got a big thumbs up for my hat today. Last trip I got heck from several of the ladies for not wearing a hat when I was out making pictures in the hot sun. This trip I brought a black baseball style cap with me, today when they saw it I got a smile and a big thumbs up!

Languages Times 3

I think my head is going to explode. First I arrive in Thailand and have to speak Thai after a long absence, then I meet Cambodian people in Bangkok and try to remember my Khmer lessons from years past, and now today Burmese! Gosh my tongue is doing back-flips, my head is pounding and I am struggling to remember as much as I can and keep as much straight as possible.

I wish I was fluent in all 3 languages, my Thai can be passable but my Khmer and Burmese is beginner 1a stuff. Still anything I can say pproduces surprise and smiles. Today for example I got a big grin and a better connection with a man and his family after I said in Burmese "Burma saga na-ma-lay-bah-boo" (I cannot speak the Burmese language).

At least its cooler this trip, that makes things a bit easier, weather wise things are a bit less painful. It's hot but not crazy hot like last trip.

Many More People, More Huts, New Dump

The dump is more full now, more people, more huts, more garbage, more everything! On the way back to the hotel I was told there is now a second dump with even more Burmese scavenging in it.

I did not recognize whole areas of the dump, it has been 5 1/2 months its surprising how much can change. Many of basic roadways from before are gone, they are covered with garbage. There are many people who had not seen me before today, I tried to make friends as best I could but some were wary of me. 

Until the problems both economic and political in Burma are solved the people will be forced to flee to find places to live and work in safety. All these people want are jobs, and a small home to raise their families in, a place that's safe and free from persecution. Is that to much to ask? In 2013 can we not have a world that provides these very basic needs?

Crying Baby With Flies On Face

I video taped and photographed one of the most difficult subjects I have ever done today. There was a group of over 25 Burmese working some recently deposited garbage (after a garbage truck dumped it on the ground). The mother of a young girl of maybe a 2 or 3 years old went to work in the garbage leaving her young child by herself. This young girl was holding a western black haired naked doll, as she stood their with files on her face and body she started to cry (missing her mom). To see that child standing in the garbage covered in flies while crying was heart breaking, its one of these things I am incapable of putting into words.

I plan on forwarding the photos and video to Fred Stockwell, a local expat westerner who has an organization here that raises money to help those in need. Maybe Fred can use these photos and video to help raise more funds to help the families here. Please visit his site and donate (will post video later).

Eyes On Burma (Fred Stockwell)

Photos A Hit

Well the photos were quite a hit, I was  happy to bring a bit of joy to the people here today. The wedding family were especially happy, they laughed and pointed, grinned and thanked me over and over again. I wish I had photos to give to everyone, many times I had nothing to hand out and for some homes it was only 1 or 2 5x7 color photos.

Many people are now posing for me, asking to have their photos taken. I am going to try to shoot as many digi color shots over the next while and try to get them printed before I leave. I need to find a photo shop near by and make a selection of new prints to be made. The last group of 150 or so photos cost me around 650 baht, so its not a huge expense it makes the people so happy, they do not have much to give them this little bit can make a difference to their lives.

Email To Friends Back Home 2

Hard to relate to the world here, today in the dump many people remembered me probably more than 20, with calls of MINGA LA BA..(hello in Burmese)...more people here, 2 dumps now with workers...shot a young baby maybe 2-3 years old maybe a bit younger..crying while she stood in the garbage..flies on her face..crazy stuff..hard to deal with...might try to give this video/photos to the western guy here who raises money to help these people, maybe he can use it to improve donations..
 
Anyway, good, bad, happy and sad here...the photos I gave out to many people were a huge hit, lots of laughing and happiness when I handed them out (wedding pics etc). The bride is missing, hope nothing bad happened to her, the groom is here working with the rest of the family.

Gerry

Mingala Ba!!!

Today I returned to the dump for the first time in 5 1/2 months. I was greeted by Mingala Ba's from afar and up close, some were spoken softly others were yelled out with smiles and waves. I remember 30+ people from last trip, some are missing like the young bride, the Burmese boy I was closer to who spoke Thai and the lady who found the hairpin in the dump and placed it in her hair (met her husband but not her). I need to make more of an effort to learn the names and ages of all the people here. I have a hard time remembering Burmese names as the names that have been given to me so far are very long and difficult to remember.

Costs

The costs for a trip to Thai are reasonable, the only thing that is really expensive is the initial plane ticket. Here are a few recent costs:

Plane Ticket: $1420 CAD
Hotel Bangkok: 750 and 673 baht a night ($25-$22.40 CAD)
Hotel Mae Sot : 550 baht a night ($18.36 CAD)
Lunch Mae Sot : A very large plate of, 2 fried eggs, 3 large sausages, ham, bacon, 2 slices toast-jam, beans 250 baht ($8.35 CAD)
Overnight VIP bus (highest class bus) with A/C, food and reclining seat. blanket for 8 hour trip from Bangkok to Mae Sot 666 baht ($22 CAD).
Fried rice with shrimp in Bangkok 35 baht ($1.17 CAD)

In Mae Sot

I arrived in Mae Sot this morning, I am taking this day off and preparing to go to the dump to meet the families early tomorrow morning. I want to hand out photos I made last trip and to reacquaint myself with everyone, I need to make friends again. I hope I can speak a bit more Burmese this trip as compared to the May trip.

Die Laow

When I was in the slum yesterday I found that many of the people I photographed before had passed away. When I showed the photos to people in the neighborhood where the person lived I kept hearing "Die Laow" (he is dead already). 3 of the portraits I gave out were to the families of men who had passed away. Living in the slum is a hard life, life expectancy is low, medical care limited, substance abuse high. I missed meeting one man Khune Oo-Dom by 2 months, one I knew already last trip had died (met his brother this trip), and another was Dom a drinking man from 2012. I was surprised that Dom had passed because he was only in his mid 40s, being an alcoholic takes it toll I guess.

Its always surprising to me how quickly people can disappear, you spend time with them one trip, make their picture, hear their stories then when you return in a few months or a year they are gone forever. In some ways the only record of their lives, or one of the few records of their being here is the portraits that were made.

Khune Oo-Dom 70 Klong Toey Slum 2012 (passed on Sept 2013)

Owen Mak!

Did a 7 hour walk through the Klong Toey slum. It was fun to visit old haunts. I find I do not really get lost now, I sort of know the slum well enough to make my way around quite easily. I also am a bit braver (smart strategy?) and basically go everywhere and anywhere including dealing with drugged-drunk people more frequently.

One area that I visited and made a video of is on the boats that clean up the garbage on the canal. 2 trips ago last year sometime I photographed the people there. This trip many thais in the area recognized me. The first words out of one ladies mouth were "Donnie, khune owen mak!!" "Now your so fat!!", very true, I need to lose some tonnage.

It was fun to walk the streets again, making photos of what I found and wandering about with my cameras. Looking-searching for stories and compositions in the slum is loads of fun, the people are so kind and friendly.

Boxing Gym-Tours

I am thinking of trying to set up Muay Thai boxing tours from Canada to the gym in Thailand, not sure its feasible but I have the contacts now so I might give it a try. I also want to help the trainers at the gym to make a bit of extra dollars.

I might be able to make enough money to pay for some free air tickets to Thailand which would allow me to make more photos or if things went very well I might be able to raise some money and buy a condo here. More thought required on all of this.

Email To Friends Back Home

Sent this email to some friends, thought I would share it:

Hi folks, am in Mae Sot Thailand now, I took the overnight bus here last night from Bangkok.

My first week in Bangkok, I continued photographing in the slum and at the Muay Thai boxing gym. I also found some new people to photograph in Bangkok. I found 4 Thai people living in appalling conditions under a freeway, even poorer than anything I saw in the slum. I spent 5 days with, gave them some money to help them out etc, made photos about their lives and tried to learn as much as I could about them. I also met and photographed some Burmese/Cambodian workers who live in temporary housing (cheap labor). The Cambodians were great, we talked, and I tried to learn some Khmer from them, I knew a bit from before but had forgotten most of it. One girl showed me her wedding photos from Phnom Penh and talked about her husband and family (she spoke fluent Thai).

Tomorrow I will go to the dump to spend time with the Burmese refugee families I met last trip. I made up over 100 color photos to give them. I hope I can get the photos to the people, not sure if they are still in the dump or not, I especially want to get wedding photos to 1 family.

The weather is not so bad this trip so far, its definitely cooler her in November, I am only sweating in the day time not at night. Having some great food, thou it makes me feel guilty to eat so well and have such wonderful accommodations ($18-22 a night) when so many have nothing here.

Anyway learning lots, experiencing lots and trying to communicate that in the photos. Hopefully I can eventually show this work in Canada and link those shows to aid organizations that work here, maybe people who view the photos will donate some money to help.

Gerry

Food-Beer-Water

My first day in Klong Toey slum I got offered a bunch of stuff, sort of set a record. I must have been offered food 4 or 5 times, I accepted once, some wonderful moo tod (fried pork) with Kaew Nee-ow (sticky rice). There were also offers of beer and water. When I was with the Cambodians I was given water 2 times. The poorest people are often the kindest, its something we all can learn from.

Learning Speaking Khmer

With the Cambodian workers, I am practising my Khmer again. I am writing down little notes and getting language lessons from multiple people. This is all rather confusing, I am studying Burmese to speak when I return to the dump site in Mae Sot, I speak Thai on the street here in Bangkok daily and now Khmer. I did some Khmer lessons way back when I was visiting Cambodia more often and a "KHYOM CHUMOO GERRY" (My name is Gerry) goes a long way but learning Khmer again is a bit much at this stage, its giving me a headache and hurts my mouth and tongue.

When I am with the Cambodian people any language skills are a big bonus. Any time I speak any Khmer or speak of places I have visited in Cambodia (Phnom Penh 4 times, Sihanoukville 1 time, Siem Riep 2 times and Poipet 4 times) I am a big hit, people love it. As always language is important and knowing as much about the culture and the people you photograph really matters. The more you know not only helps you as a person and photographer it helps build a partnership, a connection with the people that allow you to photograph them.

I keep thinking back to one girl in the Cambodian worker housing area, she spoke Khmer, Thai (and I think Vietnamese), she told me of her family back in Cambodia and how much she missed her children. At one point she asked me if I wanted to see her wedding pictures and when I said yes she quickly showed me some very beat up faded color shots made 9 years earlier. She was so proud of her family, of her husband, of Cambodia. To see her in those pictures and then in her unit here in Thailand working so hard was a quite a contrast.

All of the workers I met in the housing area are young, most under 35. At times when I sit with them their are 11 or 12 people all around, some are even on a second level looking down at me as we talk. They live such boring lives, they work in Thailand away from home to make more money but their lives are so limited, they have so few opportunities. When a barang (Khmer word for Westerner, Thais use farang) walks in its a big thing, everyone comes over to see and talk to you, smiles are everywhere. Being surrounded by over 10 people in a strange inclosed area is a bit intimidating but I feel quite comfortable, the people are so kind and friendly. I got offered water 2 times, its just brought to you by a child or by somone from one of the homes.

Wheel Cart

Khune Go uses a low level cart to pull himself along busy roads, he seems to be oblivious to the speeding traffic and told me its not dangerous, he does it everyday. I photographed him a bit on the roadway today, he is painfully slow in his movements. He will move maybe 1 meter then wait 2 minutes, then move another meter followed by another 2 minute rest.

Fish Head/Bone Soup

The first day I met Khune Anapon he was boiling something in a little tin pot. I asked him what he was making he told me fish head soup. He was using the pieces of some fish he got somwhere, the head and a bunch of bones. He kept on mixing this very meagre dish as it cooked, all I could see was a blacked tin with what looked like a small jaw bone and eye. He kept mixing and mixing and mixing it some more but there was nothing there to eat, it was so low, so lacking, trying to stir those bones into some food. I will keep the memory, live with the look and sound of him stirring that tin pot for many years. How can people live like this?

When  I was shooting I gave Khune Anapon some money as I do with all the people that I photograph under the freeway. Later on Anapon limped off and came back with 2 eggs and a bit of rice, I am not sure if he used the money I gave him, maybe. Khune Anapon walks with a big wooden stick, he has a gaping open but dried up wound on his deformed left foot, it looks healed but he walks with a limp and uses the cane stick.

Patpong Walk

I did a walk through Patpong the original redlight area of Bangkok last night. Patpong now is more a night market, restaurant place than it a gogo, pingpong ball show area. I noticed couple of strange things, they now sell dildos and vibrators on the street in the stalls along with the counterfeit bags, dvds and watches. In the past in this sort of merchandise was never sold in the open in Thailand, guess times are changing. For your information the small size goes for 1000 baht $33 CAD and the super duper size, full movements soft skin version runs at 6000 baht $200 CAD (just in case your into a dildo buying spree when you visit Bangkok) : ).

On a more serious note I saw a farang  on the street with angry lust full eyes watching 2 youngish Thai bargirls, it was pretty ugly. When I was at a Pizza Hut restaurant I saw an older gay farang sex tourist (60?) with his much younger Thai bf (21?), they exchanged maybe 10 words during a 45 minute meal, it was painful to watch.

Guilt

I feel guilty. Seeing the Cambodian workers and the conditions they live under then spending time with the homeless Thais sleeping in there hole rooms under the freeway makes me wonder why I deserve good food and a nice clean a/c room. What makes me better than them? Why do I have it so much nicer than they do? What makes me so superior that I can do all you can eat restaurants and they are eating what they can find on the streets, mixed in with a bit of rice and maybe an egg or two.

Every night here when I get back to the room and take a nice hot shower, turn on the TV and lay in bed I think of what they are doing, how they are living. Its just not right, I was born somewhere else, to a richer family in a richer country and I end up living a life that I do and they end up where they are often with little or no fault of their own.

I hope I can tell their stories with my pictures, maybe raise a bit of money to come back and give them later. I have been giving money to each of the homeless under freeway people daily and will give a larger amount before I leave but its only a token, its not enough.

People Under The Freeway

I have started photographing a group of 4 Thais living under a freeway near some active train tracks here in Bangkok.They live in tiny areas along a concrete pillar where they have erected some scrap wood walls with doors. In 2013 its just plain wrong that people have to live in these conditions, we are all human beings, living and sleeping like they do is inhumane. People in Canada worry more about their dogs than they do about the people I am photographing.

In the 3 plywood cubicles are:

Khune (Mr, Miss) Sing (54 year old Man), with his cat
Khune Anapon (47 year old Man)
Khune Oo (30+ year old Woman, she is not sure of her age), with her dog

Also Khune Go (53 year old Man) lives in the area and spends much of his free time near the freeway homes.

Today my third morning with these people I made some videos, we are all getting along very well (Khune Sing is distant the others friendly). I want to photograph there 2 more mornings and maybe go sometime in the evening if possible. I am trying a number of techniques, 200ASA and 800ASA Tri-x with some bounced or direct flash. I am using all 3 Leica's and 4 lens.

This morning when I was there, there were many active trains, hopefully that will be the case again tomorrow. I hope I can tell the story of these forgotten people, hopefully I can show the work in Canada. We so often turn a blind eye, we often ignore those that suffer, I want my pictures to slap a few people awake.

Behind In My Blogs

I am way behind on my blogs, I will try to catch up in the coming days. I have started photographing in 4 areas here.

- Klong Toey slum homes
- Klong Toey boxing gym
- Cambodian temp workers living in metal/wood housing
- 4 Thais living under a freeway in appalling conditions.

I plan on going to Mae Sot in 2 nights and start photographing the Burmese refugee workers again. I need to buy an overnight bus ticket, expect to make that trip on the night of the 4th. I printed out a bunch of photos to give away as gifts here at a shop, hopefully they will like them, lots of wedding photos from the wedding in May.
 

Cambodian Workers

The most fascinating part of my first day was I met some Cambodian workers in a compound where they work. The workers are probably in the country illegally and are segregated to do construction work. I was told they can make only 200baht a day in Cambodia but can make 300baht a day here.

Great people,I was teaching them Thai, English and they were teaching me Cambodian (Khmer). Their living conditions were very very poor. I will go back again and again to them to get to know them better and make more photos. I wish I could help them some how, not sure what I can give them. Great people was offered sun flower seeds and given water 2 times. Many kids in the compound also.

More to follow.

Gerry

First Day In Slum

I did my first day in the slum today, I awoke at about 3am and went into the slum after a shower and breakfast at first light (620am). I found a new part of the railroad tracks in the slum that I have not photographed in before, it was right next door to my $25 a night hotel. The people I met today walking the tracks were a joy to be around, I got numerous offers of food (maybe 3) and took up some construction workers on their offer which was sticky rice and fried pork. I also got offered water by 3 or 4 people and beer by a couple others. Today was sort of a record for things offered me, that has always happened in the past but today it was super sized.

Speaking Thai today was difficult, I felt my mouth and toungue slipping and slurping trying to find the right words. Many times I had to repeat myself today so I think I am not speaking as well or as clearly as I have in the past, I need to work on that. I drank 2 bottles of water and I find I have less fear approaching people to talk to them about all kind of subjects, "A bottle of water please" "How much is the squid?" "Where is the nearest Internet shop" "There was a fire here in Rom Klao where is that? Along with the normal stuff, who I am, where I am from, where I learned Thai, why I am taking photos etc etc.

In Thailand

Well I arrived in Thailand yesterday just before noon after a long flight. I managed to sleep for about 6 hours during the middle airplane ride (3 planes to get here) so that eased things a bit. The hotel I am staying in is an ideal location, I have the Klong Toey slum all around me, so I just need to walk out the door and a minute later I am in one part of the slum. I have 5 weeks in Thai and hope to photograph the slum, the boxers and later on the Mae Sot garbage dump refugees. I am not sure what else I will shoot but I have 200 rolls of Tri-x and I want to use it all. 

The xrays coming here were not that bad, I got 100 rolls xrayed 2 times and 100 rolls xrayed 1 time. In Taipei security is not to extreme, if you ask for a hand check they do it for you. When I got to the room I went outside and shot a few photos, then did some shopping and came back and collapsed, I woke up 12 hours later, 3pm to 3 am!

PhotoNOLA Prints Finished And Ready For Shipping And Thai Packing

Well after a ton of work I have managed to finish off the 22 "Body Sellers" prints. The 56lb shipping box is loaded and ready to be taken to Fed Ex. I expect it to cost about $110 CAD to ship the box down to New Orleans, so that is not such a bad deal, it will take 5 days to arrive. No more worries about completing this on time. It is such a wonderful relief to have the production of this exhibition behind me, it was like 5 months of work maybe more. Producing the prints also cost more than $2200 CAD, now I ned to pay for shipping etc, it became a very expensive proposition on a security guards salary.  Next time round I will try to find closer places (within driving distance) and galleries that pay an artist fee of some kind to offset the costs.

Now I can move on to other things, I can give my full concentration to the creation of new work. This next trip will be my first Thai journey without any check in baggage. I have one knapsack weighing 19lbs and my camera bag is around 11lbs. I might have to shift around some of the knapsack weight as technically I am only allowed one check in bag weighing 15lbs.

My  completed packing includes

2 Leica M6  bodies
1 Leica R6 body
21mm, 28mm, 35mm and 60 mm lens
200 rolls of Tri-x (thinking of reducing that number a bit to cut weight)
2 small flash units
small digi camera

2 pairs of light pants
4 long sleeve, 1 short sleeve shirt
3 socks. 5 boxers
sandals
1 bathing suit (this is the pleasure section of my packing)
1 bag of odds and ends, extra batteries, cable release, flashlight etc

One more nightshift and I am off to Thai to make pictures, thank goodness!!! Lets go create!!!

More Short Videos On The Blog?

I am thinking of doing a bunch of short talking vids this trip. When I am in the slum in Klong Toey I might do a bit of a short vid, when in the dump with the Burmese another video, at the Muay Thai boxing gym some more. I think that a voice over with a bit of video, or just some video on its own might be a great way to tell some stories, and it would probably be fun for the blog viewers as well. This idea might bring the readers of the blog closer to the places I visit and the people in the photographs. A fun idea that might work, will give it a try this trip.

Free Flow Creation

Well I will have 200 rolls of Tri-x to play with, I need to flow freely with my shooting. I need to experiment with light, unusual compositions, push film (higher contrast),  bounce flash, blur-movement and shoot from all angles. There should be emotion, feeling, compassion and empathy in my photographs but I also need to try to create in an unrestrictive free way (no rules!). So many photographers are rigid in the way the create, its important to get past that type of limitation, its time to get to another level. Nows my chance I am 49, I need to have a great 4 1/2 weeks and come back with some powerful photographs. I need to make work that pays tribute to my subject, work that yells out their stories.

I am very excited! This is going to be fun! "Ain't Photography Grand!!"

Winnipeg Art Gallery Reply Letter

Got another reply today when I checked my mail before going to work. The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is one of the high end spam submissions I sent out (the earlier MacKenzie probably as well) so the submissions accomplished their goals, Mr. Yaum is making some noise and trying to get noticed. Maybe the work, the name is starting to be remembered a bit, maybe the photographs next time will have a more positive reaction. I will send out another submission to these same high end places next year after I shoot in Asia 1 or 2 more times, and then after that, and after that and after that!!! The fight to get the photographs noticed continues, : )

Here is the very nice note I received from the  polite people at the WAG:

Hello Mr. Yaum,

Thank-you for your submissions of your two projects entitled Families of the Dump and Body Sellers, The Sex Workers of Thailand.  I have passed along your information to P……., the Curator of Contemporary Art. 

Exhibitions at the Winnipeg Art Gallery are carefully considered, and booked generally 2 – 3 years in advance.  Work in the open, public spaces such as Eckhardt Hall, Skylight Gallery and the Penthouse Lobby are drawn from our permanent collection, as are the works in six of our exhibition spaces.  The other spaces feature curated temporary exhibitions drawn from both our collection and those from which we borrow, both private and public.  At this time our schedule is quite full, with exhibitions scheduled through 2016.

Please understand that due to the large number of submissions the WAG receives, we are only able to follow up with submissions we intend to pursue. 

Again, thank-you for thinking of the WAG.

Sincerely,

E……….

E……….Curatorial Administrative Assistant
……..

……..

WAG

Rejection Number 2

Hello Gerry,

Our curatorial team has reviewed your exhibition packages for The Families Of the Mae Sot Garbage Dump and Body Sellers: The Sex Workers of Thailand at its most recent meeting. After careful consideration, we have decided to decline your offers. 

We appreciate the opportunity to consider your proposals and thank you for thinking of the MacKenzie.

Sincerely,

T……….

T………...

Head Curator, MacKenzie Art Gallery

Don McCullin Video

Here is a short video of the great photographer Donald McCullin tailking about his work. He created many important photographs during his lifetime, the experience of making them left him emotionally troubled.

I do not know how the greats like McCullin, Salgado, Nachtway and Smith can do what they do for so long without being traumatized sooner. They seem to be able to put up with it for many years before any damage is done, what amazing commitment and dedication, truly great men. I did my little short photo work in the dump in May and it still bothers me, I still think about the people daily. How can photographers cover death, tragedy, suffering and not fall apart?

Here is the McCullin video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVZe4rQKcls

Quote: James Nachtwey

"For me the strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke a sense of humanity." 

56lbs

I loaded my prints into the shipping case today, the total weight for the case and 22 mounted prints is 56lbs. Not sure how much 56lbs will cost to ship but it will not be cheap. I will take the case to work the next two nights and do the spotting before the final packing for the courier. The case is very solid, and should protect the prints well. If I get more shows out of province I might consider doing this type of mounting again, its a hell of a lot cheaper than sending framed photographs and it looks pretty cool. I am not a fan of dry mounting but this aluminum dibond thing is a nice compromise.

Show Prices

With the help and encouragement of Thom my show contact I made up some prices for the prints. I am not sure I will sell anything but it does not hurt to try, the aluminum mounted prints will sell for between $500-700 USD. I will also be offering amounted matted 8x10 photos for $200-250 USD. It would be great to get some money back through sales printing this show cost over $2200 CAD, plus all the costs associated with traveling down to New Orleans for the opening.

22 Prints For PhotoNOLA "Body Sellers" Show

Well I mounted another 8 prints today, thats the end of my dry mounting. I have a total of 22 prints ready now to ship to New Orleans. I am glad I decided to go with the aluminum dibond option, its much lighter and smaller than framed prints and much lighter compared to straight 3mm aluminum. The dibond mounted prints look cool, the brushed aluminum metal edges make the prints stand out more. I am finishing off the titling and hanging gear work on the last 8 and then its off to bed, another night shift awaits. Tomorrow I will add the tape to the glued hooks and pack everything securely before taking the shipping box to work. I have two 2 nights, Friday and Saturday to do the spotting followed by the final packing by Sunday morning.

It looks like I am going to get this done on time!! Within the 22 photos I did 3 sets of double portraits of people shot in 2007 and 2009 (Long, Jiji and Matt). 

James Nachtwey Documentary

Here is a wonderful, intense and thoughtful documentary on the the photographer Jim Nachtwey. Not sure why they do not have subtitles in the German speaking sections but the other parts of this documentary are moving and at times astounding. Please check out the link here:

War Photographer

I found this link to the documentary in 7 parts that has subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_vXfW94Xkc

Quote: James Natchwey

"I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

Studying Nachtwey's "Inferno"

I got the photographer James Natchwey's great book "Inferno" this last week, what a moving powerful work it is. I have been taking it to work each night and studying it, his use of verticals and strong unusual compositions are having quite an influence on me. I am not sure how much I will take away from all the nights I have studied Salgado and Natchwey but it is bound to have a positive influence on my use of light and composition.

Seeing the love, the compassion, the understanding and empathy these artists have for their subjects is also having a positive effect. I want to get as deep into the lives of the people I photograph as they do. Human beings are the most important and most difficult subject for an artist to try to communicate in his/her work. When documentary photography is done right the photographs can influence and change lives for the better, what is more important and beautiful than that? Having a positive influence in the lives of the worlds disadvantaged people is as good as it gets.

Please check out the link to see some of the extremely important and powerful photographs from Natchwey's book:

"INFERNO" by James Natchwey

James Natchwey

"Body Sellers" Printing Update

Gosh I am putting in a lot of hours getting this latest exhibition printed-mounted and ready for shipping. I have 9 prints all done except for spotting, today after work I mounted another 5 prints. I will attach the hanging hardware to these newest 5 tomorrow and try to dry mount another 5. The 10 new dry mounted print will give the show 19 photographs, I might try to do 1 or 2 more after that. The show will not have more than 22 photos in it, the final count will probably 19 or 20. My goal is to have all the prints ready for spotting by Saturday so I can do that during my nightshift and then pack everything and have it ready for Fed Ex on Sunday morning.

Thats enough for today, I need to have a snack then off to bed, I have a 12 hour security nightshift waiting for me.

Todays 5 dry mounted show photos.

Progressing Nicely

Well managed to do the secondary printing (bleaching-toning) on 4 reprints I did on Friday night. I think I am done with all my printing for the show, the prints are in the final wash now and should be done-dry and ready for mounting tomorrow. I initially hoped to do 20-25 photos for this shoe the number might be under 20 now, possibly 18 or 19 prints which should be OK.

Tonight at work I will work on label titles with a signature to put on the back of each photo mouted panel of Aluminum brushed dibond. The title and signature should give the piece a more final finished feel to it.

I think I have figured out the hanging hook issues. I tried a new type of clue with fresh hooks and am currently testing the print, I've it hanging for 3 hours without problems. I think I might go to the old back up standby to the hooks of putting a piece of duct tape over it as well(glue first, black duct tape second). Duct tape on the pack of the prints might look kind of half assed but its better to look a bit half assed than have one of my prints go crashing to the ground and have the dibond all bent up (it bends relatively easily). I will do a bunch more hook gluing before heading back to bed, am working tonight, need to get my beauty rest.

Hanging test for Matt Ladyboy Sex Worker Print

Double Workshop

I had a double workshop today from 1pm to around 630pm. The workshops were the view camera class followed by the darkroom, for 2 students. I think it went fairly well I hope the students Jozy and Heather learned some things. It was fun to do a bit of teaching thou my voice is sort of gone now. I now have money to use for the donations in the dump and maybe a bit left over to have a nice meal or two.

As a bonus Heather/Jozy made 2 RC prints I will take with me to Thailand to hand out as gifts. A young girl with her dog (did not have a print last time around and she was disappointed), they also printed a photo of a mother with a child on the railway tracks which I will give out. So it was a win, win, win thing. I got to teach film photography hopefully helping the students, I raised some money for the people/children of Mae Sot dump and I got some prints made to hand out to Klong Toey slum residents.

A nice busy day, going to have some food then head to bed, I go back to work a day early tomorrow evening. Tomorrow after work I need to get back into the darkroom (secondary printing). I still have quite a bit to do to finish the PhotoNOLA exhibition prints, I need to get it all completed in the next week.

Jozy and Heather's prints from the workshop, I will take them to Thai and hand them out as gifts.

Dry Mounting Going Well

3am now, am spending the night dry mounting onto the dibond. Things are going pretty well, there are a few issues but for the most part things are coming along nicely. I have 5 prints dry mounted now and am attaching the hanging gear to the 2nd print. The glue for the hanging hooks takes 24 hours to set properly so this will be a slow process. I want to try to dry mount 10 prints tonight, tomorrow night I will do my secondary processing on the group of the prints in the darkroom. Saturday I am doing the double workshops for 2 people (workshop money will go towards dump donations) and Sunday I go back to work a day early. I need to try to do as much as I can tonight, the prints need to be completed and be ready for shipping by the end of next week.

Anyway its been a good start, here is a quick snapshot of work done so far. Time for lunch, I'm starving!

Update* Managed to dry mount 9 prints and glue the hanging hooks on 8 of those. I need to take a nap then move onto the secondary printing on 12 photos I am re-wetting. Hopefully I can finish all the secondary printing, mount at least another 11 photographs and finish off the hanging hooks/wire by Thursday of this coming week. I will need to put in 3 hours a day or so after my work shifts between Sunday-Thursday. It will be a relief to get this all done and shipped off, then I can move on to new things.

Dry Mounting!

Finally!! I am dry mounting the portraits for the "Body Sellers" show. I am working on my first print now, a photograph of the ladyboy worker Um 22. I want to add the hardware and hang the photo for 1 week to make sure there ore no crashing print issues! I am using glue to attach the hooks on the back of the dibond and I want to make sure all is OK before shipping things off, this will be the second set of tests on the hanging gear.

I have about 9 days to complete everything, which should not be a problem, hopefully I can get everything done in a week and have a few days left over to take a breath and relax. The departure date for the trip to Thailand to make new photos is closing in, my excitement at the possibilities is also growing daily. What will I find? Who will I meet? What photos will be made?

"Ain't Photography Grand!!!!"

Update* Here is the dry mounted final print of Um 22 on the brushed aluminum dibond. I am gluing on the the hanging hardware and will test hang it in 24 hours. I like the sheen of the aluminum, not sure if a darker stainless steel metal would look better or not. I should be able to fit 20-25 of these type mounted prints in my shipping case easily. Sorry about the glaring flash highlights from the point and shoot digi camera I used to make this pic. Happy the way this turned out, its cool to envision something in your minds eye then develop it step by step before seeing it in its final form for the first time. The process to make these prints has been difficult but quite rewarding. I owe a debt of gratitude to photo friends Larry and Jack for their help with this brushed aluminum dibond stuff. The prints should look great hanging in New Orleans, only 19-24 more to go!

Um 22 Ladyboy Sex Worker, Thailand 2007

Positive Review

After I sent a thanks for the opportunity email to the teacher of the students I spoke to, I got back this nice encouraging note. I am glad they liked the talk, hopefully I can continue to improve at these things.

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"Everybody enjoyed and was inspired by your work and they all liked you, as you, a lot.  Thanks you for taking the time to come over. Keep in touch."

S...