Long Way to Go!

A long way to go, my first attempt!

Supposed to look like this:

But looks like this:

New Passport!

Got my passport back!! Check out the funky new Canadian design.  Extra safety features as well. I can book my air ticket to Asia (Thailand and the Philippines).

Pastels and Painting?

 

How hard is it to learn to draw? I have an image in my mind, a memory that has haunted me for over 20 years. I want to make it into a pastel, a painting and artwork of some kind. I need to learn to draw to make that work. I will try.

Quote: Carl Wallenda

 

Video: Still Alive 2?

Is he still alive?? I will look for him

On my return to “the land of smiles”! I would like to help him.

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Old posts:

Busy day "under the freeway". Not that a great a day photography wise but took the expensive medicine for Khun Ooh's dog Yaup Yeun (think I got that right) today. Also took them some food. Gave Yaup Yeun some chicken which he loved. He still looked at me with semi hate and barked lots but the chicken calmed him down a tad. 

Met another older man for the second time, Khun Vee-Gon. He told me many times that he wanted to die. He said he had 2 daughters but they went away and do not help him, did not love him, they forgot about him. I asked if he had friends and said "no" to that as well. I asked if he drank, he said when he had no money he did not drink but when he had money he did. A forgotten old man living in a slum in Bangkok. Beyond sad.

Khun Anapon and Khun Dao were not under the freeway today, not sure where they had gone. Khun Champoo went off somewhere as well. When I asked others where they were I got the traditional Thai response of "Bai Tee-owe" which translates to "They went travelling", no one knew where.

Feel very tired, was covered in sweat after 3 hours, my very sweaty wet Covid mask did not help things. Will go back under the freeway again tomorrow, hope it is a better photo day. Then take a day off to recover. I am so lucky to have a clean a/c hotel room with a hot shower to come home to. So many under the freeway do not have the ability to escape and refresh. Life can be so hard. I am very fortunate.

Note* Below is a video of me speaking to Khun Vee-gon on the street, under the freeway, in Khlong Toei slum Bangkok, Thailand.

Photographed  Khun Vee-gon today. He spoke over and over again about wanting to die. He has 2 daughters but they abandoned him. He told me they did not love him. He lives alone in a small room near the Freeway, Klong Toey Slum Bangkok. Gave him some money for the 2nd time but he told me when he has money he drinks, hope he will use the baht I gave for some food.

Hasselblad X1D with 22mm XCD 

Veegood 60+, telling me he wanted to die, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Bangkok, Thailand 2022

Still Alive?

Thinking of my friends under the freeway today. How many are still alive? Khlong Toei slum in Bangkok can be a harsh, dangerous and uncompromising place.

I will return soon, post-retirement. I hope to spend at least 1 month with them, 12-hour days. I hope to help them as much as I can, Thai people are good and extremely hardworking, sometimes thou a bit of help is needed.

Been away much too long.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei slum, Bangkok, Thailand.

Note* Khun is the Thai word for Mr or Miss, it is term of respect.

Khun Biah

Khun Jack

Khun Dom

Khun Dom

Khun Anapon

Khun Ying

Khun Ooh

Khun Jack

Khun Owen

Khun Bia

Khun Anapon

Khun Owen

Khun Dui

Jean-Michel Basquiat

 Have fallen in love with the work of artist Jean-Michele Basquiat. A shooting star, beautiful and soft spoken. I love the passion and social documentary commentary in his work. His fight against racism and his making of kings.

Buddhist Thought

 

1 Month to Retirement!

 

Quote: Mother Theresa

 

Pastels?

 

Note* Bought some pastels. Going to give it a go!

Quote: Mark Twain

 

Yearly Pass!?

Did my second work out today, at a very nice gym/pool facility. In retirement I will probably get a yearly membership, allowing for exercising to every Edmonton operated fitness centre/pool in the city. To make it worthwhile, I will need to attend at least twice a week.

Getting in shape will help me create the Ambrotypes for the AMBROTOS KANATA project, into old age.

Two Extremes

At Least This One Worked!

I have been experiencing challenges in the darkroom this week, but this Platinum dump print test from yesterday works. It is so satisfying to stare at the Platinum-Palladium tonalities, it just feels good. I will attempt it in 11x14 inch soon. 

It’s funny how one good print makes up for a ton of futility and difficulties.

Dump Shacks and Dogs THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot Thailand, 2017.

A Buddhist Thought!

 

Started Exercising!!

 

Quote: Edwin Land (Inventor of Polaroid Cameras)

 

Best Way to Move Forward!

Will try to make some 11x14s today and over the next few days. Need to create a few exhibition prints. Then mat and handmade frame them to see what the finished product should be. I need to see how the finished product will look in the gallery (for my non existent show). 

I can move forward from there!

Quote: Jesus Christ

Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 5:38- 42)  

“You have heard, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, but I say offer no violent resistance to one who does evil”.

Crazy Amazon Pricing

This Amazon price for a new version of my new Bienfang dry mount press is batty expensive. $5954 CAD is a joke. Amazon prices are sometimes highly suspect! The B&H Photo price from New York is $4268 CAD. I paid $650 CAD for my like new, used unit.

Amazon.ca

B&H

Mine

Video: Flattening Platinum Prints

I used the new/used Bionfanf Drymount Press for the first time, it worked well. I flattened some reject Platinum-Palladium prints. Did them at 275F for 2 minutes. The new machine preformed well. 

I am glad I bought it. It should handle the coming 11x14 Pt-Pd exhibition prints nicely! It can also handle 16x20 inch prints, if I ever make those.

New Secondhand Press

This latest pre-retirement buy is a, do I really need it thingy??

I already have a super large press and two old smaller presses. This one will be much easier and nicer to use. New it cost a fortune, I think I can resell it at a good price in the future as well.

New cost from B&H is $2999.99 USD/$4268.69 CAD. The asking price from the seller was $800 CAD. I paid $650 CAD. The seller was a nice gentleman, a pleasure to to deal with.

The press is in like new condition. It came from a lady artist, who’s had passed away. I will use it to flatten my Platinum and Salt hand made exhibition prints.