Ambrotypes Rejected

Got a rejection notice this morning from the Albert Foundation for the Arts, Art buy. Sold 2 8x10: in 2023 and 1 8x10 in 2024. The larger plates I tried to sell this year were a bust. See link:

AFA Art Buy Hopes 2025

Hopping on One Leg

Am having lots of trouble with my right knee. I went to meet a wet plate friend yesterday here in Bangkok and had problems walking. I am taking a day off work and will go out tomorrow morning into the slum to photograph, my first early day. Afterwards I will go to the hospital to check the knee. Maybe they can help in some way.

Coup d'etat?? In Thailand???

 

Wet Plate Studio in Bangkok!

 Visited Khun Sun's wet plate studio in Bangkok today. Lots of fun! Planning on returning soon! 

Future Thai Joint Exhibition?

 

500 Baht Donation

A donation to help the people, UNDER THE FREEWAY.  From a new Thai friend!! Thank you S———

Discussion About Danger

 This Facebook post has lead to a little discussion.

Gerry Wrote:

I guess they were warning me about the dangers of the homeless and the drug addicts. A government person has been talking to the local people about staying away from the crazy and unpredictable addicts because iit was dangerous and if something bad happened to them the government official would get into trouble as well.

K Wrote:

you should take this warning seriously. Be careful.

Gerry Wrote:

Thanks, sort of goes with the territory. Will do my best.

R Wrote:

I’m surprised you went as long as you did without a warning like that.

Gerry Wrote:

I have others in years past but this one was more intense!! When you are making these types of photos that is a constant danger. Carrying around a pocket full of money and $15000 in camera gear, where people are addicts and desperate , is always going to be a bit desperate.

I will take my chances. The lives here and the photos are much more important than security guard Gerry.

R Wrote:

best wishes and be safe.

Gerry Wrote:

thanks R---. Tomorrow is a day off. Visiting a wet plate friend.

B Wrote:

Have you had any problems?

Gerry Wrote:

B——- no,not really. Bad knee has been the extent of it. Pain and limping badly daily.  Then some rest, less pain before it comes back worse the next day after making pics.

I have found that when you treat people kindly and with respect things tend to work out for the best. 

I am dealing with dozens of people while speaking a foreign language so that can get complicated but things are working out nicely.

I feel fine and safe!

Thai people are wonderful!

R Wrote:

Think how much you camera would be worth to them. More than your life for sure.

Gerry Wrote:

yes...I try to use one camera at a time and hide the other in my bag but you can see the eyes watching the camera at times. I think the dangers are not that high. It's not gang craziness here. It is more good, poor people trying to make ends meet. 

I have been photographing in Thailand since 1996, never had a camera stolen or a mugging yet! Hope things continue in that way! Thou I am getting older, and the cameras more expensive!

Climbing Rocks with a Bad Knee

 

Today's Donation Buy, Running Short of Fun

Quote: Felix Nadar (Photographer)

 

Ladys Napkin Buys

Note* I added out the napkins, I could not find Prem so gave them to her boy Dao. When I gave Apple hers, she smiled, laughed and thanked me.

Yesterday's Donations

Video: SlumDanger Warning!!

L

Video: Feeding 3 Old Ladies

 Fed 3 old lady’s today!! A good day!!

Today’s Facebook Posts

Videos: Back in the Crazy Slum

 

Back in Bangkok!

After 8 or 9 days in Singapore, I am back in Bangkok.

Chinese Cheapo Prints

Some copy prints. Not sure what the subjects are exactly but liked them. Picked them up in the cheapo bin a stop in Singapore. 2 for $10.

More UNDER THE FREEWAY Photographs

More Edits, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025.

Old woman hugging a puppy, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025

Khun Ann's Cat, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025

Facebook Thought in Apple Pic Post

Louisa wrote:

It is difficult to comprehend that people live this was , compelling to look but hard to get out of my mind.

Gerry wrote:

Some are old and forgotten, some are poor and struggling, others are addicted and consumed by that. All sad but with some happy moments, occasionally.

It is good you continue to think about the people in the pictures. That is the whole reason the photos were made. To raise awareness, to get the viewer to think.

Dao Smoking Meth, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

More edits of THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok 2025. Dao smoking Meth.

Dao smoking Meth

Facebook Comment on Slum Photos

Comment from Facebook tonight.

Erik said:

Great photos. But hard to look at.

Gerry said:

Thanks Erik. It’s a hard place to be at times. Sometimes when I am with the people, it’s nice and good other times it’s like, "I cannot believe this world." I am in. It can be so ugly and surreal.

Submitting to Galleries is a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!!!

Submitting work to galleries, IS A PAIN IN THE ASS. Every place has its own countless, never ending submission rules. If you spend all your time submitting, when are you supposed to create work?

Answer to a question on Facebook.

"not a big deal...just so darn time consuming. Every gallery has their own rules. To get exhibited you might have to enter 50 galleries to get into 1. If you spend time to enter 50 galleries following each galleries unique rules and regulations then you have no time left to create the work!...It is just frustrating. Wish galleries would think less about their own self importance and rule making and just make it easier for the artist."

Video: 6 Year Ago in the Dump!

 This seems so long ago!! Much longer than 6 years.

Real Life is so Much Better

I have so many friends who live their lives and their dreams through their TVs, especially as they age. They become lazy and frightened. In a way they are already dead. They use their age as an excuse, NOT to live life to the fullest.

I feel even stronger in this regard after the last two months of adventures!! I would have lost so much by simply staying comfortably, hidden in Edmonton!

Dreamed if Dad Again

Miss him daily.

Video: New YouTube Video, "Apple Eating Donated Food"

Just uploaded this, Khun Apple devouring some donated food, under the freeway, in Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok. This is part of THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, humanitarian aid project. Feeding the people in the pictures!

Khun Apple EATING EAGERLY

Concrete vs Soft Bed

The slum and Singapore are such different worlds. Prem, Dao,Apple and Jack are sleeping on concrete tonight being eaten by mosquitoes, meanwhile I sleep on a soft bed in an air conditioned room.

Bike Repair Under the Freeway

Repairing bikes, furniture and other things is a way people under the freeway make money. Here is a bike being repaired by Khun Sompong and a friend.

Prem Crying #3

Khun Prem crying on the street after being hit by Dao #3 (she was accused of stealing money). THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, 2025

Dao and Prem Doing Meth, On the day of Their Fight/Sex

Todays edits from Singapore. Will probably head back to Thai tomorrow. I need to continue the work, bad knee or not!

Prem and Dao smoking Meth in a small tent, to hide from the police. From the project THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.

Prem Crying After Being Beaten

Some more edits. Prem crying after being beaten, under the freeway by Dao. Later that same day, they did Meth together and had sex near the roadway.

Prem crying under the freeway after being beaten #1.

Prem crying under the freeway after being beaten #2.

Some of the Better/Sadder/More Difficult Khun Apple Images, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

Apple has this ability to look a bit different, every time I photograph her. She has lead a rather tragic life. She is 38 with 4 children who live in Burriram Thailand with her mother. Apple is a former bargirl from Pattaya who worked both as a gogo dancer and as a freelancer on walking street. Now she scratches out a living in Bangkok, and smokes Meth daily. I would be surprised if on my next visit to Thailand, she was still alive.

I will print some of these photographs in Platinum/Palladium for exhibition in hand made wooden frames. I want to tell her story to as many people as I can. Any money raised of course goes directly back to help Apple and the other people in this series.

From the projeect THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025