New Donation To New Burmese Refugees

Am doing a donation tomorrow at 9am, in a new area, in Southern Thailand. Will be using the money donated by a friend I work with for this donation.

The people who will receive the food are from a Burmese minority ethnic group. I have been told there are many orphaned children in this group and they need most everything. Did a food buy of, 120 eggs, 5 - 5 Kilo bags of rice, canned fish, cloths washing detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, noodles and lollipops.

Total cost was 772 baht plus 1353 baht for a total of 2125 baht . That is approximately $97.00 CAD.

I included a hand written receipt from the wholesale store where I bought the eggs. The rest of the things were bought at a Mini Big C convenience store.

More info, and photos on this new group for donations tomorrow.

Hand written receipt from local whole sale store

Tomorrow donations

Quote: Victor Arnautoff (Painter - Muralist And New Deal Artist Who Assisted And Studied With Diego Rivera)

 ‘Art for art’s sake’ or art as perfume have never appealed to me. The artist is a critic of society.”

5 "Famiiles of the Dump" Photos To Be Exhibited In Delhi India

Got some news today, do not know all the details just yet. 5 of the "Families of the Dump" pictures will be exhibited in Delhi India as part of a group exhibition in August. They also want a self portrait and a biography (Boy I hate writing these, me me me things. Why do photographers need to talk about themselves?).

It should be a good deal thou, a free opportunity to tell the story of the families to a larger audience. Raising awareness, telling stories, spreading the word and causing positive change is what social documentary photography is all about.

I guess the folks in charge of the exhibition take the sent digital files and makes prints onsite to exhibit in their gallery. No charges to me and the work gets seen, and the stories told for more people, good, good and good again!

Thank you so much for this opportunity my new Indian friends!!

More to follow, will probably be using this newly shot oh so flattering self portrait. Looks like I am about to collapse.

Self-Portrait at the dump, June, 2019

$200 USD Donated For The Shelter Dog Medicine

Great News! A friend from Texas, photographer Larry H donated $200 USD ($253. 24 CAD) to pay for the rest of the vaccines for the dogs at the shelter. Now all 100 dogs will receive their vaccines, 77 vaccines which were paid for by Larry and an anonymous donating friend on Facebook who gave $150 CAD.

Photos and Videos to follow. I expect to be back in the shelter on about Wednesday..

Thank you!

Update* Added this extra money to the dog shelter donation link at left, the total donated so far sits at $403.25 CAD.

Doggy Thoughts, Shelter And Street

from Facebook...

Photo with some of the dogs at the shelter from a few days back. The blue tray device is for the dog food, it spreads the food all out all out so there is no fighting between dogs, everyone gets there share. There are a number of these feeding trays throughout the shelter. The dogs get as much as they need.

One of the gated off areas in the shelter has the older dogs in it. This area has fans to help these weaker dogs cool down some what. Will make some photos-videos in this area next trip. Separating the dogs into different spaces allows for more room for all, they do not all bunch up in one area, less, growling, barking and fighting etc.

Note* When I was at the shelter there was extra uneaten food in the trays. This is so different than when you meet strays on the streets. The last 2 nights in beach area of Cha-am (where I am staying now) I have been feeling stray dogs with food from the local barbecue sellers. Gave them chicken, wieners, meat balls, fish strips (type of desert here), and just breaded treats. The street dogs the, strays just ate it all up, everything I offered. I started with one stray ended up with 4. The nearby street dogs would hear the feeding and come running, 1 dog would turn into 2, then 3, then 4. It was the same when I fed the dogs in other areas at other times, multiple dogs came and ate everything up. It sort of becomes a feeding frenzy. You run out of food with the multiple dogs wanting more, the last dog to arrive (number 5) often gets nothing.

When you feed dogs on the street, they often fight over the food, that same thing happened when I saw dogs in the dump scavenging for food in the garbage or when I tried to feed them. It is survival of the fittest, the older weaker dogs just die off slowly. It is so sad to see the weaker ones. One dog I fed in Mae Sot was in a village area but was near starving, all bones, with most of her fur gone. Only had a bit of Kanom (desert) to feed her but she ate it all up before another stray could get to it. Another common feature in these types of dogs is that they are much more afraid of people, many I believe have been abused through the years.

The dogs at the shelter were fatter and in much better shape, they had been saved and are living a better life. They also seemed happy, not sure how you tell if dogs are happy but most of the dogs at the shelter that I saw, seemed that way. There were a few sad and down looking animals but most all the dogs seemed rather filled with vigour an enthusiasm (at least that was my impression). You just got to help people that help animals like that. Will try to continue to raise money to help the shelter when I return to Canada. Need to learn more about the shelter, learn more about the people running it, make more photos and videos for later use Will try to do some doggy portraits as well :). Am running out of time thou, got to return to Canada soon. Thanks everyone for reading this rather long winded post. I am not a dog guy (like cats) but gosh when good is being done, it is important to jump behind those doing the good.

Gone to the dogs!

A Letter To A Work Colleague

Hey J--...

Had a good day today, felt the need to share it. Got a $150 CAD donation from a good hearted Facebook friend for the dogs at the Thai shelter. I spoke to the husband and wife team who run the place, asked them what they needed. Will buy rice, dog food (a mix they make for the dogs as dog food alone is too expensive) as well as a special vaccine that protects the dogs from 6 kinds of the the most serious diseases. The shelter needs 73 of these vaccine units for their 100 dogs (they have 27 vaccines bought already). I should be able to buy around another 25-30 using the donation money depending on the cost per unit (100 to 150 baht per unit). They will still need another 40+ vaccine units but at least another 25-30 dogs will be protected.  Every little bit helps! Cannot help all the dogs with the vaccine but another 25-30 being protected is definitely a good thing.

Today there was also a $100 donation given for the "Families of the Dump" from a good photo club friend of mine. I will not be able to use that money until 2020 when I return to the dump. That money will be then used to buy more headlamps and boots etc. Will keep that $100 in the bank until I return.

I will be using part of the money ($300 CAD) S----- donated to help the dogs and also for some Karenni people refugees (Myanmar-Burmese refugees). S----- said I could use her donated money anyway I wanted, so figured this would be the best way to go. Do not know to much about these new people. I know that there are refugees of all kinds (orphaned children etc.) and that they are hard to reach, muddy roads that are far off the main track. They need foods of all types, clothing of any kind and things like female napkins for the younger girls. I guess the napkins are very expensive and not easily available to them.

Will divide the donation money up as best I can, follow the donators wishes and try to figure this all out, Might be doing more donations with this dog shelter and Karreni refugee group next trip, am unsure at present. I will see how it all shapes out. Trying to make the money and donations do as much good as they can do.

Will be doing these last donations over the next few days, then will head back to Bangkok before flying back to Canada and my job there with you at ----.

Anyway feeling great, hope all is good with you there as well.

It was a good day :) "Ain't Photography Grand!!!"

Gerry

"Familes of the Dump" DONATION, $100

I received another donation today from a good photo club friend, Thank you so much J----, your a great guy for helping out the people in need at the dump. I am running out of time to return to Mae Sot this trip but will keep it in the bank (with other left over donated funds) for my 2020 dump trip.

Thanks again :) my friend.

Update* I added another $100 CAD to the total of money earned for the "Families of the Dump" in 2019 to $1810 ($300 of which is being spent in other donation ways, Karenni refugees and the dog shelter as per the donators wishes.

Mau-Baun-Mee-Boon DONATION, $150

Started a new donation link on the left of page for the dog shelter I have been writing about lately. A good Facebook friend donated $150 CAD for the dogs which I will use to buy medicines, foods etc on her behalf.

Thank you so much ...... .... ..... for your incredible kindness.

"Mau-Baun-Mee-Boon, "Dog Home (House) of Good Karma

from Facebook...

Found a place to try and raise some money for. It is a home for stray dogs. Bangkok Thailand if home to thousands upon thousands of strays, many malnourished, no fur and diseased. This home helps forgotten dogs from the streets or dogs people do not want anymore the place is called "Mau-Baun-Mee-Boon which translates in English to "Dog Home (House) of Good Karma This small refuge for these forgotten-unloved animals houses 100 dogs and is run by a husband and wife team. (They have a new name for the dog rescue home now, not sure what that is, will find out).

I did a surprise visit of the place a few days back and found the dogs well cared for and loved. All the dogs seemed happy, and were very well fed and active. They had plenty of food-water and medical care as well as a large area to live in The dogs in the photos with cages or gated off areas were isolated for medical reasons or because they had been mistreated and needed special care. Many of the dogs that come to the home are in very poor condition, often having been beaten or were slowly starving to death.

I donated $1500 baht (around $70 CAD) and will return in a few days with several large bags of dog food. The husband and wife team are desperate for donations, they currently mix the dog food they have with rice to save money. There is a rice factor nearby where they can get discounted rice at a whole sale price. Will be posting more information in the coming days. Will try doing some dog portraits with the twin reflex camera on my return. Will also be posting more photos later.

Note* One of my donators from work told me I could spend her donated money any way I saw fit. She donated $300. I am using 1500 of that money for this dog shelter, plus will use some of her donated money to buy dog food in the coming days. The 1500 was added to the spent donation money total today.

Multiple dogs in open area. Some did not like me and barked at me whenever I stood up. Others like this small one on the table wanted me to pet her and tried to lick me. At the dog home there is a large open shade area (under the roof pictured). Many of the dogs hung out here, allowing them to keep out of the very hot midday sun. there were probably 35-40  dogs in this area. Each dog has a name known by the husband and wife care team. Am trying to learn some of those names for you. My fav name so far is "LION", a big tough, slightly savage looking male (he did not like me).

This dog was super friendly and wanted to be petted. They had her isolated because she was near starving, all bony when they first got her. She is fat and filled with love now

Same dog as earlier.

2 dogs int he isolation area.

Center dog has an eye infection. Did not go into this section of the home but will try to enter there next trip. These dogs were isolated from the main group.

Art Gallery Of St. Albert Annual Report 2017

Found this today, was part of the 2017 annual report, which is nice.

http://artsandheritage.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AR2017-FINAL.pdf

Artist Talk On The Photos Of My Father

Later Thai Trip Photos

Some photos taken post "Families of the Dump"....

Begging Burmese Child, Friendship Bridge, Thailand 2019

Ferry Man, Thailand 2019

Monkey 1, Thailand 2019

Monkey 2, Thailand 2019

Monkey 13 Thailand 2019

Some Photos From 2 Days Ago

Some photos shot a few days ago in the dump...

Wee Loo after waking up. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Early morning, preparing for the day. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Morning smoke before heading out to work the garbage. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Child wearing happy birthday glasses, "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Self Portrait after a day photographing in the dump, "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Young girl in dump home, wearing a hello kitty shirt. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Mr. Win In Color And B/W

Mr. WIn is the hardest working man in the dump. I have photographed him and his family dating back to 2013. Sometime between February 2018 and May 2019 he was injured in an accident while working int he dump. Some heavy machinery came down on him, damaging his legs. The dump donator folk bought him 2 types of muscle pain relief cream-balm which seems to help him a bit.

He is a good man who I like quite a bit. Mr. Win has a large family of 5, 3 daughters and 2 sons. Every year I come back to the dump, he greets me with a smile, even gave me a long hug once.

Here is a colour and b/w photo made of him a few days back.

Mr. Win, 2 views as he sits in his dump shack in the early morning (6am)before going to work.

Quote: Nelson Mandela

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

450 Baht In Money Donations

On my last day in the dump yesterday, I handed out 450 baht in donation money. My work here is done for the year. I will forward any left over donation money to next year. I did my best to buy supplies and donate as many goods as I could to the families but just ran out of time. I am also physically wore out, the dump and the life there will do that to you.

It nice to be able to rest today, feel good overall. Did some good donation work, made some new friends and memories, and I think the photography also went OK, thou I wish I had shot more film. Made lots of digital photos but only a limited amount of film was shot. I will be taking unexposed film back to Canada, and I hate doing that.

The 450 baht in donated money was added to the spent total donation spent link on the left of this page.

Happy Fathers Day Dad

This Father’s Day am thinking of my dad and moms 2 month trip to Thailand in 2003. That year I spent 12 months here so invited mom and dad to see the sights, experience the culture. They both had so much fun, so many memories and adventures. It was a trip of a lifetime for both of them.
I remember dad getting his hair dyed red by mistake in a shop by a transgender ladyboy stylist, dad took it as a big joke, went back the next day (on his own to the same shop and got his hair re dyed brown by the same person. One of his favourite memories from the trip was him as a red head and all the joking.

I remember him climbing the highest temple in Ayyuthaya (former Thai capital) after I told him it was not safe. He said “But I will never get another chance!” . He did that on his own when no on was looking. Suddenly there was my 70 year old dad at the top of this very tall and very steep ancient temple. He smiled all the way down as mom and I ran back to get him.

I remember him eating many styles of new food and on his knees bowing and waiing to Buddhist monks offering them alms in the early morning, He surprised me over and over again that trip. My dad always did that, he surprised me so many times.

I miss him so much. Love you dad , HAPPY FATHER”S DAY!

My father and I had the same birthday 32 years apart. The photo is from one of those shared times.

One of our shared birthdays

Interacting With Everyone In The Dump

Had a lot of interactions with the people in the dump this morning. Too many to count. I gave some boots to this family and had conversations in Thai with 4 or 5 people there. Then some Burmese only speakers game by and started to teach me Burmese. I have noticed many older Burmese women joke with you in a very aggressive way. They almost yell things at you, they speak very loudly and act things out to the general excitement and joy to all others around. It sort of becomes a performance. You know your connecting to people, to a particular culture when they pull you into those natural and honest situations. Anyway the speaking loud lady started to teach me Burmese (how to say 'IT IS RAINING"), in Thai it is said simply 'FON DOCK" (RAIN FALLING), but in Burmese it is much more complicated. I need to check the video I made on it. I find that making short videos of the new words works best, the best way to learn. I went through my entire Burmese vocabulary with the group, it went pretty well, lots of fun, all round, eventually there was like 12 people talking to me and to each other.

Gosh I got to learn more Burmese, the people here are helping me learn. It feels a bit like that scene from 'Shogun' where the whole village teaches Angi-Son to speak Japanese.
Anyway did this photo while doing all of that. It is of a young baby in the home, a boy. Got his name also on video some where.

The strangest moment of the day occurred when I was on the highway next to the dump walking away. A older woman with a hat and red betal mouth teeth drove up to me on her bicycle, all smiles, and yelling out hellos, she spoke no Thai. She acted like we were best friends. She told me where she lived now, and seemed very happy to see me again. The thing is, I had no idea at all who she was, her face did not seem familiar to me at all. I nodded a lot and we talked a bit (sorta), made a few photos and she was off. Maybe I did something nice for her in 2017-18, not sure, a blur now, so long ago. Very nice lady, just wish I knew who she was. That kinda of thing has happened more than once this trip. Smiles and hellos from many people I do not remember, but they mostly all acted like we were close friends.

I guess I am making more and more friends here now, even people that I do not remember.

Child in dump shack. I think the grandma is the person at the back of the room

Video: 'Fly Me To The Moon"

My first days in the dump back in 2013, the flies really freaked me out, almost left the dump that first day early because of the incredible amount of flies crawling on me. Part of my "Families of the Dump" artist statement is about how I saw a young girl (the first I met in the dump) dealing with the flies and how it forced me to man up and stop being a baby. After that I dived into the dump, flies, rats, cockroaches, heat, smells and everything else. If that little girl (iiy-iiy) could take the dump conditions, with such kindness, grace and sweet smile, I needed to also. She helped me grow up a bit. I learn so much here.

Here we are in 2019, this video was shot today, think I am over the afraid and disgusted by flies thingy.

Video: WOO-WEE-KAI With Her Father In The Dump

Video of WOO WEE KAI, will get the family a new mosquito net, headlamps, boots and lighter tomorrow. Also a bag of food. As I type this they are sleeping in the rain right now in this dump tent structure.

Am speaking a tiny bit of Burmese here mixed in with some Thai. Am speaking a tiny bit of Burmese here mixed in with some Thai. I asked her father "What is your daughters name?". I need to learn more Burmese, not sure how I can do that thou, especially in Canada. Will try my best to improve the language stuff before my next trip to the dump and the families. I need to learn more Burmese, not sure how I can do that thou, especially in Canada. Will try my best to improve the language stuff before my next trip to the dump and the families.

Am speaking a tiny bit of Burmese here mixed in with some Thai. I need to learn more Burmese, not sure how I can do that thou, especially in Canada. Will try my best to improve the language stuff before my next trip to the dump and the families.

Headlamp, Mosquito Net Buy

 from Faebook..

Another buy for the “Families of the Dump”. I had to buy headlamps in 2 different shops as my regular store was closed. The man in the garbage dump from the earlier posted waking up photo dumpscape asked me for a mosquito net. Today I bought 3, 1 for him and 2 for others, including the little 10 year old girls family ( also posted her photo today).
Thank you to all who donated, you folks are the heroes.
Bought:

- 4 headlamps 249 bat each
- 6 headlamps 159 baht each
- 3 mosquito nets (for keeping the flies and mosquitoes off at night when sleeping near the garbageto ,
- 4 lighters
- 50 baht cash
Total cost 2408 baht

2 types of headlamps, mosquito nets and lighters

Photos From This Morning

Here are a few shots made today in the dump:

This is one of the first photo ideas of the day. Went up to where this man was living (had to climb a hill of garbage), gave him a bag of food and made a series of images as he woke up, it was around 545am. One of the advantages of modern digital cameras is you can shoot in low light situations like this, handheld. He asked me to get him a new mosquito net, but am unsure where I can buy one of those. He sleeps in this open area right in the garbage dump every night. Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Part of the scavenging process is sorting everything after you did it out of the garbage. In the photo everything is being sorted in its right bag. This is Wee Loo's 10 year old daughter, photographed soon after she woke up in the dump, she was washing her face with a cup of water. The boy wears "Thanaka" on his face which is made from tree bark. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

This is Wee Loo's 10 year old daughter, photographed soon after she woke up in the dump, she was washing her face with a cup of water. I have photographed this family for almost 6 years now. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Mini Digital Canon Goes For A Dump Swim And Is Destroyed

Pretty eventful morning in the dump today. The low light was watching my small canon digital camera roll down a dump garbage  hill before makings its way all the way into the water of a dirty pond below me. I lumbered down the hill after it  at full 55 year old fat man gallop but 90% of the camera was in the water for about 45 seconds, it is toast. I almost went for a swim trying to retrieve it, that would have been something, A Leica R, 3 3 lens (16mm, 21mm, and 90mm) a Rolleiflex, and a Canon 5D Mark 3, all swimming at the same time in the sticking water. I also hadl the days film in my camera bag as well, so would have lost that as well.  Luckily did did not fall in and managed to retrieve the SD card from the small digital. It still works and the videos I am posting today luckily survived. The small Canon digital is garbage thou, destroyed by the dump pond water.

Here is a video shot earlier in the day, it is of Wee Loo and his 10 year old daughter. Been photographing them for many years now, dating back to my second series of trips to the dump in 2013. He told me his wife is coming back tomorrow with their son from Burma. Wee Loo and his daughter slept in this dump shack last night, and will again tonight it is raining every night now here in Thailand. Will bring them some boots for his wife and some headlamps and raincoats for everyone else

 

Bangkok At Night 2018

Found this image on an SD card I brought to Thai, from the "Sukhumvit at Night" series shot in 2018. Am hoping my next generation camera (when I can afford it) the Canon 5D Mark 4 (this was made with a Mark3) will be able to shoot in low light situations just a bit better.

Worker waiting for customers, Soi Cowboy Bangkok, 2018

Quote: Eli Reed (Magnum Photographer)

“My obsession is looking at life as it is instead of what it should be.” 

Video: Inside A Swamp Area Shack At The Dump

Inside a swamp area shack. There are still a few of these around. In this shack a father and son share the space.

8 Sets Of Boots

Bought another 8 sets of boots today, 180 baht x 8 =1440 baht

- 4 boots size 10
- 4 boots size 11

Will hand out 5 pairs of boots tomorrow(heavy to carry) plus a bag of food, 5 headlamps, 3 raincoats and some medicine plus candy.

Some Photos From Today

Some photos from today. Will continue to add them to this post as I edit them. From the "Families of the Dump", series Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Shot in the early morning. Most of the structures are for working in during the very hot, sunny days but people do sleep in them overnight at times. Over the last several nights there has been 1 or 2 in use. This morning the center shack was being used. As I made this photo the man inside woke up and had a morning smoke (the dark shadow in the photo). Morning smoking seems to be very common here. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

The third man who was asleep in the small dump structure. He had just washed his face with water from a pail, and was wiping it dry with his Longyi (skirt type pants Burmese men wear). "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Wee Loo having a morning smoke after waking up. The structure on his left is where 3 older men were sleeping. I almost walked right by them without noticing, the shack was so small and low. I completely missed them until I heard Wee Low call out my name. There is heavy rain every night now here, it is the rainy season, so their regular larger shack has been flooded out of use. Will give some bags of food to this shack and these men tomorrow, today gave out headlamps and raincoats. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

The last person I photographed today, never met him before (got his name and age recorded for later titles). He spoke Thai to me and was just bring some bottles back from the main digging area. Will give him a headlamp, maybe some boots tomorrow. A very friendly and unassuming fellow, liked him immediately. "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Enjoying a donated lollipop, or as they say in Burmese "SOLO", "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand 2019
I might include this picture in the Clareview Library display thingy, happening in August back in Edmonton.

Video: A Good Day

A good day at the dump today. Shot the Canon 5D Mark 3 with the 24mm-105mm lens and the 16mm Leica R lens with adapter. Also shot some film today, with the twin lens Rolleiflex. Here is video, you can see how nasty the flies are this year. Handed out 3 sets of boots, 3 food bags, 8-10 headlamps, socks, candy and raincoats.

Quote: Francoise Gilot (Pablo Picasso's 4th Wife)

This is such an obvious answer but so true....

TLF: How did your own paintings evolve over that time period?

FG: " Well, like anybody, like any painter, the art evolves by the type of experience he or she has. That’s what happens. You experience life. "

Link To The NY Times Story

Julia Margaret Cameron In Ceylon

Am a fan of the 1800s photographer Juliet Margaret Cameron. Later on in life she moved to Ceylon and made this image which I love. I also included a link to her Ceylon period of work.

Julia Margaret Cameron In Ceylon

A Group of Kalutara Peasants by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1875

595 CAD Donation Money Spent So Far

$595 CAD of the donation money spent so far. I am doing my best to hand out the money in the form of goods to the families as fast as I can. I can only carry so much into the dump each day thou, so it goes out slowly, person to person, day by day. I might run out out of time to use all the donated money this trip, as I need to leave Mae Sot and do a visa run before the 20th.

If I have donation money left over I will forward those funds to the next trip, in 2020. One person who donated $300 indicated to me that I could spend the money she donated outside the dump for other charitable projects. I will use some of her money to help "The People Under The Freeway", am also thinking of visiting a monk who spends his life helping abandoned stray dogs and many other abused and forgotten animals. The monk has a shelter of some kind in Bangkok, met him last trip at an animal hospital. I might donate some of her $300 to his work, need to check it out first thou, make sure everything is legit and on the up and up. All the other donated money I will use ONLY FOR THE 'FAMILIES OF THE DUMP" as I promised to the donators. Either this trip or in 2020, if some money is left over.

Bought More Lollipops

Tonight bought more lollipops for the children of the dump, cost was 190 baht, added to the total. Here are a few older photos from 2018 children with a lollipops.

Child being carried through the dump by his mother, "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand, 2018

Young girl with colourful shirt watching me, "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand, 2018

Three children in the dump, "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand, 201

New dump family, "Families of the Dump", Mae Sot Thailand, 2018

Some Color Shots From Last Night

A few colour shots made last night in the dump.

Lone worker

Workers

In dump shack with candle

Dump shack with Banana tree

Sofa in the dump