from tonight:
Khun Dao, sleeping alone, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
"Ain't Photography Grand!!"
from tonight:
Khun Dao, sleeping alone, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
From last night:
Khun Apple (Bun), unable to sleep, 1230am, went out stealing metal #1, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Jet, walking with sleeping mat #2, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
From tonight:
Modern digital cameras allow you to shoot in light and in ways that were impossible before. This photo was made with a Blad X1-D at 25600 ASA, in very low light as we were walking and talking about his life. I believe at this point Khun Jet (60) was talking about his 2 children and how much he missed them. To make pictures while walking in very low light like this with a film camera would have been impossible without a flash.Khun Apple, smoking YaBa #5, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Apple, exhaling YaBa smoke, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Today, Apple at 36. I will leave Thailand soon. When I return, I doubt Apple will be alive.
Making photos for THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY can be very difficult. My hope is that these documentary slum drug photos will help someone in some small way. If after viewing them one person stays away from this horror, or stops the path they have started to walk, then everything will be worth it.
Note* I started to go to the slum, around 2-4pm, then lateer 10-12pm, and now will try 530am,
Note** My friend Larry L taught me the value of arriving early at your shooting location, to make pictures.
Khun Wan, drunk with liquor bottle, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Prem, laughing, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Note* The 3 men in the truck I met last night, were polite and kind. They worked so damn hard it was like they were working in fast forward. One man told me they work 6-8 hours a night at this hypersonic, almost running pace.
The work as you can expect it, is filthy. I am rather used to shooting in such conditions after years in the Mae Sot dump photographing thee families. I doubt a series on garbage workers would be any dirtier.
Tonight:
From Last Night:
Every now and then Apple shows some real physical beauty. I can understand how she was successful in the gogo bargirl scene where there are many beautiful woman.
Khun Apple, laying on pallet, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
I have not seen Apple for a long time in the slum. The last 3 nights before I left thee slum for a while she was missing, now the first 2 nights after my return, she is still not here. Am worried about her.
From Tonight:
On the streets, met Khun a motorcycle taxi driver. He has worked the job for 30 years THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY
Khun Champoo, Jack and Sompong working. Knun Nokk sleeping with her dog Ii-Koon.. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.
Khun Dek 76, sleeping on a wooden pallet at 1am, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Dao and Khun Prem, sleeping under the freeway at 1230am #2, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
This trip I have gotten deeper into the project THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY. Previous trips were dominated by THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP project. Things have changed!
Khun Dao and Khun Prem, sleeping under the freeway at 1230am, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Dao and Khun Prem, sleeping under the freeeway at 2am, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Jack, looking at meth, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand, 2025
Khun Prem, yelling at me, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
3 versions of Khun Nok under thee freeway at midnight. Possible triptych in Platinum or Salt? Might work well. Also have a few others that I have not edited yet.
The 3rd variant of this sequence of Nok. Possible triptych in Platinum or salt? Might work well.
I miss doing wet plate. These photos were shot at the cemetery dad is buried in and where I will be buried. The camera is a 24x24 inch Chamonix, that cost around $11000 CAD (with extras) second hand. The darkroom trailer (FREDDY) before additions was $7600 CAD the truck (THE.BEAST) with a couple of repairs around $9000-$10000 CAD.
Wet plate photography is very expensive but I love the creativity, history and most importantly the wonderful timeless beauty of the finished plates. Ambrotypes have a subtle power that I have not seen in any other art form.
I will continue the AMBROTOS KANATA wet plate projeect when I return to Canada Making Ambros till I die, is a good way to go out! Am 61 now, I hope I can continue working on the project, slowly but deliberately into my 80s.
Khun Prem, crying under the freeway after being beaten #5, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025
Khun Prem, crying under the freeway after being beaten #4, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025, Khlong Toei Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2025