Dump Photos For The Night

Some newly shot color stuff. 10000 ASA  Canon 5D Mark 3, 24-100mm F4. From tonight at the dump.

Working, Mae Sot dump, November 17, 2917

Working 2, Mae Sot dump, November 17, 2017

Playing cards, Mae Sot dump, November 21, 2017

Playing cards 2, Mae Sot dump, November 21, 2017

Playing cards 3, Mae Sot dump, November 21, 2017

Playing cards 4, Mae Sot dump, November 21, 2017

Playing cards 5, Mae Sot dump, November 21, 2017

Waiting for garbage trucks, Mae Sot dump, November 21, 2017

Tonight At The Dump, Warning Number 4

Today's day at the dump started with a man telling me not to take photos (another garbage company employee). This was my 4th warning not to photograph. Did a bit of sweet talking, and basically kind of shot non problematic subjects while the man was there, when he left I shot everything while keep one eye out for him, which is rather hard to do in the dark. Hope this does not eventually lead to an arrest of some kind.

Handed out 3 mama noodles, 2 sets of boots and 2 headlamps. I will need to buy more headlamps and boots soon as my supplies are running short. I need size 9 1/2 boots for the women.

Did a bit of video, sound and photo work tonight, thou I have not looked at the results, I do not have a very good vibe on tonight's output.

Video: Working The Garbage #2

I think this filming snippet works better visually, people on multiple levels. A more 3 dimensional look to it. I also have a higher quality "Zoom 4" audio recorder WAVE file recorded off a camera mounted microphone for all the footage shot yesterday.

Video: Working The Garbage #1

Some video from last night. The Canon allows me to shoot at 8000 ASA which works so much better than the BMPCC at 1600 ASA. Sometimes its good to bring lots of gear and have options, options to bend and flow, especially when your new to something like film making.

From Facebook. Digital Photos Made Tonight In The Dump

This is from facebook, the working the garbage color photos in the earlier blog were included in the post.

Gerry Yaum added 6 new photos.

14 mins · 

Been photographing this family for 5 years now. The young girl at one point was looking through a fashion magazine that she found in the garbage. So screwed up to live a life like this, with no real future. She should be be gossiping about boys with her friends, studying and, her mind should be filled with dreams, not digging through garbage every night.

Tech stuff, all shot with the Canon 5D Mark 3 my friend Larry sold to me. 10000 ASA, adjusted the auto focus which seemed to help. Everything done with a 24-100 mm F4 with stabilizer function on. F4 at 30-100 a second. The pictures were made in very low light, pretty well impossible light for film so I went digital, a new experience for me. The only illumination was provided by the head lamps.

Am looking to create enough color works for a future exhibition. If I can get an artist fee for that show, will donate it back to the families as was done this trip with the $500 CAD earned at the "Trumpet" exhibition. A side benefit is that many people who view the photographs and hear the stories also contribute. Thank you to all those people as well. I am hoping the video works plus the new photographs will continue to educate and raise awareness. We can can make this world such a better place if we all reach out and help each other.

http://gerryyaum.blogspot.com/…/opening-night-trumpet-at-la…

Tonight's Non Video Stuff, Made Some DIGI Photos

I adjusted the auto focus setting to a better result. Here are some shots made last night in the dump. Next time I might try mounting an external light source to the camera, not sure if that will work or not. These were shot with a Canon 5D Mark3 at 10000 ASA with a 24mm-105mm F4 lens Exposure was about F4 and 30-100th of a second. Sometimes I shot blind with the camera pointed up an inch or so out of the garbage. Hope to use some of the color shots made this trip in the Penticton Art Gallery show.

Wife and husband, found whiskey, Mae Sot November 20, 2017

Boy watching workers, Mae Sot dump, November 20, 2017

Young girl working the garbage, Mae Sot, November 20, 2017

Pulled Facebook Post

Had this originally posted on facebook, pulled it, too personal, too heartfelt.

Here it is..

Gerry Yaum

1 hr · 

Tonight in the dark I saw and filmed a young girl of 11-12 or so flipping through a fashion magazine as she dug through the garbage at the dump. I have been photographing this place and her family for 5 years now, with time you can become jaded. This woke me up, it was difficult to watch. She should have such a bright future, a beautiful young lady, strong, smart, watches out for her younger brothers, works hard for her family everyday. Instead this is her life, looking at glamour magazines while standing and working in garbage.

Here is a photo of her back in 2013, helping cook breakfast. 5 years from now I will probably be photographing her still working the garbage, maybe with her own children nearby. This is fucked up!

Making breakfast in the dump,Mae Sot Thailand 2013

Mama Noodles! And 500 Baht

At one point in my shooting a father found an unopened package of MAMA noodles (very popular here) in the garbage, he tossed them to his son. Later on I was leaving the dump and I saw the little boy on the ground opening up the package. I asked him if it was noodles (Gway-Tee-Owe in Thai). He said to me in English, MAMA! He had a big grin on his face. The noodles are often even raw as a snack. I told him I would bring some MAMA for him tonight. On the way home I stopped at 7/11 and bought 5 packages to hand out the the children tonight.

At one point the father of the groom came to me complaining of a medical problem with his back. Then later a Thai speaking person and finally an English speaking girl spoke to me about the problem. Seems he needed money for medical care. Not sure how that would be done, in Mae Sot, at the local Burmese clinic (Mae Tao) or inside nearby Myawaddy (in Myanmar, Burma). The family asked for 500 baht ($19.51 CAD), quite a lot of money, the same cost as 2 1/2 pairs of boots. I decided to give them the money. I believe he was telling me the truth, the family in the past has always been very hard working and honest with me.

The way I look at it, the money people gave me back in Canada/USA was to help the families, there are many ways to help, including giving money to them directly at times.

2 Memorable Moments

I have been doing this here at the dump now for about 5 years, it is easy to become jaded over time. You see so many things that it becomes less noticeable, less upsetable because you have been there seen that. Tonight thou while shooting video on a pile of garbage the families were working I saw 2 things that stuck in my mind.

1) a young boy (Dao Way Auh or Win Lay Auh, think DWA) putting a bandage on his leg and then tying it up with a string he found in the garbage. He was so delicate, with his wound and everything round him was so filthy. He then went back to work. 

2) his sister (do not know her name) but she smiles at me often now, for years did not but now does. I filmed her flipping through magazines she found in the garbage, fashion mags, shopping mags. Looking at pictures of well dressed people, jewelry etc. There she was this beautiful girl of maybe 12 or 13 living the ugly life she was living, but looking though a magazines filled with wonder, while standing knee deep in garbage.  Fucked up, so fucked up. She should be chatting with her gfs about boys, going to school and preparing for a better life, not this, not doing this crap!

Shooting Video, So Different

Shooting film, video whatever you want to call it is so much different than doing stills. With stills I move and compose constantly, trying to capture the "Decisive Moment". With film I set up a shot and then wait for the action to tell the story. I look for a beginning and end to a clip. If a person is walking across the film plane I wait until he exits before shutting down the shot. Sound is also another factor, what they are saying, how they saying it.

Basically I am learning all this filming stuff on the fly, reading manuals on how to work the gear in my off hours. Watching YouTube color grading and editing videos. It is beginner time for me, but its a great way to learn. Working on a subject your passionate about, a subject that is important and then pushing yourself, learning on the fly! Trying to get your important story made.

Neck Spray

When I came back to my room after the dump and 7/11 I had some dirty type spray on my neck. It must have come from the dump, do not remember when it happened. Quite often as I am shooting I end up sitting or am very low in the garbage, maybe some spray from the workers. Whenever I see someone that is uncomfortable with my presence I try to sit-stand next to them and introduce myself. That up front and person stuff is almost always greeted with a smile. Tonight I sat on the garbage with an older lady for while and spoke to her, did this happen then?

Could also be from the motorbike, going there or coming back. Wonder what the folks at 7/11 thought. There was a police man that looked at me a bit strange when he was buying his cigarettes.

Hey dude whats that on your neck?

Tonight At The Dump

Felt rather lousy before I left for the dump tonight, lazy and the like. I am very glad I went thou. As always when I get into the creative part of things, everything flows much better. I forget about everything, and work hard to get the result. Then the people, their stories, their lives take over (glamour magazine, mama noodles, 500 baht for health care), every night its something different.

Spent just over 3 hours with the families tonight. Was not sure what I had so came back to room. As I gain more confidence technically (working at night with this new gear) and am assured that I am creating something worthwhile, I will need to extend the time I spend in the dump to 5 or 6 hours at a time.

Quote: Socrates

"I know one thing, that I know nothing."

Tonight In The Dump, Photos

Not much going on action wise in the dump tonight, so I did a series of stills in available light with the Canon 5D  Mark 3. The exposures were f22 20-30 seconds with a ASA of 10000. Rather a surreal experience making these, it is 12 midnight, I am standing alone in the dark will all the fighting, barking, moving dogs making a bunch of exposures. Every 10-20 minutes someone would walk by, sometimes say hello but mostly leave me alone. For long periods it was me, the dogs, the stinking garbage and stars above. Maybe I can use one of these in the Penticton Art Gallery Exhibition. Another bizarre moment was the 2 times a garbage truck came by with men on the top yelling and waving hello to me (have stopped hiding from these guys, too difficult to do). I must have been quite a strange sight to their eyes. Sort of a nut!

Note* Check the dog at the top of the last photo. Did not know he was there when I made it, was mostly shooting kinda blind. The camera saw more than I did. The dog must have been barking at me as he looked down from the garbage mound.

Workers bags, filled up, Mae Sot dump, November 19, 2017

Worker shelters, Mae Sot dump, November 19, 2017

Worker shelter, Mae Sot dump, November 19, 2017

Worker shelters, Mae Sot dump, November 19, 2017

Garbage dump, Mae Sot November 19, 2017

Barking dog on stop of garbage, Mae Sot, November 19, 2017

Video: Nui-oo Foot Size?

Made this video last night while speaking to Nui-oo's (age 6) family. We were trying to figure out her foot size for so that we could buy her some boots.

Never Stop Sweating

Gosh I never stop sweating here, every time I go out day or night I come back covered in sweat. Even tonight when I went out after dark (6pm) I still built up a thin layer of sweat over my whole body, and this is the winter season! Maybe after 6 months here I will stop sweating at night. I am tired of taking showers, shower after shower.

Imagine how it would be to live here all year round as all the people at the dump do without a/c. Imagine living near garbage with all the insects, wild dogs and unsanitary conditions. Imagine eating only low quality foods all your life, imagine going hungry. Imagine doing without so many things. Now imagine your so limited future, imagine your life never changing, then bringing your family up in that.

Imagine all of that. Stop whining Gerry! What's a little sweat between a/c sessions. Soon I will be in Japan eating wonderful foods, in Vietnam for new years, back in Canada living in a big house. Such are the privileges of where and to who I was born.

Before The Dump Tonight, More Buys

Went shopping today from 6pm to about 8pm. Am heading back to the dump tonight and wanted to give out some small boots for Nui-oo. I ended up going 3 different shops and was able to pick up many items that I had promised. Earlier this week saw a man trying to cut wood with a long knife type tool. I told him I would get him something bigger (axe) to use. Ended up buying 5 axes for a variety of homes along with boots for adults and children, children's flip flops (6.5-8), head lamps, 2 regular rechargeable flashlight and metal eating spoons.  The cost of everything was 2629 baht.

Note* Gave Nui-oo's boots and flip flops to her brothers and sister.

Adult boots size 10 and 10 1/2, 180 baht each

Children's boots, 60 baht each

5 axes 115 baht each

Children's flip flops

Making An Effort To Learn Names

Burmese names are hard. Since I am here for a longer time this go round. I thought I needed to learn names to do things right. I am therefore creating a file with a capture of a persons face and their name underneath. I wrote down names, do videos of people saying their names to learn them. Damn tough, but worth the effort, everyone is happy when you say there name. I am happy when I hear "Gerry" called out, they are happy when their name is called out. The problem is there is one of me and hundreds of them!

Video: Nui-oo And Win-Lay Auh

This beautiful young girls name is Nui-oo We have a long history together, I have photographed her for about 5 years of her 6 years. Here are a few pics through the years and a video from today. When I first met and photographed her, Nui-oo was quite afraid of me, do not blame her she was about 1 1/2 years old. Now as you can see in the video at 6 years old she is very comfortable with me. Not sure if she remembers the big photo guy from before maybe. In 2015 she became my friend after I gave her a doll donated by a coworkers daughter.

Nui-oo's mother asked me to buy her some boots. I will go look for some boots for her tomorrow. She has very small feet, hopefully I can find something. You folks who donated money back in Canada and the USA are buying Nui-oo her boots for her, THANK YOU!

Note* The boy at the beginning of the video is Win-Lay-Auh, Nui-oo's older brother.

2013, "Who is that big white guy?"

Photo made in late 2015, or early 2016

Here is the video from today:

Tonight In The Dump

Tonight in the dump I handed out a 2 pairs of 9.5 boots but not the 10s. The man who wanted the 10s must have come earlier in the evening. I intentionally went later to avoid the garbage company officials. Arrived around 1020pm, stayed until 1250pm or so. I managed to hide from the first garbage truck I faced last night, probably around 11pm but the second around 1230 spotted me, got a good luck at me as it drove right by my motorbike in the dark.

I was able to shoot a variety of video, with both the BMPCC and steadycam with a wide angle and closer lens. I also shot some video using my Canon 5d Mark 3 which was mounted on a new small Jusino tripod I bought tonight at  "Big Camera" at Robinson department store on the highway. The tripod was a bit pricey at 3990 baht ($155 CAD) but necessary to stabilize the Canon in the field. I have a big ass carbon fiber Gitzo but it heavy and has a big footprint (scares official types). This little Jusino I can hide inside my larger shoulder camera bag. I will use this tripod int he field when I need to be more covert, and when I am to tired to carry the big one.

Here is a picture of the tripod:

Jusiono TK-225S Silver Tripod, Made In China

Ickiest Part Of My Day

The ickiest part of my day is usually cleaning my boots after being in the dump. I use a small metal tool to dig out all the dump waste from the treads of the boots, so they will not stink up my apartment. After scraping and digging out all the dump crap from boot treads I wash the boots down in the shower before drying them outside.

Another Insect Story

Seems I will soon have some baby spiders in my bathroom. Over the last few weeks a spider has been living above my bathroom door. I have left her alone because her web catches the evil mosquito. Two days ago I saw another spider cohabiting with her, they were in engaged in a reproductive act. Then today the male was dead, just the legs left. Did she kill him? Some spiders do that I believe. Now she seems to be laying an egg sack of some kind. Baby spiders to follow? Will I be overwhelmed with spiders? Like I was by ants recently! Asia has too many insects!

Today's Buys, Headlamps And Boots

Did more buys tonight before heading out to the dump very late. The bike works great for this type of thing. I went to the boot store bought 6 pairs (3x  size 9.5 and 3x size 10).  The cost of the boots was 1200 baht. I also bought 10 headlamps for 129 baht each, 1290 total. I finally found a store that sells the headlamp. They are not the battery kind which is a bit better, but the rechargeable type. I hope the recharging type will work with the families, many areas in Buddha land (Freds rented land place) and some areas inside the dump have a form of power now. The swamp dump area has no power at all.

Note* Added another 2490 baht to the spent total.

Today's buys 6 pairs of boots and 10 head lamps (torches)

Video: Children Working The Garbage

Here is a young boy and girl (brother and sister) I have photographed for 5 years now. Their family works the garbage every night. This is what the authorities DO NOT want me to film or photograph.

Video Shooting At Night - The Canon Works Best

When shooting available light video only, I think I will be better served by the Canon 5D Mark 3. So if I am filming in peoples homes at night in the dump with no outside light source the Canon will probably be the better way to go. The Canon will allow me to shoot at 8000 ASA with some noise, where as the BMPCC only allows shooting up to 1600 ASA, that is a big 3 stop difference. I can go quite a bit higher with the Canon if I can accept the very loud noise that will result. With external light source the BMPCC works better for me, but when shooting in very low light without the external light it will have to be the Canon.

United Nations? NOT!

When I bought the boots tonight the shop that sells them asked me a bunch of questions. The Indian/Burmese/Thai lady who runs the store with her husband always has a many questions for me. Nothing like trying to understand what she is asking me in Thai from far off in the distance (deep inside her store) with screaming traffic behind me.

In past visits I told them that I was helping the people working in the dump. That I was providing boots for them etc. I also mentioned that people back home in Canada/USA are helping, but not sure she understood. Today she asked me if I was with the UNITED NATIONS! Gosh! I said no, and told her I worked me, for my heart (slapping my chest). That was a bit pretentious on my part. Not sure she got it thou, doing that type of thing (doing something with no financial gain) does not always make sense to others here.

Maybe that is what the movie should be about, the process of doing what I am doing, the plus the stories in the dump. Do not like the idea of making it too much about me thou, would rather be invisible.

Another 4 Pairs Of Boots

Bought another 4 pairs of boots tonight, size 10, 10.5, 10.5 and 11.5. Did not get a photo of these as I bought them before heading to the dump (night visit). I ended out handing out 7 of the 8 boots I took with me the 11.5 boot size person did not show up. I keep disappointing one man over and over again, told him I would bring his size 10s tomorrow. Gave one pair of size 9.5 to a young and very pregnant girl in the dump. She was wearing flip flops and needed size 9s. I told her male friend I had size 9.5 and he said that would do, certainly better than wearing flip flops in the garbage. The girl had such a sweet smile, standing there in the dark wearing a little hat, her belly way out and only greenish/blue flip flops on her feet. I can still remember her looking at me and smiling, hard to forget. That sort of thing, really helping someone, makes all the BS that goes on worthwhile.

Note* Cost of the boots was 800 baht, which was added to the spent total linked above left.

Video: Dark Dump Shack With Family Inisde

This was shot tonight in the same dump shack as the drinking party yesterday. Today most of the men from yesterday were working hard in the dump. Some of the family was left behind and sitting around a small fire. After dark the only source of light for many folks here is head flashlights or little fires. I have started to hand out some rechargeable flashlights for folks. Will start buying headlamps soon as well.

For The 3rd Time A "No Photo Warning!"

Got warned again, "No Photo" this time at night around 8pm about taking photos of people working the picking area. I sweet talked the Thai-Burmese men 3 of them who came to talk to me. They asked me why I was photographing at the dump. I told them the truth that I was there to help the children, buying boots etc.

The man who spoke to me was polite, giving me a big wai, telling me not to worry later on etc. It is all still very off putting. I had been filming among-st the workers in the garbage not 10 minutes earlier. What if they had come at that time and seen me working? Luckily I was in an area away from the picking, and with 3 children (changing some batteries) when they road in on their motorbikes. You know your in trouble when big well fed people show up on bikes. They came right up to me, knew I was there, they were looking for me. The guy I spoke to was speaking to another fellow on a cellphone. I think the driver of a garbage truck that was leaving as I was arriving on my bike called him (god I hate cell phones), then the troops arrived to question me about 30 minutes later. They asked my name and where I was from, I was honest with them in all ways except I did not tell them that I had been filming the working earlier. I was told it was OK to photograph the children, but not the working area or the work.

Will lay off shooting the picking from the garbage dump for now. Will concentrate on the life in and around peoples homes for a bit. The only one who may have problems with me shooting there is Fred. I would rather deal with one angry expat farang (western) man, than a team of angry official Thai people any day. Gosh I am struggling enough from a technical point of view, trying to do all this, I do not need people stopping me from shooting. Feeling lots of negative emotions again.

The man tonight seemed like a friendly enough sort, we were joking by the end of our talk. He even gave me advice on where to buy headlamps for the families. He told me I could buy them at the market. Can't blame the guy, he is just doing his job. He has a boss who know doubt is on his ass to keep things quiet. I sometimes worry I might be endangering the peoples livelihoods here by drawing too much attention their way. I need to lay off for a while and respect the wishes of the Thai authorities. Fred is definitely right in that regard, in some ways he is a very smart cookie.

Note* When I do shoot the picking. I think I need to come later in the evening next time and to try and avoid the garbage truck drivers. Over the next while. I now need to go into peoples homes, see that world. I will try to visit "X" tomorrow, she said she wanted to help.

Child Offers Me Sunflower Seeds

I had a nice little moment in the garbage. I was walking along shooting some with the BMPCC and the CAME TV steadycam. As I was shooting various things in the dark I hear "GERRY!" beside me from a young voice. I look down and to my left and there is a young boy of maybe 5 or 6, a very small child, he had sweet wide eyes. The boy held up a bag for me and inside were some sunflower seeds. I took some from him he smiled and then went on to offer them to some of his male friends working the nearby garbage. Later he came back and offered me more seeds. I think he found them in the garbage somewhere. I felt I had to so I ate a few for him, not bad tasting.

A little boy calls your name out of the darkness to offer you a gift. How can you forget things like that? How can you not want to come back again and again to help these families?

Another Night At The Dump

Had a busy day, did my laundry, went to the Lotus store and paid for my air ticket to Bangkok on the 24. I also bought a bunch of groceries, vegetables, fruit, milk, bread, a cooked fish and some cooked pork. After all that I went to buy boots then went to the dump with 8 sets and my cameras. Sometimes I think of Canada, of returning there and resting. Being 53 and doing all this stuff is quite a bit harder than doing it at 33. I need to push forward and do my best. I should take tomorrow off but promised a man his boots, need to do that, he has been waiting a long time.

Second Rejected Grant

I also got rejected for a $750 CIP travel grant by the Edmonton Arts Council. I will have  pay for my part of this trip entirely out of my security guard paycheck and with some money my beautiful father left me on his passing. Miss you so much dad, even now almost 3 years later I dream of you multiple times a week. Wish I could show you around Mae Sot, and tell you stories. Miss sharing things with you so much.

Anyway here is the other rejection letter:

Dear Gerry, Thank you for your application to the 2017 CIP Travel Grant (October 1st deadline).  The jury assessment has concluded, and the Board of the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) accepted the jury's report earlier this week. I regret to advise you that the jury did not recommend you for a grant this round.  These decisions were made in a competitive context, and unfortunately many worthy applicants were not recommended. We will be sending out letters next week via Canada Post to formally notify applicants of the outcomes. The Edmonton Arts Council also administers several other programs for individual artists that you may wish to explore.  Guidelines are available on our website at www.edmontonarts.ca.  You may also want to research the opportunities available at the Alberta Foundation for the Arts: www.affta.ab.ca. Sincerely, ---- ------- Program Officer - Grants, Awards & Support Programs Edmonton Arts Council

Another Arts Grants Rejection From EAC

Got another rejection for an arts grant from the Edmonton Arts Council today. This one was a rejection for the "Families of the Dump" documentary photography project. I sent back a reply with a link to the work currently being done here, and informed them I went to Thai anyway. Sometimes you got to do, what you. got to do regardless what the art experts say.

Here is their, rejection- no grant email:

Dear Gerry, Thank you for your application to the 2017 Artist Project Grant - small grants (Sept. 15th deadline). The jury review process is complete and the Board of Directors of the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) accepted the recommendations earlier this week. I regret to inform you that that the jury did not recommend you for a 2017 Artist project Grant. We will be sending out letters, with more information, next week via Canada Post to formally notify applicants of the outcomes. We are sending this preliminary notice by email as well in order to transparently meet other deadlines with the City of Edmonton. There is no reason to respond to this notification - it is a courtesy email to advise you of the results of the grant process results - but please watch for your letter in the mail and be in touch if you have any questions or concerns. Regards, ------- ----- Program Officer, Grants, Awards & Support Programs Edmonton Arts Council

Headlamps Needed

I need to buy some headlamps for the  families in the dump. I have been looking for the cheaper red plastic type that sell for 130 baht each. I have seen thou that many people in the garbage now have more expensive types that run around 300 baht a piece. If I cannot get the cheaper ones, I will get the higher quality version headlamp. I am sort of doing the same thing with boots now. In past years I would often buy the cheapest or next to cheapest quality, I am now buying mid-high range boots that last much longer. Why not pay a bit more for headlamps with some quality to them. They will be used everyday here for work and for general living. There are almost no lights in the area of the dump, so people wear the headlamps just to walk around safely. I saw the nicer ones for sale in a Mae Sot shop a while back, the trick is to find that shop again!

Shooting At 26500 ASA

Here is a highly pixalized shot made tonight in almost total darkness. It is of a young boy standing behind me eager to see my camera LCD as I shot. The picture was made at 26500 ASA with the Canon 5D Mark 3. Obviously the image is really harsh and very damaged looking, but that visual kind of fits into the damaged lives at the dump a bit. I will play around with this high ASA shooting more. Later today (been working all night in my room on the computer) when I return to the dump, I will also take my 24mm f1.4 lens with me.

Young boy standing behind me in the dump, November 15, 2017

Video: In Dump Shack Tonight With Drinkers

I knew there was drinking in the dump, had heard stories. This is the first time I got up close and personal with it. There were 7 or 8 people in the shack, I was invited in. It must be hard to not want to escape such an existence, such a life the these people have through drink. The groom was there tonight, hopefully he will not be pulled into this type of thing over and over again. He has 2 children and a loving wife to take care of. Maybe it was just a boys night out, a seldom type of escape.

It is always a bit dangerous being around drunk people, your never sure how the booze will affect them. It seems to affect everyone so differently. It is something I am always wary of, something I faced on a nightly basis when doing the sex worker series portraits.

I was offered some of the liquor ( a clear liquid in a plastic bag called, soti? not sure) but refused, said I did not drink, which I do not. I do not think I  have ever been drunk, never had a hangover, hopefully do not have liver problems also! Another benefit is I can use that booze of a lifetime money on my photography instead. I think my father used to be proud that I did not drink or smoke. I heard him tell friends many times, "He does not drink or smoke, like a priest!" He always said that with a smile on his face. I am not sure how proud my father was of me in other areas, but I knew he was happy I do not drink or smoke.

Note* Will get the man at the end of a video a proper ax of some kind to cut wood. Right in the last few seconds of the video, near the very end. I say "Mai Pen Rai" 3 or 4 time, which means "No problem!, Don't worry about it!). I said that because the very drunk man on the left asked me for the 5th or 6th time what time I was coming with the boots the next day. I had told told him all the other times he asked that I would come at 6pm. Eventually the man on the right got pissed at him for asking the same question over and over again.I was trying to diffuse things a bit. Some people when there drunk forget things.

 

Digital Shots At The Dump Night Time

One of the reasons I bought my Canon 5D Mark 3 from my friend Larry second hand was because I hoped to use it for low light shooting. I put the camera to the test tonight shooting in near impossible light, no light or very little light. I shot at extremely high ASAs of 10000, 12800, 16000 even 25600 (the max setting). Not sure how printable any of the pictures shot will but even if they are highly pixalated that still might work, creating a surreal confused effect in the exhibition. The big difficulty is getting any kind of focus, at times I could, other times could not. I figured the best technique was to turn off the auto focus (not working in the very low light) then zooming in, before zooming out to shoot. I shot these pics today with the 24mm-100mm F4 with the stabilizer turned on at very slow shutter speeds and f4.

Dump at night, November 15, 2017

Dog running through the dump, November 15, 2017

Leaning over me, November 15, 2017

Dump dogs, November 15, 2017

Dump at night, November 17, 2017

Drunken moment in dump shack, November 15, 2017

Drunk men arguing in dump shack, Mae Sot Thailand, November 15, 2017

Young child in dump with pregnant mother, November 15, 2017

Ni-Ni-Too, eyes up. November 15, 2017