Bangkok in the Morning

Bangkok Mornings 2

For most people Bangkok is one of those cities that you either love or hate. There is usually very little in between. The smog, traffic congestion and the noise are usually the first culprits if you dislike Bangkok.

Bangkok in the morning 3I’m one of those inbetweeners. I love Bangkok for a week or so but then I have to get away from it. Coming from a long line of people watchers Bangkok offers the most varied display of people and sights you can imagine. One of my favorite things to do in Bangkok is wake up early and just walk through the city taking pictures. It’s a very peaceful thing for me and I guess it’s as close to zen as I’ll likely ever get.

Bangkok in the morning 4I usually start about 6am before rush hour gets going, you would be amazed at how quiet this city can be at that time with very few people about. And then rush hour and all the people heading to work, hailing taxis, stopping for breakfast and setting up shop for the day.

Bangkok in the morning 5Bangkok is really a different city in the morning than it is at night. Some people might find this kind of everyday life photography boring but it really interests me. Wandering the city finding the right places to shoot, which for me is every street corner and walk bridge. At this time of the morning I usually can snap pictures unnoticed because people are in their own world thinking about the day ahead. You get to capture people in their element not posing with wide grins on their face. Sometimes I feel like a sniper waiting for the right shot of a person or building I’ve seen.

Bangkok in the morning 6I feel like I get to know a little more about the people and the city this way. Quietly observing the morning rituals and documenting them in my own way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an amateur photographer at best and a lot of the pictures that I think will be groundbreaking turn out to be much less so than I hoped,  but I do occasionally see a great shot and it turns out better than I expected. Anyway I spent a few mornings doing this on my last trip and I thought I’d share the outcome with you. Many more pictures can be found in the Gallery: Bangkok in the Morning.

Bangkok in the morning 8 Bangkok in the morning 9 Bangkok in the morning 10

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4 Responses to Bangkok in the Morning
  1. Pete, FrogBlogger
    May 30, 2009 | 4:57 pm

    Great photos as usual Talen, that one of mother and baby on the pavement says it all. Yes perfect time of day to take photos, the light’s good, there’s not the bustle, you just get a totally different sense of the city as it comes to life…

    Pete, FrogBloggers last blog post..In Thailand money talks, and not in English – Solution? A Thai translator from Bangkok

  2. Catherine
    May 31, 2009 | 11:53 am

    Talen, what a wonderful idea to head out with a camera in the early morning hours. I was also taken with your mother and baby photo as it really touches the heart.

    Catherines last blog post..The Most Effective Way to Learn Thai

  3. Talen
    June 1, 2009 | 7:04 pm

    I’d have to say that the mother and baby picture was very hard for me to take. Before I took the pic I dropped 00 baht in her cup but they were sound asleep…I still felt bad taking the picture but it’s a very common scene in Bangkok unfortunately.

  4. Catherine
    June 1, 2009 | 7:45 pm

    Talen, I have the same difficulties when taking sad scenes. But… if someone doesn’t document the realities to share around, little will be known outside of Thailand. And besides, life is not all beautiful beaches and such, right?

    Catherines last blog post..YouTube: Thai Tylenol Ad and Tones

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