Bangkok Humidity & Lost Dreams: A Freelance Photographer's Confessions

okay, so. bangkok. i’m still peeling myself off the pavement, honestly. i just got back, and my brain feels like a tangled ball of film - the good kind, you know? the one with all the happy accidents. i’m a freelance photographer, which basically means i’m perpetually broke and chasing light, and bangkok delivered… a lot of light. and a whole heap of other stuff.

let’s talk weather first. i just checked and it’s… a damp hug right now. seriously, the air is thick enough to chew. twenty-five point one eight degrees, feels like twenty-five point eight two. the humidity is a solid seventy-nine percent. i’m pretty sure my camera lens wept a little. i’m not kidding. i spent half my time wiping condensation off everything. it’s not exactly ideal for capturing those crisp, golden hour shots you see on Instagram, but it is perfect for moody, atmospheric stuff. which, let’s be real, is more my vibe anyway.

and the people! oh, the people. i spent a ridiculous amount of time just wandering around, snapping candid shots of everyday life. the street food vendors, the monks collecting alms, the families crammed onto scooters… it’s a sensory overload in the best possible way. i found myself drawn to the older generation, the ones with stories etched into their faces. i tried to capture that, you know? that quiet dignity.

“Don’t go near the Victory Monument at night. Trust me.”

that’s something a very drunk guy told me at a rooftop bar. he was wearing a silk shirt and looked like he’d seen some things. i didn’t ask what he meant, but i definitely steered clear of Victory Monument after dark. i did, however, spend a lot of time in *Chatuchak Weekend Market. seriously, it’s a labyrinth. you could get lost in there for days. i found some amazing vintage fabrics - perfect for backdrops, you know? - and a ridiculously overpriced but utterly charming ceramic elephant. check it out on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916-d168373-Reviews-Chatuchak_Weekend_Market_JJ_Market-Bangkok.html.

I also spent a few hours wandering around Yaowarat, Chinatown. The smells alone are worth the trip. Dim sum, roasted duck, exotic fruits… my stomach was rumbling the entire time. I even tried durian. Once. That’s all it took. Someone told me that the best street food is always found down the smallest, most unassuming alleyways. They weren’t wrong. Yelp has some decent recommendations, if you’re feeling brave: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=street+food&find_loc=Bangkok,+Thailand.

if you get bored, Ayutthaya is just a short train ride away. ancient ruins, temples… it’s a nice escape from the city chaos. i’m thinking of going back next month to shoot some portraits there.

my gear list, because apparently that’s what people want to know:

Canon EOS R6 (obviously)
35mm f/1.4 lens (my baby)
50mm f/1.2 lens (for those dreamy portraits)
Plenty of extra batteries (humidity is a battery killer)
Microfiber cloths (for the aforementioned condensation)
A really good backpack (because i walk everywhere)
A portable hard drive (because losing your photos is a nightmare)

pro-tip: learn a few basic thai phrases. even just “hello” and “thank you” go a long way. and be prepared to haggle. everything is negotiable. i managed to knock twenty percent off a silk scarf by pretending i was going to walk away. it’s a skill.

“The rooftop bars are all a scam. Overpriced drinks, mediocre views.”

that’s what a local warned me about. he was sitting on a plastic stool, eating noodles, and looked like he knew what he was talking about. i did check out a few rooftop bars, and he wasn’t entirely wrong. the drinks were expensive, but the views were pretty spectacular. i’d still recommend it, just be prepared to pay a premium.

and finally, a random thought: i’m starting to think i need a new project. something that really pushes me creatively. maybe a series of portraits of street performers? or a documentary about the city’s hidden artists? i don’t know yet. but bangkok definitely sparked something in me. i’m already planning my return trip. check out some local artist forums for inspiration: https://www.bangkokartists.com/.

okay, i’m going to go lie down now. and maybe buy a dehumidifier.