Southern Thailand Photo Assignment

I just returned from an assignment in southern Thailand, which turned out to be a great break from the bustling metropolis that is Bangkok. Despite the lead in time, I felt the assignment was going to fall through at the last minute due to logistical problems. In the end though it all worked out.

To give non-photographers and people wanting to get into photography an idea of assignment work, I have provided a break down of the more memorable moments of this trip below. Unfortunately I can’t give the client details; shoot specifics or even post photos from the shoot at this stage, though I have included some general photos relevant to this post.

Two Days Out

- A flurry of emails finalising the details – where I am suppose to go to; who I am suppose to meet; the final shoot list etc…

One Day Out

- Book return airline ticket; arrange accommodation; speak with my local contact about area logistics and how the day is suppose to unfold

Day One

- Convince the local taxi driver that I do want to go to the domestic airport in Bangkok and not the international airport (they are two separate places)

- Get pinged in security for carrying a water bottle filled with water

- Hour and ten minute flight from Bangkok to Trang in Southern Thailand. Terrible food, but friendly staff.

- Get ripped off at the airport for the ride into town. Charged three times what I should have paid.

- I catch a mini-bus from Trang to the coast – a 45-minute trip. Driver drops me at coastal town, but won’t take me to the resort I am staying at. I find the turnoff and decide to walk to the resort. Friendly local on his scooter stops and asks if I want a lift – I take a look at the scooter with him, his wife and daughter on it and ask myself ‘where would I fit?’. I decline and enjoy the 3-km walk along the overgrown road.

- Arrive at resort. Resort is a stretch. Nice, quiet motel is more like it. It is late afternoon, so I grab my cameras and go for a walk around the local village and along the beach. Meet some very friendly locals and enjoy 15-minutes of spectacular light as the sun goes down.

- Dinner is chicken cashews on rice. Ask for it spicy, but it is lost in translation as it served with zero spice in it.

- Phone local contact and agree on time and place to meet the following day.

Day Two (Shoot Day)

- Up at 6.45. Meet contact at 7.30 and drive to location. Job is essentially event coverage. Over a breakfast of rice, I talk with contact about how the day will unfold & discuss some possible photo ideas that I would like to shoot.

- Go for a walk to the shoot location to check out the light and take some photos. Early morning light is good, but it won’t last as the sun gets higher in the sky.

- Shoot from 8.30 till midday. Lunch is an unbelievably spicy vegetarian dish. It is so hot, even some Thai’s won’t eat it!

- Things slow down after lunch with the heat of the day. Spend time waiting for things to happen and cross-checking what I have shot against my shoot list. I go for a walk and find a local lady that is relevant to the subject I am shooting. Spend some time talking with her and photographing her.

- Late afternoon things are winding down. Photograph last shots and catch a ride back to the resort. Shower and then walk around local village with cameras. Light is terrible, return to resort. Speak with resort contact to arrange ride from my location to Trang airport. Price I am quoted is terribly expensive. I ask if there is a local with a car that wants to make some quick cash. He directs me to the ‘reggae man’ down the road. Ten minutes later I have a driver and a great local contact.

- Back to room. Download all my cards onto my computer and begin editing.

- Dinner. Ask for spicy and I get spicy! Long chat with Thai local who is practicing his English. Friendly guy.

- Back to room. Continue editing. To bed at 11.00

Day Three

- Up at 6.00 thanks to local dogs that will not stop barking.

- Muesli bar for breakfast, take some photos of surrounding area in beautiful early morning light. Meet reggae man, who takes me to the airport (35-minute drive).

- Check-in at airport, then grab a coffee and continue editing photos for an hour.

- During the plane trip back someone is smoking in the toilet – plane stinks of cigarette smoke, but no one seems to care. Same terrible food – if you could call it that.

- Taxi home, then a home-made brunch at 11.00.

- It is a Sunday, so take the afternoon off.

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