Lost in Focus » David

morning sunshine

David — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:42:51 +0000

Close now, our condo has been all but rented (after four months of trying!) contracts to be signed and then done. I’ll miss the morning sunshine.

Sorry for not being around. Just too busy getting everything ready.

Xiaoyu

David — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:54:24 +0000

Hello all, I hope this post finds you all well and inspired.

Here are some portraits of a young lady who contacted me via facebook. Life is tough.

Well life is actually rather strange now. I have just finished working for a school that I have been with for seven years and am now officially unemployed. It’s very exciting.

I’m off for a last Thailand beach holiday today and amongst doing relaxing things will be going back through the photographs posted here and catching up.

These scanned very badly but should print nicely.

I actually took one digital shot for a light reading and thought I’d do a bit of beauty photoshop. Got bored before I got to the neck bit! Very rough and ready and a reminder that sometime in the rest of my life I need to learn some more photoshop.

Blatant Marco Grob rip off!

I am also booked in for darkroom lessons at the end of next week with my friend Surat – a true character!

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php?fcode=68da04115&f=691185728#!/video/video.php?v=107953909253640

Paradise! Saphan Lek Music industry

David — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:05:57 +0000

My good friend Christ Menist and I visited China Town last week to make a start documenting the dwindling record industry in the area which will hopefully be published in WAX Poetics and possibly other music/record collector magazines. Over the past two years, Chris (pictured below) has been visiting Saphan Lek, markets, obscure record meets and numerous other outlets in search of Luk Tung and Molam Thai music. Whilst dirtying his digits sifting through thousands of records, some of which have been untouched in thirty years, he has come across a music that has been unheard by western ears. An unusual melding of cultures, instruments and vocal styles, the music as it stands on dusty 7s and albums boxed up behind counters or in backrooms, is in danger of slipping away and being lost forever. Chris and his partner in crime Nat (Maft Sai – of Zud Rang Ma records http://www.zudrangmarecords.com/) are keeping these fine tunes alive through the superb Paradise club nights and have been busy in collaboration putting compilations together which it is hoped will be released into the western market.

The sixth Paradise is happening tonight. Check this for more details….

Paradise 6!!

Curfew Takraw, Bangkok

David — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:52:53 +0000

Very busy with moving plans at the moment so have not had time for anything really, especially photography. Winding down at work (I will be unemployed in ten days time) and trying to rent our apartment out and sell the car. We move at the end of next month.

Anyway, I have had some prints done for people I know and have met. I came across these two whilst wandering the streets during the recent curfew (well just before!) following the trouble here in Bangkok. Normally a very busy street, Silom road was closed to traffic and these two chaps were practising Tak raw. They have invited me to watch them play in Lumphini park down the road which I will do soon if I can find the time. So very skillful.

Will get back to lif soon…

Update post

David — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:08:46 +0000

I am basically housebound at the moment with the dreadful situation unfolding in Bangkok this week. Both Meow and my places of work are shut this week so we find ourselves trapped at home, which is actually pretty unnerving. We’re both restless and unable to concentrate fully as we follow news reports and await some kind of resolution. Meow is able to work from home while I have been trying to tie up lose ends and catch up with emails.

View from our apartment Sunday evening

some pictures of what has been happening above: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&assetType=image&ebd=2010-05-16&eed=2010-05-16&p=Athit%20Perawongmetha

edit: Probably best I post those others another time.

Wednesday

Saturday night/Sunday

I walked around Bangkok this evening just before the curfew began for the evening. Incredibly quiet. Eerie.
The big clear up has begun and already much has been done but the signs of mass destruction are plenty with the streets themselves blackened with the residue of burning tyre. A great storm later arrived as if on cue.

Chiang Mai portraits

David — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:20:26 +0000

Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

Meow

David — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:45:28 +0000

Meow picked up her visa from the British Embassy today. Happy news!

Troubled Thailand

David — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:26:13 +0000

It’s getting more tense and disturbing by the day in Bangkok. My condo is literally five minutes taxi ride from the centre of the red shirt encampment and on a visit to pick up some film and have breakfast early last week I found myself in what can only be described as a war zone with razor wire and troops everywhere. The red shirts were working on a barricade made up of tyres and lengths of bamboo which has now, a week later, become a resounding image in the international press. These are troubling times waiting for decisive action to be taken whilst mass propaganda reigns and reckless acts appear to be on the rise.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/apr/28/thailand-protest

Marcus

David — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:03:16 +0000

I shot my old friend Marcus last week. I’ve known hm since I was eleven years old, meeting him in the gymnasium on the first day of our battered old comprehensive school. Marcus is a photographer and has taken pictures of me from about the age of eighteen when he started learning the craft, all through my life including my London years and much of Thailand, where he also lives.

It is probably down to him that I have never minded being in photographs myself and certainly down to him that I started taking pictures myself. I’ve always felt a little anxious taking pictures of another photographers particularly with M, as we go back so far, but last week we had the first of what I hope will be a series of weekly studio sessions where we will experiment and learn together. These portraits represent a work in progress and obviously a tribute to my old dear friend.

Rolleiflex, Ilford HP5

Last Songkhran (Thai New Year)

David — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:53:59 +0000

So it was to the North of Thailand and the mountains for our last Songkhran holiday. Meow and I, with some friends made our way from Chiang Mai to Pai on scooters in blistering April heat along 100km of hairpin bends. Ambushed along the way in true Songkhran style with buckets, hose pipes, sauce pans, water pistols etc each projecting water ranging in temperature from pond/river to ice cold shock, the soakings were actually rather welcome in the 40degree heat. Ridiculously treacherous to be pelted with water in this way.

Praying for a peaceful and harmonious resolution to Thailand’s political situation.

Diana f+ fuji 400H