Songkran

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

I've always wanted to take pictures of Songkran, the Thai New Year where they splash water on everyone. Unfortunately I don't trust myself going to Thailand alone, and my family is not keen on Thailand in general. They prefer cold countries.

So it was a great delight for me to discover while I was cycling that today is Songkran. I first got a clue when I met these nice folks on the footpath. I asked if I could take a picture, they said sure, and started smearing me with white powder.

Don't know why I have a face which people like to smear with powder. Kallang river is a great place to meet all sorts of people.

Anyway, since I had involuntarily become part of the celebrations, I thought I might as well take full advantage of it, and make the most of the photo-opportunity.

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

You can see them seated in small groups, gathered around alcohol, food (raw beef, spiced stuff) and money. Some of them were gambling, others just having a good time. At first I was apprehensive, wondering if they would mind me taking pictures of them gambling and recalling stories of foreign workers murdering each other. But hey, photography demands sacrifice.

Anyway, they seemed friendly enough, and eager to explain to me what Songkran was all about.

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

It's about making a mess, and smearing each other with powder or splashing with water. It's about love and friendship and fellowship.

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

This guy was explaining to me that if I went to Thailand during Songkran, "big one, small one, all can grope - no problem." I said "erm, no thanks, I'm married".

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

It's also about music, singing and dancing. The guitars are optional. Music is made by banging empty plastic water bottles and chanting (rather entrancing stuff, too). Dancing is done in the middle of the group.

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

And, of course, there's the alcohol. Beer, whisky and God knows what else floating freely around. I had to accept a couple of cups of whisky in order to continue taking photos. Ah, the sacrifices of a photographer. Strong stuff, too.

These guys were piss-drunk.

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

Happy New Year!

StreetShooter · 13th April 2003

What, no comments?

All pictures taken with IXUS S330 + underwater casing.

elutris · 14th April 2003

Heh ... StreetShooter ... it was only like ... 1/2 an hour? But let me be the first to leave a comment.

I can see that it was an interesting outing as they actually let you into their celebrations. If you are looking for comments on your photos, I can only say that they look like ordinary snap shots to me. As someone within their group might take to circulate among themselves as a memory of the event.

But I am very impressed by the way you managed to 'inflitrate' their circle and get such up close and personal shots. Definately not easy for me.

Being a canoeist and a dragonboater, I have frequented this location countless of times for the past 6 years and have always approached these people with apprehension and curiosity. I have always wondered about the story behind each one of them.

Red Dawn · 14th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by elutris
Heh ... StreetShooter ... it was only like ... 1/2 an hour? But let me be the first to leave a comment.

I can see that it was an interesting outing as they actually let you into their celebrations. If you are looking for comments on your photos, I can only say that they look like ordinary snap shots to me. As someone within their group might take to circulate among themselves as a memory of the event.

But I am very impressed by the way you managed to 'inflitrate' their circle and get such up close and personal shots. Definately not easy for me.

Being a canoeist and a dragonboater, I have frequented this location countless of times for the past 6 years and have always approached these people with apprehension and curiosity. I have always wondered about the story behind each one of them.

Hi

casual snapshots? i think they are very well done, considering he was using an Ixus. Probably a good tool since it forces one to go closer to the action, which Streetshooter has done. doesn't hurt that it has an underwater case too....

the part about "infiltration", u'll be surprised to discover just how easy it is to "infiltrate" any group, for lack of a better word. Many times all it takes is a good conversation with the pple, and showing genuine interest. most pple don't mind. unless they are doing something really illegal.....

StreetShooter · 14th April 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Red Dawn
casual snapshots? i think they are very well done, considering he was using an Ixus.

I see.... so if I was using a Leica M6, they would be considered casual snapshots?

Quote:

the part about "infiltration", u'll be surprised to discover just how easy it is to "infiltrate" any group, for lack of a better word. Many times all it takes is a good conversation with the pple, and showing genuine interest. most pple don't mind. unless they are doing something really illegal..... [/b]

He's right about that. I was pretty surprised at how easy it was. All I did was stop and fumble with my camera, they smeared me with powder, and I was "in". I've always wanted to do pictures of the Thai workers along Kallang, but always been apprehensive. It's made me realize that many of the barriers we put up between ourselves and other people are really quite unnecessary.

It helped, of course, that everyone was in a party mood, and mostly drunk!

elutris · 14th April 2003

Quote:

casual snapshots? i think they are very well done, considering he was using an Ixus.

So does it mean that our photos can only be as good as our equipment allows us to be?

Hopefully one day, I too will be able to join such groups and get such shots. But just wondering, would have the people acted the same way towards Streetshooter if he were to appear with his 'big big' camera?

919956g · 15th April 2003

Ya, those people in the photo are very interesting plus they are doing some festival thingy, never heard of it before.

mr streetshooter, I have just posted some new photo...please feel free to take a look, do drop some comments, (Colour of your world)...wah u and ur friends often update each other about camera, very interesting leh.....

tomshen · 15th April 2003

hehe streetshooter, time to sell away IXUS and get a A70 liao, u know, full manual control..

Nice series with narration. I only feel pity of not wide enough those DC lenses are. If u had a 20mm equivalent shooting closeup, the result will be more amazing. I like to see all kinds of wide angle distortion. But again, I am inspired and feel like to get an underwater casing with a bike and sneak behind u, haha.

thoa_rs · 17th April 2003

I really admire the fact that you can approach strangers and gel with them so nicely!

toonstar · 19th April 2003

The songkran festival is amazingly fun.

Check out my pics at http://www.pbase.com/toonstar

Just some pics i took when i was having fun with the thais. cheers

13th April 2003	#1
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	Songkran I've always wanted to take pictures of Songkran, the Thai New Year where they splash water on everyone. Unfortunately I don't trust myself going to Thailand alone, and my family is not keen on Thailand in general. They prefer cold countries. So it was a great delight for me to discover while I was cycling that today is Songkran. I first got a clue when I met these nice folks on the footpath. I asked if I could take a picture, they said sure, and started smearing me with white powder. Don't know why I have a face which people like to smear with powder. Kallang river is a great place to meet all sorts of people. Anyway, since I had involuntarily become part of the celebrations, I thought I might as well take full advantage of it, and make the most of the photo-opportunity. Last edited by StreetShooter; 14th April 2007 at 12:23 PM.

13th April 2003	#2
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	You can see them seated in small groups, gathered around alcohol, food (raw beef, spiced stuff) and money. Some of them were gambling, others just having a good time. At first I was apprehensive, wondering if they would mind me taking pictures of them gambling and recalling stories of foreign workers murdering each other. But hey, photography demands sacrifice. Anyway, they seemed friendly enough, and eager to explain to me what Songkran was all about. Last edited by StreetShooter; 14th April 2007 at 12:24 PM.

13th April 2003	#3
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	It's about making a mess, and smearing each other with powder or splashing with water. It's about love and friendship and fellowship. Last edited by StreetShooter; 14th April 2007 at 12:24 PM.

13th April 2003	#4
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	Last edited by StreetShooter; 14th April 2007 at 12:25 PM.

13th April 2003	#5
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	This guy was explaining to me that if I went to Thailand during Songkran, "big one, small one, all can grope - no problem." I said "erm, no thanks, I'm married". Last edited by StreetShooter; 14th April 2007 at 12:25 PM.

13th April 2003	#8
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	Happy New Year! Last edited by StreetShooter; 14th April 2007 at 12:26 PM.

13th April 2003	#9
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	What, no comments? All pictures taken with IXUS S330 + underwater casing.

14th April 2003	#10
elutris Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Upper Bukit Timah Posts: 235	Heh ... StreetShooter ... it was only like ... 1/2 an hour? But let me be the first to leave a comment. I can see that it was an interesting outing as they actually let you into their celebrations. If you are looking for comments on your photos, I can only say that they look like ordinary snap shots to me. As someone within their group might take to circulate among themselves as a memory of the event. But I am very impressed by the way you managed to 'inflitrate' their circle and get such up close and personal shots. Definately not easy for me. Being a canoeist and a dragonboater, I have frequented this location countless of times for the past 6 years and have always approached these people with apprehension and curiosity. I have always wondered about the story behind each one of them.

15th April 2003	#14
919956g Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: singapore Posts: 372	Ya, those people in the photo are very interesting plus they are doing some festival thingy, never heard of it before. mr streetshooter, I have just posted some new photo...please feel free to take a look, do drop some comments, (Colour of your world)...wah u and ur friends often update each other about camera, very interesting leh.....

15th April 2003	#15
tomshen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,719	hehe streetshooter, time to sell away IXUS and get a A70 liao, u know, full manual control.. Nice series with narration. I only feel pity of not wide enough those DC lenses are. If u had a 20mm equivalent shooting closeup, the result will be more amazing. I like to see all kinds of wide angle distortion. But again, I am inspired and feel like to get an underwater casing with a bike and sneak behind u, haha. __________________ Visit http://www.tomshenstudio.com

17th April 2003	#16
thoa_rs Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Siglap Posts: 2,028	I really admire the fact that you can approach strangers and gel with them so nicely! __________________ www.jonkeng.com

19th April 2003	#17
toonstar New Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 45	The songkran festival is amazingly fun. Check out my pics at http://www.pbase.com/toonstar Just some pics i took when i was having fun with the thais. cheers