Korat
04 February, 2008 by malcolm-
Oh my! This is my very first post of the year. And I guess this post is actually quite meaningful to me. Was sent to Korat, Thailand, from 27 Jan to 1 Feb, due to my job requirements. It's the city where the last SEA games were held.
During that period, I had the opportunity to visit two local villages due to the community involvement programme in which I had to cover.
I got to say it has been very enriching. The photography I got to do there was something I haven't done in a long time (ever since the old folks home last year). The style that I have been looking for. The type of photography that tells a story behind every shot. Behind every smile, behind every tear that was captured, is a story of its own. The type of photography that I wish and want to pursue. It certainly beats all that I have been shooting all this while...
The above shot is my favourite of all that I took. I guess the colours and the depth of field really makes the boy stand out. He was a curious little boy, running all round the place. It was really hard to capture him being still, not until he stopped and looked at another guy with a camera.
The community involvement included medical services and also hair cutting services. It kinda reminded me of BMT, but obviously it was different. The guys got almost the same hair cut, which was kinda cute actually. This photo also struck me, in how I got the eye contact of both and how it actually turned out to be. It make them look like twins actually, but I doubt they are.
Well, having to mention about the medical services, it wasn't only limited to just the kids of course. Even before the place was set up, many locals have already gathered there. Many were old folks actually, because health care was quite inaccessible for them or simply could not afford it. The wrinkles on both their faces really tells me that every stroke on their face is a story. These are stories that have been left untold, and probably will never be told.
Another person that caught my eye was this old lady. She was all along at a corner, sitting on nothing more than a metal cart with a straw mat. It began obvious later why it was so. It was actually a make-shift wheelchair, or rather that was what it was. This old lady had some problem with her leg joints that prevented her from walking long distances. And what I saw later on really struck me. It wasn't the son or a young man who pushed her all the distance to the place, but rather a hunched-back old man, who slowly pushed her all the way. That really showed me the meaning of true love.
This little girl also touched my heart. I guess it was her cuteness and the way she would get jealous that her younger sister drew more attention than she did. She would just go over and hug on to the younger sister whenever some stranger tries to carry her. And she would really hug her tight and so close. Childhood innocence uh...
Another thing that the kids really touched me by were their genuine smiles and laughter. They showed me that the simplest of things were really enough to be appreciated and make their day or maybe even two. It really left me thinking how lucky or privileged we are, but we never appreciate it. Give a kid in Singapore a plastic toy, he'll demand for a Lego one. But what these kids at Korat really showed me was the true meaning of being satisfied of what we have. A small cheap plastic helicopter was enough to make a kid all so grateful. Or just even a bun or a bottle of flavoured drink, which was all they got, but you could see the true smile of happiness that just overflows into your heart...
This trip has really been an excellent experience for me. It really encourages me and I really hope to one day be able to pursue this... All I ask for is just for my works to touch one heart or spread an otherwise untold story...
*More photos are at my flickr site
During that period, I had the opportunity to visit two local villages due to the community involvement programme in which I had to cover.
I got to say it has been very enriching. The photography I got to do there was something I haven't done in a long time (ever since the old folks home last year). The style that I have been looking for. The type of photography that tells a story behind every shot. Behind every smile, behind every tear that was captured, is a story of its own. The type of photography that I wish and want to pursue. It certainly beats all that I have been shooting all this while...
The above shot is my favourite of all that I took. I guess the colours and the depth of field really makes the boy stand out. He was a curious little boy, running all round the place. It was really hard to capture him being still, not until he stopped and looked at another guy with a camera.The community involvement included medical services and also hair cutting services. It kinda reminded me of BMT, but obviously it was different. The guys got almost the same hair cut, which was kinda cute actually. This photo also struck me, in how I got the eye contact of both and how it actually turned out to be. It make them look like twins actually, but I doubt they are.Well, having to mention about the medical services, it wasn't only limited to just the kids of course. Even before the place was set up, many locals have already gathered there. Many were old folks actually, because health care was quite inaccessible for them or simply could not afford it. The wrinkles on both their faces really tells me that every stroke on their face is a story. These are stories that have been left untold, and probably will never be told.Another person that caught my eye was this old lady. She was all along at a corner, sitting on nothing more than a metal cart with a straw mat. It began obvious later why it was so. It was actually a make-shift wheelchair, or rather that was what it was. This old lady had some problem with her leg joints that prevented her from walking long distances. And what I saw later on really struck me. It wasn't the son or a young man who pushed her all the distance to the place, but rather a hunched-back old man, who slowly pushed her all the way. That really showed me the meaning of true love.This little girl also touched my heart. I guess it was her cuteness and the way she would get jealous that her younger sister drew more attention than she did. She would just go over and hug on to the younger sister whenever some stranger tries to carry her. And she would really hug her tight and so close. Childhood innocence uh...Another thing that the kids really touched me by were their genuine smiles and laughter. They showed me that the simplest of things were really enough to be appreciated and make their day or maybe even two. It really left me thinking how lucky or privileged we are, but we never appreciate it. Give a kid in Singapore a plastic toy, he'll demand for a Lego one. But what these kids at Korat really showed me was the true meaning of being satisfied of what we have. A small cheap plastic helicopter was enough to make a kid all so grateful. Or just even a bun or a bottle of flavoured drink, which was all they got, but you could see the true smile of happiness that just overflows into your heart...This trip has really been an excellent experience for me. It really encourages me and I really hope to one day be able to pursue this... All I ask for is just for my works to touch one heart or spread an otherwise untold story...
*More photos are at my flickr site
