A glimpse of Thailand –
Peter Karry has discovered an annual Thai
in Surrey…
cultural celebration offering exotic photo
subjects without long haul travel
I
magine discovering a secret Clearly planning was going to
corner of Thailand – magically be important , including using
recreated in the heart of the Multimap to find the best route to
English countryside. Every second Secretts Garden Centre and Farm
year a brilliant event, run by the Shop in Milford, Surrey where
charity called The Mudita Trust, the event was taking place.
called Amazing Thailand takes I decided to take two Minolta
place. This charity was set in 1992 for Dynax 9xi bodies, wide angle
the prevention of child prostitution zoom, telephoto zoom, a telephoto
in Thailand – see the end of this macro lens, and, because most of
article for the story. The event over the activities started at midday, in
the three days of August Bank holiday the hope that the sun would shine,
incorporated glittering dance, exhila- an off camera 5200i flash gun for
rating martial arts, processions, fill-in to overcome shadows under
spectacular pageants, traditional eyes and noses. Film selected was
roadside market stalls, fashion Konica Minolta Centuria Chrome
parades and children’s workshops. 100 slide film backed up by 800
When I asked for permission to and 1600 Centuria negative. Yes,
take photos close up to the performer, still on film! However, this was
and the organiser’s response was scanned onto CD after processing
that I could become the official by my local Allied Photolabs in
photographer if I contributed my Leatherhead for ease of use later on.
time, what else could I do but accept? The first day, Saturday, dawned
to overcast skies. This was to be the wearing modern clothing made from
way for most of that day but it allowed Thai silk designed to reflect themes of
me to find my way round the fields some traditional Thai costumes, and
without getting hot and flustered. As marvelling at the speed of the Thai
it happened, I was under instructions martial arts being demonstrated. On
to appear that morning by 9am, the the sizeable stage it was difficult to
Buddhist monks were going to walk predict where they would move next
round the stalls giving their blessing so I found it best to stay focussed on
and, of course, gathering up the one area and wait until they arrived
traditional offerings of food – this there. Luckily this was not the case
provided some early photo opportuni- with the models who treated the stage
ties. I thought about the different uses like a catwalk so I shared the space
of the lenses; wide-angle to shoot with another photographer – he
from a low position, and telephototo took one side and I took the another
close in on the food bowls. and we knew where and when the
After completing my first assign- models were going to appear.
ment I just sauntered around the fes- The weather on the following
tival, watching the colourful classical two days was so different! It was
Thai dancers perform, photographing hot and sunny with blue, blue skies.
intricate details of the costume Not ideal for portrait photography.
when possible, trying to do justice to However, the colours became really
the international models who were vibrant – whether on the food stalls,
27 photoworld
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