THAIL AND HOW I GOT THE SHOT


ULF SVANE ON PHOTOGRAPHING THE PARTICIPANTS OF ONE OF PHUKET’S MOST SPIRITED FESTIVALS FOR OUR JUNE ISSUE


Tell us about this image. I took this photograph during Phuket’s nine-day Vegetarian Festival, which is celebrated across Southeast Asia but especially here, due to the island’s large Taoist community. It’s said the festivities were introduced in 1825 by a visiting opera troupe of Chinese Taoists keen to uphold their practices abroad. This mah song, one of the spirit mediums around which the festival revolves, was taking part in the main procession. She’d just left the Jui Tui shrine in Phuket’s Old Town, where she entered a divine state before going house to house, blessing offerings. She was clearly in a deep trance as she walked into the morning sun, surrounded by her followers.


How did you achieve the shot? I try to keep my travel set-up as simple as possible. A 24-70mm lens is ideal, as it allows me to capture everything from landscapes to close- up portraits. This particular parade provided a great opportunity to capture the latter, and when I saw the woman in this shot, I knew I had to photograph her. I finally got the chance when she stopped in the middle of a large junction, her eyes closed under the blazing heat.


What were the challenges at play? During the festival, Phuket Town is packed with people demonstrating their devotion to the gods, from the crowds that turn out to see the mah song to the participants in the infamous fire-walking ceremony. That kind of bustling atmosphere can make finding a good moment to shoot something of a challenge, especially when there’s a constant threat of a loud firework going off somewhere nearby. It was a privilege rather than a challenge, but


writer Daniel Stables and I were also required to abstain from alcohol, tell the truth at all times, follow a vegetarian diet during the festival and wear all-white clothing from head to toe — all part of the purification of mind and body.


What advice would you give to someone starting out in travel photography? Don’t spend a fortune on gear — buy a train ticket instead. Engage with people respectfully and stay open to your surroundings.


@ulfsvane


I SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CONSIDERATION AT PHOTOGRAPHY@NATGEOTRAVELLER.CO.UK 194 NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL


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