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| The Photowalk participants at the King Rama I Monument, taken by the Jose Tan, the organizer and leader. |
Saturday, 24th of July year 2010, about fifty people of varied nationalities with a common interest on photography gathered at King Rama I Monument located at the end of Memorial Bridge for the Scott Kelby Annual Photowalk Wang Burapha Phirom, Bangkok. The photowalk was organized by Jose Tan, a Filipino portrait photographer residing at Minburi, Bangkok. According to the organizer, a big portion of the participants were Thai and Filipino, others were of Malaysian, American, Norwegian, Swedish and African nationalities. The coverage of the Channel 3 Television made it more a big deal. Two young ladies and a camera man from the television company walked with the other participants as they went around the area taking photos.
The assembly time was at 3:30 in the afternoon. Most had brought SLR (Single Lens Reflect)and DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflect) cameras while I only have with me my three months old point-and-shoot Panasonic touchscreen camera. Gee! I felt inferior at first, but the words of the organizer during our informal basic photography session done four days before the walk made me look on the eye level. What were those words? The beauty of a photo does not depend on the type of camera.
Why did I join the walk? Photography is not my best hobby but I love taking photos, clicking the shutter as fast as I can involving common sense and perception on how would a photo be nicely taken. The emergence of the technology of digital cameras, popularity of social networking and influence of a long time photo enthusiast British friend lured me into it. I joined the walk for few reasons but joining the contest was the least. First, it was an opportunity to be with friends and to meet new friends. It is always a great pleasure to be with friends, isn't it? That is networking. Secondly, I foresee the walk as the threshold to develop myself in the field of photography; and third but not the least, I had been in the Pak Khlong Talat (flower market) before but did not have the chance to scrutinized the place. So this activity was my chance to do so.
The walk started at the flower market. My friend. whom I had successfully enticed to join me, and I went through the line of flower shops. Wow! This was the exclamation words we had uttered while our eyes open so widely feasting on the beauty of the bunches of different and colorful flowers. So excited I forgot that I was supposed to take photos in an artistic way. I never had seen before variety of bountiful flowers and most cost cheap. In my hometown in the Philippines, flowers were of few varieties and most came from Baguio City, the summer capital. One point added to my stand of conclusion that I had formulated before that Thailand is blessed with many resources. When we finally get over with the excitement, we decided to figure out our way, with the use of a map (now I learned to use maps) and asking fellow participants we had encountered along the way, to the Giant Swing and then to the Democracy Monument where the Cafe Democ is, the designated meeting place after the walk.
My camera settings had a bit of a problem which I was not able to solve and the battery was low. Nevertheless, the minor problems did not hinder me from enjoying the walk and from attaining my objectives. The day was ended with a good dinner at a small nice restaurant infront the Bangkok City Hall. It was worth a good experience indeed!
In everything, there is always something new to be learned.
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