Once upon a Church

The window of a Catholic Church


A rosy wedding

Photos by Lucas Yap Shau Wei

National Geographic Magazine Your Shot

National Geographic Magazine Your Shot: "Add National Geographic Your Shot site content onto your Web space."

YPOTY 2010 Closes!

A Sumatran tigress with her cubs near by feels threatened by the on lookers in Zoo Negara

The entries for Young Photographer of The Year 2010 has finally closed on September 14, 5pm GMT+. The results will be announced on the website and Digital Camera Magazine on December 2010. So I guess all we can do now is just sit tight and wait.

You can see my entries here. http://www.youngphotographeroftheyear.com/userGallery.aspx?UserId=e2b06069-0c41-414a-afca-5cf560cdedaa


Good luck and have fun shooting!


Photo by Lucas Yap Shau Wei

A tale of a photographer

A man selling souvenirs on a broken bench

Humans have always been social creatures. Everything we do requires communication, be it face to face or through the media and it goes without saying that as a photographer your communication skills plays an important role as well if your subjects are humans. Whether they are hired models or strangers on the street, respect should always be given as well as privacy. (Though the latter may not apply for hired models.) Since my last trip in Bangkok, I have learned a lot about communicating with strangers and overcoming the language barrier.

A street worker taking a break under a makeshift cover.

A land with origins dating back to hundreds of years ago, Thailand has evolved into a country with people of strong hearts and minds, along with a wide variety of local food and traditions leading to a culturally rich country. Besides the recent riots, the people of Thailand however are still friendly and open as their country relies heavily on the tourism industry which has felt the effects of the violence caused by the riots which took the lives of a couple of foreigners as well. While I was there I came across many interesting characters including a street worker sitting in a makeshift resting area erected right next to the hotel I was staying in. I took up my camera and took a few shots when he realized that he was being photographed. He just looked up and gave a sincere smile while I took a couple more shots of him posing with his hand phone. Pleased, I went to him and showed him the photo I took on the LCD screen. He asked me where I was from and we exchanged a couple of polite words before I continued on my way into the hotel. While for times like this I didn't necessarily asked for permission to take their photos because he voluntarily posed for me, but othersie I would normally ask if the person looks at me with a puzzled expression instead.

In the Chatuchak market of Bangkok, I saw a man sitting on a cushioned chair sketching the market scene before him. I knelt down from a respectful distance and took some shots. However when he looked at me and I asked if I could take a photo by putting up my fore finger he just ignored me and continued with his sketch. The point is that while most people would appreciate and even be flattered for having their photographs taken, there would always be some who wouldn't be too happy and that is when you should know when to take your leave. As a photographer you should always respect people's privacy, culture, beliefs as well as their customs to prevent misunderstandings from happening. Always remember, the people comes first.

A man sitting on a rag cloth looking on while dozens of tourists and locals walk past him.

I have covered the communications as a photographer but what of the heart of a photographer? While I was there, I saw the lower class of Thailand quite a lot as well. Beggars sitting by the road, a blind man singing in hopes of earning some money and a poor old man who could barely climb down a flight of stairs. Ever since I picked up my first camera and started taking photos, I have viewed the world from a different perspective. I can now see the suffering and not just look and feel sorry, but actually doing something to help them. My eyes has been opened to the many trials of life that may it be god you believe in, or any other divine being that has thrown in our lives. While the fortunate ones may be more better ready to take on the obstacles in life, some unfortunately aren't as lucky. I wish to tell the story of these people of the world, though often overlooked, they are as every bit as important and significant as the the leaders of the world. For they remind us of the pain of life, of how life isn't always as comfortable for everyone. I do not just take photos of these people and walk off, when I can help I do. Though I may just be a single person, I know that my efforts to help is not futile, because you're a single person as well, and together we make the world.

Singing for his life

This lesson became especially important to me in Bangkok. At the market of Chatuchak, I saw a blind man singing with his soul. Carrying a wooden speaker strapped to his body, he sang as if he was competing for a competition. It was however a competition where only the winner survives. I didn't have any small change and only had 500baht notes (RM50.00) so I bought a bottle of water and gave some of the change to him. I tried to give him the bottle of water as well but he wouldn't accept it. I appreciated his willpower though, he was living proof that no matter what life throws at you, you just have to keep it strong and never let go of hope. He was singing with his heart. He was singing for his life.

The pain can be seen in his eyes

I also gave some money to a small group of girls who were most probably barely eight years old playing the violin by the road side. After taking some photos, I gave them a small sum of money as well as a token of appreciation and of good will. I did the same as well when an old man wearing haggard clothes walked past me. I could see the pain in his eyes, the sufferings he has endured during his long life. Of course, I did not hesitate to photograph him, but once I was done I did not just walk away. I gave him a bit of money, while he slowly shuffled his weak legs across the market. As a photographer, I appreciate everything this world has to offer. Its a beautiful world, with diverse cultures, traditions and customs as well as the different economic classes. But if there is one thing we all have in common, it is our heart. I strive to capture that serene fleeting moment when the heart of that individual can be seen on his face, telling you the story of his life and everything he has gone through. We all have a heart, no matter who you are or what color you are. I am therefore very grateful for that and will continue to strive to capture those moments when it is shown in the form of the individual's face.... And I will not forget those who's heart is in need of help.

The hardship a young child faces at such an age

Written by Lucas Yap Shau Wei

Photos by Lucas Yap Shau Wei

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This is Thailand

The bustling capital of Thailand is the city that never sleeps of asia.

I walked out of the airport and was welcomed with vehicles of all colours from pink to blue to even green, looking as if I suddenly emerged into a land of rainbow. These colorful vehicles play a major role in making the country's capital's economy go round. However, with the political tensions in the country as well as the riots that took dozens of lives of both citizens and government troops, its tourism industry has taken a blow. Ironically, the riots by the people supposedly to improve their country is in fact destroying the country it self. "See the Philipine tourists, girl very nice." My taxi driver quipped while speeding down the highway well past the speed limit to be able to squeeze as many trips as possible for foreigners arriving from the airport. "Tonight got bomb in the city, police will close one kilometer." I look at him incredulously obviously more than a bit taken aback by the sudden statement. Following the current end of the deadly riots, small bombs have been set off including a grenade attack on a bank in Bangkok. Though the riots that involved the 'Red Shirts', supporters of the ousted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the government troops may be over for now, the damage has already been done, with the seeds of anger and dissatisfaction already planted into the hearts of the people of Thailand. The 'Red Shirts' support the ousted prime minister and are fighting to reform the government following the coup after Thaksin was accused of corruption, ultimately leading to the deadly division of the country, the people and the government. Now a fugitive, the government has issued out a warrant for his arrest on charges of terrorism. Beside the obvious lack of tourists compared to the time before the riots, the life of the people of Bangkok goes on despite the obvious tension as everyone still has to make a living whether they like it or not.

Red window

A woman works to earn a living

A grateful girl

A man tending to his food stall at Chatuchak

A construction worker having a smoke break


Small girls playing the violin to earn some money

A blind man singing

I had to go through a security check point in one of Bangkok's subway train station before I could take the train to Chatuchak market. A sprawling area of stores selling food, drinks, imitations of clothes brands, toys and other general items. The place was crowded with people and it was huge. One could even get lost in the massive bustling market. I spent a couple of hours wondering around the market when I came across a blind man singing into into a microphone with a wooden rather old designed speaker attached to him. I took as many photos as I could without interrupting or getting in his way. I then bought a bottle of water and gave him the change although he didn't accept the water. With hundreds of sellers, buyers and quite a few tourists at the market, one could spent hours there just taking it all in.

Pain in her eyes

Singing for his life

The next day was followed by a trip to two temples and the Ruin City. The ruin city was indeed great, with remnants of the past city left over. The city was Thailand's capital in the past although now all that remains of it are rubble as the only sign that it even existed. The second temple had many statues of Buddha showing the worn of age and weather against it. At the feet of a big golden statue, people were sticking coins onto the feet made of stone.

The knowledgeable statue

Temple

Remnants of the past


Leaves of the past

Ruined city

Two towers

Still standing against time

Believing that it showed a sign of your spiritual power, it was indeed something to ponder about. Many people also climb a long stairs up a ruined temple into a dark room with a well like hole in the middle surrounded by statues of Buddha. They would then drop coins into the hole through the wooden barriers believing it would bring them luck. For a small fee of 50baht (RM5.00) you could buy a packet of small thing slips of gold surfaced paper to stick on the statues of Buddha. The money from the fee goes into the donation fund for the upkeep of the temple.

From the top of the canal


Reading alone



A fisherman retrieving his net in the canal


A caught in hand

Our guide then took us to the small jetty where they have tours around one of the many canals in Bangkok. I have never quite experienced anything like it, with people living side by side in houses right next to the canal. Though most of the people living there were from the lower class of Bangkok, they seemed content with their life. Fishing with a couple of friends by the canal and children swimming along the canal next to a big waterproof electric cable. The life here is easy going, obviously not affected by the pressure and stress of the bustling capital. There were even people on row boats selling things from souvenirs to drinks. One came by and we bought a can of Thai beer for our driver. He was very grateful for it as the people here never take anything for granted as the rest of our society has. It really does make me wonder, is living freely and happily better than having all the riches in the world but have your mental and emotional freedom restricted and affected from the pressures of life. Of how the idea being successful has been shaped by our society that its all about money and power. These small number of people living by the canal certainly serves as a reminder as to how life is a lot more than just money and power. Unfortunately, it is those two things that has caused such a colorful and vibrant country much harm to itself, following the civil unrest and the anger that still lives on in many of the people's hearts. Still, life for the people still has to go on though and it is an obstacle the people of Thailand has to overcome themselves as one. If you go there now though you won't see much of the difference the riots has caused as even the bustling life in Bangkok can't be put on hold for the problems that the country is dealing with because after all, this is Thailand.

The new, the old and the unknown

Photos by Lucas Yap Shau Wei

Writen by Lucas Yap Shau Wei

P.S. Do leave a comment and your opinion.