Photography Thailand Forum

[agitlits]

I must have missed this, so my appologies if it is old news, but I've just found out that our illustrous leader, Marc, has published a book on Thailand with beautiful photos, many of which will be familiar to us.

I will definitely be purchasing a copy (in English).

Well done, Marc and I hope the sales go through the roof!! Why the original edition in French? Just curious.

Alex

[David Salmanowitz]

Alex--A very nice book indeed. :-) Bought one as Christmas gift last year for friend that lives in Paris (via French Amazon site), and picked up one for myself while visiting my sister in Switzerland. Unless things have changed, it was published only in French.

[Marc Schultz]

Thank you Alex and David and David for your kind support of the book.

The book was originally published in French. The book publisher, Vilo is a large France based picture book company whose market is mainly the French speaking countries. Since the first edition was released, Vilo formed a partnership with Page One Group in Singapore and are now colloberating on republishing the book in English. Page One is aiming to release it between February and March (early next year) and I will continue to update the information on my web site about availability of the book at http://www.photographythailand.com/Galleries/Book/gallery.html as the release date gets closer.

For the moment, the following shows a copy of the upcoming book cover release in English.

[mahonyWeb]

Fantastic - would love to be kept updated :)

[bjorn slis]

yep, keep us updated, I'd love to get a copy, is it going to be sold in bookstores ?

[Marc Schultz]

Thanks guys. I believe it will be sold in book stores in Asia, which should certainly include Thailand.

[Gus]

Unfortunately I will probably be back in Oz by the time the book is released, but definitely would like to get a copy so keep us updated.....

[Marc Schultz]

Thanks Gus. Page One has confirmed that it will be sold in all the major book stores in Thailand. I will post something more though as soon as I know about any online availability for placing overseas orders. Thanks again.

[ginaellen]

Can't see it in bookstores in Phuket. Will check it out next time I am in Bangkok hopefully.

[Marc Schultz]

Thank you Gina. I am afraid it is not out just yet. Originally we were aiming for a January release, but I think realistically it will be more like late February or early March at this point. I will continue to keep everyone posted though.

[kinginexile]

Too bad, I was in France a couple weeks ago. The cover shot certainly  makes me eager to open it up. I love the title, while amusingly thinking on some "thailand" expat/travel websites, it would open a can of worms!

Congratulations, Marc, indeed. I hope it shows up on Amazon USA>

[Marc Schultz]

Thanks. Just as a clarification, the French version was released just over a year ago and is already available in France and other French speaking countires like Switzerland. The new English release, which employs a different cover image (the one seen in this message), will be coming out early next year. Yes, it will be nice if the English version is widely available on sites like Amazon and B&N for easy purchase on-line like the French version which is available on the French Amazon and FNAC:

http://www.amazon.fr/Tha%eflande-Gout-Paradis-Jean-Marie-Boelle/dp/2719108464/ref=sr_11_1/403-8496034-2953230?ie=UTF8

http://www4.fnac.com/Shelf/Article.aspx?PRID=1842918&OrderInSession=1&Mn=1&SID=c4dc22eb-4c04-100f-0240-956c90f1ad51&TTL=051020060856&Origin=FnacAff&Ra=-1&To=0&Nu=1&UID=0e0d48e16-86ee-20f3-29b5-d0e859b969ac&Fr=-1

[Marc Schultz]

I was just reading through the English text translation from the book I was sent (originally written by French writer, Jean-Marie Boelle) and I found this one passage very poetic about the life of a Thai throw-net fisherman. Jean-Marie refers to this type of fishing as Sparrow Hawk fishing and a Thai fisherman as a Man-Fish. Following is the graceful passage:

...Chai does not have to go too far to fish. Perched upon the stilts protecting him from floods, his house made of thatch, bamboo and see-through panel-walls, sounds the water. His pipe has yet not stopped sizzling on top of the outdoor stairs, next to a bowl of rice and spicy meat sauce breakfast leftovers, a step from which he already flings his net. Shaped like a funnel and weighted with kilos of heavy lead rings, the sparrow hawk opens up like an umbrella and storms onto the water, drawing a perfect circle of about fifteen meters width. Spreading out almost silently on the river surface, it splashes up thousands of twinkling stars before quickly disappearing on the bed of the river, pulled downward by the weights it carries.

The fisherman is one with his net.  Leaning forward over the brown water, his back muscles prominent and glistening from the first heat of the sun, he brings the bird back with a rope attached to its head and firmly fastened to his wrist. The sticky and shiny mesh of his net now forms a vast pocket, loose on one end, dilated and swarming with life on the other. In this pear-shaped receptacle, small silvery fish are dancing, with perhaps two or three beautiful others that have cat whiskers. Perched on the house's stairs, a short tail magpie inflating its blue feathers waits for its part of the feast. Chai did not choose his profession. He has never dreamed of living in Kanchanaburi, the nearest city. He was born next to the river and he just stayed. He learned how to fish at the same time as he learned how to swim and walk. His gestures are smooth, almost negligent, hiding flawless technique.  He got it from his father and a thousand year old inheritance.  The success of his throw depends more on his concentration and skills than on his strength. This morning, several sparrow hawk attacks were enough to give him a good catch, without his having to move more than a few meters into this river where, immersed up to mid-thigh, he notices in a fraction of a second, by its slight movement, its scales flashing and its departing fin, the presence of prey. Almost naked under his head of silky dark hair, he reads the Kwai River like a priest in a cassock reads his prayer book. He doesn't even blink in the glaring sunlight. The heat, already grown so unbearable that breath seems to have ceased, only extracts three drops of sweat from his forehead. Nothing can distract him from staring at the water.  Not even a furtively gliding pirogue, nor a buffalo mud bathing, nor a woman in a chedi hat doing her laundry, nor the birds flying up the sky like whirling smoke can alter his rapt attention.  Chai slides into the river as one gets into bed. He is a true man-fish.

[agitlits]

Beautiful writing there.  Looking forward to purchasing a copy.

Alex

[PaulCypert]

Seems a good grasp on Thailand with the statement of "hoping for January but realistically Feb or March"  :)

I've always wanted to do something like that and am amazed with people who have the follow through to get it done.  Congrats!

Paul