Photography Thailand Forum

[Ellen Agger]

Hi. There were a couple of comments in a recent post about the "unforgiving light" in Thailand: http://www.photographythailand.com/Forum/index.php?topic=473.0;topicseen.

I've been thinking about this as I plan a two-month trip in December and January. This will be my first time shooting digital in Thailand. (I'm using a Canon Rebel XT.) Other than the advice to shoot early in the morning or close to sunset, as I try to do here, do any of you have any other suggestions for approaches to this challenge when one is travelling and in fabulous locations throughout the day?

Ellen

[Renato]

Hi Ellen,
December and January should be alright. It is the time of the year when Europeans are coming to Thailand in droves. It will also depend on which part of Thailand you will be, the weather is unpredictable this year and a few provinces are under water at the moment which was unusual. Either way, you will find your hands full of things to shoot with your digital while you are here for two months. Other members of this Forum might share their experience.

[SimonP]

December/January is a good time to visit Thailand despite the increased tourist numbers and costs.  You should get more blue sky for your money, instead of the white haze common at other times of the year.  The weather is also cooler (winter in fact!) and up in the mountains I am guessing that it could be a good time for those sea of cloud shots that u see around.

If you are in situations where you need to shoot in the middle of the day I think you need lens hoods for all your lenses and  filters, definitely polarising and there's some others which other Forum members will be able to tell you the names of (gradual density?).  Also shooting in Raw or with a tripod so you can try different exposures and then put them together later in PS can help I think but I've never really done that.  There are articles/threads on those topics somewhere in the forum though.

Simon.

[Hawaiiman]

Not sure about the rest of the Kingdom, but the "haze" is worst here in Isaan November to May. Everyone burns weeds in the dry season. The air clears nicely in rain season, and it isn't as hot as April (OMG). With everything being green and clean in rain season, May to end of September are my favorite times.

[Khun Hans]

Not sure about the rest of the Kingdom, but the "haze" is worst here in Isaan November to May. Everyone burns weeds in the dry season. The air clears nicely in rain season, and it isn't as hot as April (OMG). With everything being green and clean in rain season, May to end of September are my favorite times.

If you consider the 'Haze' as the early morning fog or as pre and after sunset 'dust' it is a part of my picture composition. In particular in Isaan, my beloved place for pre dawn shots.
See here: www.fredmiranda.com/hosting/showgallery.php?cat=5176
Hans

[gsalet]

I have to say to say the Hua Hin area does get that unforgiving  hard light. Nice skies (other than Sunsets) are rare too.

[Marc Schultz]

Welcome gsalet.

The light also has to do with time of year. If you are talking about this month (April) the light is very hard. Winter time is better. The sun is lower and the natural light is more useable.