Photography Thailand Forum

[geoff]

I understand that there will be a photo show in Bangkok from Dec 8-11 at BITEC.  If anyone is interested, there is a website but unfortunately, it is in Thai.  Here is the URL .  Has anybody been to this show in prior years?

Geoff

[gregoire]

Went last year. It's nice. All the shops and brands are there so you get to see lots of cool gear.

But it's not huge and none of the stuff there is newly released (it's not photokina of course). Also, getting there is a huge pain in the a*s. I went the day of the graduation ceremony of Ramkamhaeng (where The Monarch must hand out thousands of degrees for hours) and the place was gridlocked for the entire day--a real transportation nightmare. I ended giving up on going home and just went to see a movie at Central down the road, and even that took ages. Even walking was near impossible!

Maybe I just choose a really bad day. Inside, it's not bad at all.

[geoff]

Gregoire, thanks for the feedback and the heads up on traffic.  Btw, I'm enjoying seeing your work in BK Magazine.  I liked your cover shot at the new airport a few weeks ago.

Geoff

[anna]

Went there last year and bought only camera bag. It was so-so. There was no graduation but it was still traffic.  One thing I noted, didn't see farangs but huge crowds of Thais.  Maybe because website is in Thai only? 

[geoff]

Anna, thanks.  I think you are right.  I have only seen advertising for the show in a Thai photo magazine I happened to flip through at a news stand.  I havn't seen any publicity for the show elsewhere.

Geoff

[gregoire]

Thanks Geoff. I have a pretty cool issue coming up first week of November where I took some "alternative analog" (lomo, holga, etc.) cameras for field tests in the parks of Bangkok. After that I'm done at BK, though. You can't get work permits for photographers in Thailand. I'm not sure I can even stay here.

[geoff]

Gregoire, look forward to checking out the Nov issue.  Sorry to hear about the work permit issues.  There seems to be a lot of bureaucracy in Thailand about visas and work permits.  Hope you can work something out!

Geoff

[antonie]

Gregoire, I work for a multinational firm that has various expat staff here in Bangkok, we use a big local law firm for our workers permits and visas.  Do you need a contact name to see if they can help you out?
Antonie

[Chris Savery]

Gregoire, Just visit the embassy in Penang (single entry, 60+30 days) or KL (double enttry, 60+30 days x 2) and get a regular tourist visa. So many of us do that and I did just last month. Costs about 100 ring/entry and is generally for most people very easy to do.
Chris :)

[gregoire]

Chris, the problem is not just staying here. The problem is legally working here, and that doesn't happen on a tourist visa.

Antonie, I spoke to lawyers and their answer to this kind of problem is 75 000 baht to create a company and 10 000 baht/month to run it.

Sorry guys, I don't want to sound rude. I'm just very upset. It's a big blow to have a company ready to hire me as a photographer and not be able to because I'm stealing jobs from Thais according to immigration, or the labour office or whatever.

[antonie]

Well Gregoire, good luck, my experience is that there is always more than ten ways to skin a cat, hope you find one that works for you

[gregoire]

Thanks Antonie. And Chris, thanks for your mail. A bit complicated for me. We'll see...

[meec]

Been to the show 2 years ago, it was nice but not wow..not enough lighting equipment IMHO.

[cee]

gregoire -- why don't you have them hire you as something else? you know, a writer or the like. make it something that you wouldn't be taking jobs away from thais for. you can still take photos for them, but it's not your 'job'.

good luck!

[Renato]

Gregoire, if this company really need you, they will find a way to get your work permit. You are in Thailand remember?