Photography Thailand Forum

[bacs]

How do the people of Thailand react to having their photo taken?
I presume that it is best to ask permission first but is it usually favoured or declined?
Is it usual or reasonable to offer money either before or after taking an image of a person?
I understand that smiles and Wais are helpful.

[Marc Schultz]

This is an interesting subject and one I think is good for exploration in a forum like this.

In general, I have found that Thais don't mind and even enjoy picture taking, as long as it feels like fun for them and that they feel the photo does not create a negative exploitation of something in their culture. Some Thais may be shy and that is often part of the issue, but usually some polite smiles while holding up the camera and gesturing to take a photo of them is a good approach. I often talk with them about what they are doing or selling before snapping a shot and I find this helps to put them at ease and results in a more relaxed, natural looking photo as well.

Unless, your picture taking takes up a lot of their time or is physically strenuous for them to pose for then I don't feel there is a need to offer them money for posing, although you can if it makes you feel more comfortable. What is more important is that you are polite and treat them with respect when taking their picture and if you can offer them some sort of cultural exchange in return then they will enjoy that as well.

I hope this helps.

[bacs]

Your comments are certainly helpful and I hope that other contributions will add to this discussion.

Also, I would expect that one should begin with a wei (bow) unless this might be impolite between strangers?

[Marc Schultz]

You can never go wrong with a Wai. Certianly they will find it charming and Wai you back or at the very least give you a smile...

[David Procter]

Thai people are the reason i started taking photographs. thai people are incredilbly approachable and believe me it restores my faith in humanity when youre able to strike up a conversation with someone on the street and not have them look at you strangely with "what do you want?" written all over their face as you'd get in glorious england where people are so wary of each other - mere eye contact is threatening. I think that thais living their life outside is one of the reasons for this, you often need to stay inside in england.
With regard to taking their pictures- marc's comment about the fun and  culture being reflected positively is important. For example taking pictures of people facing socioecomic difficulties has to be handled very carefully. I think sometimes people capture the stereotypical "poor people images" without enough understanding of an individual's situation and are too quick to project the third world mysery.
i tend to buy something someone is selling and dont feel comfortable buying being people's photos. Its obvious immediately if someone doesnt want their picture taken and this has to be respected.
Thai people are interested in people and its great meeting them wherever they are.

[kinginexile]

I am against giving money beforehand (after too, it usually reflects a "them and us" attitude, and wrong approach, for a photographer, or a traveller for that matter), Asia is a great country for people photography,  there is no need to absolutely try to get the shot. If someone asks, I move on, but frankly, they rarely do. Or I joke about it, they pick up on it and then it's sanook time. But people's choices must be respected, if they don't want their picture taken, we must respect it.

the main problem with shooting people is more about some of them losing the natural posture that had us wishing to photograph them. They start posing, and spontaneity goes out the window. Arghhh, the worse is having children absolutely naturally unself-conscious, and their elders asking them to quiet down and pose, one next to the other. No!!!!!! :-)

[picasso]

thai people are very friendly considering we usually shoot at them .....ask questions later or even buy something from the street vendors after we take there photo.....only problems are the beggers, you have to tip them beforehand, a good way to shoot thai people is on the move.....

[gece]

hi everybody
i am gece from istanbul,turkey.i couldnt figure out if there was a introduction page therefore i use my very first post on this forum to do it.
thank you for the great forum. i am planning to travel to thailand next month with my wife.all we know is we are going to stay in bangkok for 3 days and we are staying in thailand for a month.the rest we will decide there.i will have a few photography inquires about different places later.
sorry for the long intro but i would like to share my experiences about the same subject in istanbul. turkish people are generally quite suspicious of cameras. camera means usually that they going to be on news that night or next day. i find asking their permission quite handy but sometimes unfortunetely you have to sneak around them for the best shoot(not that i am proud of it but)..another tactic i find helpful is to spend as much time as possiable in a place before introducing the camera.if they feel they know you or recognize you from the day before they tend to be less unconfortable. i guess same rule apply for thai people as well.
i would like to ask for a little favour here. considering my knowledge of thai language is extremely limited at its best , is it possiable for someone to post some useful phrases.
"can i take your picture please" could be a start.
thank you again for this forum about photography and thailand. if anyone has any questions about istanbul feel free to email me at gokcenceylan@gmail.com ...

[Marc Schultz]

Welcome to the forum Gece and sharing your experiences.

Try "Kaw Ty Roop Noi Dai Mai Khrup?" If you would like to ask someone's permission to take their photograph.

[gece]

thank you marc...i cant wait to start in thailand...

[gregoire]

I was in New York a few months ago and boy are we spoiled here in Thailand. After my tenth "no" I just gave up on taking people's pictures.

Even in Bangkok, it's very rare for somebody to refuse that you take their pics. Not only that, but people will thrust food and drinks on you with such insistance that sometimes you just have to give in, if only to be polite. The following rule is not set in stone but in Thailand, I'd say if offered something once, twice or three times, it's actually polite to refuse; your host might just be being polite. At the fourth time, it becomes rude to refuse; your host really wants you to stick around and have a drink or a bite. One Sunday, in a neighborhood where every male is a taxi driver, and was spending his week's bounty on beer Chang and Samsong, I ended up having serious problems focusing my MF Mamiya 645. Some people think the legendary Thai kindness is on the wane but in working class neighborhoods it is still simply amazing.

That being said, some of the best street photography was shot without asking for permission. Sometimes its about catching the moment, not being spotted or both. In that case, are you still being respectful of the humans on your pictures, or treating them like wildlife, is a question only you can answer for yourself.

[Marc Schultz]

All good points Gregoire and welcome to the Forum.

[baracoa]

Usually thai people don't mind if you take photos.
But in gogo's it's forbidden!
The only cases where they ask for money is when it's a real business: for example katoys, well dressed, in Patong or Pattaya.

[kinginexile]

I was in New York a few months ago
------------------------------------------------------

Just reading Gregoire's line, and I thought  afew members would enjoy this 3-part video series about jeff Mermelstein shoting in New York. Cool fellow and a little counterpoint to G.'s point.
It seems in NY, you shoot first, and never ever ask questions after....


http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=237

[Kees5]

If at all possible, give them back some prints. If it is in your neighbourhood, that should be no problem, and will enhance your chances in the future. If far away, take an address and send them. in my project, consistently bringing back prints has created a huge buy-in of my subjects.