Bangkok Post: The world windows to Thailand

Life is a journey, or so they say, and no one has made more of this concept than Louis Vuitton, the luxury brand known originally for its custom-made trunks that could carry anything from an entire wardrobe or skateboards, to your beloved dog, musical instruments (composer Gustavo Santaolalla), cameras (Annie Liebovitz has a custom-made LV backpack for her photographic equipment) or even iPods (a necessary part of Karl Lagerfeld's travel paraphernalia).

Isra Buranasomphob, ‘Recall Fraction I’.

Now, the journey theme is being taken a step further, as Louis Vuitton in Thailand has joined forces with Hasselblad, Harper's Bazaar and Gaysorn to introduce a photography project where 11 well-known personalities, both professional photographers and those who have a keen eye for what is artistically and aesthetically pleasing, capture on camera their own interpretations of "The Journey".

They include Hasselblad ambassadors Phuket-based photographer Karim Khazin, Suchet Suwanmongkol, Surat Jariyawatanawijit, Kanok Suriyasat, Waranun Chutchawantipakorn, Chamni Thipmanee and Isra Buranasomphob, as well as others such as freelance photographer Vichai Kiatamonrnvong, SEA Write laureate Chiranan Pitpreecha, advertising guru and aristocrat MR Thiratej Rajani and travel industry veteran Manat Chanpen.

The images will be displayed in an exhibition at Gaysorn from October 13 to 31, then sold to raise funds for the Chai Pattana Foundation under the royal patronage of HM the King.

Each of the guest photographers were sent off on their mission with a sturdy 31-million-pixel Hasselblad, not exactly one of the easiest cameras to move around with because of its size and complicated mechanism. "It even has a GPS chip that can pinpoint the location of every single shot you take," enthuses MR Thiratej.

Suchet Suwanmongkol, ‘Silent Beauty I’.

The size of the Hasselblad was one reason MR Thiratej preferred to remain in Bangkok for his "Journey" shoot. To conform to the LV market, he first thought of shooting a woman on a train, a shot which was accomplished on a train ride from Hua Lamphong to Samsen, and jumping on the MRT back into town. The result didn't meet his expectations though, and his next option was to go for a mode of travel that would reflect something traditional, right here in modern-day Bangkok. The obvious choice was the khlong ferries, the ubiquitous long-tail boats that ply Khlong Saen Saep. Standing on the bridge linking the old Chalerm Loke shopping centre and Phetchaburi Road near Pratunam, he was able to capture both the image of these noisy ferries and the skyline of modern skyscrapers in the background, the perfect image of past and present, traditional and modern, movement and stillness. A few more tweaks on the computer helped to fade away the colour, while a special dyeing technique served to bring out the prominent elements in the photo.

To get a feel for the subject matter, MR Thiratej even jumped into one of these boats which took him from Pratunam all the way to Charn Issara Tower II. From there, he slowly walked back on the boardwalk along the khlong, discovering things that he never knew existed in the City of Angels, such as a cable "lift" to carry pedestrians across the khlong where no bridges are available.

He eventually ended up back in Pratunam, weary as much from his long walk as from the weight of the Hasselblad. Titled The Great Escape I and The Great Escape II, the images probably reflect his own "journey" in Bangkok as much as the concept of escaping the infamous Bangkok traffic.

Manat Chanpen, ‘Solitary’.

As the only rose among thorns, Chiranan captured in Destination a colourful image of old bicycles perched atop a yellow roof against a brilliant blue sky with scattered white clouds in Nan province.

The image brought to mind the film ET and the memorable scene in which ET makes his escape on a bicycle that flies over trees and rooftops. She indicates that this is a dream not only of humans, but perhaps of the bicycle itself that has made numerous journeys during its lifespan yet still yearns for the ultimate trip.

Her second picture, Revitalising features motor oil stickers on a steel door at Wat Traimitr. The shadow of a "traveller" seems to indicate that sometimes you need to stop and "fill up" before resuming your journey until you reach your destination.

Chamni Thipmanee is a veteran of advertising photography, and his contribution to this project reflects his chosen field.

His images None 1 and None 2 represent more of an internal or symbolic journey rather than a pleasure trip, and he attempts to present the struggle for freedom from exploitation, as inspired by Che Guevara who is symbolised in the photograph, riding a motorcycle.

Waranun Chutchawantipakorn, ‘Begonia I’.

Isra Buranasomphob used Bangkok's original base for domestic travel - Hua Lamphong Railway Station - as the setting for his two images Recall Fraction I and Recall Fraction II. Modern techniques to make a composite picture have been used to create a feeling of nostalgia, while lighting and shadows enhance the mood.

Hasselblad ambassador Kanok Suriyasat, vice-president of the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand, also falls back on rail travel to define his feelings towards the concept of the journey. Both images, Ordinary Line and Ordinary Path show a railway track extending into the distance - two graphic lines converging towards the end. Yet they do not converge, and they never do, a reflection of the hope and determination to achieve a certain goal, only to see that victory move further and further away.

Karim Khamzin juxtaposes several contrasting images into one frame in Dream on Karon beach I - the pristine ocean, the fine sandy beach, a western beach babe in a bikini, and an aircraft coming in to land - representing the ideal dream holiday.

Similarly, in Dream on Karon beach II, a model in a fantasy outfit frolicks on the beach, surrounded by the sparkling blue sea. Interestingly, he dispenses with colour, and the resulting black and white image only serves to heighten the dream aspect.

For Manat Chanpen, travel is part of his life, and his pictures were taken on one of his frequent journeys overseas. Solitary features an isolated house on a hill between Oslo and Bergen in Norway and reflects a feeling of loneliness and isolation, which is further underlined by the solitary electricity post.

MR Thiratej Rajani, ‘The Great Escape I’.

Majestic, on the other hand, presents a mesmerising image of architectural lines, a modern landscape of a theatre in Oslo with glass and wide open spaces, strong yet almost dreamlike.

Suchet Suwanmongkol presents an eerie landscape of Bromo Volcano in Indonesia in Silent Beauty I and Silent Beauty II. To capture these images, he had to take two trips; a recce and the actual photo shoot, both requiring a 2am start to reach the volcano by sunrise.

"I have found out the truth that effort and patience will bring us to something that is worth waiting for," he noted proudly.

An old man and his dog are featured in these surreal images simply called Untitled by Surat Jariyawatanawijit. It's almost as if in the process of travel where one discovers exciting new things, one always comes back to the things one cherishes.

Vichai Kiatamornvong's landscape image looks like something out of a science fiction film, but in fact it was taken on Felicite Island in the Seychelles. Here, nature shows us the wonders of creation, where even rocks exude a breathtaking beauty that makes you feel so insignificant by comparison.

Karim Khazin, ‘Dream on Karon beach 2’.

On the other hand, Waranun Chutchawantipakorn is captured by the small things in nature. In Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Phetchabun province, he was struck by the eye-catching colours of the begonia leaves which looked totally different when seen from different angles. The leaves reminded him of the vicious cycle of birth, ageing, suffering and death, according to Buddhist philosophy. That, in essence, is the journey of all human beings.

'The Journey' photography exhibition will be showcased from October 13 to 31 in front of the Louis Vuitton store at Gaysorn. Proceeds from sales will go to the Chaipattana Foundation to support the implementation of royally-initiated and other development projects.

Relate Search: Louis Vuitton, Gustavo Santaolalla, Karim Khazin, Suchet Suwanmongkol, Surat Jariyawatanawijit, Kanok Suriyasat, Waranun Chutchawantipakorn, Chamni Thipmanee, Isra Buranasomphob, MR Thiratej Rajani