Lately the weather has been totally different from the past 3 years. It has to do with the weather event of El nino. It brings lots of rain to the south, where I live, and it brings a lot of snow to the north which we are dealing with it right at the moment at the east coast. There are 2 big storms within  this week!! I haven’t seen much of rain as I have seen in a past 4 weeks before during this time of year. It is great because we do need water also we need more of water to fill up lake Mead.

      This morning is already clear and I am thinking to myself of how amazing it is because yesterday we had rain here like crazy all day. It rained till about 2 am, but when I got up this morning the cloud is totally gone!!! Yeah, I set up an alarm clock at 5:30 am for getting to go Red Rock, but it didn’t happen I just turn it off and went back to sleep haha. Yes it was a lazy moment, and it made me missed a lot of beautiful sunrise. I am so disappoint about myself. However, it is because I have been working on a small project and it needs a lot of good rest. I wouldn’t be able to do it perfectly without a good sleep. I have to use my eyes a lot and if it hurts, it would not work well. Well, there will be a next time.

      My class has been ok, I hope. There are 17 people in the class. We are doing something little different than what it has been here at a collage. I believe that I am deliverying the experince of how to do a Landscape photography hands on. As speaking doesn’t give a full experince, I prefer to learn by doing it.  Everyone who wants to get good of doing the Landscape photography has to get used to make themselves to get out and learn from a real time experince. Therefore, we offer a field trip through my class and here are images from the past week end.

     We left Vegas at 3 am of Saturday morning and it was raining the whole time there. It was great weather for photography for a few creazy photographers like myself, the bad weather is best for picture making opportunity. If someone wants to get good at doing the landscape, then one has better get used to the bad weather. We had photographed some fog and canyon wall under a light rain. We went up to higher elevation for snow. As we wished for, there was a snow storm going on after we got there about 2 hours. The storm was getting harder and harder at the time we were working on our images. There was a moment which my group had experinced, and I think that was a moment of a life time. The snow field, vast and open, was under a dark gray sky. It was like a magic moment. One of us, Arron, photographed it. I didn’t do at the time at its peak. It was too hard of rain and snow. Also the snow was deep above my knees. I could not move that fast, but I photographed it after that moment a bit when it was only got colder and the rain turned to be snow.

      The darkness was comming and the rain, as we were going down elevation to a canyon floor, showed no sing to stop. We decided to get a room at a Pioneer Lodge with cost of $50!!!! It is now off season that was why it was $50. Normally, it would be around $ 80-$130. We got a good deal. We didn’t do much that night and each person passed out as a light. I didn’t have enough sleep since a last Thursday night. Unfortunately, I couldn’t not sleep till 3 am again. We got up at about 6am and head out for morning shot within the canyon. The fog was amazing at Temple of Sinawava which located at the end of the canyon drive. The rain still didn’t give up on us, but it wasn’t too hard. We were now prepare by having plastic bags and umbrellas for ourselves and cameras. The canyon after rain is pretty beautiful. The trees has no leaves at this time and lots of drops of water which were on the tress made me feel so fresh. The air was also really clean, you know the smell of dirt after the rain like. It was a great morning. I almost forgot to mention about water falls. It was seasonal water falls here in Zion. It only happen when there is rain and it has to be a hard rain for a few days. I noticed them as I was driving by. I am so sure you will be amazed, if you were there with me.

     After lunch, we headed out for an another water fall at the Emerald pool. It was late afternoon and the sky was started to open up. There was lot of water at the upper pool, but this time it wasn’t green color, but it was yellow.  We took turn to make photographs. We had made some wonderful images eventhough the wind was strong. The spray of water from the fall were also hard to manage. It didn’t stop us to make variety of shots.

    The light of sunset was about to happen. We saw it as we were walking back to a car. At that moment, we were panic and we raced as fast as we could go to make it to a brige to catch the last light. We got there on time, to me it is a little too late, but it would be better if we were here 15 min earlier. However, it was not too bad at all. We grabed the tripods and ran for the light. After about 30 minutes there, we were happy with what we have got. It was now time to pack up and headed home…

     A lesson from this trip is…” do not stop what you are about to do just because you think it is not worth to try. The opportunities are always found by someone who seeks for the endless possibilities.”

       Enjoy the weather my friends.

         Komkrit.

  An image of Larry’s parents.

  An image of Larry Sultan.  

Influential photographer Larry Sultan dies

       Mr. Sultan was an artist trustee of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which holds some 40 of his works in its collection. More than a dozen of them will go on display starting Saturday, when SFMOMA begins its 75th anniversary celebration. The shows have been in planning for a year or more, and the display of Mr. Sultan’s work will be his 15th solo or group show at the museum.

        Here is an artist bio and works link : http://www.wirtzgallery.com/bios/bio_sultan-2.html please click on the project’s names to view more of his works. I promise you that you will be glad to view them. I have not known him personal, but I have admired his works since I have started to realize myself about what is my style. His works show me the way to find myself and continute to guide me more  ways in the future. He was a very smart and deep man.  I am sad that good people have gone too early. Please rest well. I will always remember you.

       Komkrit.

 Youtube: to view short a view of Larry’s life…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlUau7LcpEE

    I see you, Avatar 2009.

    Through this movie, how we see the world might not be the same way as it was anymore. I am so glad that we have come to this moment of our time. Someone like James Cameron has offered it this way, and it was the greatest to date in my idea, very moving and touching. Thank you James and his teams. I have been waiting for this change for a long time. This movie offers us possibilities in so many ways. I wish to us all seeing it through. Thanks

   I wish you to have a chance to see this movie. I am sure it will change how you are a bit.

   Good afternoon everyone.

   Thank you to you to find your way here. Again I wanna say I am appreciated your visit. You know how it feels here talking to myself about what my head is thinking. Little off right? I know. Well, even if it is, I am feeling right to do so. I have been exploring to many side of art making. I read a lot of things, very open idea about whatever I can read especially when there is something about it sucking me in. I watch a lot of movies, a lot of creative minds to creat one movie. I learn a lot from watching it. Beside that it pauses my real time to live in a fantazy world for the moment. Within a fantazy world I develop my imagination which later on will be applied to use on my work. Some of them though which can bring up to life. I am like a little kid who see everything with exciment. Also I listen to music. I love music. Maybe because I am with myself a lot and I feel as if music is a friend who talks to me about everything when I feel like i want to have someone around me. Amazingly, I use songs to remind me of people and things. Once I pick a song to represent one person or a thing, it always brings back everything about time, memory, and feeling. It is great and works well with me.  

  Ok here I get too far off the point. Today I went online and found a really great philosophy from Albert Einstine. That’s why I am here today because I really want to share this with you. Please take time to read and if it would not bee to much, please try to understand it. I read it and feel like everything I have been believing in had been discovered long before my time.

  “  A human being is a part of the whole, called by us ” Universe, ” a part limited in TIME and SPACE. He experincees himself, his thought and feeling as something separate from the rest- a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be  to FREE ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security. ”

   - Albert Einstein

     That is good, isn’t it? This is what make me happy today. Yes only one thing and it is good enough for me. If I can have this feeling only one a day, I would be a happiest living man already. Well, the truth that it isn’t that easy as we all know about it.  However, shall we pretend that it is for us today!!

    I have been contacting from a good friend up from Utah about showing my work up there in first week of March.  It will be my first action of 2010. It is not going to be a big show or anything, but I know I am gonna like it a lot. It will be at The Best Friend animal sanctuary,    http://www.bestfriends.org/ Kanab Utah. Thank you for the Best Friend for giving me the opportunity to share my work there. I will make sure about date and time again before posting about it again. I am glad that I have a chance to be a small part of something  which giving back to the world.

   I will bring this up there… ” Winter Mountain 60″x20″ “.

 Also I will bring mostly small B&Ws. It will be a great early spring for everyone to visit Utah then, I know that it will still be a little cold so please don’t forget a jacket. See you there.

 Oh!! one more thing I almost forget. I will be a co-teacher at CSN at Charleston campus and our Friday class starts Jan 22. There will be a lot of interesting points about ” Contemporary scenic photography “ . My goal to this class are to guide my students to find themselves( looking deeper within themselves and to be able to answer a simple question about why do I creat the work and what for) , and to share my vision and ideas through the 16 weeks class. Oh!! God helps us all right? I know

      Please have a blast January.

       Komkrit.

    Hi everyone…. I wish you all MERRY CHRISTMAS…..I wish your family and yourself are at best. It is great to be with one whom you love and dear of your life today. I am with myself so I have nothing special going on beside I will be going to work this evening…. yes it is called billsssssss!!!

   However, sorry for a long absence. I have been out on trips to make new images and to review myself about my own life. It was a long distance trip. As I always wish to visit Piramid lake and New Maxico for a long…..very long time. I went to the Piramid lake on the first week of this month then I went to New Maxico on the week after. It is quit a distance which I would not be able to make it in 3 or 4 days off from work. I had 4 day for Piramid Lake and I had 10 days this time for NM and I was all over. I started from the south very near the Maxico border. I intended to visit the border on a next day but I got GREAT news which a person who worked at Motel 6 the night I first checked in, only night to change my large format films, told me that   ” They have been shooting daily downthere everyday and you’ve better not be around ” I replied to her ” wow!!! my trip is already getting excited!!! ” so I change the plan not to be down there.  So I spent one more day to shot at a White Sand national monument. It was amazing place which was created by nature over years….

   Ok I am back, thanks for being patient with me. Yes, at the White sand was great. What I had noticed was that the dune itself is not that tall and all pretty level from one to another. It is huge and you can hike miles out there if you like, but you have to get a permit to do so. The park open at 7am in winter and close at 1 hour after sunset. I know right that we now tight with time. I heard that someone said to me while I was watching the cranes at Bosque del apache wildlife refuse area about you could pay $50 to the park then you would be able to get in the park an hour early before sunrise!!! I haven’t known anything like that before and it could be right. Well, I was not that interesting to do such a thing anyway. I just want to enjoy the park and if I am lucky I would be able to photograph something back with me. I did some good ones on the second days before heading out from the White sand at night to the Bosque del apache for seeing the cranes. I got to right at the sign at around almost midnight then make a bed and sleep in my car. It was yes again a cold night, but I felt great in a sleeping bag inside my car. I dreamed about what I will see at first light….

    At first light there were about 3,ooo cranes and lots of others ducks and birds, number was from a visiter center, getting ready to take off looking for food at fields around the area. There were many photographers with long lens!!! the shutter’s sound and the cranes sound were combined together, and it was like a life music show. They took off between 3-7 cranes at once. Then it took about almost an hours after sunrise, the water area was left empty and await for birds to come back and rest in the evening again like this till winter is over. Those birds will fly aways and it will be quiet again till next winter comes.

        Did I mention to you that I actually live off local food than I used to. I did brought some food with me just incase, but I enjoy trying the local food. Yes, some was good and some was ok. This trip I didn’t get sick from most famous american fast food, Mcdonald’s. I live off Mc for brackfasts. After watching the birds I went to town, Socorro, for food and then got ready to go to a National radio wave dishes out in the middle of no where about 50 miles on highway 60 west from Socorro. Again it was an amazing place with lots  of huge dishes. I think you should visit if in the future you are in the area.

        I spent few hours here then I headed out for Santa Fe. It was about over 200 miles a bit on I-25 north. I went through Albuquerque and after about 50 miles north I was at Santa Fe. It was rich busy town. I didn’t find that I like that much. I only walked up and down the Grand Canyon St a little bit then I went for dinner at one of Thai restaurant. I have come to appreciated an iphone a lot more on this trip. It helped me on maps and directions better when I need it quick. Well, food was good and now what in general idea of most people would be was lookng for a place to stay and hiking the town tomorrow!!! I didn’t find that interesting at all. What I did was I felt that I better get out of Sanata Fe soon, and I did. I drove back down to Socorro again to see the cranes in the next morening. Yes it was almost 160 miles down way. I actually had plan to visit Taos after Santa Fe, but after found out about how it is in Santa Fe then I think Taos would be similar. I don’t have feeling for such a rich town like those. Everything is very expensive, very difficult to find a parking space, and etc… Maybe because I don’t fit in the place like that so I think I should leave. I did got to a Motel 6 at Socorro at about 11 pm, and I felt so great and excited to be able to watch the birds again in next morning. It is pretty common for me to do things opposit than most so here I am watching the birds in the morning. There was no wind and I was able to photograph some image with 8×10, 6×17, and 6×6 cameras.  It was great experince to be there trust and you should try for yourself sometime.

    I was looking for plan to do in the afternoon at Mc again. I thought that I should visit some of the old missions in NM which some of them was build in 1598 like an Old San Miguel Mission at Socorro. I did visit the place while I was in the area and I headed to the another one I am sorry that I could not remember the name, but it was like 15 miles south of  Albuquerque. It was in the area of an indian, Pueblos Tribes. They are very strick about outsider visiting their area. I was told by gently older indian lady to be aware of situation which might happen when I was visit the Mission. She told me to not get out and walk around the mission area and try to finish my photo taking as fast as posible because she doesn’t want me to get in trouble with the local. They might take my films aways, that what she said to me. There were some warning signs before getthing in the area about what is and what is not to do, and photo is one of prohibited thing!!! I had not seen the sign coz I came in a different direction. Then ok I visited and I took some photos… it was time to get out of here haha.

    Here is San Miguel Mission.

   Above is the one near by Albuquerque.

   So far I had been tired from not much of sleep and driving, but I was still up for everything I was thinking to visit one more mission in Acoma which local known as a Sky city. I arived early and visit one of the best museum at Acoma. It was build not too long ago, and was designed by a group of 12 artists from Santa Fe. It was amazing museum in the middle of no where I have ever seen. The cost to visit the Sky city where the mission is located at was $20/ an adult and a $10 fee for picture taking. Also they not allow tripod up there. It was a hazy day and the light was not good enough for me to be up there even just to check it out. I knew that I will  be back here again someday. Therefore, I decided to leave and heading to north western NM for famous bad land 40 miles south of the town call Flamington. By the way AT&T service was not as they promote on the TV. while I was out in the desert, most of time I could not use my phone at all. The weather report said there was a big storm coming in the whole US. I was like wow that will be fun. SO I drove and drove almost all afternoon till I arived at the entrance. Bisit wilderness sign was infront of me. AT about 3 pm local time, I was hiking out into the land I was once visit 4 years ago. It was red, green, orange, and many more shade of colors on the area. It was not anything we seen everyday kind of place. Lots of hoodoos. It was beautiful place, and it was very loney place.

     It was almost a mile and a half out from parking area. There are countless posibilities for picture if you like to be alone for a few days with no phone, no motel, no water. I got back to my car after dark then cooking some food, and get ready for bed. Yes it was a good night because after all I had been done. I went out like a light, and up again then the sky turned to a dark blue color. That morening I was blessed with a small rain shower. I went out for a morning photo for a bit then back to my car for food and ready for a long day out there. I met a new friend, local dog. He looked friendly and skinny. I felt sorry for life sometime it is not a choice which he made, but he has to life his life. I share my food half of what I had with him. He looked happy, and I am happy that I can do a bit of help. Now I am having a new friend. ”

  ” My dad told me once when I was a little ” he said when I feed a dog once we become a friend for life ”

    The orange yellow dog reminded me of my dad. It was a good thing I thought to myself as I have packed my camera and some warm cloths. I left my car about 9:45 am wandering around all day with lots of dreams and ideas. Every step I walked I put my thought out and imagine what all dreams can be. I only heard the wind and my one breth sound. I was alone and the world had opened itself for me.

     Lots of lives stories went through the day. Sometime there was a question with no answer came along. Sometime, it almost made me tear. I was alone again and I was at a big land. I was only an outside piece of its system. I only came to record how the place was like and share to the world. I was blessed to be there. In the evening the real storm rolled in right after I compleated my last photos of storm’s clouds. It was low over the open desert. It brought rain and snow with it. I was soke and wet as I was hiking my way out of a mile and a hlaf. I went out with my 4×5 and a 6×17 cameras. All day I was able to use both. Please wait for a while till I have enough money to develop them, I will share to you here in the future.

        I said thank you to the land at the end of each day. I did said thank you again for this visit as I was ready to drive off. It was cold and I tried to dry myself off. It was snowing and foggy all the way to the rest 40 miles to the nearest town, Flamington NM.  I check in at the Motel 6 again after 2 days out in the desert. My large format film must be re-load. It was $40.30 one person. The room was ok. It was funny to read its review from my phone, that was how I look for stuff in my iphone. Most people wrote things down because they not happy about it. It is a few that people wrote a happy thing from it. It doesn’t matter to me anyhow. All I want was just to re-load my films and a shower. It was a town of oil and natural gas. There are about 75,000 people there, but it seemed so quiet to me. Well, I again look for asian food and came across a Thai restaurant, Boon’s Thai restaurant. I recorment it to you if you are in the area. The foods were good the people were friendly. That’s what you need when you away from home. We became friend, and for sure if I will be there again, I will stop by. Thank you for your friendship and good foods.

     Shiprock is a heart of fourcorner people especially Navajo people. I have no idea of how did I become so sitimulated by it. It has been so long for me to have a feeling that at least once in my life time I would love to visit the Shiprock, and with the up close style. I got some togo lunch from Boon restaurant then I was at a town of shiprock at about 3 pm local time, mountain time. I spent about over an hour to find the way to the rock both by looking at my map and my phone. I finally went after a direction I was given from a local older lady at a gas station. It was a rough drowing!!! and the another older lady said ” why do you want to go close to shiprock? “ ” I said it is a beautiful rock!!! they loughed and wish me good luck.

      Finally, I made it to the gateway. It was almost a foot deep snow there and I saw a track of one car made before my visited. I told myself that I came this far already so why not do it. I put 4WD and rocking through that road slowly. I made it so close to the rock. It was huge and mysterious rock. I photographed it with my 6×17 on B&W film first because it was really really windy. I thought that I might not be able to shot anything at all at the moment, but I did set up my 8×10 anyhow. I then got inside a car again because of the cold and wind. I watched the light and storm were continute to change. Finally all the clouds were gone except at the western of the sky which blocking my sunset sun light to me. I was praying and praying. The hope I had was lower and lower, but I told myself that just to be here was already exceeded my expectation. As I continuted to watch the last light, the light went through the western clouds the lit up the whole shiprock. I ran out of the car and went to my camera which was set out hours ago. 

    The miracle happened!!!! The wind which was about 35 miles/ hour or more had paused for me randomly and gave me a chance to do 4 shots which 2 of colors and 2 for B&W. It was miracle I have not experinced before. The light was perfect nad the wind was paused… now I hope that I did it right. We will see later. Therefore, after the forth shots, the wind got hard again and there was no pause in the between. I asked myself what was that which pause the wind… MIRACLE.

     I continuted to stay and decided to sleep here. As I put my 8×10 away I had 2 shot of t-max 100 on my 6×6  camera left. I put it on my wood tripod and make it wide and low as posible to hide it from the wind. I did first one with an 80 mm lens at 3 hours at f/11 just right after it got dark, and I did a 9 hours exposure f/11 with my 50 mm lens. Both images were shot under the 1/4 moon face. There was enough light especially when there was snow on the ground.

     The wind continuted to rock my car while I was sleeping. I woak up at 6 am to close my shutter before the first light ruin it. Before the sun rise I set up my 4×5 with a 300mm lens. I photographed about 5 exposures both color and B&W. The wind was still strong, but at the light got lighter, my shutter speed got shorter. I hided my camera behind my car and took my chance. It was great experince to be there and to do all that. The ride out was not less interesting at all. The wind took all the snow to cover my own track so even with a 4WD it was a bit hard to drive. I made it out ok. At right out at the gateway someone wrote on a slop side on a snow… “  Merry X’ mas “  a huge one. I admire that someone trying to give others a great day. Thank you. It was Dec 24 2009 morning.

     I finished my trip at Monument Valley. I thought that I already came to this area so I should stop to visit. I did went on a new fresh made parking area with cost of $5 to get in. It wasn’t look like the old one I have seen anymore. There was a big hotel which a land development people from NM invested on it. It was called ” The View ” . Those old red picknik tables were gone. I love those ones. Everything has changed so as ourselves. I only have to except it. However, I have not thought about that too long. I decieded to drive in the 17 miles lupe’s drive. It was 2 times I went down here. I saw different thing now. I am changed. I enjoied it a lot more than my first visit almost 5 years ago. I photographed some images for my ” Road Trip” project. Something different than what we know and see of Monument Valley.

      I had become a buddy for life with one of a puppy 5 years ago at the John Ford point. I fed him with a loft of bread then. I didn’t expect to meet him again, but had a little thought about it while I was driving. There he was with his mom siting where we first met. Again they ran after my car after I parked. I didn’t have much this time because it was my last day. I fed them beef jerky which I had left. They look happy and I am glad to see him again. I don’t think he remember me, but ” Maybe ”

      Love was done again on my own path. It is a journey unknown, but it will always be guide by my heart. Who knows of what we may become, but once we know what we love and what make us happy other things don’t matter anymore.

      Thank you for reading my journey. I am appreciated your time and you are here.

      Merry Christmas my friends.

      Komkrit T.    

     Helloooo…

         How are you doing? I have been great. It’s November now!!!! fast, doesn’t it? I know. It has been busy for me during past a month and a half both my day job and photography. Finally fall is almost over again. I still remember what I was thinking before the fall started. There are many places which I wanted to visit, and revisit. However, life gets in the between the dream, and that is only I got that far. Yes UTAH… and Utah… and I think it still gonna be Utah haha. I used to look for making image of a grand vista view of the land before, but nowadays my taste of seeing is changing. I enjoy more of making images from a smaller area, and use the light, composition, an organizing the space, and the right timing to be there. My method of producing my art is simple or I try to keep it simple more than before. I am not trying to add to much more than it needs within itself to be completed. I try to look for the special moment, special light, and special looking object when I create my work. After all of the ideas, finding the subject, choosing the equipments, being there at the right time, we must enjoy the view and let it be and capture it as it is… I now call it as a pure moment. That is what I am looking for nowadays.

      I feel that today most people, this case are photographers, forget how to enjoy seeing, and feeling. As I said above during my late trips, I came across many interesting view points. It is from I learn on how I work,  how others work. To me today, when I say that it is a great piece of photograph, I meant that I felt appreciate the feeling which I got from looking at it.  I read the idea behind it, I read the photographer’s mind while he/she was making the piece. It is deeper than just a print on a paper. What came to my mind was how would one able to translate the true feeling of what one trying to archive, capturing an image before you, by running around trying to get everything in such a limited time!!! It is already a not good start.

    One evening on Oct 25, I was trying to photograph the Zion canyon walls and the river. I spent nearly 40 mintues or more waiting for it to be right. Meanwhile, There were at lease more than 5 other fellow photographers came and gone. At each time I heard the shutter’s sound went off like mad. Each person managed to at lease I believe photograph about over 15 images at different composition by moving a bit to the left and a bit to the right. At the same time I was still waiting for the wind to pause a bit for my 10 seconds long exposure!!! Please don’t get me all wrong here. I am not trying to say that what I am doing is right, great or better than others. We were actually at the same condition, same light, same wind, and almost the same view which I was standing there for 40 minutes. At that time I only pray for the wind to stop long enough for me to make one shot, and it was like forever.

     So here is the point that I am thinking about. The tools which we were using were different, all other fellows were digitals, and mine was a 4×5. They had a PL filter in fromt of those lenses, I had my yellow filter in front of my lens. My iso film was Kodak T-max 100, my fellows setting were unknow, but I guess it would be some where between 100-400 ISO for the quality of the files.At 6pm there was not much of light left in the canyon as well. Here is a thing which I really want to know and try to understand ” what went through our minds both my fellows and myself ? ” . For me I was try to complete my image by waiting for the wind to pause and in 40 mins I was able to photograph 2 sheets of film.  At the same time my fellows were already made more than 15 shots while I was patiently wait and wait then my fellows left, and the new one came by. Still now as I am siting here typing this, I am wondering that how are those images of my fellows turn out to be like. The wind was kind of strong even if you shot at 1/30 sec, there would still be movements!!! Meantime, that light we had was low, my best guess for the moment was anywhere between 1/8- 1 sec at f/11 for ISO 100. That wasn’t fast enough to stop those movement at all.  Therefore, my perspective here is what is your decision to be made for the same situation. Would you rather shot 15 shots and hope for chances or you really spend time waiting for the MOMENT and get what you are after!!? This case doesn’t have anything to do with equipments, but a person behind it.

     My final image was not all perfect!! I knew I had moments within the 10 seconds exposure, but it was not at my main interesting point of my image which I KNEW while I was making it. So it was my best option I choose. It was my best decision I decided to do. This is how I think. I really want everyone to really taking time on what they are doing. The answer always reviews itself through time you spend on what you do. Longer time, the vision becomes much clearer. Meanwhile, thaking time to enjoy the view around you too. Anyway, when you get home then looking at your work, and felt you didn’t get it right!!! THERE IS ALWAY A NEXT TRIP… for you and me to fix it. You know the world is beautiful and looking at it in a positive way make our lives interesting.

    Again what I am talking about today is

  1. Taking your time to do things

  2. Trying to understand our own procese of decision making.

  3. Finding yourself and asking yourself of what do we want, not what is in front of me. By doing so you will be MAKING an image not photographing an image. The different between the two, making and photographing is : Making= you PLAN how to do it, and photographing= you just record what is infront of you. There is BIG different between these two. 

  4. Enjoying your good day. This is always always a must have before anything else even if it is 10′f outside haha.

   Here are works I made past months. I still have to refine them because the change within myself… wishing to share to you as they are for now. Hope you enjoy them.

    Happy Holidays everyone.

     Komkrit Thusanapanont.

       The weather is wonderful nowadays. I feel that this year we have not been through much of summer heat or maybe I was indoor too much. Well, Here in Las vegas we are at about 60′f night time and 80′f for day time. It is really nicem isn’t it? Last week, I started to go up to Utah again after a long absence. This year I have done so many thing before this time. My time and energy went onto those stuff, but now I am all set again. I start a new job for 2 months and my time start to set perfectly again. This means it is time to be OUTSIDE.. I start it off by going to Utah for first fall color at some high mountains not too far from Vegas. It is so great that you can only drive less than 4 hours and then you will be in a different world than where I live.

      The days while I was there was supper windy, but I managed to so some photos which I am exciting to see how it is gonna come out. The trees were in perfect peak of their color mixing between green, yellow, red, and orange alternate each other nicely. The air is so clean and clear, and it was about 50′f/ day and 25′f/ night. I slept well in my car inside my sleeping bag which the wind out side was blowwing like crazy. It felt good actually.  The only wish I hoped that was the rain or snow storm, but it didn’t happen beside some shower and that was it. However, I am very positive person. So for me just to be there watching all the view even if I don’t get a chance to photograph anything, I am happy.

      This year we are going through the El nino event till next fall. So it will be deep cool up north for this winter and more wet here down the south. So far I have not seen much of rain at all. Infact, last year during this time we had better rain than now. So I am wondering that how this winter is going to be like. Somehow I will find joy for winter again. I am wishing that I will have more extra days off from work because I wish to do a long winter drive up north either Nevada or Utah, and maybe to Idaho. I love the cool and white scenery. I dream of some images of an old house in the evening winter light under snow fall. That will be beautiful. I did photographed some last year, and felt in love with it. I felt warm with in my heart just only see it. I imagine of how warm it is for people inside those houses spending time together. On top of that Holliday season is on the way. That’s why I love winter. For me it is the time for family matter. It is like almost the end of this year story. It is like almost the end of this chapter of lives journey for this year. Then we sit together sharing the joy and talk about the hopeful future over a cup of warm tea and some cookies.

      I might be early for saying ” Happy holidays ” , but for me when the leaves turn colors, that it is time for great holidays. I wish you all fine joy and peace through this time. You know there is nothing better than

    “  BEING AT HOME WITH ONE YOU LOVE ”

    This time I add too many inages hope you not find it boring. I feel that I should share what I have seen and been through on my days with you.  I photographed this trip with my 8×10 and 6×17 panoramic cameras. As you see the last image, it was a 4×5. I only set it up to see and didn’t photograph anything. Now though I wish, I would have shot it. Yeah running up and down hill with 8×10 was a workout I can tell you that, but it was fun. I am planing this fall with lot of fun. I have no limitation now so I know that it’s gonna be fun.

    Thank you to you for stop by and reading…let’s pray for it to snow soon, shall we?

     Komkrit Thusanapanont.

      A storm during fall color in Zion national park. The negative was made in 2005. This is an early work for my 8×10 camera. I got up at 4am where I camp outside of the park because I knew that by this time of year there will be load of photographers at the spot. So wherever you want to go or what ever you want to do, you would have to live with a lot of people. I like to work alone and quiet when I can. I set up in the dark under my head light well way before anyone came by. By a little over 5 am, there are more than 30 protographers line up on this field. 90% of people would consider to who which is there first by not walk over infront to where the camera is set at. However, to your surprise there will be some that think a little different or careless of what other people might think of their behaviour. They will just walk right infront or intend to set up infront of you which you are already set up long before. Please don’t do that. Please don’t let them do that to you as well. 

      There was a guy saw me even thought I was far away from a major spot. Soon he was walking to almost into my camera field of view, and not tend to stop walking. As he walked by he flated the grass and little plants by his foot steps. I had to say excuse me you are going in to my view!!! then he stoped and set his stuff up there!!! Wow!!! that was really amazed me of how one can be. However, we all mange to get our photos peacefuly. I knew what I want and I shot only what I want. After 2 photographs it was done for me. There they were still shooting also there were some people who just came, and try to get a shot. I often feel great to work then watch, as I packing up mu stuffs, other people of how do they preserve their ideas over this photographic opportunity. There are a lot to tell about each one who were there by doing that, and that interested me.

    Ok anyway at almost every year during this time, I am more happy than ever. I feel of those holiday season. I feel of a great time, great memory. It is a time which I remember most of how happy we all can be.

   Yesterday was the first day of fall, I was busy working and was so tired after work. I actually intended to do this yesterday. Well, here I am. Better to be late than never.

     Eventhough, my new body of work is the other worlds way from this, but they are connected within me. I usually think back of what I had done during this moment of time in years before. It reminds me of great memories. Everything, and everyone are part of who I am today. Thank you to all.

p.s sorry for a bad scan, not much of space and time.

    Hi  all…

        I am trying to up date my blog once a month at least to share to you of what I am and what I am doing. I am now working on my project which is ” Only Vegas “. I now mostly work with my old 8×10 camera at very early early morning in Vegas. I document town as the way that not many people pay attention to. It is a norm for us who live in Vegas to see  billbords with almost neked ladies images on them around where I live. Once my friend, Brianna Bangle, and I used to joke about it. She is a native of Vegas that’s why she is not too happy about those billbords of some almost naked images of those grils . I totally agree with her because we are not only adults who live here. There are many kids here too . To the world this is such a special town beside what makes it famous. I have done it for fun sometime before, but just this year I grow to love it. SO please stay tune to see what I can come up with. I am influenced by Those masters from 70’s like Stephen Shore, Joel Sternfeld, Adam Bartos,and many others of the way they captured america with their big cameras.  There is something about the way they saw images through the ground glass. I find that very interesting way to do it. It captures my voice, my idea that way. Also it is very hard to work with an 8×10 camera both weight and cost, but when it is done right it is most interesting way of image making for ME. With the resolution of an 8×10 negative we can print so big and the feeling of viewing images that size with that clearity…it is just beautiful to my eyes.

 
       I am always changing and growing to see and love things for my work every each year past. I still use my 6×17 both the Linhof and my Canham, but not as much as I used to. I used them when there is a given view which I find when I am out roaming the town. It is like I set a tool to fit a work thing. I wish that I do more of 6×17 as I think back and forward about many interesting compositions I came across. However, today it is what I am working on now with 8×10. So tomorrow maybe it will be 6×17 turn.

 
    
     I am spending about $700 for each 50 sheets box of film. It means 50 images I can make. It is now only last about a month!!!! I have no idea of how far I can go on with this, but I am not regret about it because I can earn again later. What I can’t earn back is TIME. I am now out of film. I ordered a new one which is coming soon. I have over $2,500 of films sit at home and waiting to be send out for procesing. I don’t have money for it yet. SO it has to wait, but for shootig I can’t wait for it. So most money I earn beside all payments is going to that.

   I am now working a lot same as before, a sushi chef. I have hardly sleep. I try to keep up with work and life as much as I can. I work late shif 3:30pm till 12am then go home to sit on computer for a bit till 4am then head out to the towe looking for my photo. Back to sleep at about 10am if I can sleep then got up at 2pm to get ready for work. This is my most day like for now. I am so far off from the world around me. It is what it is and this is now what I like to do.

   ” The sun rises once a day and sets once a day. Therefore, I am telling myself to walk one step at a time in which way I can. I try to feel the moment on each step I take. That means a lot to my life of how is every moment remained mine. It is not the result which make me happy, but the procese of doing it intrest me most. After all, if what I do will benefit to people who is needed, my goal is completed ”

       These are images of the way I work. Before I decided to move up to biger camera. I was roaming town with a 4×5 camera. Those images which were made early are from the 4×5 large format camera. This year mainly I use my 8×10 large format camera for my most work. As I said above that the films need to be sent out for processing soon to see what I have done. I like a feeling of looking back through those films when it comes  back to me. Please stay tune.

    ” Life is good my friends. ”

      Thank you for reading. See you soon.

       Komkrit Thusanapanont.

      There was a beginning of things we do, and There was thought of what make who we are now. We continue to grow and change every now and then. I did not see myself who I am today before, and continue to wonder of what is my tomorrow will be like. It is a dream and it is a hopeful one. I really enjoy this procese of thinking and living. It interests me in a way of making me keep going forward beyond my imagination ,and my limitation.  For someone this is not a choice, but it is a life style. I think I am blessed to grow in this life style.

      At this point of my time, I come to where there is a small silent voice within my head implying me that it is time for a change. I don’t plan this. I don’t have this idea before. I don’t even know how did I get here, but it is a path which I walk on, and I am guided with the signs. What matters to this? It is TIME.

    I have a feeling that when we were born and continue to live to a certain time, our brains have been over written with all the infomations. We might acknowledge some of the infos, but there are a lot more in our heads which are waiting for time to be re-discovered them . I think everyone has this ability. The different is what one would do something about that.

    Everyday, I keep pushing myself through my own ideas of

  1. Stop just thinking, and start doing.

  2. Stop just listening, and start making.

  3. Stop just looking, and start experimenting.

  4. Stop just worrying, and start living.

  5. Stop just following, and start believing.

      These are what one must gets through to be able to create one’s strong idea. That idea will support you in every way you are and what you do.

        We should not be afraid of our own identities!

       My small little voice in my head now brings me to new ways of seeing and doing my work. I re-discove that I had experinced of the way I see things now before flashing in my head time to time, but it wasn’t the time for me to see it through. I am not saying now that I see it through 100%, but I am seeing it enough for me to make a move and carry on it. What do I lose at the end? Nothing, but I will gain the experince. This procese must be repeated over again and again. I believe this is an only way I learn and it is the best way for me.

       I now find stories in an ordinary.

   Above is close to how I see now. This was photographed Dec 07 in Idaho. Most of my new body of works now are made by an 8×10 large format camera. There is a way about the camera which makes me look at the world  differently. It has began for sometime, a few years, but it is now that I relize that this is what I feel appealing to my heart most. On my lucky day, I would come home with one exciting shot, and that is already more than enough. If it is not, there is always a next day.

       I am roaming my town now. I am experincing Las Vegas the way noone ever done it before. It is fun.

     Thank you for reading.

     KOMKRIT T.