7 Apr 2014

Vanishing Bangkok: a walk among 'soon to disappear' quarters

Bangkok is a fast changing city: what today is considered the latest trendy spot will soon be abandoned, and once deserted and forgotten there is little hope of a recovery, for this city seems to have a very short-spam memory: why wasting time and money maintaining and renovating what has become old (though it probably has just a few years, let alone decades) when you can spend a bit more and built a completely new mall instead? It seems there is no lack of space nor money, as new high level constructions sprout everywhere in the city while equal numbers of buildings get deserted or even left unfinished.

The last breath, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
Eyes that will soon close for good I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
Eyes that will soon close for good II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
There are thousands of people living in humble huts in small neighborhoods around Bangkok, but the frenzy urbanization is quickly threatening their quarters and, one by one, those are being demolished to build yet another condominium or shopping center. There is nothing that can stop this fast developing (until maybe it's already too late) and the Bangkok that once was is fast disappearing. There seems to be no possible coexistence of both ends of the spectrum, as one must disappear in order for the other to grow, and this situation is not likely going to change any time soon. The only thing left for us to do is to go, see and capture these places before they are gone for good.

The long shadow of civilization, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
Of wheels, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
Early morning me, along a group of photographers, roamed around a neighborhood in the vicinity of the Makkasan market and old train station, seeing how some houses have been already demolished while others still remain on their feet, defying the ominous future that fast approaches. Between debris and rubble we discovered beautiful graffiti, and the people who inhabits this area were going ahead with their daily routines as if nothing would ever change. For houses come and go, villages disappear, entire cities transform with time, but there is something that always remains unchanged, no matter what: the stubborn determination of the human race to adapt to any circumstances that might come, and survive.

Makkasan market, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
The egg seller, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
Makkasan train station, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm
Recess in the shade, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm

2 comments:

  1. Great shots! Images are perfectly saturated. What did you use for post-production? Did you batch process them?

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    1. Thank you Orion!
      I use Lightroom to process all my images; I don't use presets or batch processing, I always work independently in each picture, however I don't process much, I prefer to keep things subtle and, in case of doubt, I always believe "less is better".

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