Bangkok blues & folk
July 20th, 2008
“Ad Here” blues bar is without a doubt one of the best and certainly the most genuine live music venue in Bangkok. Weekends are particularly busy in this small converted shop house on Samsen rd, in the heart of the Banglumphu district; but that’s all part of the atmosphere of a good blues bar. The crowd is a mix or regulars, both Thai and farang and some tourists who stumble across the venue or hear about it from friends…
Pong, a fantastic blues guitarist who runs the bar with his wife, gives young musicians a chance to play opening sets on most nights… There’s a lot a jamming going on during the main sets too…
Bumped into English musician Rikki Doolan and went to watch his Friday night set comprising of heart felt Bob-Dylanesque compositions and a few covers like House of the Rising Sun. Great stuff…
Click the play button to hear this song called A questionable ceilliing.
Rikki during his set
And Later on jamming with the band…
On the same night Ad Here regular Georgia, Thailand’s answer to Janis Joplin, sang blues classics with the house band. Yet another stunning performance at this jem of a Bangkok venue.
Photography: Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Rikki’s Myspace page:http://www.myspace.com/rikkidoolan
Ad Here The 13 th
13 Samsen Road , Banglumphu
Phrnakorn, Bangkok 10200
Ad Here on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/adherebluesbar
Photography everywhere in Bangkok
June 21st, 2008
Good photography exhibitions are usually hard to come by in Bangkok, but this month is very special.
For the first time, the World Press Photo exhibition is in town - (@ Zen department store - 8th floor - from June 18th to July 6th)on top of the exhibition of award winning images form the 2008 contest, there’s also an exhibit by Thai press photographers andsome discussions / seminars. For the full program visit: www.pressphotoinfocus.com
While you’re there don’t miss Yann Arthus Bertrand’s “World From Above” exhibit on the ground floor just outside Zen. More info here
This is part of the 3rd Bangkok Month of Photography, curated by Manit Sriwanichpoom (of “Pink Man” fame)
Also part of the event: - At the Queen’s Gallery, 100 X France / a history of French photography featuring prints by Henri Cartier Bresson, Jean-Loup Sieff, Raymond Depardon, Robert Doisneau, Brassaï. Not to be missed for black and white lovers and those interested in the Historyof photography.
Also at the Queen’s Gallery, a very interesting set of images taken by Pierre Rossier, photographer at the Court of the King of Siam between 1850 to 1860
More info on the Queen’s Gallery Exhibit and other shows on during the Month of Photography here
Not to be missed for Parisian book worms…
June 12th, 2008
Starting today, June 12th right in front of Paris’ legendary book store Shakespeare & Co.
www.festivalandco.com
A literary festival featuring some of today’s leading authors such as Paul Auster.
The festival entitled: “Real lives, exploring memoir and biography”, runs from June 12th to 15th.
For more info on the hosts: www.shakespeareco.org
George Whitman, Shakespeare & Co’s owner at the shop
Photographed in 2005 © Cedric Arnold
Windy fashion
May 16th, 2008
Just did another shoot for Bangkok Fashion brand Hey Pilgrim! For the new collection, “Windswept”, we used an lcd projector to create some interesting background and overlay effects. The whole shoot will be posted on www.heypilgrim.com next week.
© Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
© Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
© Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
© Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
MUSIC PICS
May 9th, 2008
After Emails form many people asking what happened to my music photography pages, I’ve decided to put some back here. Haven’t done any concert photography for ages due to, err well the most ridiculous shooting conditions being imposed by concert promoters in Bangkok, putting us miles away and often way off to one side. And well, let’s face it, whilst there’s a few positive signs of decent acts coming back to play here and a local indie scene that’s growing (at snail pace); we’re still a long way form the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan… Here’s some favorites form London, Paris and Bangkok.
Deftones at Reading Festival 2000 © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Herbie Hancock, London © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bangkok © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
PJ Harvey, London © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
L: Red Twenty, Bangkok R: Futon, Bangkok © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Bangkok Punk gig © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Noi, from Thai band Pru © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Bangkok punk gig © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Elastica, on stage, back stage, Reading Fest 2000 © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Suede in Bangkok © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Franz Ferdinand and Placebo at Bangkok Rock Fest 2006 © Cedric Arnold / realfeatures.com
Kyoto
December 24th, 2007
Just got back from Osaka, where I was working on a story about the food culture there (that story will go on the travel pages in Feb). Took a day trip to Kyoto (only 30 mins away) A bit on the touristy side but still a stunning place…
R: A monk walks through the courtyard at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
L: The gardens at Ryoan-Ji “The Temple of the Peaceful Dragon”
R: Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
Kimono-clad women in the Gion area of Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
Leaving Japan without buying a toy camera would somehow not have felt right. So I got a Holga in crazy little shop in Osaka called: “Exciting Book Store”, one of those mad places that stock everything form toy cameras to rare art books, clothing, magazines, vinyls, very strangely shaped condoms. This monk appeared out of nowhere and I focused the lens with guess work (at that point I still had not read the instructions and didn’t know what distances the little logos on the lens related too!) This snap was the only frame that worked for me on my first roll with the Holga. The thing is so light you can forget it’s on your shoulder, it’s fun though. I’ll be using it in Bangkok in the weeks to come…
A young couple in quiet conversation at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine
L: A Kimono-clad woman at the huge Kyoto train station
R: The gardens at Ryoan-Ji
Cinematic moods
August 2nd, 2007
Completed an intersting project last week, shooting for new fashion brand Hey Pilgrim! to promote their new collection: “What is Bangkok?”. We came up with the idea of projecting Bangkok inspired images on a wall to give the scene a “cinematic” feel and lighting the model with studio strobes - It turned out to be a pretty cool shoot here’s a few samples. More here
Water wars and toy cameras
May 23rd, 2007
After escaping Bangkok’s blistering April heat for Europe 5 consecutive years, I finally caught a glimpse of the Songkran (Thai new year) water mayhem in the city’s backpacking district of Khao San rd… I enlisted the help of a plastic waterproofish toy camera and some black & white film. That same morning I had just picked up one of my best mates at the airport … 12 hour flight form Paris , no mercy, I took him straight to the heart of the fighting.
A group of children armed with water guns take aim at a passing bus…
L: A trio of kids on a tricycle-like contraption join in…
R: “Ultramen” water pistol! Walking along the grand palace walls on the way to Khao San…
Ibiza, eat my heart out… Foam galore in the heart of Khao San…
A bit of peace and quiet after the war… A novice monk sweeps the ground at a nearby temple. Nice vespa…