Pattaya’s beach road is a heady mixture of hookers, customers, pimps, vendors, and bemused tourists who wonder what they have wandered into. A wonderful place to take a camera, except the hookers don’t like to be photographed, and I suspect their customers are not too keen on the idea either. Point a sodding big SLR at beach lady and you may have an angry pimp to deal with. But how about an inconsequential little camera like the Fuji X100, touted as ideal street camera?
The answer is that, used with discretion (i.e. fear of being thumped), I was generally ignored. One guy did ask me how many years I had been taking photographs, the inference being that I was clearly using a vintage camera.
Anyway, here are some shots. I want to make it clear that none of the young ladies hanging around on beach road are prostitutes; they just like to spend their days near the sea wearing make-up and being friendly to passing men.
If anyone cares:* All photos with Fuji X100. 1/125th second at F8 or F11. ISO between 200 and 3200. Zone focusing. Monochrome JPG produced in camera.*
Comments 🔗
2011-06-03| Wally saysRef 9th photo - Is it an optical illusion or has the ‘secretary on her lunchbreak’ got her feet on the wrong legs !!
2011-06-03| Spike saysHer legs are crossed. This probably grounds for a joke. I like the man lurking in the shadows behind her, clearly with ill-intent.
2011-06-03| genuinej saysAre you sure it’s a she?
2011-06-03| Wally saysMaybe her pimp, and also maybe with ill-intent towards the photographer !! A bit dodgy pointing your camera and clicking away at the local ‘fixtures’ on Beach Road nowadays.
2011-06-03| Spike saysNot sure; you can confirm next time you are here.
2011-06-03| Spike saysIt started to feel a little threatening towards the end, to the extent we thought we were be followed by an unpleasant looking fellow. The situation was not helped by she who must be obeyed who was waving a telephoto lens in the general direction of all hookers. Still, anything for my readers; and I have more to post when I get round to it.
2011-06-03| Pete saysHer??
2011-06-03| Pete saysIn picture 13 - what is that in front of the CIMB - and what is it riding?? Last picture - adorbz-of-the-day
2011-06-03| genuinej saysRe picture 13. The hookers on the right and the young females in centre background look far more interesting, (from 6,000 miles away), and though granny may need to be wary of handbag snatchers, I’m sure her snatch will be in no danger.
2011-06-06| MeMock saysGreat pics - thanks for confirming my decisions years ago to never visit Pattaya! There are some very scary looking people amongst them for sure. As I am sure you would be aware, you have the law behind you when it comes to taking photos of people on the street although that may not help matters when someone is about to wrap your latest toy around your neck!