04-17-11
photo documentary – a wet new year
April is not always the cruelest month, though Thailand in April can sometimes feel that way. It’s hot, hot, and more hot that month, but a special antidote do exist. It is called Songkran, or the Water Splashing Festival. Just as the name implies, at Songkran a lot of water gets dispersed =)
Songkran is a celebration of the Thai New Year, and historically the word “Songkran” is Sanskrit, and means “passing through”. The dates used to be calculated by an astrological calendar, but are now generally set to April 13th through the 15th.
Water and Songkran is very synonym. Thais driving by in trucks dumping buckets of water on anyone in their path. Children with their water guns, drenching each other. Elephants fill their trunks and spray the crowd. In this event also occasionally chalk or talcum powder is added or mixed into the water. If you don’t want to get wet or chalky you should probably lock yourself up inside your hotel room.
Songkran is a Public Spring Cleaning Day, supported by the religious belief that anything old and useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner. That’s why they are using the water!
During the afternoon of the 13th, Buddha images are bathed as part of the ceremony. Young people pour scented water into the hands of elders and parents as a mark of respect while seeking the blessing of the older people. In ancient days, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young folks as a token of respect for the New Year.
This is my first time experienced Songkran. I choose Hatyai as my destination because of the easy access (and of course because of the tight budget) If u guyz really2 want to experience Songkran, Chiang Mai and Bangkok is other destination that offer awesome celebration! This year, Bangkok celebration itself have made a new world record as the biggest water festival in earth so far! I cant imagine myself!
But Hatyai does not disappoint me. The midnight celebration was so cool and crazy! people started to get wet as early 8pm before the Songrkan day itself and party all night long non stop for 48 hours!
Seriously Thais in Hatyai really knows how to celebrate it… with a lot of fun and cool event like parade… muay thai show… concert… and the best part is the foam machine! haha!
I decided to documented this event with 100% black and white! I really dont have a fix reason… its just that i feel like BNW is perfect for this. Trillion thx to naqi for the fish eye! wohoooo!
and not to forget my travel mate man, eman n doc for this awesome trip! remember what happened in Hatyai will stay in Hatyai. lol~!
Travel tip – the most important thing… book your accommodation at least a month before event! seriously there’s no such thing as walk in as a backpackers when it comes to Songkran festival. the rate will be double! damn!
Do make a preparation to wrap up your camera if u are a photographer! using underwater casing is one of the option.
bring extra cash as backup, and enjoy the event! hehe =)
next year Songkran… Bangkok or Chiang Mai! anyone with me? =)
**this documentary is part of the ‘live.laugh.celebrate’ project by azim.zainudin.
regards,
azim.zainudin 2011
03-30-11
tamimi + syifa | maldivu
this is maldives!
perfect location for honeymoon…
this is paradise!
its been a wonderful journey and experience for me to cover their post wed shoot (photo & video) at the same time.
its a tough one… to deliver the best picture… with a limited time…
all i could say… this is the best place ever!
here are only a few shots… i really cant choose which one to upload because i love all the photos! T_T
looking foward to come n visit maldives again.
i miss maldives so much! warghhh!
regards,
azim.zainudin
maldives october 2010
03-28-11
photo documentary – Hawa
seriously i don’t know how to take pictures of a model. if i do take, it will turn out to be very horrible.
i guess i didn’t have the talent in fashion / model art photography.
last weekend we have a small session with the clan to do some model photo shoot. the main purpose is to try out our new MUA, so we did call some of our frens to be the experimental tools. lol.
inspired by the RUPAJIWA portrait collection entitled ‘rahsia rasa-perempuan’, i decided to make my own personal collection from this session shoot. Hawa!
photo: azim.zainudin
make up: adee raffaeyl
model: ad, dd, naza & mar
location: ‘We’ home base studio, wangsa maju
regards,
azim.zainudin
