I was contacted through FineArt America by a Chiang Mai photographer who has far more Thai experience than me, whose work is very good. He suggested whenever he's here or I'm there we should go shooting together. His photos are fantastic so I feel very honoured.

Jerry Nelson Fine Art America

Chiang Mai is much larger than where I am in Chiang Rai, and about a 4 hour car or bus trip away.

Something Jerry said in his email was that we could shoot together "unless I was one of those photographers who liked to shoot alone."

That made me stop and think for a while. I believe two photographers, standing at the same location, pointing their cameras at the same subject, should be able to make two different images. Unless one of those photographers isn't very creative.


An image isn't created by a camera, filtering light through a lens.
An image is created by an artist filtering subject matter through a mind, experience, and creative thought. I learned in both Art School and Technical School, that we master the technique of photography to forget it; it no longer suppresses our vision. Once you know the camera you forget it, like a vacuum cleaner.

As far as sharing photo excursions, I don't mind at all. In fact I've collaborated, shared, and used ideas with a friend, Sheldon, for many years. We have influenced each others' work so much it is hard to know who should get credit for what, but neither of us care. One of my favourite images must be credited 50/50 with him.

 

Gas Pump 1982

This started out as my idea, but no way was it going to be as effective without the arrogant pose. The suit jacket and scarf were both Sheldon's ideas and the pompous pose could only be pulled off by someone who knew exactly what the final photo needed. A full collaboration.

Jerry also commented on one of my images on Fine Art America, the Chiang Rai clock tower. he mentioned that he had never thought of shooting it that way.

Well I have to say it was somewhat accidental. I pictured in my head the photos of the Colesseum and the Arc de Triomphe with all the lights, but Chiang Rai simply hasn't the traffic of a Rome or Paris. I went home disapointed. I had taken alot of photos but nothing of interest. I experimented a little and discovered I could merge a few, with "lighten" as the Layer Blend option. This photo is a combination of 16 exposures.