【Lens Captured Another World】Thailand Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai Niche Attractions Photography Guide

Thailand, a sweet country located on the Indochinese peninsula, is a paradise for tourists and the first stop for many people traveling abroad.

The north has rolling mountains, misty forests, the south has a myriad of islands, blue sky, coconut trees, and the central part has a strong Buddhist heritage, religious traditions, and cultural landscapes. The rich topography and diverse cultural traditions have created this inclusive country that embraces everything.

What can we shoot when we come to Thailand?
After traveling through most of Thailand, meeting all kinds of people, and exchanging many photography techniques, I finally have some ideas. This guide summarizes the content of Thailand photography from multiple perspectives. Welcome to share your opinions!

Bangkok, also known as the “Buddhist Capital” and the “City of Angels”, the unique folk customs of Southeast Asia are also reflected here. In Bangkok, a metropolis that blends traditional Buddhist culture with modern technology, if you look closely, you will find many things that are different from other cities. There are towering modern cities and ancient Buddhist temples.

The Grand Palace is crowded with people during the day. Listening to the explanation and visiting the scenic spots is also a fleeting glance. Today, I will not talk about how magnificent it is during the day, nor will I talk about the rise and fall of the Thai dynasty in this palace. Have you ever seen the Grand Palace at night?

After nightfall, this iconic Thai landmark blends with the bustling city behind it in such an interesting way. It feels like the whole of Bangkok is like a real-life portrayal of “cyberpunk” from science fiction novels.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: It is recommended to use a medium telephoto lens/tripod/remote shutter

Location: The roof of a high-rise building on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River (the best location is โรงพยาบาลศิริราช)

Shooting Time: After sunset

This location is on the roof, so you need to negotiate with the building management staff. Be careful when going up to the roof.
When shooting, use a small aperture (this can create a starburst effect of the lights and also reduce the depth of field compression brought about by the telephoto lens). To ensure image quality, we should not set the ISO too high. Use a tripod and a remote shutter or timer to ensure the image is clear and stable.

The dazzling Grand Palace blends with the towering modern buildings around it without looking out of place, this is the unique charm of Bangkok.

The most down-to-earth food culture is called night market culture. Due to geographical and climatic reasons, Thailand has a rich night market culture. Every city has several famous night markets, and Bangkok is no exception. There is the new Star Ferris Wheel night market located on the Chao Phraya River, and the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which only opens once a week and attracts many people, while the Ratchada Train Night Market should be considered one of the most photogenic and eye-catching of Bangkok’s many night markets.

Here, there are the most complete Thai national snacks, the hottest open-air bar culture, and a large number of unique small commodities. If you just walk through the shops, you may not feel its beauty, but the best view is when you overlook the entire night market. Every night, when the lights of the night market stalls come on, they illuminate the colorful awnings of the night market stalls, and the soft red sunset at dusk sets off the colorful Ratchada Night Market, which will definitely make you unforgettable.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: It is recommended to use a wide-angle, medium telephoto lens/tripod/remote shutter

Location: Inside the ตลาดนัดรถไฟ รัชดา mall next to the Ratchada Train Market

Shooting Time: Dusk

When shooting the Ratchada Train Night Market, be sure to go there at dusk, when the lights come on and the sunset sets off the colorful night market.
As with all sunset shots, it is recommended to use a tripod and remote shutter or timer to ensure the best image quality.

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is second only in size to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, and stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, mirroring the Grand Palace. Because the pagoda here is entirely white, the entire pagoda is elaborately decorated, inlaid with various colored ceramic tiles, glass, and shells.

It has a Brahman-style exterior and a Siamese ornate and luxurious decorative style. It is grand, exquisite, and unique. Its shape is similar to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and because of the fame and recognizability of the Eiffel Tower, Wat Arun is also known as the Eiffel “Tower” of Bangkok. Wat Arun is solemn and quiet during the day, but it becomes a little more mysterious after nightfall.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: It is recommended to use a wide-angle, medium telephoto lens/tripod/remote shutter

Location: The passenger terminal west of the Grand Palace

Shooting Time: Dusk

Wat Arun can be photographed both during the day and at dusk. You can shoot inside the temple before sunset, and at sunset, we can take a ferry across the river to shoot the sunset over Wat Arun.

Although the pagoda is quadrangular, the corners are winding and layered, giving it a sense of flowing rhythm. Looking up at the towering pagoda, you can see another set of differently shaped statues, solemn and awe-inspiring. Here and now, even though we are not Buddhists, such an atmosphere naturally inspires awe.

Buildings are the crystallization of human wisdom, and they are also a concentrated reflection of urban culture. Every city that makes people’s eyes light up is not only unique in its scenery, but also the buildings are eye-catching elements.

Shooting good buildings is also the dream of every photographer. When it comes to urban architecture photography, perhaps Bangkok is truly a paradise for architecture lovers. In many cities in China, we need to go through a lot of trouble to find rooftops we can go up to. Sometimes we also need to avoid the security guards, sneak up the building (black climb).
But, coming to Thailand, everything becomes so easy, almost all the high-rise buildings, the roof is open to the public. There are many rooftop bars, hotel pools or restaurants are also located on the top floor, or directly become a tourist attraction. Therefore, shooting in Bangkok is so easy and convenient. You can enjoy delicious food or drinks while taking pictures. This is the kind of photography experience we should have.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: It is recommended to use a wide-angle, medium telephoto lens/tripod/remote shutter

Location: Various hotel rooftops, rooftop bars.

Shooting Time:

Light selection is one of the important factors in building photography. The evening light is the most beautiful and dazzling of the day. The sky is blue and has not completely darkened. At night, the neon lights shine, adding a mysterious touch to the buildings. Shooting buildings at dusk is a different flavor. Use night illumination (such as neon lights, building lights, long exposures under car light trails, etc.) to set off the buildings themselves, making the light visual elements of the image richer.

In general, when shooting this type of work, in addition to paying attention to exposure balance, you should also use a tripod to fix the shooting, avoiding image shake.
Shoot from below, shoot from above, and shoot at eye level to show the beauty of the building from all angles. The immobility of buildings may make everyone feel that “whether you shoot or not, it’s just there.” But, just by changing the angle and turning around, the building can produce a completely different visual feel.

The Bangkok cityscape is very varied in height, so lenses from wide-angle to telephoto can all be used. The most important thing is aerial shooting, be sure to pay attention to safety.

The lines of the building can help us build the logic of the image, guide the viewer’s eyes to travel through different parts of the image, and can create more fun for the subject and the background.

For photographers, to experience the most down-to-earth local atmosphere, the local market – is undoubtedly the best place. Located in Ayutthaya, Thailand, the Mae Klong Railway Market, this very popular market is built on both sides of a railway line about 100 meters long. It is known as the “most dangerous market in Thailand”, or at least, it is definitely the most eye-catching one.

Here, vendors set up fold-up umbrellas or plastic awnings to provide shade from the sun and rain, some even extend over the railway tracks. Tourists walk back and forth, some taking pictures, while others try to squeeze out the best spot to watch the approaching train.
A whistle pierces the air, and the magic begins. The vendors quickly fold up their umbrellas and plastic awnings, and some pick up the goods that are next to the tracks. When the train glides by, everyone scatters at once, the train almost brushing past their faces. For those experiencing it for the first time, it might be a little nerve-wracking. After the train passes, everything returns to normal, as if nothing happened. This magical scene has made it a famous market with local flavor in Thailand.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: It is recommended to use a 24-70, 24-105 lens

Location: Mae Klong Railway Market

Shooting Time: 6:20, 8:30, 9:00, 11:10, 11:30, 14:10, 15:30, 17:40
Be sure to pay attention to safety when shooting, keep a safe distance from the train, and do not shoot on the railway track when the train is coming.

Drifting down the river with the hum of the longtail boat engine, the stilt houses where local people live on both sides of the canal whiz past you. This thrill can only be experienced here. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of the famous markets in Bangkok, many tourists come here, spend hours wandering through the crowds, trying to penetrate the culture of this country and the daily lives of ordinary people.

In the market, small boats selling goods crisscross the canal, along with the water villages on both sides of the river, forming a typical picture of Bangkok. On the canal, lush with tropical trees on both sides, old women in straw hats paddle small boats loaded with fruits and vegetables through narrow waterways, their cries echoing through the canals, adding a special flavor.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: It is recommended to use a 24-70, 24-105 lens

Location: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Shooting Time: All day
When you arrive at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, you can shoot from the shore first, and then you can take a boat ride on the canal to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere and experience it at closer range.

Ayutthaya, 80 kilometers from the bustling and hurried Bangkok, is a completely different world. Here, it is quiet and solemn, only countless temples and ancient sites stand silently in the wilderness. The entire city of Ayutthaya is a museum, Ayutthaya ruins have been listed as a World Heritage Site, among them, the Buddha head entwined by banyan tree roots in Wat Mahathat is its symbol. Ayutthaya was once the capital of Siam, and it witnessed the glory of the Ayutthaya Dynasty. Now it has become synonymous with ancient temples and historical ruins.

The Ayutthaya Historical Park, located in the center of the ancient city, allows you to deeply experience the rich history and former prosperity of its historical sites. Every piece of ruin exudes mystery. When you are surrounded by ruins, it is not difficult to imagine the grandeur of the past capital of the Ayutthaya Dynasty. Wandering through the ancient city, you often forget the passage of time. Sometimes you can see monks in yellow robes wandering among the ruins, like flowers quietly blooming by the walls of the ruins. This is a city that is suitable for a spiritual journey.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: Wide-angle, telephoto, standard lens

Location: Ayutthaya Historical Park

Shooting Time: Morning, dusk

The ruins of the temple are shadowy and shadowy in the dim light, a peaceful and serene scene.
Ayutthaya Historical Park is arguably the most quaint destination in the Bangkok area, with a variety of weathered pagodas. At sunrise and dusk, the entire ancient city is bathed in golden soft light, and the history of the city pervades the air. When the sky is bright, girls in Thai costumes stroll among the ancient sites, making you feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the age of splendor.

As the capital of the first Siamese kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, there are many striking monumental buildings here. Sukhothai, this small town in northern Thailand, the ancient capital of the old dynasty, has too many ruins and simple pagodas, it is a different side of Thailand that is not often seen. The Sukhothai Kingdom period gradually formed a brilliant civilization that rapidly absorbed various cultural elements and combined them with local ancient traditions to form what is now known as the “Sukhothai style.”

Sukhothai Historical Park, the entire park is quite extensive, covering 116.5 square kilometers, surrounded by three layers of earth walls, moats, and city walls, there are four large ponds within the city, and there are 193 Buddhist sites scattered inside and outside the city, including one royal palace, 35 temples, and a large number of ancient pagodas, statues, steles, ponds, embankments, and ancient kilns, etc.

Shooting Guide

Equipment: Wide-angle, telephoto, standard lens

Location: The central and northern areas of the ancient city are home to most of the temple ruins, Wat Mahathat’s lotus bud pagoda, Wat Si Sawai’s hall pillars, Wat Sri Chum’s statues with elegant slender fingers are all excellent subjects for shooting.

Shooting Time: Morning, dusk

Compared to the many popular islands in southern Thailand, northern Thailand seems to be a lot quieter. Few tourists go to northern Thailand, but it is here that you have the chance to experience the most primitive side of this country.

Northern Thailand is surrounded by mountains, with rugged terrain, misty year-round, lush forests, and a stark contrast to the southern terrain. There are many photo-worthy subjects hidden in the mountain secrets of northern Thailand, the sunrise over Doi Inthanon on the Mekong River, the rolling sea of clouds in the mountains, the mysterious long-necked village, the unique coffee shops in Chiang Mai, the morning on Doi Suthep, the leisurely city streets, the pure White Temple in Chiang Rai, the well-designed Blue Temple, and the thought-provoking Black House…
There are also unique ethnic festivals every year, Flower Festival, Loy Krathong Festival, Songkran Festival, Mask Festival…
I will be writing a separate article about niche attractions in northern Thailand, so stay tuned!

Thailand, located on the Indochinese peninsula, occupies a unique natural environment. It has not only rolling mountains in the north, but also beautiful islands nourished by the warm waters in the south. Among the many national parks, 1/10 of the world’s bird species inhabit, and under the protection of the Thai people, Thailand’s primitive landscape is well preserved.

In terms of cultural resources, Thailand also has many unique ethnic minorities hidden in various places waiting for photographers to discover. The many festivals are also a unique feature of Thailand, Songkran, Loy Krathong, Mask Festival, Rocket Festival…
The unique natural landscape and rich cultural features make up the beautiful scenery of Thailand. This tourist destination awaits your arrival to discover its unique side.