One of the most enduring memories I have of living in Bangkok is going to movies. Before films begin in Thailand, viewers must stand and listen to the national anthem, while photos of King Bhumibol Adulyadej gently fade on and off the screen. In the vast majority of these, the King is with camera, around his neck or at his eye while he snaps away in a Northern village or on a new road. These pictures have become part of the cultural imaginary of the country, a marker of the King’s deep interest in his kingdom and its peoples.
A Thai-French photographer based in Paris, Tiane Doan na Champassak has put together The King of Photography, a photo zine filled with images of the King and his camera. Not an especially new editorial strategy, but it made me remember, and smile. What more could you want?
64 Pages, 18,5 x 13,5 cm (7,3 x 5,3 inches)
250 Copies
Risograph Quadtone Printing
More information here.
