Medium and Technique: Large format film portraiture.

Why did you choose to shoot with an unwieldy bellows camera?
I’m an editorial photographer for magazines and I’m always required to work relatively fast. So with personal work I try to take my time. Large format photography is very complex, but it’s really meditative in the way you concentrate. Also, all of these people are giving me something special. I’m guessing that they feel that they’re having their portrait taken rather than just posing for a picture.

The backgrounds of your portraits are rugged and faded, but the subjects are left untouched. How did you create this effect?
Brushing, scratching chemicals and tearing. Not necessarily completely controlled, but trying to avoid the tattooed area. It’s just handmade work on the negatives. There’s no Photoshop, whatsoever.

What was your inspiration?
I kept coming back to this one photo [a portrait of a taxi driver, which is also displayed in the exhibition]. I used a Polaroid 55 [an instant negative film]. However, it was 16-17 years out of date. Like some vintage wines, some age well and some not so well. But I liked the way it looked, the texture, and the fact that it’s imperfect.

How did you get your subjects to pose?
Well, there’s two ways of doing a project like this—and I don’t like the first way at all. You can go to a big event, like the Wat Bang Phra temple in Nakhon Chaisi and line people up or you can meet people by chance. I only have two [portraits from the ceremony]. The rest were random encounters.

Who is the tattooed man in robes [displayed]?
His name is Achaan Toi, a very respected Tattoo Master.

How did Achaan Toi become so respected?
His tattoos have a reputation of being very powerful. The ‘tattooees’ all firmly believe in the spirits and powers of their tattoos. Many say once you get one, you start to feel the power. That’s how they end up having their bodies covered.

Will the exhibition be displayed anywhere else?
I’m going to have another show in London. I will most likely be working with an academic. It will be based more on anthropology so it will be a lot more about the people. I love anthropology. It is one of my passions. 

At The Art Center (7/F, Center of Academic Resources, Chulalongkorn University, Phaya Thai Rd., 02-218-2965). Through Jun 25. Open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-4pm.