Leftovers

February 21st, 2010

I think some of the best meals I’ve made are from riffing with leftovers. The limitations help the improvisation. That also seems to be the case with the construction of WTF. Small budget, small space and limited time have meant a great deal of compromise, but that has focussed the creative solutions. The previous tenants (owners of a supermarket) had stored a bunch of shelves and random AC covers that are now elements of benches, tables and screened partitions.

Perhaps even my photography is best when a job has extreme limitations. I’ve always found the best pictures have come from circumstances where the setting/town is uglier than anticipated; the light is fading fast; the subject is recalcitrant.

Still Working

February 8th, 2010

I’m not a full-time bartender yet. I just got the latest Monocle with a story I photographed on a “hot” neighborhood in Bangkok. Lots of fun to explore a place I knew only superficially. The story looks nice too — even ran some food shots and an additional pleasure of working for Monocle was they paid me on time. (Truly astounding in these times of 90++day invoice delays.)

Chaired

February 2nd, 2010

Exploring the wood street in Bangkok was a vision of what Thailand used to be — covered in teak forests. The only wood (it seems) available is teak or rubber. Rubber wood is reclaimed from unproductive rubber plantations, which were planted after clear cutting the indigenous forests. We wanted to find European bentwood cafe chairs. I’m not sure what wood is used — I found a single antique in Jatujak Market’s furniture zone for $75 from Czechoslovakia (that old.) For a Burmese teak version the price is the same. Local teak $15 less. Either teak or rubber we’ll still be botching some part of the remaining forest here. Sustainability? Not in Thailand.

Special Project

January 27th, 2010

Photography projects are done for many reasons, but most often as an antidote to the frustrations, vagaries, despair of photography done to make a living. True creative expression is poured into a personal project while only a few droplets ever stain professional work. I try to be as creative as possible on assignments even if photographing something I could care less about from any other position than behind a viewfinder. However, photographing for a living is now as precarious a path as being an auto worker or a farmer. Now the special project is something to do instead of work.

I’ve decided on a new special project where I use all my creative experience: the aesthetic decisions and problem solving learned as an art director; the framing, timing and patience of a photographer; the real-life testing of countless hotels, bars, restaurants and resorts while on assingment; the ear to understand English spoken with the thickest of foreign accents… How will I use these well honed skills?

Open a bar + gallery.

Why the f—? No clients (other than my 3 partners) to tell me you can’t do that. Somewhere to listen to decent music while drinking. A job to do between assignments, while waiting for the world to figure out how to develop content for Apple’s tablet. Lay out my creative choices and see how people respond. How the f— did I decide? My wife and I had countless converstaions —”if this was our place…” or “why isn’t there something like this in Bangkok.” She’d reached the frustration boil-over point trying to get a good job as an art/culture manager.

We asked around, looked at spaces, but usually too expensive or just the wrong space. We were made aware of an empty building (very small) 10 minutes walk from our house. It had the right vibe and after talking with the owners we found it was the right price. Well, why the f— not go for it?

Company formed, lease signed, demo and construction begun (2 days ago.) Already headaches and obstacles, but they are intimately ours and worth sorting through with the end in mind.

As I see my plans and designs take form I’ll try to keep a running commentary on what it takes to open a bar in Bangkok. It will most likely be more  interesting than reading about photography!

wishing all of you,