The day I took a canal boat ride to go shoot a movie.

I strapped in my LitePanel kit with all the necessary parts, threw a light stand and a tripod into my daypack, grabbed my newly indicted lucky charm (more on that later), and hitched a ride to the canal pier Wat SriBoonRueng near my house.

Lucas, an Australia-born-and-raised Thai, who met me earlier in July is continuing with his documentary project. I'm not quite sold on what he's trying to accomplish yet but I figure I'd give it a shot because it certainly doesn't hurt to work. I took the canal boat and switched to a tuk tuk all the way to Khao San road.
It wasn't the easiest thing to carry around a big light kit onto the boat.

Another reason I accepted a gig was that the shots needed was in a tattoo parlor. I've never been inside one of these before, and for sure have never seen the old way of tattooing before, without the tattoo machine. It was done with just a bamboo and a needle. It was really neat to see how the guy just used his hand to guide  and the other wrist to just make the needles go up and down the person's back.

It looked painful. Tattoo has always been a puzzling interest for me. It's the permanent thing. I have expressed my interest to get it to a few people. I want one of my arms covered with layers of patterns and shapes, colorful ones. I think I'll wait till after my world trip, no reason to break my parents' hearts too often—one surprise at a time.

Anyway, I had some pretty good basic composition exercises with the shoot. I didn't do too much with lighting as it wasn't really appropriate, but I had a fun time coming up with cool composition with the dingy camera on the fly. I realize how steady I'm able to hold the camera, which is a plus, but it can always be improved. All in all, I was pretty satisfied with the images I was able to come up with.

The ride back home was painful, it was hot and humid, and it was crowded. I fell asleep on the boat— not a good idea. Woke up finding my phone on the floor- oops. Instead of grabbing a bus at the end, I decided for a quick 15 minutes stroll— it was well worth it. The rain clouds were over my head, but it never amounted to anything— much like a lot of my life right now— and again, things always end up just fine...

and we're floating on...

Came home and ate the rest of my delicious belgian dark chocolate-covered almonds. Heaven does exist.

Pete