For many years, Thailand has been my escape—a land of vibrant colours, rich culture, and chaotic street scenes that promise endless photographic opportunities. On my most recent trip, I set out with the goal of filling the gap with street photography, inspired by the bustling markets, neon-lit nightlife, and the fast pace of Bangkok and beyond.

But as the journey unfolded, I realized something important: street photography and landscape photography are polar opposites, and the gap I sought to fill wasn’t going to be bridged by simply switching genres. Traveling light with only my mobile setup, I learned valuable lessons along the way—about photography, about myself, and about how to approach each location with the right mindset and tools.

Here’s how the journey unfolded, with highlights from each location, and the photography challenges and lessons learned.

From DSLR to Mobile: The Shift to Travel-Ready Photography

The entire trip was unstructured, a deliberate break from sitting in front of a computer all day, doing software development, and shooting familiar landscapes in East Sussex. After wrapping up work, I craved something different—a long escape. I had taken a similar trip to Thailand shortly after COVID-19, lugging along my DSLR, travel tripod, laptop, and a suitcase to fit it all. That gear mostly stayed in the suitcase, and I didn’t want to repeat that mistake.

This time, I decided to go highly mobile. I focused on learning mobile phone photography on the road, keeping my Canon G5X compact camera as a backup for those moments when I needed more control.

First Impressions on Sukhumvit: Navigating the Crowds and Neon Lights

After a long flight, my first few nights in Bangkok were spent in the bustling Sukhumvit area. Known for its vibrant street life and heavy tourist presence, this part of the city offers a stark contrast to the quiet landscapes I’m used to photographing back in East Sussex. One of the first challenges I encountered was adjusting to shooting in such a densely populated area—street photography is all about capturing people, which was quite different from the serene landscapes I’m more familiar with.

Capturing Sukhumvit Streets with a Mobile Camera

During my stay, the rainy season was in full swing, offering some great photographic opportunities. Heavy rains left the streets wet and reflective, especially after dusk, creating perfect conditions to capture the neon lights bouncing off puddles.

Initially, I relied on my mobile phone’s default settings to take candid street shots, trying to stay light and agile as I wandered through the crowded streets.

Street Photography Challenges in Soi Cowboy

Bangkok’s red-light districts, like Soi Cowboy, were also fascinating from a photographic standpoint. The neon-lit streets, combined with the reflective surfaces after rain, made for stunning shots.

However, photographing people in these areas presented a unique challenge. Using my mobile phone, I found people generally didn’t mind me snapping pictures in public spaces, but a dedicated camera drew more attention, which made it harder to blend in and capture authentic moments. Street photography comes with this delicate balance—capturing the scene while respecting the space and privacy of others, especially in sensitive locations like these.

Benjakitti Park Respite: Nature Meets Skyscrapers

Morning walks around Benjakitti Park, just off Sukhumvit in Bangkok, provided a much-needed respite from the nightlife and the constant buzz of tourists. This park, with its sprawling greenery and serene paths, is a striking juxtaposition to the towering skyscrapers that frame the skyline. The contrast between nature and the cityscape became an inspiring theme for my photography.

On these walks, I often travelled light—just my mobile phone and wallet. If I brought along my compact camera, I would pack a sling bag to comfortably carry everything. By this time in the trip, I had become more adept at using my mobile phone for photography, experimenting with shooting in RAW format and editing on Lightroom Mobile.

Heat Humidity Challenge

However, the heat and humidity in Bangkok were relentless, making it challenging to walk or hike for extended periods. I often returned to the hotel drenched in sweat, as if I had just been caught in a rainstorm. Frequent stops at the ever-present 7/11 stores became a ritual to replenish electrolytes, usually with coconut water, dark chocolate, and salted peanuts—essentials that kept me going during these sweltering days. Hiking is central to my landscape photography back home where the temperature is a lot more temperate most of the time.

Pattaya: Striking a Balance Between Photography and Heat

After leaving Bangkok, I made my way to Pattaya via bus, staying in a budget-friendly condo for a week in the city center. The condo was packed, mostly with Asian tourists, but its rooftop pool provided some great views over Pattaya. Like Bangkok, Pattaya was bustling with tourists, now predominantly from China and India, which made street photography more challenging in the densely populated areas.

Still, I managed to capture some great street photography moments along the beach during sunset. Each morning, I would walk the entire length of Beach Road and go for a swim before the heat became too intense. However, the high temperatures and sheer number of tourists forced me to retreat indoors during the day.

These conditions led to a drop in motivation for capturing the golden hour or sunset moments, which are prime times for photography. The balance between managing the heat, crowds, and finding those fleeting moments of quiet to shoot made it a challenge, but it was also part of the experience. I found that sometimes, instead of fighting the elements, you need to let the environment guide you on when and how to shoot.

Koh Larn: A Nature Escape from Pattaya

After a bustling stay in Pattaya, I ventured to Koh Larn, sharing a rough-speed boat ride with Russian tourists to reach the island. Most visitors treat Koh Larn as a day trip, but I opted for a 3-day stay at the quieter Samae Beach.

Koh Larn’s contrast to Pattaya was clear—the crowds were smaller, but the heat and humidity still oppressive. The island, though better suited for couples, offered a peaceful break from the urban hustle. I hiked through some of the island’s rugged terrain and explored various beaches, managing to capture a few natural moments amid the intermittent crowds.

The photography here leaned heavily toward nature: the picturesque sunsets and tranquil waters provided a stark contrast to my earlier street photography efforts in Bangkok and Pattaya. The beach itself, although less crowded than Pattaya, was a challenge to enjoy fully, with tourists and their omnipresent phones intruding on the peace.

Jomtien: A Quieter Coastline Escape

After the natural beauty of Koh Larn, I returned to Pattaya and made my way down to Jomtien via a baht bus. Jomtien’s slower pace was a welcome change. It’s much quieter and more laid-back compared to Pattaya, although the bar scene here still has its share of vibrancy.

My plan was to capture more street photography in the bustling bar areas, but as I discovered throughout the trip, I was more naturally inclined to focus on landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes. Jomtien’s long coastline, peaceful atmosphere, and the contrast between the sea and sky at sunrise were much more appealing to my photography style.

Unfortunately, a rookie mistake of wearing new sandals I hadn’t broken in yet left me with a blister, limiting my walking and exploration in the area. Despite that, I still managed to shoot some beautiful, calm scenes along Jomtien Beach, including palm silhouettes at sunset and early morning reflections along the misty shoreline.

Bangkok Silom

After Jomtien, I returned to Bangkok, this time staying in the Silom area. Unsure whether to continue traveling or head home, I spent a lot of time in the hotel, which led to some breakthroughs in my mobile photography.

From the rooftop pool and hotel balcony, I captured my first lightning shot. The lightning was frequent, so after exposing correctly, I switched to burst mode for a few seconds and got a sharp result despite shooting handheld.

I also experimented with manual control on my phone, using a mini tripod for cityscape shots. I set the base ISO low and adjusted the shutter speed for the low light conditions. The quality from Expert RAW was impressive, highlighting the power of computational photography.

Being hotel-bound due to a blister, I also levelled up my editing skills in Lightroom Mobile. Editing on a mobile device while stuck in a hotel room isn’t as comfortable as at home, but I made it work by using screen mirroring on the hotel TV for a more ergonomic experience.

Kanchanaburi

After much indecision about whether to continue my travels or head home, I took a detour to Kanchanaburi, a few hours by bus from Bangkok. I stayed near the River Kwai, hoping for some peaceful morning walks, but found that much of the riverfront was private property, limiting access.

One of my highlights was photographing the famous Bridge over the River Kwai at sunset. It was quieter than the bustling tourist spots, but the area still had a sizable expat community, mostly retirees.

A day trip to the Erawan Waterfalls in the nearby mountains was another highlight. The hike through the lush forest to the seven-tiered waterfalls was refreshing, but photographing in the humidity was a challenge. Using my G5X in manual mode helped overcome touchscreen issues caused by sweat, but I made a few mistakes. I should have used my mini tripod and the built-in ND filter for long exposures of the falls. Instead, I rushed, trying to beat the clock with a waiting taxi, and came away with fewer shots than I’d hoped for, especially with tourists constantly getting into the frame.

Though the experience wasn’t perfect, the natural beauty of the waterfalls and the quieter pace of Kanchanaburi offered a brief respite from the heat and crowds of Bangkok. Lessons learned: plan more time for these moments and always be ready with the right gear setup.

Back to Bangkok

As much as I would have liked to continue exploring the mountains of Kanchanaburi, I found myself heading back to Bangkok. A thought kept nagging at me: a motorbike or car would have completely changed the experience. In quieter places like Kanchanaburi or Koh Larn, it would have made travel so much easier, but without a license or insurance, the risks weren’t worth it.

Back in Bangkok, I ventured to Wat Arun for a sunset shoot by the river. The temple itself was stunning, but it was swarmed with tourists, particularly from Asia. The nearby restaurants also took advantage, charging four times the price of the more local spots tucked away in Sukhumvit’s sois.

At this point, I had enough—enough of the heat, the tourists, the downtime and the hectic pace. It was time to head home.

Conclusion: Reflections on Travel and Photography

This trip to Thailand was a mix of highs and lows. On one hand, I pushed my mobile photography skills further than I had before, learning to embrace the portability and power of my phone. From street scenes in Sukhumvit, sunsets in Pattaya, to waterfalls in Kanchanaburi and storm clouds over Bangkok, I captured a wide range of experiences.

On the other hand, the relentless heat, crowds of tourists, and occasional feelings of isolation tempered my enjoyment. It reminded me that travel isn’t always about the destination or perfect shot. It’s about how you adapt and respond to the environment around you. Sometimes, that means recognizing when you’ve reached your limit and need to head home.

If there’s one takeaway, it’s that the unpredictability of travel can teach us as much about ourselves as it does about the places we visit. Next time, I’ll focus on more structured planning, perhaps with a shorter stay, and opt for destinations that align better with my interests—places with more room to explore nature and quiet corners for contemplation. Thailand remains a beautiful, vibrant country, but this time, I was ready to say goodbye.

Check out the Thailand Travel Photo Gallery