bkk-a-day

Visitors praying and making offerings at the shrine to Mae Nak, Thailand's most famous ghost, at Wat Mahabut, Bangkok. A beautiful young bride, Mae Nak lived in the late 19th or early 20th century. While her husband was at war, Mae Nak died during child birth... but she didn't stay dead. When her husband returned home, Mae Nak was still in the house, waiting for him. Generally seen as a benevolent ghost, devotees will leave offerings of flowers, fruit, and silk dresses. Happy Halloween!

Wat Mahabut, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok. Shot with Kolari Pocket full-spectrum camera with 850nm infrared filter. Infrared photography works best on sunny days, and turns the bright blue sky black. 850nm photography is especially popular with shooting architecture, as it makes the structures stand out vividly against the dark sky.

An olive-backed sunbird at Queen Sirikit Park, Bangkok. Despite looking like hummingbirds (which are found only in the Americas), these old-world sunbirds perch on twigs and branches to drink nectar.

Sometimes, the city feels both infinite and timeless. Rattanakosin Island as seen from the Temple of the Golden Mount, Bangkok. Shot on 1970 Fujica Compact on Ilford Pan 400 35mm film.

Not all that glitters is gold. This ancient carved Buddha image from Burma (Myanmar) is inlaid with gems. It is currently on display at the Bangkok National Museum.

Kolari Pocket, 850nm filter Infrared photography offers a different way to see the world. In 850nm infrared photography, bright blue sky turns black, water becomes dark, and trees and foliage shine a brilliant white. It gives the city a timeless, yet otherworldly feel. This is one of the many, many canals running through Bangkok. Not so long ago, the city was known as the "Venice of the Orient". Today, several of these canals are still vital parts of the city's commercial and transportation networks.