20 February 2018

Favoring Bangkok's Chinatown

Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. It was founded in 1782 CE when the city was established as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom, and served as the home of the mainly Teochew immigrant Chinese population, who soon became the city's dominant ethnic group. The core of Chinatown lies along Yaowarat Road, which serves as its main artery and sometimes lends its name to the entire area, which is often referred to as Yaowarat. Originally a wilderness area outside the city walls, Chinatown grew to become Bangkok's commercial hub throughout the late 19th to early 20th centuries, but has since declined in prominence as commercial activity moved elsewhere following the city's expansion. It now serves as a hub of Chinese culture and religion, with atmospheric temples, busy markets, historic shop houses, exotic stores selling traditional Chinese goods, and hundreds of unique Chinese eateries.

The Chinese New Year brings one of the most exhilarating celebrations to the Chinatown of Bangkok. The entire length of Yaowarat Road comes to life with crowds of worshipers, exploding firecrackers, dragon dancers, lion dancers and Thai families of Chinese descent who gather to partake in the street fanfare as well as enjoy sumptuous Chinese banquets: xīn nián kuài lè...

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; pearl earrings; character; head; face; eyes; catchlights; eyelashes; eyebrows; beautiful eyes; lips; lipstick; earrings; facial expression; eye contact; hat; broad-brimmed; fashion; cheongsam; red; gold; chinese dress; consent; culture; lifestyle; beauty; affluence; style; chinese new year; temple; traditional; cultural; festival; worshiper; kwang tung shrine; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; thai chinese; one person; female; adult; mature; woman; eye makeup; image; photo; backdrop; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; three-quarter view; outdoor; color; posing; posing for camera; authentic; smiling; beautiful; elegant; groomed; sophisticated; classy; thai smile; gorgeous

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; cheongsam; head; tilted head; face; forehead; lantern; eyes; teeth; lips; mouth; facial expression; eye contact; hair; parting hair; red; chinese dress; consent; emotion; fun; travel; culture; lifestyle; enjoyment; beauty; traditional; cultural; festival; celebration; chinese new year; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; thai chinese; one person; female; mature; woman; image; photo; background; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; cropped; three-quarter view; yaowarat; outdoor; color; colorful; posing; posing for camera; authentic; smiling; laughing; feeling good; beautiful; attractive; experienced; happy; cheerful; joyous; captivating; charming; fabulous

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; cheongsam; character; head; face; eyes; catchlights; facial expression; eye contact; hair; long hair; hat; bush hat; chinese dress; red; gold; costume; fashion; broad brimmed; body language; gesture; hand; consent; rapport; fun; travel; tourism; culture; lifestyle; beauty; tradition; traditional; style; urban; cultural; festival; celebration; chinese new year; yaowarat; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; thai chinese; one person; female; mature; woman; image; photo; background; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; outdoor; color; posing; posing for camera; smiling; beautiful; attractive; cheerful; joyous; classy; fabulous

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; shoulder; tattoo; head; face; makeup; eyes; beautiful eyes; scrutinizing eyes; mouth; lips; lipstick; facial expression; eye contact; hair; long hair; parting hair; red; consent; emotion; culture; lifestyle; beauty; fashion; style; urban; cultural; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; asia; thai; asian; one person; female; adult; girl; young; woman; photography; image; photo; face perception; physiognomy; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; seven-eighths view; sideways glance; outdoor; color; posing; posing for camera; authentic; smiling; beautiful; groomed; attractive; happy; sensual; pretty; stunning; angelic; captivating; fabulous; gorgeous

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; cheongsam; yellow; character; head; face; makeup; eyes; laughing eyes; mouth; teeth; lips; lipstick; facial expression; eye contact; earrings; hair; hairstyle; consent; fun; travel; culture; lifestyle; beauty; fashion; chinese new year; urban; cultural; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; thai chinese; one person; female; male; man; woman; sexual ambiguity; transgender; genderqeer; ladyboy; shemale; ambiguity; uncertainty; tolerance; cross-dresser; lgbt; image; photo; backdrop; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; seven-eighths view; outdoor; color; posing; authentic; smiling; beautiful; handsome; elegant; classy; gorgeous; charming



Happy New Year, I wish you good health and lasting prosperity.
恭贺新禧,祝身体健康、事业发达。
Gōnghè xīnxǐ, zhù shēntǐ jiànkāng, shìyè fādá.

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; character; head; face; eyes; catchlights; eyebrows; laughing eyes; mouth; teeth; lips; lipstick; facial expression; eye contact; hair; hairstyle; food; chinese; restaurant; eatery; consent; fun; travel; culture; lifestyle; prosperity; abundance; vitality; traditional; cultural; celebration; chinese new year; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; thai; one person; female; adult; girl; young; woman; image; photo; background; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; full-face view; outdoor; color; posing; authentic; smiling; feeling good; thai smile; happy; pretty; cheerful; cooking; apron; duck; deep-fried; peking duck; cookee

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; character; head; face; eyes; children eyes; facial expression; eye contact; disheveled; unkempt; dress; body language; gesture; hand; consent; emotion; parental consent; travel; culture; lifestyle; upbringing; childhood; cultural; chinese new year; costume; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; asia; thai chinese; one person; female; child; girl; image; photo; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; half-length portrait; closeup; seven-eighths view; outdoor; color; posing; curious; thumb-sucking; thumb; cheongsam; cute; cutie; chinese dress; red; gold

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; kwang tung shrine; chinese new year; cell phone; sideways glance; temple; head; face; eyes; beautiful eyes; lips; lipstick; facial expression; eye contact; hair; long hair; hairstyle; blue; dress; body language; both hands; finger; fingernails; consent; emotion; culture; lifestyle; beauty; fashion; style; affection; fondness; cultural; festival; worshiper; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; thai chinese; one person; female; adult; young; woman; image; photo; background; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; half-length portrait; closeup; two-third view; indoor; color; colorful; posing; authentic; smiling; beautiful; attractive; sensual; soulful; angelic; captivating; charming

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; head; face; eyes; children eyes; epicanthic fold; oriental eyes; facial expression; eye contact; hair; hairstyle; pigtails; dress; chinese dress; consent; parental consent; travel; culture; lifestyle; upbringing; fashion; tradition; chinese new year; ethnic; urban; traditional; cultural; yaowarat; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; asia; thai chinese; asian; one person; female; child; girl; little; small; image; photo; backdrop; face perception; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; seven-eighths view; red; outdoor; color; posing; posing for camera; cheongsam; cute; cuteness; chubby cheeks

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; cheongsam; hair ribbon; head; face; eyes; catchlights; children eyes; eye contact; dressed up; chinese dress; fashion; both hands; consent; parental consent; wat mangkon kamalawat; dragon lotus temple; culture; lifestyle; beauty; social event; upbringing; prosperity; affluence; style; tradition; chinese new year; ethnic; traditional; cultural; buddhism; festival; folklore; temple; celebration; devotee; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; asia; thai chinese; asian; one person; female; child; childhood; girl; photography; image; photo; backdrop; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; half-length portrait; closeup; seven-eighths view; pink; indoor; color; posing; posing for camera; smiling; beautiful; groomed; pretty; fan; hand-held


In Thailand, as elsewhere, one can find several different gender roles, identities and diverse visual markers of masculinity and femininity. Although the terms kathoey or ladyboy are rather ambiguous, simply put, both terms refer to someone assigned male at birth, who dresses as and adopts the mannerisms and identity of a woman. Kathoeys are numerous in Thailand and are seemingly accepted by society, not only in big cities like Bangkok but in the countryside as well.

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; character; head; face; eye makeup; teeth; lips; lipstick; facial expression; eye contact; earrings; tarted up; hair; hairdo; feather; costume; consent; fun; travel; tourism; culture; tradition; custom; enjoyment; entertainment; yaowarat; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; chinese new year; thai; red; one person; female; male; elderly; man; woman; transgender; genderqeer; ladyboy; ambiguity; cross-dresser; lgbt; drag queen; kathoey; effeminacy; feminine mannerism; image; photo; face perception; physiognomy; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; seven-eighths view; outdoor; color; posing for camera; smiling; joyous; genderqueer; burlesque

matt hahnewald photography; facing the world; character; head; face; eye makeup; teeth; lips; lipstick; facial expression; eye contact; earrings; tarted up; hair; hairdo; flower in hair; costume; consent; fun; travel; tourism; culture; tradition; custom; enjoyment; entertainment; yaowarat; chinatown; bangkok; thailand; chinese new year; thai; red; one person; female; male; elderly; man; woman; transgender; genderqeer; ladyboy; ambiguity; cross-dresser; lgbt; drag queen; kathoey; effeminacy; feminine mannerism; image; photo; face perception; physiognomy; nikon d3100; nikkor af-s 50mm f/1.8g; prime lens; 50mm; 4x3; horizontal; street; portrait; closeup; head shot; full-face view; outdoor; color; posing for camera; smiling; joyous; genderqueer; burlesque

High-res portrait photographs with complete exif data, geotags and technical details in Matt Hahnewald's

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Tolle Bilder Matt! Wie immer sehr inspirierend. Grüße Tim