Royal Mercedes at Wat Hua Krabue Photo

Photographer’s Note

In Thailand there are some very unique Wats - Buddhist monastery - like Hua Krabue in Bangkok's most southern District Bang Khun Thian. Its architecture is not distinct at all, but what it houses that makes the Wat very special: It has one of the largest vintage and classic cars collection of the kingdom with more then 100 vehicles, chiefly Mercedes-Benz.

Collection possibly is not the right word, it's rather a real mingle-mangle of junk cars, rusty parts & components, cars overgrown by vegetation and ... at least some nicely restored cars.

Many years ago the then abbot of the Wat initiated a very ambitious program: young unemployed youngsters can learn here, how to dismantle, clean, repair and re-assemble a car - in plain English to restore it as authentic as possible. That's not all, the carefully restored cars - like the one in the picture in royal colors - are in full running condition and are used in movie sets. Some keen Thai collectors even buy a restored car, if it is really authentic from A to Z.

serp2000, subhendu_bagchi, bj40, mkamionka, shevchenko, fanni has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (21905) 2009-09-15 21:33

Wow, this one looks perfect. What year is it?
The shot, a bit too tight on the left, is very nice and the age of the elements is well related. I like the colours too. Well done.
Antonio

serp2000 (9473) 2009-09-15 23:30

Hi, Urs,
Excellent! I like this old timer, and I never seen this car. Good presentation! Fine composition with interesting background! TFS!
Serghei

Graal (57885) 2009-09-15 23:38

Hi Urs,
an interesting model of old Mercedes. Good note and presentation. Well composed image. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

pablominto (40600) 2009-09-15 23:47

Hello Urs,

This looks like a beautiful Mercedes 300, probably from 1952..!
A friend of mine owned one of those in the 1970s and he used it as his main car, but then the oil crises happened...
The subject is captured with fine details, maybe you should have included all of the back part but no big deal..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

rodgerg (23993) 2009-09-16 0:29

Hello Urs,

A very original composition: the large Mercedes, the monk, the typische house. Excellent idea and beautiful shot with various details well colected. The POV well selected give a very interesting prospect effect.
Have a nice day,
Roger

subhendu_bagchi (3061) 2009-09-16 0:29

Namaste Urs,
you have captured the elegant Marcedes nicely. Focusing on it is perfect and the temple behind it is slightly unsharped because you had given the car the priority. Very good colours. Light management here is perfect. Well done.
Have a nice day.
Subhendu

lightsensor (721) 2009-09-16 3:21

hi, Urs,
good composition and rich color on this one. even though those wires/eletric cables are distracted to the blue sky, but that's the real life style out there. good catch!

J-P,

Cretense (56004) 2009-09-16 4:23

Hello Urs!

Beautiful photo, I really don't know what to admire first, the majestic temple or the beautiful car! Excellent composition and framing, perfect light management, fantastic colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

mkamionka (4458) 2009-09-16 5:03

Hi Urs,
very interesting note and subject.
It a great contrast of two worlds especially this monk together with the car.
Good job,
M

shevchenko (9908) 2009-09-16 19:23

Hello Urs,
Interesting composition, sometimes the old cars are more expensive than the new cars. Good vertical format to show the car and house within a shoot, lovely unique local house, thanks for sharing.
Ally

fanni (8737) 2009-09-25 15:55

Hello Urs,
this is a really unique, curious shot and interesting explanatory Note! I also like the way you composed the image.
Not much more to say - I simply like it very much ;)
Warm wishes from rainy Moscow,
Elena

giorgimer (21136) 2009-10-26 14:55

Hi Urs,

nice capture, beautiful effect by this classic car in the FG

Well done!

G