Public Fitness Photo

Photographer’s Note

Ever feel the need to do aerobics in public? If you answered yes and you're planning a trip to Bangkok then you're in luck! Just head round to this park near Koh San Road around 530pm and jump right in with the locals :)

This happens every day there. How do I know? Well I spent every afternoon for weeks back in 2003 in the same park at 4pm juggling with the locals ;) It's a crazy place Bangkok!

snuggleaphagus, Isabelle, danielswalsh has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Furachan (0) 2005-07-14 3:30

Beautifully composed, dynamic shot, Alex. This isntructor is everyhting here - a little tubby herself (ha!), sweating to beat the band, and a much slower, frankly lethargic-in-the-heat bunch of housewives in tow. Another brilliant slice of life through your lens. Cheers, Francis

Isabelle (9014) 2005-07-15 9:46

:D great composition, Alex! I especially like the detail she is sweating, so involved in the movements. also, the women in the background, striving to follow her rythm are a great balance to such an energetic lady!
so well seen! I am still smiling to my monitor. I recognize i belong to the background group ;))
tfs

torben (3084) 2005-07-15 13:51

Cool, this is one of the things that I like most about TE, I learn something about the world through photography (and notes) that goes way beyond the usual clichés.
Maybe you are not the perfect gentleman towards the ladies in the background, snapped like this they look disorganised, unrhythmic and a bit ridiculous.
Well that's probably the risk of doing anything noticeable in public.
The photo is quite good though, it lives very much on the contrast between the dynamic instrucor and the not-so-dynamic "pupils". There is other qualities though, the shalow DOF, close cropping and sweaty details of the instructor really brings her out from the background. The lines of her arms and the lines of the river makes a strong horizontal that contrasts the weaker verticals of the public, much in line with the genera theme of this pic.

erdna (5360) 2005-07-17 9:58

This is like the scene in Luneta Park in Manila. Every day between 6:00 and 8:00 AM there are aerobic groups doing exercises. One group is for seniors, where the aerobic music is not as fast. You captured the same feel.

Andre'

CliffW (2310) 2005-07-17 23:49

Well, I'll probably be in Bangkok by Jan, but I'm not quite sure I'll join in. I'm not sure I could keep up with her. I missed this before but I like the dynamic pose, with the blurred foot and stretched arms, you caught her in and with just enough focus on the followers to show they're doing about as well as I would. The instructor on the other hand I think is off in that typical aerobics instructor "high" and doesn't notice. Kind of cool and I think it should have gotten more notice...

danielswalsh (13324) 2005-07-18 3:58

Hi Alex;

Sorry I haven't stopped by in a while, I just returned from a 2.5 week stint in Beautiful BC.

Great daily life shot you took here. The shutter speed resulted in an interesting shot with some stationary and some movement parts of the image. You caught the action well. Maybe I should post some of my recent shots of Bangkok... hmmmmm

Cheers buddy,
- Dan

flydragon (0) 2005-12-22 4:57

hello Alex
i alway enjoyed this kind of scene in BKK
but never took picture
i like your composition here
this is very dynamic and with the skin
we can feel how the weather can be warm and wet
just miss the music ;o)
regards
••simon••

rowanb (864) 2006-02-05 3:00