Statues in the temple, a photo from Kanchanaburi, Central

Photographer's Note

‘Wat Tham Sua - Statues in the temple’

The Wat Tham Sua is a very interesting temple for its architecture and for the atmosphere (There are mainly Thai visitors).
Some of the statues can however be reasonable kitschy regarded by Western visitors.
I’m thinking of the statues of the tigers, the toucan and other animals.
I certainly do not wish to hurt Buddhists with this idea. Perhaps they have a similar view of the old statues you find in churches in Europe …

The dragon with the (in this case) six heads in the WS is very often seen in temples in Thailand and Laos.
Often with a very long tail as a closure on both sides of a staircase.

PS: Thanks to Miguel en Kari I know now that the bird is a calao (a hornbill). Not a toucan.
The calao lives in Southeast Asia and in India.
Great to still learn something more of the places I've visited while I'm back at home.

jhm, holmertz, jean113, pierrefonds, Fis2, Royaldevon, jemaflor, ikeharel, pajaran, ricardomattos, ktanska, papagolf21, COSTANTINO, PiotrF has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (129891) 2020-09-10 10:49

Hi Paul,today you show different compositions with animals,more are a bit kitch and more colorful,this is a very origina temple with a lot of modern things inside,no comment about the quality always perfect. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

jhm (202915) 2020-09-10 10:58

Goedenavond Paul,

Ik heb de indruk dat uw foto iedere dag beter worden.
Zeker de kwaliteit is echt perfect.
De inhoud wat we zien is vermoedelijk bij specialisten nog mooier dan ik die er niet van weet, buiten uw beschrijving.
Mooi scherp en helder om naar te kijken, bedabnkt.

Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John

holmertz (92782) 2020-09-10 11:06

Hello Paul,
Being a European I have to agree that the animals look rather kitschy, and from this angle the whole place seems a bit like a theme park at Disneyland, or maybe Las Vegas. But we have different preferences in different parts of the world, so there is no reason to show disrespect to what others value. In any case you managed a very colourful and eye-catching composition where the black and red arch provided a perfect frame.

Thank you for your comments earlier. I was surprised that you found that old photo from Algeria. While the very early scan was reasonably okay, my PP work was very bad. Among other things it is heavily oversaturated,
Best wishes,
Gert

Silvio1953 (205611) 2020-09-10 12:04

Ciao Paul, great view of fantastic statues, lovely composition with beautiful natural frame, fine details, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (82164) 2020-09-10 12:12

Hallo Paul,
Mooi gebruik gemaakt van de donkere rand en de rode kleuren van de deuropening. Het zorgt voor een mooie omlijsting van de vele beelden die te zien zijn in deze tempel. Een mooi mix van rode en gouden kleuren bovendien.
Lars

jean113 (21991) 2020-09-10 12:32

Hello Paul, your pictures are so colourful and very interesting. To our western eyes they are so different to what we normally see, it is refreshing and entertaining to see examples of a very different culture.
I imagine that you were like a child in a sweet shop, not knowing which picture to take next?
Thanks for enlightening us with these shots.
Kind regards, Jean.

pierrefonds (103465) 2020-09-10 13:07

Bonsoir Paul,

Tu as eu une bonne idée d'utiliser la fenêtre pour cadrer le sujet. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails des statues. La lumière met en valeur les couleurs de l'image. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

Fis2 (155547) 2020-09-10 13:09

Witaj Paul!
Excellent natural frame.
View is impressive, statues in the temples make impression.
Amazing colors and sharpness.
Very well done my friend.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Royaldevon (75330) 2020-09-10 15:34

Hello Paul,

I have to agree with your description of these colourful animals, kitsch or even garish, fits well. But different cultures have different styles, what suits one, will not be smart to another! As you say, maybe they find our stone sculptures dull and unexciting!

I really like how you have used the open shape to frame the collection of colourful creatures. The dark frame works well as a contrast. In this photograph, the colours seem a little toned down.
The details and textures are very well displayed.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

foxy (2059) 2020-09-10 20:54

Hello Paul,
:-) kitschy.....not at all, maybe a little bit too peculiar. Well, I find it quite exotic to look at. It's just suits to the surrounding with this 'loud & striking' colours theme of this temple. Maybe, it's also meant for the kids with the animal statues to keep them entertain.
I like the way you framed this shot, it's almost like a frame of love to emphasize the way of light in Buddhism to the outside world ( just as the sitting 'Golden Buddha' did ).
I like the WS2 - that's why I find them exotic - Feel like kid again :-)))
Thanks for sharing this kitschy shots.
Loong
P/s: I wonder if you've been to the Hellfire Pass too.

jemaflor (135344) 2020-09-10 23:42

Salut Paul,
Intéressante vue cadrée avec cette ouverture en avant-plan. En effet c'est un peu kitsch avec ces statues et ces couleurs, merci de nous dépayser avec la présentation de cet aspect du temple. Parfaite netteté.

emka (152108) 2020-09-11 0:06

hello Paul I find especially the Toucan very kitschy but it is fun to see it. And this tiger with the babies! It is a really religious place? It looks rather like a kind of Dineyland.
Nice view through a strangely shaped window. Impressive view of the big Buddha. Fantastic colours.

best regards Malgo

ifege (32129) 2020-09-11 0:30

Hi Paul
Good use of the arch to frame this colourful collection.
cheers
Ian

ikeharel (105867) 2020-09-11 1:13

Colorful display of many animals statues, Paul, and one big Budha looking from above.
I like the moltitude of vivid colors and the way framed under the arch on the main phoro.
Have a nice friday,
Ike

pajaran (102552) 2020-09-11 10:40

Greeting.
Nice place and statues, well shown with nice colors, contrast and good text.
Good work with nice photos in the workshop.
I wish you all the best.
Paja.

Miguel82 (47106) 2020-09-11 10:47

Hallo Paul, this buddhist temple is decorated with many statues. They represent animals living in Thailand as the tiger and the calao but also the mythic dragon. The picture has vivid colors and shows the local architectural style. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.

ricardomattos (15024) 2020-09-11 18:18

Hi Paul,

Um show de cores e detalhes nesta foto muito bem emoldurada. Belo trabalho!

Parabéns

Ricardo

ktanska (40041) 2020-09-12 1:20

Hi Paul,
I like your framing through this opening. Very colourful view showing these animal statues, golden details and the golden Buddha. I think the bird is a hornbill, as toucans are from America.
Kari

papagolf21 (152599) 2020-09-12 3:30

Bonjour, cher Paul,
Ces sculptures représentant les dragons incarnent la puissance naturelle et les pouvoirs surnaturels. Ils représentent aussi la maturité et la longévité.
Force est de reconnaître que le talent est bien présent.
Les couleurs éclatantes ajoutent un plus à l'ensemble.
Amitiés.
Philippe

COSTANTINO (104089) 2020-09-12 22:31

Hello dear friend and have a nice Sunday
a different photo from the usuals
it would be better to be taken
from
a different point of view in order
to see the front part of the temple..
but never mind we can see a lotof
statues and a dragon with the six
heads in the WS
welldone
regards
Costantino

kasianowak (15796) 2020-09-14 10:45

Another photo showing the mind-boggling number of details. I like the way you used the arch as a dark neutral frame.

PiotrF (52330) 2020-09-14 17:19

Hello Paul,
An interesting composition with Statues in the temple.
Photo with nice colours and good quality.
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

GyurMaster (21317) 2020-09-15 14:31

Hello Paul,

You used the available framing (the gate) excellently to portray these statues.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

mkamionka (61130) 2020-09-16 10:37

Hi Paul,
yes this part seems just a bit less elaborate than the roof tops or windows which you have showed before. I wonder whether the fragments come from different periods.
I think the word kitschy is sometimes justified when something is very colorful but lacks the attention to detail. It was the case definitely for the early Las Vegas casinos. But the new ones are quite good already. Maybe it depends on the budget.
Great framing here, fantastic presentation,
M