One of the best places for street photography, Hua Lamphong Station, has been partly closed for trains. It happened not yesterday but... I remember that the main platform with the most picturesque interior accepted trains this winter yet and, as I remember, spring. And now you only can see two rows of retro locomotives there. A humble exhibition instead of the lively central station. Commuter trains at platforms on the left change not much - life has left Hua Lamphong. 😥
That's why I decided to head to the new main railway hub of Bangkok called Bang Sue Grand Station. Just to check if something interesting happens there.
I bought a ticket for a commuter train and went to a tiny railway adventure. 😀 Even the whole trip lasted half an hour, it is always exciting to travel on train.
A portrait of a railroad worker, from a train window:
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We had a stop in the middle of nowhere, without even a platform, to get more commuters. Probably, next time I should disembark there to explore this nowhereness. 🙂
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Two days later, I continued my photo research of the railway and visited a bridge over the the railroad; I am sharing just one image (the rest will be posted as separate story) to show the area from above:
An eccentric hello to a photographer sticking out of a passing train:
And here we are, Bang Sue Grand Station, a new hub for all railway hustle and bustle:
From outside, it looks like a subway station, and quite empty. No street food, no beeping cars... But I liked the evening light when came in:
And of course, life itself attracts attention since a train station is always a place of beautiful road emotions.
When I saw this group of young travelers, I knew I must have an image of this scene. Thanks to that girl - focusing took a couple of seconds but she, although spotted me, kept being calm as if she didn't want to spoil the scene. I had a tiny stop to push the button and went on walking then. Nodded to the girl and smiled at her to say "thank you".
Buddhist monks attract the eye. I have lived in Southeast Asia for years, altogether, but still think this way. I followed the man for a while and, I think, I got a good shot, as a result.
Another character, alone, in a remote corner, she was reading. I crept up and took a picture of her. But the crunch of an empty plastic bottle betrayed me. Of course, I thanked her heartily in Thai, and she was pleased.
This is a bus info stand of the train station. I liked the light. I was spotted by other staff of the same stand but I gave them a sign to let me take an image. 😀
I don't know if this new central station is an insane place for street photography since I couldn't find a way to see people by trains - I think you need to have a ticket to go inside. Probably, the cheapest ticket for a commuter train for several bahts can solve this... I should try it next time.
More stories from Southeast Asia are ahead! Check out the previous ones on my personal Pinmapple map.
I took the images on July 10, 2023 with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G on a full frame Nikon D750 in Bangkok, Thailand.