Few fields of art have evolved as much as photography over the last three decades. From my photo studies until today, the technique, and consequently the use, of the photo has been completely reversed.

I spare you the genealogy and the advent of digital photography, which almost everyone today has in his pocket.
Is that good? Certainly, we can only welcome this easy access to the photography by a general public, especially when our clichés become means of sharing.
Is that an evil? For everyone to judge, even though it is easy today to have their photos printed online, how many of us still have shoe boxes full of photos at the bottom of their closet? Whether it is family photos or art prints, paper prints are rarer, while they are also good sharing media, or even works of art on its own.

"It's this observation that I made after 20 years of regular trips to Asia, almost 6,000 cumulative photographs and... still no hanging on my walls!"

So let's take pictures, but let's print them too!

I've been a professional photographer for more than 30 years, in the fields of music and entertainment, and I cannot help, as often as possible, going away from the agitations, preferably on the dusty little paths of the early Himalayas.

"I never went on a trip with the main objective of making photos, the idea is to leave in remote places, where normally I have nothing to do with it, where I am not expected, because it is always far from everything that we find ourselves best. "

Despite all this, I quickly realized that when I travel alone I only rarely leave my camera. After accumulating more than 6,000 photographs over 19 years, it was then time to sort out ... what was originally planned as a simple personal portfolio, ended up as this site.

This country is quite special to me, it is there that my grandfather chose to finish his last days, with his son, it is also in Thailand that my father (known also as my grandfather's son) has lived for more than twenty years.

My brother stayed there for ten years and now only thinks about going back soon, and I hope so for him, for good this time. And I'm not talking about my uncles' regular trips, aunts, cousins...

Although I have crossed Thailand from north to south and from east to west, having often overflowed with neighbouring countries, some sites known for debauchery and overtourism remain unknown to me. This is not really what I am looking for, when I cross a country I prefer to live among the inhabitants and if possible like the inhabitants.

"But what I prefer is to go to a small bamboo room in the villages Hmong or Khmu in northern Thailand or Laos"

Like many photographers and photo lovers, I find the photos in levels of blacks much more expressive, especially this square format that allows a much more direct reading and allows to add a more personal vision. It also reminds me of the time when I myself made my prints in the lab.

"The photos in levels of blacks much more expressive, despite everything, the color in certain situations is necessary on its own, I avoid restricting myself to a particular style and I try to keep as wide a vision as possible. "

And just like in the field of entertainment, on a trip I always just photograph what's happening in front of me, and without any staging, it's always the country that I'm going through that makes itself my subject. So logically I do not necessarily seek to make the images beautiful, but rather attractive, in the sense that it gives rise to attraction, questioning.

Color or black & white for Lake Hano?

I have often wondered about the relationship between the Human and the Sacred in Asian countries. These religions, such as Buddhism or animism, supposed not to have a god, and whose monks and peoples still bear full devotion.
A devotion yes, but to what? To the person of the Buddha, or the values of wisdom he represents? Or a selfish devotion in the hope of gaining merit? Or a devotion to a community whose mutual assistance and solidarity are, in certain areas, essential?

"So you will find in my photographs, on a recurring basis, this relationship between the Icona and the Human."

in order to photograph the monks in their surroundings, there are certain rules, codes to be respected, to ensure that you do not disturb and express some respect, otherwise one takes the risk either of ending up with stolen and superficial photos, or at worst of being reminded to order by some nearby believers.
And if you notice that I often take photos from behind the monks, it's because what interests me is not their portraits, but this relationship between the Human, the Icon, and the architecture that houses them, sometimes millennia.
This results in a lot of time to visit temples, and sometimes even the "backstage" ...

One anecdote among others, I still remember that morning in particular when I went to the Wat Thong Nai Pan (Beer Pagoda!), to enjoy the rising sunlight and hope for some beautiful images.
When I arrived, I am warmly welcomed by the older monk who offers to share the meal with them.
How can I refuse?
Then my camera would remain aside, even though all the graphic elements were present, the light, the monk who played with the dogs on the lawn with the pagoda in the background ...

Actually, I photographed my neighbor's bowl while I was doing my dishes!

Another time in Luang Prabang a young monk told me that I am a good person, he saw me delighted and I thanked him at length, even though he had to lack experience to reach such a conclusion.

And so much more than the colorful landscapes and desert beaches of the small islands, it is above all these encounters that remain the best engraved in our memories, this is exactly where I find all the interest of going so far from home.

For what we can see throughout this region, but especially in the poorest areas, is that the monastic community is everywhere reflecting the population, they are calm and helpful, many times I have been offered a bottle of water, sometimes a meal, bracelets of fabric, or just engaged in conversation, without even ever asking for anything. A clearly spontaneous hospitality.

So I designed this entire site myself.
Which does not mean that this site is perfect, but precisely, I wanted that it does not look like all the other formatted market sites, that there is still a artisanal part, and even if it is not really "UX" (in the usual navigation rules), I also wanted to separate the gallery part of the shop part, not to bother the visitor immediately with the commercial part, because just as in a gallery one can make the choice to stop at the shop, or not, to buy there a small (or a big) souvenir, or a piece to collect, according to the interest one carries, but without being obliged to do so.

The important thing for me is to make all these images displayed, I wanted them to be shown outside their boxes, so that you can take pleasure in browsing through the various gallery pages of this site, to rediscover with a look perhaps different the places you know, or that you would like to discover on your next trip, or just out of curiosity.

It may be difficult for you to appreciate (or not) all these photos at once, so don't hesitate to come back, as much as you want, and leave your opinion through the contact form.

"Do not hesitate to come back, as much as you want, it is free and open 24 hours"

Eric Ménard - Photographer and author of this website