exposed

I’ve been working on this video for weeks, and of course, the photography for even longer. 2 weeks to put this kickstarter page together, 5 years to be around Mike Watt, and 20 years of music photography.

$10000 is about how much it would cost me to do this 51 gig tour from start to finish. Average shooting at 5-8 rolls of film per day, for 52 days. At the end, I’ll have enough images for a book, and a gallery-ready print series. Watch out Germany, I’m coming to you with it.

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David Kay in London

David can talk, that’s what I remember from hanging out with him in Bangkok earlier this year from February to April. He came to stay with us at the house for about 12 days before and after he went to Burma. And because he can talk, he can make friend with everyone. The weirdest and most adorable thing, I think, is his even temper and dead-pan’ish British humor. You can’t miss his (rather tall) presence, and his constant having a say at something or someone. He participated in many activities including the most memorable one for being a part of the painting crew who attacked the first floor of our place.

When I visited London briefly, I made sure to catch up with a few people, one of them was David. Luckily he was game to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Tube station to come meet with me. We caught up at the Paddington station. The rest of the day was running around a bit late to this and that. I wanted to go to this museum, which we finally managed to find, and to arrive right as they were closing. So I took a picture of him before headed off to find different places to have a beer.

David Kay at Tate Modern Contemporary Art Museum

paddington station information desk

“Hypothetically speaking….” I asked nervously as a line was already forming behind me. Fearing I’d inconvenient other people with more legitimate and immediate questions, I quickly blurted “how much does it cost to take a train to Aberystwyth? And I’m sorry, I’ll step aside if this is a stupid question.” “Don’t worry about them, just wait, and I’ll tell you!” I opted to step away anyway. No need to make an angry mob out of these, clearly frustrated and lost, travelers. “I’ll be back in a half an hour!!!” I told him. “Make sure you do!” He responded right back.

So I did get back to him about a half hour. The gentle informational man had for me a plan hand written rate comparisons on a piece of paper. He further explained how booking months in advance would get me anywhere in Wales from Peddington Station, central London, at roughly just about 15 pounds as opposed to buying a ticket the same day, which would cost nearly 10 times more.

I was super impressed and thankful, so I asked to snap a picture of him. Bad of me that I forgot his name.

Kate and Dave on the Tube on her birthday

It has been at least 10 years since I last saw Dave and met Katie when they went through Los Angeles. I took the opportunity to drop by their couch in London this year. For too many years I’d threatened to come visit them in the UK since they moved there from Thailand. I met Dave even longer than that back in Venice (Los Angeles), California. I answered his ad looking for someone to teach him some survival Thai language.

Dave that I met in Venice had a roommate, a piano, a python in the house. He worked as a freelance German language interpreter for movies or other things. He made a point to visit one country each year. Before departing, he’d learn a little bit of the language. I was so proud when he told me after he returned that he’s going back to Thailand again. Never before he repeated a country.

Before long, he met Katie in Thailand, and eventually moved to the UK where she was from. She went back to pursue her degrees. First they were in York for a really long time. I remember Dave taking up photography, telling me about the new long telephoto lens he bought to shoot people on the street for fun. All of the sudden, he took up the profession as a music and portrait photographer in York. Then there were occastional news here and there about his piano moving, and eventually their recent relocation to London.

Katie is also such a wonderfully interesting person on top of being genuine, beautiful, and kind. I wish I had the opportunity to talk with her more about her work and her study. As far as I was impressed, it was something about the women study… or was it a job teaching? I’m so horrible. For sure, the visit was too short. It was quite funny to talk gear with Dave but mostly for his criticism on my mistreatment of my photo equipment. He’s much more knowledgable now about those things. And it was quite a nice visit  running around town for a day with Dave, listening to him about London, the UK, the people, and best of all, his introduction to the best chocolate store I had ever experienced.

Tim Nichols in his Stoke Newington neighborhood bar

At the end of January, Tim came to stay with us in Bangkok. Not until I visited with him for a quick dinner and a beer last September I got to snap a picture of him.

Tim is reserved when you first met him, but he’s quite open to discuss much anything not excluding the complex level of politics. His work in child welfare in the UK is not only admirable but right. Not too many people I came across impress me in the proof of living what you preach, but he is one. Hanging with him always keep me in check of what do I really know about the social function as dealt through and with government officials. For pleasure, he has a ton of recommendations of museums, theatre, and even some musical bands. Even with entertainment, he will not let you take off your thinking hat. I’d rather appreciate people like this.

Mongkhon "Malaipet" Wiwasuk

Only days away before an important match to reclaim his WBC International Superwelterweight title, Malaipet seemed plenty relax. I met up with him on Friday July 17 to catch his last 4 days of training at the Muay Thai Academy in North Hollywood. I was excited to start my extended documentary project with him. I heard of his remarkable reputation from various friends. None the least of him being the only Thai fighter competing in the MMA scene right now. An Intercontinental Muaythai Champion with boxing record of 168 fights, with 136 wins, 27 losses, and 38 KO’s, MMA record of 6 fights with 3 wins and 3 losses, I was more than curious on what this guy is made of.

In contrast to the ‘fighter’ mean, dark, and gruesome image in the mainstream media as perpetuated by such fight leagues as the  UFC, I already found many fighters I’ve met to be very personable, if not sweet. But above and beyond my expectations, Malaipet tripped me out entirely to an extreme degree. Much of this had to do a lot with my understanding of the various Thai cultural nuances. “The country boy” means a whole lot different in Thai than in the US. The class distinction undertone runs strong. He and his crowd often mocks the darker color of his skin, and the country boy face. It’s a way to humor one’s way out of social ‘sub standard’. I wanted to learn as much as I can about him, so I spent some time at the end of his training each day talking about whatever that came to mind.

Malaipet, or Mongkhon Wiwasuk in official name, is a son of a boxer. His father had 7 children, 6 of which were boys. They all were boxers, including his sister. He told me proudly – always with a smile. The smile though, tipped off something else – a sense of acceptance, the way it is. He has an additional 2 half brothers, one of which is a 20 year old training along side him.

Malaipet, or “Teay” as the other Thais call him, turned pro at 8, much like most of Thai boxer stories. He was touring around the country fighting matches until 15 when a boxing camp swooped him up. I think he said he was ‘bought’? I assumed this to be the case rather of an investment of a camp seeing a potential, as opposed to something oppressive. Because of it, he was given the chance to fulfill the life of a Muay Thai boxer and rose his way to the nation’s championship status, which later brought him to the US to pursue international/intercontinental titles.

After watching him for 4 days, his massive kicks and shrieks still ring in my ears. The match he’s immediately facing in a Muay Thai super event in Las Vegas this coming Saturday July 25. He will be facing Richard Fenwick from the UK. It’s a rematch to regain his WBC championship title. I have a feeling he’s going to win purely basing it on his carefree attitude of getting the job done on his way to a much anticipated the Contender tournament held next month in Malaysia. He was looking forward to party after the fight, karaoke party…..  I asked his brother, in his presence, what would you do if he loses? The brother chuckled, and said, “we’ll just cut one of his nuts off.”

So – I’ll be heading out to Las Vegas in a couple of days – and see what happens next.

part of the warmup

various tactical trainings

punching exercises

in between rounds

running just outside the gym

part of conditioning routine

in between sets

elbow exercise

quad work on tire