Platform 10 by Rammy Narula, this was a photography project that I truly enjoyed and became fascinated with. Seeing how I was now in Bangkok, I had to visit Hua Lamphong train station, the location where Rammy captured his photographs. It was an honour to visit the site where his project came to life and to walk the same path as Rammy. Observing his perspective was truly rewarding. I know that Rammy became obsessed with this platform and station, and I can now see why, as I started to experience the same obsession. I was captivated by the place.
The station today is a lot quieter than it was when Rammy did his project, I found it to be calming and I found it so easy to photograph around the platforms, watching the trains moving in and out, watching the diverse passengers arriving or departing the station. The staff that worked at the station made the place so easy for me to relax and settle into my street photography.
The conductors at the station are dressed like military officers, so smart, and again I became obsessed with photographing them. I spent a few hours, most days at this station, becoming more and more obsessed with the place.
I would wake in the morning, and my wife would say, “So where are we going today?” and a smile would appear across my face, and she would give a look like, “Oh, the train station.” I would say, “It’ll only be for an hour,” and again I would get a look back saying, “Don’t lie to me.” I think Elizabeth enjoyed the station, being able to sit and relax watching the world go by was something she looked forward to, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.
Many street photographers return to the same locations over and over. For me, this creates a sense of comfort that enhances my obsession. Every time I left the station, I felt like I was missing something. The whole time I was in Bangkok I kept thinking about Hua Lamphong and even now that I’m back in the UK I find that my thoughts will take me back there, the comfort and opportunities it gave me will never be forgotten.
