In early 2023, I hit a wall with my photography. I was still going out on photowalks, still taking pictures, but more often than not, I’d come home disappointed. The photos didn’t feel right…

I think a lot of photographers, especially enthusiasts like myself, run into this phase. And when we do, we usually turn to gear—thinking a new camera, a new lens, a new “something” will magically fix the problem or at least kickstart the motivation to shoot again.

In my case, it wasn’t about getting better shots overnight. I was hoping new gear would simply make me want to go out and shoot more. So, I picked up a Canon G7X Mark II before all the hype, and at a pretty good price too. Some of the photos in BKK Weekends were actually taken the very same day I bought it.

The G7X was simple, easy to use, and most importantly, fun. It brought back a sense of enjoyment that had been missing for a while. My photos didn’t magically get better—but the excitement, the itch to use the camera, was real.

That’s when the idea hit me: if motivation is the issue, maybe I need to build a structure around it. I decided to dedicate my weekends to shooting around Bangkok—my home city for the past 27 years. No travel, no excuses. The challenge was to see a familiar place with new eyes.

The Reality of Routine

It wasn’t always easy. At first, I forced myself to go out every weekend without fail. But life doesn’t work like that. Some weekends you just don’t feel it—you’re tired, uninspired, distracted. Instead of hiding that, I decided to embrace it. That’s why you’ll find a chapter called Weekend 5: Uninspired in the book. It’s not polished or staged—it’s honest. This photobook reflects my real experiences, not some idealized version of them.

Building the Book

Beyond taking the photos, putting the book together was its own creative challenge. I kept the layout simple and clean, but added Thai lettering to number the pages—tying the structure back to the place and culture where these photos were made.

Initially, the plan was to record 10 weekends. But reality had other ideas. BKK Weekends ended up being 8 full weekends that covers a range of photos that explored my creative pursuits and limiting to 8 weekend also kept the project approachable without dragging it out.

What I Learned

Making this book taught me that photography isn’t just about the final images. It’s about the process—the walking, the seeing, the thinking, and the small moments of self-discovery that happen along the way.

Most importantly: it’s not the gear that makes the photo. It's the gear that’s simple enough to disappear—and you who makes the photo.

PS.: My journey of rediscovering Bangkok isn’t finished yet. After working on BKK Weekends, I realized I wanted to keep exploring, but in a new format. So now, I’m continuing the project through video — creating street photography POVs that show the real behind-the-scenes: the good shots, the missed moments, and everything in between. If you want to walk the streets with me and see the process unfold in real time, you can check them out here and here.