Thai photographer Pawaris Jiamchoatpattanakul has a penchant for capturing his subjects at peak energy. Whether it’s a performer, an individual, or a whole crowd, he’s always able to catch them in that exact moment when they’re at their most wild. Sometimes they’re just doing their thing, other times they’re interacting with the camera. But they’re always at level 11. Feet in the air, hair whirling, face scrunched, arms wailing. These may be still images but they practically vibrate.
Jiamchoatpattanakul shoots in a few different styles, including covering music events, doing street photography, and creating art photos. But where his work often shines the most is at music events. Event photography can get a bad rep, but that’s unfortunate when it’s the crowds and people who love the music that often make it important. Why not document these communities in a caring and creative way? His photos of concerts, raves, and parties stand out for their stylish approach that’s intimate, insightful, and vibrant. Rather than simply snapping some people’s fits, covering of the artists in attendance, and then moving on, he focuses on creating work that’s valuable in itself, capturing a whole vibe along the way.
Recently, Jiamchoatpattanakul switched things up. His previous work was clear and direct. But in an era when high-powered computers are in everyone’s pockets, that’s not enough to make waves. Ditching this approach for highly saturated, heavily contrasted, bleeding and distressed photos shot at the perfect moment created something rare and engaging. He wants you to feel the texture and energy just by looking at them. You don’t actually have to have an interest in the scenes he covers to enjoy his work, but it certainly helps.
The photos have a very spontaneous feel, and of course they very often are, since getting that perfect shot depends on something happening in front of the lens. But Jiamchoatpattanakul plans out as much as possible because settling on art direction beforehand cuts down significantly on editing time. So, for example, at a punk show, he’ll go into it with the idea of shooting wide-angle in a black and white style with grungy texture. But of course, he’ll roll with the punches and switch things up as necessary.
Jiamchoatpattanakul has been roaming around in the underground since high school, when he’d sneak into bars and venues even though he was underage. Most of his recent music photography has revolved around scenes like metal and hardcore, but he was initially captivated by electronic music, and his recent rave photography reflects those early interests. Mosh pits and screamo vocals are naturally charismatic and make for great photos, but so do bassface and a packed, sweaty dancefloor.
Scenes are made up of people, and this is something Jiamchoatpattanakul is keenly aware of. He makes it a point to not only include individuals and their unique personalities but to treat them with respect. His shots can be very intimate, all up close and personal, but they’re consensual. It helps that he’s there for many of the same reasons as the crowd—a love of the music.
