Imagining Flood is a photographic study concerning the recent floods that have taken place in Bangkok (2011). The photos aim to capture the foreboding and surreal nature of the event by presenting the flood in a dream-like and otherworldly manner. When news first arrived that Bangkok would be affected, concern naturally became widespread and all manner of preparations unfolded. But as yet the centre of city remains untouched, although the sense of threat lingers people’s minds, as the
city remains encircled by waterlogged houses, streets and motorways. It is the sense of waiting and fear that first drew me to the project. Whether the floods were experienced first-hand or through news reports, conjuring up a mental image of the event cannot be avoided, which influenced my approach to shooting these scenes — as if developed from the subconscious, in contrast to the urgent and frenetic style depicted in the media. Each scene takes place at night or in the early hours creating a dream-like atmosphere. The series is deliberately shot at these particular times using a tripod and slow shutter speed in order to capture a sense of stillness and the sense of dreaded expectancy that the floods have created.