“Excuse me, is this photo for sale? I really like it and want to hang it in my bedroom.” This was a question from a 7th-grade student attending a workshop at my cafe that day. It completely shifted my entire perspective on photography. In the past, my approach was to simply shoot first—take as many photos as possible, then sort and edit them later. But the photo this boy asked about was printed directly from a RAW file, completely untouched by any photo editing software. I had simply thought it was beautiful; the timing, the light, the sky, the clouds—everything aligned perfectly the exact moment I pressed the shutter.
     The question I asked him in return was, “Why do you like this picture?” His answer was incredibly simple:
“I just think it’s beautiful. It’s soothing to look at.” That hit another chord within me. Who are we really taking photos for? When we print images to display in the cafe, whose eyes are we intending them for?

     The answer is everyday people—those who don’t necessarily know the technicalities of photography or photo editing. This means we don’t have to edit an image to look impossibly perfect or unrealistically beautiful. Simply keeping it authentic and true to life is enough. What I experienced that day made me want to focus more on getting the shot right straight out of the camera. Sometimes the natural light might not be flawless, but it captures the true reality of that exact moment.
     The behind-the-scenes of this photo wasn’t easy, and there was no such thing as coincidence. For me, it was about the pure effort to find the right moment for a specific location. The place in the picture is “Khao Khai Nui Viewpoint,” located in Thung Maphrao Subdistrict, Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province. It is the prime viewpoint for both sunrise and sunset in this area. Getting up there is quite a challenge. You have to hire a vehicle from a local community enterprise group. The route is far from comfortable; it’s a steep, dirt road built by the villagers themselves, and during the rainy season, it becomes extremely slippery and muddy.

     Before I could capture this single shot, I went up to Khao Khai Nui no less than 10 times. Some trips were too cloudy with no sun, while others had no fog at all. Sometimes the fog was so dense I could barely see anything, and occasionally, it rained as soon as I reached the top, making it impossible to shoot. Yet, everything that happened was for the best. It allowed me to discover new perspectives I never expected to find, and it acted as fuel, keeping the fire alive for me to return until I finally got the exact photo I envisioned.
     In the end, I finally got it—the picture you see above (the first image). But achieving this didn’t stop me from going back to Khao Khai Nui. Every time I visit Phang Nga, I always make sure to return, almost every chance I get. Because beyond the stunning landscape views you see here, visiting is also a way to support the local villagers’ economy. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself…