Everyday Thailand
Claro Cortes IV is a Filipino photojournalist with almost 30 years of professional experience. Prior to relocating to Bangkok, he was an Editor-in-Charge at the Thomson Reuters Global Pictures Desk in Singapore from 2008 to 2015.
His photographs have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Der Spiegel, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Le Figaro, The Independent, Newsweek, Time Magazine, China Daily, South China Morning Post, Straits Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Irish Times, The Telegraph, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun, O Globo, among others.
In 2019 Claro and his wife moved to Bangkok, where he continues to pursue his passion for photography – capturing images of everyday life in Thailand.
A girl dances in front of a mirror near a dress designed with Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s face at a bazaar in Bangkok.
A vendor on boat peddles fresh coconut as tourists also on boat navigate a canal in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market sone 1.5hrs outside Bangkok.
A woman waits for customers at a Thai shaved ice dessert stall at a food court in Bangkok.
Motorcyclists drive past an intersection in Bangkok.
Claro’s diverse portfolio includes (but is not limited to) covering major events such as the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines, the Great Sichuan Earthquake in China and and the large-scale American war in Afghanistan.
Moreover, Claro documented Vietnam’s opening up and structural transformation (1992-1995) and China’s economic development and rich cultural heritage (2002-2008).
He covered and edited three Olympic Games, World Cup soccer championship, Australian Open tennis grand slam events, Masters Cup, National Basketball Association games, Formula One F1 motor racing and other major sporting events.
Claro also shot documentary stories for UNICEF Philippines for two years before coming to the Land of Smiles.
His passion extends to music. Claro is an audiophile with an eclectic taste in vinyl records.
A tuk-tuk or a three-wheeled motorised taxi parks across the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
A Thai dancer waits for the start of a ceremony at Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok.
Customers chat at a ceramic cafe at Sailom Bangpu in Bangkok.
A monitor lizard or “bayawak” appears from a flower garden in Santiphap Park in Bangkok.
Peacocks are large colourful pheasants known for their iridescent tails which spread out in a train more than 60% of the bird’s total body length and boast “eye” markings of blue, gold and red.
Visitors walk on the beach at Sai Kaew Beach, Koh Samet island. More than 2,000 visitors used to come to the island daily but the Covid-19 pandemic brought a sharp drop in tourist arrivals.
The jump at Po Da island with Ko Ma Tang Ming island in the background, Krabi, Thailand.
Claro Cortes IV. Photo taken in Afghanistan with Taliban prisoners in the background.
Photo © Claro Cortes IV | All Rights Reserved 2020-21
@clarocortesiv | www.clarocortes.com | Facebook.com/clarocortes | #everydaythailand
Debbie | ws