Review of “Strolling around Wat Arun – Wat Phra Kaew” with a film camera

That day, I left the house a bit early, intending just to “go for a walk and casually take photos” without any complicated plans. I just wanted good sunlight, nice lighting, and to let the film camera take me wherever it wanted.

🛶 Starting from Wat Arun

I took the ferry from Tha Phra Chan to Tha Maharaj > Tha Tian for just 5 baht. The feeling when boarding the boat was like a gentle trip back in time.

The vibe walking into Wat Arun was the light hitting the tile patterns on the chedi. Using a color film camera (I used Fujifilm 200), the morning light cast perfect shadows. It’s not as sharp as digital, but it feels “warm” and “slow” in the way you want time to move when walking like this.

I captured shadows of the big chedi against the sky, people climbing the stone stairs, and the temple walls. The mood and tone turned out even better than I expected.

🚶‍♀️ Crossing over to Wat Phra Kaew side

I strolled slowly through Tha Tian market and then entered Wat Phra Kaew. It was crowded, but it felt lively and good.

What I loved most was the light hitting the walls of Wat Phra Kaew. The blue and gold colors reflecting on the film surface made the photos look timeless. I stopped to shoot for a long time along that long corridor.

I also took some shots of the Grand Palace from afar, full-frame temple angles, and a candid photo of a travel companion smiling at the camera. With real film, there’s no preview and no need for perfection.

🍦 A moment to refresh

Stopped for coconut ice cream from a cart next to the City Pillar Shrine before heading back — sunlight, ice cream, sweat, and the unknown results from the camera. It’s a feeling that a phone camera can’t give.

💡 Summary
• Camera used: Minolta Mac Dual film camera + Fujifilm 200
• Light: 10:00–11:30 AM is the best time for shadows and light reflections
Recommended angles:
• Wat Arun: chedi shadow angles in the morning, stairs with people’s shadows
• Wat Phra Kaew: painted corridor + shadows behind pillars
• Photo feel: warm, soft, with light grain, like a moment from the past

⸻

Film cameras make us ‘look longer’ and ‘remember more.’
And that day… Wat Arun and Wat Phra Kaew stayed in my memory
softly and warmly.