Description
Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai — occurring on the same full moon night as Yi Peng — involves the release of krathong (decorated banana leaf floats bearing candles, incense, and flowers) onto the rivers and canals as an act of gratitude and release. The Nawarat Bridge area on the Ping River concentrates the krathong release, the illuminated floats creating a river of candlelight moving downstream. This image was made from a position on the Nawarat Bridge looking downstream, the river surface covered with illuminated krathong at various stages of their journey, the night market stalls on the east bank reflected in the water between the floating lights. A 15-second exposure at f/8 and ISO 1600 captures both the moving krathong as light trails and the stationary market reflections as sharp features. The warm humidity of the northern Thai night is suggested by the slight softening of the more distant lights.
