Religious Rubbish

• Photographer
  Luke Duggleby, Thailand
• Website
  http://www.lukeduggleby.com

Spirit houses have long been an iconic image in Thailand. Remnants of Thailandâ??s animist past Thai people continue to worship a spirit called Phra Phum considered the â??Lord of the Landâ??. Phra Phum who inhabits the earth, the â??guardian of the landâ??, can command good or bad fortune on people depending on his pleasure. When the spirit is disturbed, by change to the existing land, it is believed that to appease him a house should be built and tiny figures, statues, food and drink placed to offer comfort and entertainment. This allows humans a harmonious coexistence with his spirit. And similarly Chinese Thaiâ??s set up shrines inside their houses to appease their own spirits. But throughout Bangkok on wasteland you will begin to notice these spirit houses, Chinese shrines and miniature figurines thrown away like rubbish. Along roadsides, on vacant land this religious rubbish has been discarded by its owner, abandoning an age-old tradition that says that a spirit house cannot be simply tossed away. What should be deposited at the base of a sacred Banyan tree or at a Thai temple and given a respectful resting place now inhabits Bangkokâ??s dark corners, the empty spaces between the concrete developments.

Luke is a British freelance photographer permanently based in Bangkok, Thailand from where he undertakes assignments and shoots all over the continent for magazines and NGO's around the globe.

Awards 2011 - Official Honorable Mentions in the 2011 International Photography Awards (www.photoawards.com) for "Salt Making in Lake Katwe" in the Professional, Photo Essay and Feature Story category.

2011 - Finalist in Travel Photographer of the Year Award (www.tpoty.com)

2011 - Finalist in the Magazine/Editorial category of the PDN Annual Awards (www.pdngallery.com)

2010 - Two official Honorable Mentions in the 2010 International Photography Awards (www.photoawards.com) for two portfolios in the Environmental Pro category and the Feature Story Pro category.

2010 - Commended in the 'Amazing Places' category of
Travel Photographer of the Year.
(www.tpoty.com)

2009 - Two official Honorable Mentions in the 2009 International Photography Awards (www.photoawards.com) for two portfolios in the Environmental Pro category.

Portfolio One: 'Night Shift: Emptying the Seas' shot in Chonburi Province, Thailand.

Portfolio Two: 'Ecstacy Threatens Forests' shot in the Cardamon Mountains, West Cambodia.

2007 - 4th place in the 'Sense of Place' category in the Travel Photographer of the Year competition.
(www.tpoty.com)

2006 - First prize in the 'Mountain Environment' category of the annual Banff Mountain Photography competition (www.banffcentre.ca)

2006 - 3rd place in the 'Iconic' portfolio category in the Travel Photographer of the Year competition.
(www.tpoty.com)