Imagining Flood, a photographic study of the 2011 mega floods in Bangkok, captures the foreboding and surreal nature of the event by presenting the flood in a dreamlike, otherworldly way.

When news first broke that Bangkok would be affected, panic spread and all manner of preparations unfolded. Though the centre remained dry, the sense of dread that hung over the city deepened, as Bangkok became an island encircled by waterlogged houses, streets and motorways. “It is this sense of fearful waiting that first drew me to the project,” says Miti Ruangkritya. “Whether the floods have been experienced firsthand or through news reports, conjuring a mental image of the event can’t be avoided. This influenced me to shoot these scenes as if they’ve been developed from the subconscious, in contrast to the media’s urgent, frenetic reportage.”

Each scene takes place at night or in the early hours, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The series is deliberately shot at these light-challenged times using a tripod and slow shutter speed, in order to capture the stillness, the dread-filled suspense of waiting for the floods to come.

Miti Ruangkritya, an emerging photographer who has won many international photographic competitions, was born in Bangkok in 1981. He graduated with an MA in photojournalism from University of Westminster, London, in 2008.

Image: © Miti Ruangkritya, Kathmandu Photo Gallery