Changing the world one image at a time | Tom Potisit | TEDxThammasatU
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0:10 - 0:15So, what is your purpose in life?
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0:15 - 0:16And why are we here?
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0:16 - 0:17I have been asking myself
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0:17 - 0:20the same question over and over
since I was born, -
0:20 - 0:23since I remember anything.
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0:23 - 0:24And just recently,
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0:24 - 0:26I started doing something
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0:26 - 0:27very incredible.
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0:27 - 0:29I started doing photography.
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0:29 - 0:32And that's how I discovered
my purpose in life. -
0:32 - 0:35This is me when I was like five years old
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0:35 - 0:36with a little camera.
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0:36 - 0:37I didn't know
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0:37 - 0:38how to operate it.
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0:38 - 0:39I was just posing
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0:39 - 0:40with a little camera
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0:40 - 0:41that my mother gave to me.
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0:41 - 0:44I was just having fun with it, you know,
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0:44 - 0:45and after that I never picked up
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0:45 - 0:49any artistic side in any forms --
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0:49 - 0:51drawing, painting -- nothing,
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0:51 - 0:54because in school,
my teacher always told me -
0:54 - 0:56that I was horrible at art.
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0:56 - 0:58I couldn't do anything
that he told me to do. -
0:58 - 1:00I couldn't follow
any simple instruction -- -
1:00 - 1:03to draw a circle, to paint --
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1:03 - 1:06in -- , you know, in a simple color,
I couldn't do it. -
1:06 - 1:09So, I never really used my ability
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1:09 - 1:12to do anything in the artistic world.
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1:12 - 1:16This is me with my life-partner
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1:16 - 1:18who I spent the last eight years with.
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1:18 - 1:21And we travelled the world
in a small plane. -
1:21 - 1:26And sadly I had a really bad fear
of flying. -
1:26 - 1:30Everytime I flew, I had to pray to God
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1:30 - 1:33like -- we have to make it
to the next destination. -
1:33 - 1:36But I picked up photography
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1:36 - 1:38as the tool to escape from my fear.
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1:38 - 1:43And I captured the most incredible photos
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1:43 - 1:45from all over the world from the plane.
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1:45 - 1:48I could see the changes
in the environment, -
1:48 - 1:50in the people, in the culture.
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1:50 - 1:52And these are the important things
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1:52 - 1:54that are slowly disappearing
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1:54 - 1:56from this surface of the planet earth.
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1:56 - 2:00So, I captured these pictures
from the air. -
2:00 - 2:04And then later on I became
a fashion photographer -
2:04 - 2:06but that wasn't enough for me.
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2:06 - 2:08To take beautiful photo
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2:08 - 2:09of beautiful clothes
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2:09 - 2:11crazy clothes like this --
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2:11 - 2:14make-up, shoes --
is not enough for me. -
2:14 - 2:16And then, I talked to my partner
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2:16 - 2:18and I thought he could use our abilities
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2:18 - 2:20to do something, to make a change,
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2:20 - 2:23to make the difference to this world.
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2:23 - 2:25So we started a lot of projects,
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2:25 - 2:27mainly with animals.
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2:27 - 2:29Because I couldn't deal with human being.
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2:29 - 2:33We started transporting animals
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2:33 - 2:34from one place to another,
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2:34 - 2:36releasing the gibbon back to the wild
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2:36 - 2:39from the cage into the forest
of Chiang Mai. -
2:39 - 2:42We have been doing that
for a few years now -
2:42 - 2:43and it's quite successful.
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2:43 - 2:47So Chiang Mai has gibbons
in the wild now, again -
2:47 - 2:50and these are the dugongs, the manatees;
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2:50 - 2:52A lot of people didn't know that
they exist in Thailand. -
2:52 - 2:55We have a lot of these animals
in the sea of Trang -
2:55 - 2:57called Koh Talibong,
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2:57 - 2:59And we just did
the flight survey last month -
2:59 - 3:02and the numbers have still
been rising and that's good. -
3:02 - 3:07There're the big heards
of dugongs as well, in Trang. -
3:07 - 3:09incredible animal,
and this is the Bryde's whale. -
3:09 - 3:11A lot of people don't know
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3:11 - 3:13that the whales are existed in Thailand,
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3:13 - 3:15in the upper Gulf of Thailand.
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3:15 - 3:17And we have about fifty of them.
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3:17 - 3:19This is the beginning of everything.
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3:21 - 3:24So, like I said, a really bad fear
of flying. -
3:24 - 3:25And this is me like four years ago.
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3:25 - 3:27I had to pray everytime we had to fly.
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3:27 - 3:29It was horrible.
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3:29 - 3:33And this is me last year; A big change.
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3:34 - 3:37So, back to the whales' story.
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3:39 - 3:43Because I saw these news on the Internet.
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3:43 - 3:46Tt's a big dead whale floating
on the sea of Thailand. -
3:46 - 3:47And then I thought
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3:47 - 3:50I really want to take photo
of this dead animal! -
3:50 - 3:54But not just like this,
because it's too simple. -
3:54 - 3:56And everyone who came across this news
will see like -
3:56 - 3:58Oh, it's a sad story!
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3:58 - 4:00You know, it's just another dead whale.
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4:00 - 4:03So I talked to my partner
and I told him -
4:03 - 4:07that I want to place a fashion model
next to the dead whale in the sea. -
4:07 - 4:09And he thought it was crazy.
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4:09 - 4:11You know -- crazy people make differences.
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4:11 - 4:14So I was happy being crazy.
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4:14 - 4:17And why did I want to do that ?
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4:17 - 4:24Because the traditional campaign like this
is not working well. -
4:24 - 4:28I've been working with animals,
campaigning for the last 8 years. -
4:28 - 4:33And the numbers are just dropping,
then I decided to take a better approach. -
4:33 - 4:40So I traveled to Samutsakorn --
to this location -
4:40 - 4:42where the dead whale was brought
into the mangrove. -
4:42 - 4:46And we started photographing
with a fashion model, -
4:46 - 4:50working well with marine biologists.
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4:50 - 4:53And this was me -- two years ago.
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4:53 - 4:57This picture put me on the front page
of Thai newspapers. -
4:57 - 5:00And they, once again,
called me the crazy photographer. -
5:02 - 5:04I was happy being crazy.
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5:04 - 5:05I was just watching the news
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5:05 - 5:07and see what people say
to get the feedback. -
5:08 - 5:12It went to CNN and was translated
into 17 languages around the world. -
5:12 - 5:16And it was the successful technique for me
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5:16 - 5:18to raise awareness for Thai people
to understand, -
5:18 - 5:24to realize that there are actually whales
in Thailand. -
5:24 - 5:27A lot of people don't even know
they existed. -
5:28 - 5:33And the Last Farewhale --
it was the title of this photo story. -
5:33 - 5:36It was my way of saying goodbye
to this animal -
5:36 - 5:40that I really care so much about.
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5:40 - 5:43Up until last year October,
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5:43 - 5:46Bryde's whale was announced
the 16th protected animal of Thailand. -
5:46 - 5:50And that was the beginning
of the next project -
5:50 - 5:55that I thought if I combine fashion
with anything I believe in -
5:55 - 5:57and translate into a piece of work,
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5:57 - 6:02I can translate and deliver any messages
that I want to, -
6:02 - 6:03especially for the new generation,
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6:03 - 6:04the young generation
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6:04 - 6:08the future of our mankind.
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6:08 - 6:12Why fashion photography ?
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6:12 - 6:16I think because fashion
is in every single one of us -
6:16 - 6:18who is sitting down here in this hall,
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6:18 - 6:22sitting at home
watching this show right now. -
6:22 - 6:25It doesn't matter you dressed up well,
dressed up dulled, -
6:25 - 6:27dressed up crazy like this.
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6:27 - 6:31Everyone is connected in a way
that we don't actually realize. -
6:31 - 6:32It doesn't matter what colour skin you are,
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6:32 - 6:35what language you speak,
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6:35 - 6:37what culture you have.
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6:37 - 6:40I think it's very important
to have your own style. -
6:40 - 6:45I would take you back
to some of the works that I started doing; -
6:45 - 6:49Combine fashion photography
with campaigning documentary. -
6:49 - 6:54The first one was SHUT DOWN.
I combined politics with fashion messages. -
6:55 - 6:56This was SHUT DOWN.
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6:56 - 6:58Remember the Bangkok Shut down
few years ago? -
6:58 - 7:02The End of the Roads
is about environmental impact. -
7:02 - 7:06These were roads collapsing
around Thailand last year. -
7:06 - 7:12Road Runners is about the road safety,
especially in Chiang Mai, Thailand. -
7:12 - 7:19And the latest project I worked with
the mother in prison. -
7:19 - 7:22We created 3 pieces of work
to raise awareness -
7:22 - 7:25about wellbeing of mothers
and babies in prisons. -
7:25 - 7:27It's not something easy everyday
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7:27 - 7:30but captured your attentions.
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7:30 - 7:32So, all these works are called
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7:32 - 7:35Social commentary fashion photography.
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7:35 - 7:37And I know that it worked well.
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7:37 - 7:41I can translate and deliver
anything that I want -
7:41 - 7:42to the new audiences,
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7:42 - 7:44to the young generations.
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7:44 - 7:45It's a call to action.
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7:45 - 7:50And this is the beginning
of the Anatomy 101. -
7:50 - 7:57The Anatomy 101 is a piece of work
that I created from my own experiences. -
7:57 - 7:59A lot of people asked me
where do I get experiences -
7:59 - 8:02or where do I get my inspirations.
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8:02 - 8:03It comes from my own experience,
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8:03 - 8:06something I care about,
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8:06 - 8:08something I feel deeply about.
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8:08 - 8:10I lost a kidney two years ago.
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8:10 - 8:12It was fine.
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8:12 - 8:13I was happy.
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8:13 - 8:14I lost a kidney.
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8:14 - 8:15I had three.
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8:15 - 8:19Most of the people have two --
I was born with a condition. -
8:19 - 8:22Then, one of them was failing
and I was sick throughout the year. -
8:22 - 8:25And then a doctor
at Chulalongkorn hospital, -
8:25 - 8:28they recommended that I should remove one.
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8:28 - 8:31So, I spent some time in the hospital.
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8:31 - 8:36Then, I saw this old lady was waiting
for an organ transplant, -
8:36 - 8:38and she was waiting for years.
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8:38 - 8:43I thought, I was just sick for one year,
my life was almost over. -
8:43 - 8:48But someone who was waiting for
an organ transplant for four years -- -
8:48 - 8:51It's like you are breathing
but you're not living. -
8:51 - 8:52It's horrible
-
8:52 - 8:56and you're waiting for someone
to give you a chance to live again. -
8:56 - 9:00So I just thought, you know,
a lot of people die every year. -
9:00 - 9:04Hundreds of thousands of people died,
five hundred thousands to be exact. -
9:04 - 9:07Where do these organs go to?
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9:07 - 9:09It goes to cremation.
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9:09 - 9:10It pollutes the air.
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9:10 - 9:12No one gets those organs.
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9:12 - 9:14It sucks.
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9:14 - 9:17So, I teamed up with my best friend,
Surachai Saengsuwan, -
9:17 - 9:21to create this piece of work, Anatomy 101.
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9:21 - 9:24Why Anatomy 101?
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9:24 - 9:25Remember when we were young?
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9:25 - 9:28We studied classes in high school,
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9:28 - 9:30Mathematics 101 -- boring I know --
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9:30 - 9:34Biology 101, Art 101 -- whatever 101.
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9:34 - 9:39And this is the class to teach you
about organ donation -- -
9:39 - 9:41different parts of your organs.
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9:41 - 9:43It's a basic class, ok?
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9:43 - 9:46So, we studied the art history.
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9:46 - 9:52We study medical science
way back from 200 years ago. -
9:52 - 9:54Buddhism
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9:54 - 9:56Movies
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9:56 - 9:58Sculpture
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9:58 - 10:00Paintings
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10:00 - 10:04And then we spent about 6 months
doing the research, -
10:04 - 10:06two months of photography,
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10:06 - 10:09and one month of post processing.
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10:09 - 10:10And then we created this.
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10:10 - 10:13This is a picture about blood donation,
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10:15 - 10:17organ donation,
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10:17 - 10:18Hair donation --
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10:18 - 10:24Do you know you can donate
to make a wig for cancer patient? -- -
10:25 - 10:27Breast transplant,
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10:28 - 10:29Skin donation --
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10:29 - 10:31you can donate your skin.
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10:32 - 10:35So, I'm gonna talk a bit about this photo.
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10:35 - 10:38This photo is called The Anatomy
of Morana Nusati. -
10:38 - 10:41It's the combination
of the best of two worlds; -
10:41 - 10:42The West and the East.
-
10:42 - 10:47The West in the past, to study the anatomy
was almost forbidden. -
10:47 - 10:50They studied for entertainment
in the old days. -
10:50 - 10:52People had to dressed up.
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10:52 - 10:56But for Buddhism, they study dead bodies
to understand the circle of life -- -
10:56 - 10:58that the body is not ours
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10:58 - 11:00the mind is here.
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11:00 - 11:04So, in order to make people understand
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11:04 - 11:06the importance of organ donation,
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11:06 - 11:09I have to take this approach.
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11:09 - 11:13And this is the combination
of the best of two worlds; -
11:13 - 11:17The Buddhism and the medical science.
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11:17 - 11:20This is one of my favorite photo
from the series. -
11:20 - 11:22It's a Red Riding Hood.
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11:22 - 11:23In Chulalongkorn hospital,
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11:23 - 11:26they have a ward
where you can actually -
11:26 - 11:29go and spend time with the kids
with chronic diseases. -
11:29 - 11:31That means kids
who can't leave the hospital -
11:31 - 11:34and they have to be connected
to the machines. -
11:34 - 11:38It sucks you know --
I spent nine days in the hospital, -
11:38 - 11:41waiting for someone to come
and keep me company -- -
11:41 - 11:43and it must be horrible for these kids.
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11:43 - 11:44They can't live a simple life.
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11:44 - 11:45They can't live a normal life.
-
11:45 - 11:48They can't just go and run around
in their hometown. -
11:48 - 11:51So I imagine if I was that kid,
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11:51 - 11:53I would like to have someone to be there,
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11:53 - 11:56to read books for me, to bring toys for me.
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11:56 - 11:59So, I created this story
about the fairy godmother -
11:59 - 12:00who comes to read books
for the little kids; -
12:00 - 12:03The Red Riding Hood.
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12:03 - 12:05But in return,
she starts making a little dress -
12:05 - 12:09as a gift back to the fairy godmother.
-
12:09 - 12:13This is the simple,
simplest thing you can do -- -
12:13 - 12:18to donate your time.
-
12:18 - 12:20Like every artist's big dream,
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12:20 - 12:22you want to have big exhibition
-
12:22 - 12:24in the national gallery,
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12:24 - 12:26in a big musuem,
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12:26 - 12:29in a shopping mall.
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12:29 - 12:32But it was not my intention
to become famous. -
12:32 - 12:36The Anatomy 101 was the project
about the people who are in need, -
12:36 - 12:40to make a voice to the people
who actually can give. -
12:40 - 12:45It was important that I bring the whole
project back to where it all started; -
12:45 - 12:48Chulalongkorn Hospital.
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12:48 - 12:50It was quite a challenge.
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12:50 - 12:53Because in order to persuade
the board of directors -
12:53 - 12:55to have a fashion photography
-
12:55 - 12:57taken inside the hospital
was the first step, -
12:57 - 13:03but to have fashion exhibition
exhibited in the building -
13:03 - 13:05where the patients
are waiting for their queue -
13:05 - 13:07it's almost impossible.
-
13:07 - 13:10But I was lucky that they believe in me;
-
13:10 - 13:11believe in my cause.
-
13:11 - 13:16So, we splitted Chakrabongse Building
into halves. -
13:16 - 13:22The first half is still operating
as the reception area for the patients. -
13:22 - 13:24The second half is the exhibition.
-
13:24 - 13:28So, people who come to the exhibition
can actually see the two worlds: -
13:28 - 13:32The sickness and the beauty
of fashion photography. -
13:32 - 13:36They actually can enjoy the exhibition.
-
13:36 - 13:39But the sick patients,
they are part of my exhibition as well. -
13:39 - 13:44They are the live installation
that rotate every minute. -
13:44 - 13:47They come from different backgrounds,
-
13:47 - 13:51with different needs, different costumes,
different types of people. -
13:51 - 13:55And I want people to feel, to understand,
what I was going through -
13:55 - 14:00And at the end of the exhibition,
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14:00 - 14:03I placed a little table from Red Cross
-
14:03 - 14:04where they can actually donate
-
14:04 - 14:06their organs, their eyes
and their bodies. -
14:06 - 14:09So, after the eight days
of the exhibition, -
14:09 - 14:11we raised 500 donors.
-
14:11 - 14:16And you know what --
1 donor can save up to 50 lives. -
14:16 - 14:21Imagine in a few years,
if people start doing the same thing; -
14:21 - 14:25The problem of organ donation
-
14:25 - 14:28or people waiting
for their organ transplant will be over. -
14:28 - 14:32This is just the basic thing
that people should do. -
14:37 - 14:41So back to where it all started
of this talk. -
14:41 - 14:44I asked you what is your purpose of life,
-
14:44 - 14:45why are we here.
-
14:45 - 14:48It doesn't matter to me anymore.
-
14:48 - 14:49I discovered myself.
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14:49 - 14:52as photographer, as people,
-
14:52 - 14:55someone who can actually use my talent
to make a change, -
14:55 - 14:56to make a difference,
-
14:56 - 14:59to make good for someone or something,
-
14:59 - 15:01and that's enough for me.
-
15:01 - 15:04You can do the same thing as well.
-
15:04 - 15:07I believe that everyone
has something good in you -
15:07 - 15:09that you can use to make a change,
-
15:09 - 15:12to make something big,
something different, -
15:12 - 15:13something good for the other,
-
15:13 - 15:17and then reward is so fulfilling to you.
-
15:20 - 15:25So, you can start easiest thing
by donating your organs; -
15:25 - 15:30part of your bodies that you won't need
anymore once you're gone. -
15:30 - 15:37Just like this, the kidney,
give it to them. -
15:37 - 15:45Your liver,
so stop drinking and start donating. -
15:45 - 15:51Your lung
-
15:51 - 15:55Actually one of the most important things
is your heart. -
15:55 - 15:56You have to have a heart
-
15:56 - 15:59Because once you are done
in this lifetime, -
15:59 - 16:03once you take off your skin,
-
16:03 - 16:06the only thing you can take up to heaven
is your good soul. -
16:06 - 16:07And this is how I change the world,
-
16:07 - 16:09one image at a time.
-
16:09 - 16:14Thank you.
- Title:
- Changing the world one image at a time | Tom Potisit | TEDxThammasatU
- Description:
-
In his talk, Tom grabs audience’s attention by asking ‘What is the purpose of your life?’ For him, it’s all about what he can do for others. With a talent in photographing, Tom makes the most of his gift as much as possible. He illustrates social issues through his photographs and tells us how to create a better world by using what you already have.
"อะไรคือเป้าหมายของชีวิตคุณ?" จากคำถามที่ถามตัวเองมาเกือบตลอดชีวิต ด้วยอาชีพช่างภาพแฟชั่น เขาตัดสินใจถ่ายภาพแฟชั่นที่แตกต่างออกไป โดยหยิบยกเรื่องราวที่ตนเองพบเจอจากเรื่องใกล้ตัวและประเด็นสังคมที่น่าสนใจมาเป็นหัวข้อในการถ่ายภาพแฟชั่น รวมกับภาพสารคดี ภาพโฆษณา เพื่อสร้างแคมเปญสะท้อนและแก้ไขปัญหาสังคม
Tom Potisit (Theerachat Potisit) is a conservationist, an interior designer, a writer, a photographer, and a fashion magazine producer. He has flown over the world as a co – pilot, photographing endangered species such as dugong, whale, turtle, and dolphin. Also, he participates in many other volunteer projects.
ทอม โพธิสิทธิ์ (ธีระฉัตร โพธิสิทธิ์) เป็นนักอนุรักษ์ มัณฑนากร นักเขียนอิสระ ช่างภาพแฟชั่นและโปรดิวเซอร์งานโฆษณานิตยสารแฟชั่นไทยและต่างประเทศ เขายังเป็นผู้ช่วยนักบินและช่างภาพถ่ายภาพโครงการสํารวจประชากรสัตว์ทะเลหายาก เช่น พะยูน วาฬ เต่าทะเล โลมาในอ่าวไทยและทะเลอันดามัน นอกจากนี้ ยังเป็นผู้สนับสนุนและอาสาสมัครโครงการคืนชะนีสู่ป่า จังหวัดเชียงใหม่
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDxTalks
- Duration:
- 16:14
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Kelwalin Dhanasarnsombut edited English subtitles for Changing the world one image at a time | Tom Potisit | TEDxThammasatU | ||
Denise RQ commented on English subtitles for Changing the world one image at a time | Tom Potisit | TEDxThammasatU |
Denise RQ
Links and comments have been provided to the original captioner: http://www.amara.org/es/profiles/profile/237897/
Reviewer (DRQ) declined the task.