PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR THAILAND

For night photography and if your camera or mobile cell phone camera has a night photo setting then use this to produce clearer and more detailed images without flash. The subject must be motionless, which means it may not be suitable for people that move in the image, but motion blurred crowds of people can be a nice feature when the main subject comes out crisp and clear. You also avoid having unknown peoples faces in your vacation shots.

There is a technique you need to practice to use this setting effectively. Stay as still as possible for a few seconds as it takes several shots. A small rotating symbol usually appears during the process. It then combines them into one crisp image with an improved exposure range.

For temple photography, do not stand in front of some-one kneeling for prayer.
Taking photos is generally permitted except if signs prohibit. Turn the camera shutter noise off in the settings when inside a temple, and I suggest you do not use direct flash as this can be annoying to others nearby and it can also wash out the photo and make it look flat.

For the Thai annual water festival of Songkran, protect your camera and buy a water proof camera bag. These look a bit like kitchen clear plastic bags. Choose one that has an inside glove to fit your hand for pressing the camera shutter, and where the camera lens fits around the correct size opening.
These can be bought from online stores at fairly cheap prices for the non-professional bags.
Also ensure to fit a plain UV filter screwed over the camera lens to protect it. You can regularly wipe water off the filter and avoid damaging the expensive lens.
If you are using a mobile cell phone camera, then check if it is water-proof or only water-resistant. During the Songkran festival you will be blasted by large water cannons and buckets of water thrown at you.

Avoid dull days when taking outdoor photos.  Visit indoor attractions on those days. Dull days usually produce dark and poorly colored images. Turning on the flash and forcing it to always fire for outside settings can help bring out some color and dimension to the images for subjects that are close. 
Your smart phone or camera may also have a vivid photo or other setting to counter dull days.

The best time to visit Thailand for taking photos is December and January when skies are usually clear of rain and you can avoid the burn-off season from February onwards. Smoke from burning off rice crop stubble by countries bordering Thailand as well as from Thailand farmers, drift over large areas. Sunset photos come out a rich red and orange color but daytime images will be very hazy, colorless, and with grey skies instead of blue. If you are vacationing in the southern provinces below Bangkok, then this may not be an issue.

The following is general advice which could be out of date, so you must check with your airline before departure for current regulations regarding battery storage, extra batteries, power banks and charging.
Airlines currently allow one extra spare battery for a camera or a restricted capacity powerbank and you need to store in carry-on bags and not store them in checked-in luggage. Batteries must not be actively connected to a charger.