Built for post-social permanence, not platform.

DRobertsPhoto’s next evolution: a multi-discipline endeavour comprising cinematic storytelling, a singularly curated photographic monograph and creative manifesto led by technical and cultural fluency — blending socio-geographic documentary with an exploration of David Roberts’ personal heritage.

The project consists of boots on the ground fieldwork, organically developing concepts and geographic reconnaissance over multiple years, with tone benchmarks set over multiple editorials; distilling the core ethos and message from previous works such as Simple Nothings and Soul of the Planet. Discover Temples of Thailand focuses on spotlighting authentic, rural temples situated outside the touristic gaze, deeply embedded within the communities they service. Temples are not just shrines to devotion but church, community centre, playground, garden, concert hall, grain storage and often school, orphanage, crematorium and far more than one would expect. Temples also embody the dualistic nature of Thailand, and Isaan especially. Whilst around the corner homes are made from breeze block and wood, temples stand ornate in reflection; even the adjacent monastic quarters often stand in stark simplicity. This refined presentation is a pivot in subject, not in theme. Dissonance that mirrors the author’s anthropological lens remains front and centre — based on dual British-Thai heritage and international world-view.

Discover Temples of Thailand has garnered interest from TASCHEN, which reviewed the conceptual materials and deferred only due to scheduling — without critique or objection. Partnership negotiations with ZEISS progressed to formal terms but ultimately did not align with the author’s long-term goals. The author remains open to institutional support, provided archival permanence is ensured. Interest from these parties demonstrates capacity at the highest levels of fine-art and technical photography. Production is proceeding with facilitation by Angelbird Technologies and collaboration with Dehancer Film Emulation on companion motion materials — both leaders in their respective fields.

Discover Temples of Thailand is currently in principal photography (scheduled to be executed Q4 2025 to Q1 2026).

Production has faced issues with: a. continued adverse weather and flooding of remote regions well into October (including back-to-back typhoons Ragsa and Matmo) and b. rabies outbreak across the country (including targeted sites in Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu and much of Isaan). Image capture continues at a cautious pace but due to the fatal, untreatable nature of rabies and the prevalence of wild dogs in the Isaan countryside, David Roberts is seriously considering pivoting to fresh IP outside of DRobertsPhoto efforts.

The amount of subject matter is overwhelming within the region, extended production allows the author to turn away from potentially hazardous sites. As such, this decision will be contingent on when burning season starts, due to adverse still-image capture conditions and long-term health concerns surrounding PM2.5 carbon pollution that follow. Historically burning begins during Q2, but recently has occurred early as December. This was considered within reason for the project if only pick-ups were needed during Q1, but the bulk of production cannot occur during this time.

Due to the extreme heat and monsoon that occurs from April to September, David has consistently maintained a balance between six-months of fieldwork and six-months of post-production/pre-production, a rhythm that is no longer possible and diminishingly plausible. If conditions prevail Thailand will become adverse for sill-image capture by a sole operator (at studio-level execution) for ten months a year. The effects of this adversity is not understated, nor overlooked. DRobertsPhoto has worked within the author’s window of opportunity, a window that is increasingly narrowing. David is making efforts to secure opportunities in Japan for the intended escalation, Discover Castles of Japan. The production of which is fully dependent on pre-funding and Japan-centric opportunities. Discover Castles of Japan predates all DRobertsPhoto projects, the 5-year roadmap reviewed by TASCHEN centred on Japan expansion funded by production of Discover Temples of Thailand.

DRobertsPhoto may continue, but it cannot continue under the current status-quo; financially unsupported and self-sustained with compressed timelines for fieldwork, yet expected to yield industry-defining imagery. David Roberts has continued to elevate partnerships and institutional recognition, if he continues to produce imagery it must be to a standard exceeding his current baseline. The author will not return to creating gear content or lens reviews for editorial. His focus remains on challenging the metrics-over-meaning status quo and pushing ethical imagery in a technically superlative manner. His ethos remains post-social, regardless of the medium the author chooses to continue with. The author will choose digression of artistic medium over regression of ethos under current constraints.

David cares deeply about his photographic work, but still-imagery is not his sole specialty and he must realistically balance passion with pragmatism. As such, whilst a multi-year monograph may yet be made — with a second tranche during 2026 or protracted further — a pivot to tourist temples will not be tolerated. Nor will image capture of Thai cultural importance be made in conditions that will implicit any negativity of sensitive and sacred environments. The intent of the monograph is to create a high-fidelity archive of temporal environments, not a document of external issues (explored in prior project Soul of the Planet, Heart of the People). Currently the author considers the correct pivot for Discover Temples of Thailand 2025 production materials (as a minimum viable product) is for use in-pitch on Discover Castles of Japan as both proof of concept and proof of execution under constraint. Re-negotiation with TASCHEN, or TASCHEN-level publications, remains the focus of the project. The Visual Prelude for Discover Castles of Japan (photographed in 2017 — in ideation since 2018) is available on request, as is the author’s media packet.

Discover Temples of Thailand initial image review remains scheduled for December 1st 2025, this will be when decisions are made as to the immediate future of the project.

Reception for Discover Castles of Japan will dictate the viability of continuing with DRobertsPhoto.com. Viability of the Closed Loop methodologies used (independent fieldwork to editorial, editorial to brand collab, brand collab to supported independent fieldwork, supported independent fieldwork to superlative output desired by TASCHEN-level institutions) hinged on subsidisation available from a low-cost creative environment for fieldwork, an environment Thailand no longer provides — but the author can still leverage for his non-photographic IP that does not require fieldwork. Subsidisation for an expansion to Japan through artist residency is currently being pursued, long-term relocation (2027 and beyond) will be dependent on pre-funding that meets current cultural activities visa requirements (targeted maximum length of 3 years) and projected cost of living increase. The author is specifically targeting institutions who have the reputation needed to disrupt the current status quo from a position of authority, and have the pipeline to flood the current market, therefore altering consensus regarding ethical cultural documentary in an entertainment era. David continues to view Discover Castles of Japan as the foundation for a major shift ( currently known only to TASCHEN and Penguin Random House) and will not compromise execution to claim completion.

As of most recent publishing (on November 7th) Thailand is experiencing further storms, warnings have been issued for the Northeast regarding impending Typhoon Kalmaegi. Multiple global meteorological institutions are reporting heightened extremities due to carbon pollution, further enforcing the importance of my underlying subject of rapid modernisation and the adverse effects to heritage lifestyles. Institutional consensus suggest that this will only worsen in coming years, my worst fear for a project heavily reliant on field operation. Alongside the prolonged and unforeseen continuation of averse external factors, emergent health issues have endangered fieldwork further. I will know in the coming weeks if surgery is needed, recouperation timelines, and if continuation of medication that advises against the use of vehicle operation will continue to affect the feasibility of the project. I appreciate the patience of those invested into DRobertsPhoto and Discover Temples of Thailand during this time. These events are unprecedented in extent and timing — if not fully in nature — and could not reasonably have been foreseen. Production was structured to mitigate against known variables, with built-in cushion. However, it is unable to absorb institutional cowardice, extended monsoon, rabies outbreak, the impending PM2.5 carbon pollution and unprecedented medical concerns. It is unlikely that I will continue this project in the way planned, but my hopes are for my health to be adequate to facilitate Japanese expansion in 2027 should funding allow. In light of this I am now doubtful of my ability to commit to residency programmes in 2026, but I remain hopeful regardless. Should fieldwork become untenable through 2026 DRobertsPhoto.com is approaching its 10 year anniversary and work on a retrospective of this seminal decade would likely be pursued. I will also use this addendum as a reminder that I am an individual, not an entity. This is not a hobby, I am a professional not an enthusiast. This is my work and my livelihood. Whilst medical costs are heavily subsidised by the Thai Government as a citizen, the operational loss to key production timelines is borderline fatal for DRobertsPhoto and my Discover series. Even so, I will ensure it evolves and adapts as it has done for almost a decade prior, including the pandemic

As of further writing (on November 11th) the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency has reported that Udon Thani’s PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter) levels have exceeded 32 micrograms per cubic metre (though averages are currently lower). Overall consensus and warnings are that it is now considered dangerous (adverse to health for prolonged periods) across approximately half the nation. It is with bitter irony that the fatalistic symptoms of what I have documented and observed in Soul of the Planet, Heart of the People has caused Discover Temples of Thailand to become a hostile operation. For institutions reading this, you can no longer make claim against the importance, seriousness, and the objective truth of what I document. Any actions in lieu of support will be considered cowardice.

— David

Production Field Reports

Discover Temples of Thailand is supported by:

Please be aware that the assets below are preliminary pre-production materials.

They are not indicative of the final monograph, which will exhibit a higher level of continuity, refinement, production value, and editorial precision.

Sample pages from Visual Prelude to Discover Temples of Thailand

Graded with Dehancer Film Emulation Kodak Aerocolor IV 125 │ 65mm │ISO 50

Graded with Dehancer Film Emulation Kodak Vision3 50D │ 65mm │ISO 50

Graded with Dehancer Film Emulation Kodak Portra 160VC │ 65mm │ISO 50