My name is Wasim Mather. I was born in South Africa but moved to Thailand just before my 19th Birthday and have been here since. I am now 32 years old. Currently, I work as a Professional boxing trainer and fight manager at Elite Fight Club Bangkok. I'm also a boxing journalist writing and photographing boxing for various media outlets including The Ring TV. I’m taking things a day at a time but definitely aim to be at the forefront of boxing photography. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. I’m extremely passionate about what I do and just want to continue doing it.
David - When did you first come to Thailand & what initially brought you here?
Wasim - I have always been a boxing fan and decided to come to Thailand for a training stint for 3 months in 2011, and that ended up being 11 years. I fought professionally for a few years before hanging up my gloves and getting more involved in the professional boxing business and training fighters.
David - What made you stay/ leave?
Wasim - I left Thailand for two years just as the Pandemic arrived. Nobody knew what to expect, so I returned to South Africa. After a short stint in Moscow, when the borders opened, I returned back to the country.
David - Were you photographing before or was it something you picked up after arriving here?
Wasim - I actually picked up photography during the pandemic. I feel in that time a lot of people realized things about their life, and my realization was that I did not want to fight anymore. I started doing things besides training and living a normal life. I always liked photography but started taking it more seriously during the lockdown, where I started photographing nature and birds in my backyard. The perks of living in South Africa are that we have access to amazing national parks at our doorstep.
David - If you were photographing previously did Thailand change the way you approach photography?
Wasim - I have become bolder and braver in Thailand. I'm not sure if that’s because of the country or maybe my photography style is this way. With the calmness of the people and the relaxed nature, it's easier to strike up a conversation.
David - Is there any challenges that you face as a photographer unique to Thailand?
Wasim - So far, there have not been any challenges because I am recognized in the boxing scene with my journalistic work. Access is always easy to get. The boxing scene is small, and everyone knows each other.
David - What small thing, (on a daily basis) inspires you most during your time here?
Wasim - The relaxed “sabai, sabai” attitude in a bustling city, that no matter what, things will eventually get done. The friendly nature of people in the country where everything just feels okay.
David - Is there something perhaps larger or more poignant that you took from your time here?
Wasim - Bangkok is a huge city and I learned to rely on myself here. Besides my wife, I have no family or big support system here. The reality is that I learned to be extremely independent and self-sufficient. It’s not easy but there is no substitute for hard work. Of course, I've met some incredible people along the way, and I have been mentored by the very best in my field. However, it’s easy to be swallowed up in a city such as Bangkok. The key is to stay grounded and humble, and nothing beats the grind. I've learned to love what I do.
David - What makes this country so fascinating to photograph for so many people?
Wasim - I think it's the relaxed nature of the people and the culture. People on the street are also not so wary and paranoid about the camera.
David - Is there a certain location here in Thailand that you hold dear to your heart?
Wasim - The location is not a beautiful place as many would believe like the ocean or mountains. But it's actually the Sasakul Gym in Pathum Thani that I fought out of and trained some fighters out of in the past. It holds a dear place as I built my photography portfolio out of that gym, developing relationships with the fighters and getting to know them makes the photography more pleasing. I feel it brings out an emotion. It’s also a traditional residential area that became home for the time I was there.
David - Please share a photographic technique or philosophy, a tip for someone reading this.
Wasim - Get to know people, their backgrounds, their culture. I am not Thai, so I will never truly understand Thai culture. When I decided that I would move here, I learned the language and tried to understand the culture. I want my images to show emotion and not just be a snapshot. Taking time to know my subjects tends to help. Technical tip: don’t be afraid to freeze the motion with high ISO. Many photographers get a fright when they find out I shoot in ISO up to 10,000; boxing venues are poorly lit. I would rather have a frozen image than a blurry one.
David - A question I always ask is what relationship do you have with the viewer and how does that affect you when shooting?
Wasim- It's really important; I want people to feel like they’re present with me when they look at the image. They should be able to smell and feel the environment and also hear it. That’s why I love wide-angle photography, images that are shot close up in live fight action.
David - Please share a sentimental photo from your time here and what makes it sentimental to you.
Wasim - The portrait of veteran fighter Sagat Petchyindee that I took last year, I grew up watching him fight on YouTube he was a legendary Muay Thai and Pro boxer. The character from (Capcom’s video game) Street Fighter is based off of him. On that particular day before leaving home I decided to not take my camera with me but when reaching the elevator I changed my mind. I’m glad I did as when I reached the gym Sagat arrived with all his belts after talking-to him, I asked him for a portrait, the one below. It’s one of my favourite images of 2023.
David - Bonus “Gear Talk” question, what equipment do you use and how does that help with your photography?
Wasim - I use a Nikon D850 with a 24-70 and 70-200, but I will also bring a 50mm.
As you all know, I’m not a sports photographer myself but always enjoy getting the opinions of photographers that work outside my genre. Thank you for the interview, Wasim, everyone can keep up to date with him on Instagram and on his Website. I will surely take you up on the offer to shoot some Muay Thai next time I am in Bangkok!