"When They Grab Your Images..." (Thailand. Nov.•2007)

While starting the day with my morning coffee, imagine my surprise to find that an image of mine was lifted / grabbed / downloaded / copied or just plain stolen (again) and used without my authorization in a publication on the Thai - Burma border. The Irrawaddy (above) an English language publication in Southeast Asia used an image I made while on my off time during a humanitarian surgical mission in Mae Sot, Thailand back in the fall of 2007. I've just written a sternly worded letter to their photo desk, which I'm sure will go unnoticed, as I realize that this image grabbing & unauthorized use is a common practice in the business nowadays, but a simple email would've been nice. It's always reassuring when a courteous editor or picture buyer takes the time to write me directly to discuss the purchase of usage rights for one of my images. This is a business after all... ~cg.

Volunteer plastic surgeon in Thailand. Nov. 2007

I put this multimedia piece together on volunteer plastic surgeon Dr. Rafael Gottenger in Mae Sot, Thailand, during Operation Smile's 25th. Anniversary World Journey of Smiles in November:



*(click the arrow to start the slideshow.)

*More on travel... (or getting my passport stamped again.)

Insights on international travel & final thoughts on the Mae Sot, Thailand mission.

It's been a hectic week since returning from northern Thailand. Literally had one day off last week after arrival Sunday night into JFK from Bangkok (BKK) and Tokyo Narita (NRT). Back to work on Tuesday morning, including an early 6AM assignment for "Black Friday" shopping story here in the area at the Outlet Center. Ran into some folks there from Carmel, CA who flew in the night before to hit the Chanel Store. Topping that off were the four women from Dublin, Ireland who've flown to New York the last 4 years to do their holiday shopping. And I thought I'd seen just about everything. Managed to fly over the area again too that afternoon to photograph traffic patterns and all that, but by the time we were airborne, there wasn't much traffic on the highways in the area. Another free plane ride. I'll take that anytime...

*More images to come and insights from the work week.

*More from Mae Sot General Hospital. Mae Sot, Thailand. Wednesday Nov. 14, 2007.

Emotional day today here on the mission. We're winding down a bit. Here are a few images.
-Chet.
"Go early. Stay late. Get the uniform dirty..."

*Operating theatre. Mae Sot General Hospital. Mae Sot, Thailand. Nov. 12 - 16, 2007.

*Working now during surgery week in the Mae Sot General Hospital. Week of Nov. 12 - 16, 2007. It is a joy to work in this first class facility, with A/C in the OR's, and all the anemities of a westernized hospital. Plenty of chow in the staff breakroom with of course Thai cuisine. I've worked in some very extreme situations, and it's sometimes been a challenge. During the week, I'll try a few different things photographically and photojournalistically. Also want to do a bit of audio recording for a SoundSlides presentation on Dr. Rafael Gottenger, a Venezuelan plastic surgeon whom I worked with ten years on Operation Smile's World Journey of Hope. He's given me complete access in his OR during surgery, as all the Op Smile surgeons have during a mission. *(Try that back in the States.) Followed the first child he operated on yesterday, so that'll be a nice piece on one child's journey through screening, surgery and recovery in these first days. This is why we've traveled to the mission, as there are feelings, emotions, sounds and special moments that make it all worth while for all us that put so much into volunteering for Operation Smile. -CG.
Here are a few images from the first two days here in operating rooms and wards:


Anesthesiologist Dee Bambrough of Utah prepares his equipment in an operating room at Mae Sot General Hospital in Mae Sot, Thailand on Sunday, November 11, 2007. Surgery begins tomorrow. © Chet Gordon for Operation Smile

Surgery days:

Mae Moei City, Thailand. Saturday Nov. 10, 2007.

*A few images from Saturday in Mae Moei City on the Moei River bordering Myanmar (Burma). Got down to the river early in the morning to visit the local market and interact with Burmese refugees in their shanty town across the river from Myanmar. More later, stay tuned.
"Go early. Stay late. Get the uniform dirty..." -CG

In Mae Sot, Thailand. Nov. 9, 2007

Made it to Mae Sot. Here are a few images and thoughts from screening day at the Mae Sot Hospital. Speaking with a translator, center, and a Thai photographer, right, during patient screening at Mae Sot Hospital as part of Operation Smile's World Journey of Smiles, in northern Thailand on Wednesday, November 9, 2007. Gordon, a longtime volunteer with Operation Smile is in northern Thailand to document the organization's international mission. Operation Smile is the Norfolk, VA based medical organization that performs free cleft lip and palate facial corrective surgery to young adults worldwide.

Packing for Thailand mission. Nov. 2007.

Mid-town Manhattan. 'Round midnight.

Having a bite of sushi and Cherry Wheat Sam Adams at colleague Keith Bedford & Shiho Fukada's Manhattan apt. 11 hours before departure for Bangkok. Monday night, November 5, 2007. Photograph by Shiho Fukada.


Packing up digital Nikon gear for the Thailand mission with Operation Smile. My bedroom. Newburgh, NY. Monday afternoon, November 5, 2007.