Take Your Seat, Bhutan
created in partnership with The Trans Bhutan Trail
In a fabled country nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, centuries of history embrace the dreams of tomorrow as past, present, and future happily welcome our chair to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Part expedition, part awakening, Take Your Seat, Bhutan now proudly shares the images and stories captured over fourteen days of shooting through the Land of the Thunder Dragon…
Take Your Seat is led by Randy and Spencer VanDerStarren.
Together, this father-and-son team has given a chair a voice; one that speaks a universal language of unity, responsibility, and individual power that is being shared with audiences around the world.
Take Your Seat and their director's chair have had the privilege of being hosted in 43 countries and counting. We extend a heartfelt thank you for being part of our chair's ongoing journey! Contact us here.
"Just outside of Punakha’s Pungtang Dechen Phodrang Dzong, Buddha’s teachings are momentarily sidelined as an energetic group of young monks engage in a friendly game of football. Our chair watches as the universal love of sport plays out in front of us.
Kids, it seems, are the same everywhere."
Portraits
(Click on any photograph to enter full-screen viewing mode)
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"As day breaks, we begin our hike from Phajoding base to Pumola. The Trans Bhutan Trail issues its steepest challenge. The sky is grey and equally challenging. Our mood is gleefully contradictory.
As we reach 3,500 metres on our way to the summit, we play ELO's 'Mr. Blue Sky' hoping to ward off the weather. Defying our song, the sky threatens and then makes good on its promise. Our gear and chair protected, we make our way through the wind and rain. A pair of amicable magpies flits around us as if to encourage every step. The rain subsides. The wind whispers. Nature, having tested our resolve, shows her gentler side.
The Thunder Dragon, presence soundly established, now quietly watches as a world of images, only possible because of our climb, unveils itself."
Take Your Seat, Bhutan was created in partnership with The Trans Bhutan Trail,
a non-profit organization supporting local communities along a cross-country hiking trail connecting Bhutan’s past, present, and future.
A special thank you to the people of Bhutan for their collaboration in the creation of this project. Kadrinchhey la!
We'd like to recognize Tshering and Kencho for their expert guidance and sincere friendship during our expedition.
