Photographer Amat 'Yai' Nimitpark celebrates a quarter-century behind the lens by showing what celebrities really look like

Lensman Amat "Yai" Nimitpark marks 25 years behind the camera with "The Unretouched Faces", an exhibition that opens this week at CentralWorld.

Amat reckons he's captured more than 100,000 shots of models, actors, singers and hi-so figures during a career that's taken him from the days of analogue cameras, darkrooms and airbrushing to digital photography and the computerised manipulation of images.

For his exhibition, Amat says he wanted to get back to the basics.

Based on the concept "100 Faces, 100 per cent Natural Beauty", he's taken mugshots of his models with just their natural skin - no makeup is worn. The resulting images rely on his skill as a photographer, without any retouching or digital enhancement.

Among the 100 faces are actors Mario Maurer and Somchai "Tao" Khemklad, actress Araya A Hargett, models Songkran Techanarong, Sangtong Kate U-thong and Nattaset Poonsapmanee, 2006 Miss Thailand Universe Charm Osathanond, singer Ardhawadee "Mint" Jiramaneekul and socialites MR Srikumrung Yugala and Savitri Paribatra na Ayudhya.

"I would like to thank all my models for their confidence in my photography skills," Amat says. "Famous people want to always be beautiful when they are seen in public. They rarely go out without makeup. But this time, they were willing to join my project to show off their faces without makeup or retouching. I'm impressed with their participation."

 CLEAN-FACE CLUB

>> "The Unretouched Faces" opens on Thursday at 5 at Zen at CentralWorld.

 >> The exhibition runs until November 3 in the Exhibition Lounge on the first floor of the department store.