Tada Varich has had hundreds of photos of gorgeous models and actresses in all of Thailand's leading fashion magazines - but he's bored. He's more than a little fed up with the magazine and advertising spreads. It's all too redundant. He has to think it over when every new assignment comes along.

"Thai models and actresses have unique features that are difficult to change, unlike superstars abroad, who have faces that can easily change and hair that can go from black to blonde to a rock-star look or whatever.

"But you can't change Woranut Wongsawan into a rock star."

So Tada Varich has decided to do something unusual. He's come out with a book - titled "Tada Varich" - that has photos of 50 models obeying his simple rule: all natural, no posing.

Ann Tongprasom bares one side, Belinda Jensen gets covered in mud, Supaksorn "Kratae" Chaimongkol - known for her ample cleavage - lies on a beach. Even Tata Young's in there: She says Tada is one of the few photographers she trusts, and she indulges him wearing a sweatshirt and possibly nothing else - except a beautiful smile.

Tada gives the models an edgy sex appeal that, as he says, isn't usually found in Thai fashion shoots. He gives them something cool to wear, too - not much, though, because clothing gets in Mother Nature's way.

"Even a bracelet can distract from a woman's natural beauty," he says.

Tada loves Thailand, but New York dared him to try something radical.

At the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan his model friends gave him a decidedly non-Thai perspective by posing for him in the nude and generally misbehaving with naughty props.

The resulting snaps, he admits, may be too hardcore for Thailand, and that's why he's currently settled down to commercial work here between his more, erm, "experimental" American adventures.

"There's a thin line between the type of photos I normally take and Playboy magazine, and I try not to cross that line," he says.

No, he's not talking about the new book, which has been certified as safe by the Thailand Heart and Stroke Foundation.

By Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

Sunday Xpress