Cambodia

Come for the temples, stay for the people. Angkor Wat is just one of hundreds of temples hidden in the jungles of Cambodia near Siem Reap, but what makes all of these temples truly special are the people who bring them to life every single day. The stones are weathered by time but the culture they represent has endured. From the vast shores of the Tonle Sap to the mountain streams at Beng Melea.

One of my favourite temples around Angkor Wat is Beng Melea, a set of ruins that have been left untouched without attempt to restore. Blocks of stone lie toppled about like lego blocks. The drive to Beng Melea is quite long, but where the route departs from the highway is a small but vibrant market called Damdek Leu. It's been a favourite photo stop for me for a decade.

Photographers who visit the temples of Angkor are inevitably inspired to see the ruins and jungle through the cast of Black & White. The medium invokes a feeling of time long past that rests comfortably with the subject material. Places like Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm loose their depth, detail and warmth when presented in colour. See link at the end for my guide to help you photograph at Angkor.