From time to time, we have requests about capturing the Milky Way or star trails in the temples of Angkor. Unfortunately due to the archaeological park’s opening hours (most temples are only open between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm), night photography in the temples is quite difficult.
January and February are the most favorable months to take pictures of the temples under the stars. Angkor Wat temple opens at 5 am therefore it is possible to capture long exposure of the night sky. Of course you will not be able to do very long star trails and only several minutes long exposures. Like for any astrophotography, you have to be aware of the phase of the moon as a full moon will disrupt your plan to get a starry sky. Here are few night pictures below we capture in the temples of Angkor, we will update this gallery from time to time with new shots.
Phnom Bakheng temple under a full moon
Phnom Bakheng temple is a 10th century hilltop temple, very popular as it drawn thousands of visitors everyday for sunset. Going there at sunrise is a unique photography experience even with a full moon.
Phnom Bakheng tower under the stars illuminated by a full moon
Phnom Bakheng shrines under the full moon
Angkor Wat under the stars
Angkor Wat under the stars is a challenging capture as your camera will facing east. Also, because the temple opens at 5 am, it is, for many months of the year, already too late to capture the stars. Another challenge is coming for the light pollution from the numerous LED torch used by the earliest visitor to navigate in the park at night. In the two pictures below you can see three of the five towers of Angkor Wat illuminated by those LED’s. Despite all that, it is still possible to see stars above Angkor Wat temple just before the astronomical sunrise.
Angkor Wat under thousand of stars
Angkor Wat temple before sunrise under starry sky
Angkor Wat temple before sunrise under starry sky
Angkor Wat library under the stars
Bakong temple after sunset
In the picture below, the beautiful three-tiered Bakong temple mountain, built during the 10th century is in the company of Jupiter and Venus in this rare planetary conjunction taken in October 2015.
Bakong temple after sunset with Venus and Jupiter
Bayon temple under the moon full
Bayon temple lit up by full moon
If you are looking for a photographic challenge and want to capture Angkor under the stars we will be happy to assist you, please have a look at the many photography tours we have at www.angkorphotographytours.com.
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