Cambodia Photography Tour (12 days)

STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN TEMPLE AND PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

While Angkor’s ancient temples inevitably draw the majority of photographers whose requests being to capture the temples with the best light and minimal crowd, Cambodia has also an untapped world of street photography and people waiting to be discovered. The countryside villages, with their wooden houses and verdant rice fields, offer intimate glimpses into the real life in Cambodia. Local markets burst with photographic potential – from the vibrant displays of exotic fruits to the animated conversations between vendors and buyers.

Novice monks in bright orange robes go about their daily activities, creating beautiful scenes that only last a moment. You might catch them studying languages, cleaning the grounds, or chanting their prayers as the sun is just setting down. These quick, candid moments really show the heart of Cambodia’s Buddhist culture.

In my 10 years of photography tours in Cambodia, I’ve learned to carefully balance these two worlds. While the temples offer endless photographic opportunities, the physical demands of temple photography shouldn’t be underestimated. Spending hours composing shots in temperatures soaring past 30°C, with humidity levels around 60%, can test even seasoned photographers.

SMALL AND INTIMATE GROUP

I want to keep this photo tour small and intimate. It can accommodate a solo traveler, a photographer with one or two accompanying non-photographers, or a small group of 3 to 4 friends passionate about photography. The advantage of having such a small group is that it makes it easier to photograph in confined spaces like indoor markets, or to be discreet when capturing the daily life of monks, for example. Additionally, with fewer people, it’s easier to adjust the day’s program since there are fewer people who need to agree on changes.

CAMBODIA PHOTO TOUR GALLERY