Like a pilgrimage, thousand of people are exploring everyday Angkor Wat, the largest religious temple in the world and share their pictures on social media. Among them, pictures of sunrise at the reflecting pool are probably the most famous ones. However there are many other opportunities. We wanted to sharing with you in this post our 15 favorite pictures taken in Angkor Wat over the years.
Above is Angkor Wat captured during the spring equinox of March 2016. This timely event occurs twice a year around the 20th of March and September. Getting this shot is of course highly depend on the weather and the chance to have a cloudy sky is particularly high during the month of September. In this picture we blended 4 shots taken few minutes apart with a tripod.
On March 9th 2016, a special set conditions were gathered for an unique Angkor Wat sunrise: a partial eclipse of the sun and the near alignment with the central tower. For few seconds only we could see the sun masked by the moon suspended above the central tower.
The second level of Angkor Wat is where you stand the closest to the five towers and to the central sanctuary called Bakan. From the corners, only three of the five towers are visible. On the first picture, during Vesak day, a Khmer family was walking around the temple which give an interesting human dimension. The second picture, much more dramatic, from another angle, allow to focus on the silhouette of the three towers.
Due to restrictions of the the opening hours, it is only possible to shoot Angkor Wat under the stars between the month of December and February. As it is also the peak season for tourism in Cambodia so many people are on site early and it is quite challenging to avoid the light pollution coming from torch lights and smartphones during long exposure shots. If you look carefully in the picture below, 3 out of 5 towers are lighting up on this shot thanks to random torch lights.
In an there situations, artificial lighting can be helpful to do light painting . This used on the second picture to illuminate and create light effect on one of the naga balustrade of Angkor Wat.
The only opportunity you will have to take some night pictures of Angkor Wat with laser lights are usually during the three days of Khmer New Year which happens every year in April. However this picture was taken in December 14th, 2017 during a light show to celebrate of the 25th anniversary UNESCO world heritage status of Angkor Wat temple.
Sunrise or sunset in Angkor Wat provide some opportunities for silhouettes shots if you are standing on the right location at the right time. In some instance, rays of light can go through the windows and create unique pictures.
Instead of aiming at eye-level for the classic reflection shot at Angkor Wat, pointing down the camera can give a great reflection shot especially at the golden hour.
One of my favorite group of devatas is located on the second level of Angkor Wat (you can count as many as 17 on this picture). It is unfortunately behind a scaffolding since 2016 due to restoration of the tower above it.
This 49 meters long bas-relief depicting the churning of the ocean of milk is one of the most famous in Angkor Wat. You can see the demons (asuras) and the gods (devas) pulling the snake Vasuki fighting over the elixir of immortality. The snake is wrapped around mount Meru used as a stick. Vishnu under the form of his avatar the turtle is helping to stabilize the mountain. Due to its position the bas relief has a strong casting shadow. The solution for this shot was to use light painting, and blend multiple pictures together.
Archaeologists often describe the temples of Angkor as a skeleton as the many wooden structures that did not stand the test of time. On this shot of Angkor taken from the top of the main tower, one can imagine what the temple was like at its heydays with ornaments and wooden doors.
Angkor Wat emerging from the surrounding misty jungle in the morning. This picture was shot from Phnom Bakheng one of the three hills around Siem Reap. To get this shot we recommended to use at least a 300 mm on a full frame sensor.
Photography tours are becoming increasingly popular and are now available globally, with options to explore destinations ranging from Iceland to Antarctica, and from New York to Paris. These tours offer a combination of exploration and learning opportunities, making them suitable for both experienced photographers and beginners. They provide opportunities to discover new places and cultures, explore lesser-known locations, take amazing pictures and improve your photography skills.
In this post, we will examine eight compelling reasons for considering a photography tour during your next holiday in South-East Asia.
1.Improve your photography skills
A photography tour in South-East Asia is an ideal opportunity for even the most experienced photographers, including those specializing in sports, wildlife, or wedding photography, to improve their skills. The diverse range of locations and subjects available in South-East Asia offers endless photographic opportunities, many of which may be outside of your comfort zone. From capturing workers harvesting rice on paddy fields, ancient temples, to taking portraits in busy food markets, a photography tour in South-East Asia will challenge and inspire photographers of all levels.
Rice harvest at sunset in Hoi An Vietnam
Local market scene in the morning in Siem Reap Cambodia
2. Enjoy people photography
When living in South-East Asia we often take for granted that taking pictures of people is easy to do. Due to privacy concerns, it is almost impossible in the West except during large public events. In Asia, people often get into the game and even sometimes ask you to take pictures of them:)
Cute elderly couple in Hoi An Vietnam
Worker taking a break in a knife workshop in Siem Reap Cambodia
Two Cambodian women selling betel leaves in a local market in Siem Reap Cambodia
3- Photography Tours Asia: Discover a Country from a New Perspective
During a photo tour , you will be guided by a photographer who is always looking for new places and has been living in the area for many months or many years. This considerable asset will allow you to have access to some locations out of the beaten path which often are not available during a “normal” tour. Often, the photographer has develop some relations with locals, speak some of the language and this will be valuable in people photography. You might have access also to remote locations with tribes or be the witness some local Buddhist ceremonies.
Kids plating in paddy fieds in Siem Reap Cambodia
Buddhist ceremony in a local monastery
Face-tattooed women in a remote village of Myanmar
4- Photography Tours Asia: Pushing the Boundaries of Your Photography Equipment
Sometime, at the end of a tour, it happens that some guests decide to upgrade their camera system or buy new lenses. Whether you have a entry level camera, you will test the limit of your equipment: shooting a low lights with moving subjects in some festivals or in markets with dimmed lights. You might no get also the nice bokeh you were expecting in your portraits. Common purchases are wide angle lenses to do architecture shots or a portrait lens.
Khmer family going around the main tower of Angkor Wat temple
Angkor Wat under a starry sky before sunrise
5- Meet like-minded people
If you take part in a photography tour with a small group of people especially for few days, it is likely that you will a blast together, keep in touch and maybe even do another trip together in the future. For many people, a photo tour remains the highlight of their trip in Asia.
6- For beginners, a quick way to improve your photography
Many people start learning photography by taking theoretical courses in a classroom with little or no practice. During a photography tour, a lot of the time is spent on hands-on practice and because of on many different situations encountered during the day (sunrise/sunset, low light, portraits,architecture shots), you are most likely to make long lasting improvement on your photography. You will look after very differently at the triangle of exposure:)
Silk farm in Siem Reap Cambodia
Bamboo forest with shining sun in Siem Reap Cambodia
7- Get to the best locations with the best light
Photography is all about light and when exploring a new place, knowing the best photographic spots with the best light is very difficult even after some prior extensive research online. Depending on the destination (cities, archeological parks, national parks), it can take months to know the best shooting locations and the best angles. Even if seasons are not marked so much in South-East Asia, there is an impact photography. In Angkor Wat temple for example, the path of the sun is drastically different between June and December making shots very different depending on the season.
During the monsoon, your photography leader will guide you around the locations to get those nice reflection shots.
Panoramic view of Bayon temple in Angkor Thom Cambodia with water reflection. Bayon temple was built late 12th century by Jayavarman VII.
Beautiful devatas carvings in the temple of Angkor Wat Siem Reap Cambodia at sunrise
8- Go back home with great pictures
Because you have being in the right locations with the best light, and had guidance during your shots, you will be sure to go back home with the best pictures of your holidays. Why not make a coffee table book of your best pictures to show your friends and plan together your next photographic adventures?
Mrauk-U is a relatively unknown and probably the most underrated archeological site in South-East Asia. It is located in the western state of Rakhine in Myanmar (Burma). Rakhine state is a narrow strip of land bordered on the Bay of Bengal on the west and by Bangladesh on the north.
Mrauk-U has an interesting landscape as it sits on a valley with numerous mounds and interconnected creeks, moats, canals and artificial lakes.
Founded in 1430 A.D, Mrauk-U became after Launggret the center of the powerful Arakan Empire for more than 300 years until 1785 and an important cultural and commercial hub.
Mrauk-U, named the “Golden City” by early Europeans (Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch) traders and missionaries who the center of trade for elephants, rice. It is also known as the fortress city due to its 30 kilometers of fortifications built around it.It is also called Little Bagan because it has pagoda and temples.
Mrauk-U archaeological site is centered on the old palace and divided in four main groups: western, eastern, southern and northern, the latter being the most important. You can buy a 5000 Kyats pass (less than USD 4) for the temples at Mrauk U, sold at the Shittaung Pagoda.
The temples of Mrauk-U are not as impressive as the ones in Bagan, but their beauty are hidden: you can stroll for hours inside them looking at colored carvings . You can have also many temples by yourself and with some tenacity found new ones which are not on the map. As locals are living within the ruins, you will have many opportunities to interact with them and take beautiful portraits.
The most popular temples in Mrauk-U are Kothaung temple (also called the little Borodudur), Andaw temple
In his last visit to Mrauk-U in december 2016, Kofi Annan (who sits on the advisory commission on Rakhine state) strongly advocated for Mrauk-U’ UNESCO World Heritage Status.
There is no direct flight from Yangon at the moment and the construction of the new airport is being halted due the lack of funding. The only way to get to Mrauk-U is by a 4 to 5 hours scenic ferry ride on the Kalandan river from the city of Sittwe, by bus or private car. With only 4,000 visitors in the temples of Mrauk-U in 2016, you are sure to have most of the temples for yourself.
If you enjoyed exploring the other archeological sites in South-East Asia (Angkor, Bagan, Borodudur,Sukhothai,Ayutthaya) it is time to go to Mrauk-U before it gets its fame back. Temples are best explored by bicycle or by foot especially the ones in the Northern group, but to move between all the groups it is recommended to have a private transport.
Sunset with some of the temples of Mrauk-U
One of the many beautiful temples of Mrauk-U
Buddha statues inside Andaw Thein temple
Stone carving in Shittaung Pagoda
Beautiful carved wall inside Shittaung temple
Enigmatic Buddha in the temples of Mrauk U
The amazing interior of Koe-Thaung temple
Young burmese girls in the temples of Mrauk-U with Thanaka
Hoi An is a charming and picturesque little city located near the coastline in Central Vietnam. Once a major trading port between the 16th and 18th centuries, it managed to retain to this day some of his architectural heritage. The old city spreads on 30 hectares and is listed on the UNESCO Word Heritage since 1999.
Although many of the 1000 old houses in Hoi An are now converted to tailor, souvenir, coffee shops and restaurants due the booming of both international and national tourism (more than 2 million tourist in 2016), an handful of preserved houses are open to the public. To visit them, you need to buy a 120 000 VND ticket (about USD 5), valid for only 5 world heritage sites. This post lists all heritage houses you can visit with one pass.
I would recommend to start your visit around 8 am to avoid group tours that can spoil your experience and make it difficult to take pictures. The advantage also is to be able to use a tripod as the interior of some houses is really dark. Except for the ancient house, each site is only few minutes apart by walk.
Tan Ky house (101 Nguyen Thai Hoc St)
Named after its builder Tan Ky, this house is the most popular heritage house in Hoi An, also the first one to be listed on the national heritage of Vietnam in 1985. Built in the late 18th century, its architecture is a combination of Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese styles. Two entrances are available, one facing the river but unfortunately the first floor is not open to the general public. It is not the best house to take interior pictures as often crowded with groups.
A short five minutes introduction is given but some members of the founding family before you can wander around. On one wall, water levels due to floods are recorded, the last one being in December 2016 which lasted for 4 days.
Interior of Tan Ky old house in Hoi An
Old bed displayed in Tan Ky old house
Phung Hung House (4 Nguyen Thi min Khai St)
Not far from the famous Japanese covered bridge, Phung Hung is a two-stories private house built in 1780 with a combination of Japanese (four-sided roof), Chinese and Vietnamese styles. A balcony with a nice vintage on the street below and on the room below is accessible. A small tour with few explanations is given to you when you enter the premises. It is one the best house to take interior pictures because it is quite large and bright. A shop selling embroideries is located on the second floor.
Interior of Phung Hung old house in Hoi An
Interior of Phung Hung old house in Hoi An
Interior of Phung Hung old house in Hoi An
Quan Thang house (77 Tran Phu St)
Built by a Chinese merchant in the late 17th century, Quan Thang is a one-story shop-house with some interesting architectural details especially the teak walls. No explanations about the house was given by family during the visit. The back of the house is private so photographic opportunities are quite limited.
Interior of Quan Thang old house
Portrait of Ho Chi Minh in Quan Thang house
Portrait of an ancestor at Quan Thang house altar
Duc An old house (129 Tran Phu St)
Duc An is an heritage house built in 1850 with some timber carvings. The house was a bookstore at the end of the 19th century and Chinese medicine dispensary during the 20th century. Unfortunately a souvenir shop is now located on the back of the house thus restricting photography. There was no guide during the visit.
Interior of Duc An old house
Interior of Duc An heritage house in Hoi An
Old medicine dispensary in Duc An old house
Tran Family Chapel (21 Le Loi St)
Tran chapel is a beautiful house built in 1804 by Tran Tu Nhac with purpose to worship his ancestors. Architecture reflects Japanese (five columns), Chinese (turtle roof) and Vietnamese (bow and arrow) styles. The house has three entrances, a beautiful waiting room leading to the atmospheric ancestors’altar with stone tablets. A shop is located at the back with some interesting Yin Yang coins and few Piastres from the Indochina period. The guided visit was one of the best of all the houses.
Waiting room in the Tran Chapel family
Waiting room in the Tran Chapel family
Tran Tu Nhac, the founder of the Tran Chapel
Ancestors of the Tran family
Beautiful floor tiles in Tran Chapel family
Detail of a drape in Tran Chapel Hoi An
Yin Yang coins in Tran Chapel Hoi An
Ancient House (104 Thai Phien St)
One of my favorite heritage house situated in the northern part of the old town. Built 250 years ago on one floor with 4 rooms it has an unique Vietnamese architecture. A cluster of beautiful red lanterns are hanging in the entrance room and carved pillars are well preserved. Hosts are quite friendly and invite you for tea and biscuits to reply to questions you might have. Entrance is free so if if you do not want to buy anything from the shop, a donation box is available. Ancient House receives only few visitors daily so you are likely to be alone during your visit.
Ancient house interior Hoi An
Red lanterns in ancient house Hoi An
Beautiful carved pillar in Ancient House
Red lanterns in Hoi An Ancient House
Glass window detail in ancient house Hoi An
Diep Dong Nguyen house (82 Nguyen Thai Hoc St)
This old house built late 19th century has been converted to a museum displaying ceramics and furniture. Of particular interest is the wooden facade of the house with no windows. You do not need the old town ticket to visit the premises.
The beautiful wooden facade of Diep Dong Nguyen house
I recently upgraded my smartphone to a Huawei P9 lite and took it with me in the temples of Angkor during my photography tours along with a 5D Mark II.
The P9 lite, released in April 2016, packs a 13M-Pixel (4160X3120pixels) CMOS Image Sensor (Sony IMX 214, 1.12µm pixels) with a f:2.0 front camera. It lacks the dual Leica lens system and raw capture from his counterpart the Huawei P9 plus. Focal length has a 35 mm equivalent focal length of a 27 mm.
Camera operation
The camera has a quick access and when in standby it is very quick to start. By sweeping left one can access the menu to switch to pro photo. In this mode, shutter speed, ISO and white balance can be changed. When shutter speed is determined by the camera, exposure can be adjusted with the exposure compensation slide (-4 to +4 eV). Three focus mode are available: AF-S (spot), AF-C (continuous) and MF (manual focus). White balance can be changed to the usual values from tungsten to cloudy. Like in many DSLR, 3 metering modes are available: spot, center-weighted and evaluative. ISO can be set between 100 and 1600 ISO. In auto, the camera can set it as low as 50 ISO.
HDR mode
HDR can be useful to get more details in the shadow. The HDR mode of the P9 quite good , however there is no option to chose the strengh of the processing. It works particularly well with textures like on this 9th century temple strangled by a tree in the lost city of Koh Ker in Cambodia.
Macro
The P9 do not have a dedicated function for macro but the focusing distance of about 3 cm make up for it. The amount of details picked up by the camera is quite impressive. This macro shot of a praying mantis was shot in a very bright light and the details are in the same levels than a DSLR (the DSLR shot being slightly out of focus). For comparison you can see below a cropped version of the P9 and a Canon 750D side by side:
Panorama mode
Panorama mode is accessed from the camera by sweeping up the screen from the left. From there is an option to do either horizontal or vertical panorama.
Generally the stitching is quite good although errors can happen at low ambient light. One of the main drawback I have found is that it is not possible to lock the exposure before taking a panorama so it high contrasted scenes are difficult to capture.
Night Photography
Light painting on a pagoda. Pro photo mode 8 s pose, ISO 100
Swiping up the screen from the left let you choose two modes: night shot and light painting. In night shot mode, ISO can be set up between 100 and 1600 ISO and shutter speed up to 32 seconds. Using the 2-second timer (by swiping up screen from the right) helps to avoid blurry pictures.
The second mode available is Light painting and has 3 presets: Tail lights, Light graffiti,Silky water and Star track. They differentiate themselves by the ISO settings: Tail lights, Light graffiti: 64 ISO / Silky water: auto ISO / Star track: 800 ISO. All presets allow very long exposure time, the camera stays open until the shutter button is pressed again. Pro mode can be used for night photography but exposure time is limited to 8 seconds.
The Light graffiti preset was designed to write letters or paint shapes in the dark with a LED light but it can be used in more creative ways to create abstract backgrounds like this backlit laptop keyboard below.
Laptop keyboard backlit. Graffiti mode 7.2 seconds, ISO 64
Slow Motion
The Huawei P9 can record slow motion at 120 fps but be aware that the resolution is quite low at only 640X480 pixels (VGA). You can see on the video below of a lotus flower opening, both normal and slow motion sequences (4 times slower).
Conclusion
The Huawei P9 lite is the ideal companion for any travel photographer and has a good image quality. Of course it cannot be compared to a DSLR but in some situations it can the best camera as it can fit in your pocket. The different modes available allow you to produce some really creative images.
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.
The year 2016 ended in a wink. Nevertheless, it was a year full of sweet recollections and splendid adventures, as I travelled here and there, meet new people, and experience new cultures. Looking through my collection of more than 1000 edited pictures of 2016, I was inspired to select my favorite ones. I picked these pictures not only based on my own personal choice of uniqueness and aesthetic value, but also, by the stories behind.
These photographs and memories were taken in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand,India, France, and the Philippines from my 2016 travel diary.
1. Cambodia : Angkor Wat Solar Eclipse – March 2016
This unique picture was taken on the 9th March during a partial eclipse of the sun in Angkor Wat Temple. What make this shot rare is that of the date of the eclipse was less than 2 weeks away from the spring equinox and it was possible to find a shooting location where the sun was just above the central tower at the maximum of the eclipse. According to ephemerides, the next partial solar eclipse in Angkor Wat temple during sunrise will take place in 2042 ! Due to the nature of this eclipse, so the passing of the moon in front of the sun could be only be captured using a very dark filter in this case a 10-stop neutral density filter ND1000 which blocks 99.9 % of the incoming light coming to the sensor. This is a one-of-a kind, unforgettable shot in Angkor Wat as we were only 2 photographers at this spot. Others have vanished to go see the other temples and most people except few guides were not aware of the solar eclipse that day. To see more pictures of this solar eclipse please have a look at my blog post.
Settings: ISO 400, 105 mm, f:4, 1/40s, ND 1000 filter
2. Ho Chi Minh City : Street Scene – April 2016
Ho Chi Minh is a sprawling city of 8 million and with almost as many motorbikes racing in its streets. Here you can find places to service your motorbike even on sidewalks.
While inside a coffee shop (which is also numerous in Saigon) my attention was caught by this colorful poster across the street. I took few shots of it alone but it did not come out very well. By moving few feet, I got a much better picture : framing the customer with her red dusk mask waiting for her motorbike to be serviced against the blue metallic wall, while the poster of a future housing development was in the background. The black and yellow line worked as well as a leading line to connect all the elements of the picture.
Settings: ISO 160, 20 mm, f:7.1, 1/100s
3. Cambodia : Boy Planting Rice, April 2016
During the month of April, Cambodian farmers are busy planting floating rice on the West Baray, one of the biggest man made reservoirs in the word build during the Khmer empire in the 11th century.To get closer, we boarded a small fisherman wooden boat and it was when I took a shot of this Cambodian kid, knee-deep in water, smiling despite the hardship of his work.
Settings: ISO 100, 168 mm, f:5.6, 1/500 s
4. Cambodia : Angkor Wat Vesak Day – May 2016
This picture was taken beside the main tower of Angkor Wat (also called Bakan) which is also the most sacred place of the temple. This Khmer family was walking counter-clockwise making several rounds around it, and I waited there to frame the shot with my 20 mm, the minimum focal length from this corner to fit all the building in a horizontal frame. This scene was taken 2 days before Buddha’s Day (Vesak Day). The act of walking around a sacred temple is called circumambulation and is an integral part of Hindu and Buddhist devotional practices and usually done clockwise.
Settings: ISO 250, 20 mm, f:7.1 1/800 s
5. India : Ladakhi Monk in Lamayuru Monastery- July 2016
This picture was taken during our first photo tour in Ladakh India, more precisely in Lamayuru monastery about 100 km from Leh. We visited Lamayuru Temple during the 3-day annual colorful monastic festival. This monk posed for a brief moment, adjusting his robe, just enough time for me to frame a shot with the door. The colorful mural with its main character looking at the monk add another dimension to the picture.
Settings: ISO 640, 32 mm, f:4, 1/160 s
6. India : Milky Way in the Himalayas, July 2016
During our photo tour in Ladakh, we spent several nights in tents at an altitude of 4700 meters. Even during summer months, temperatures goes down below 5 degree Celsius at night. Adding to that the altitude sickness, this night shot sessions was quite challenging but looking at the starry skies and the Milky Way stretching over the Himalaya mountains was quite rewarding. In this shoot the illuminated tent is the one we used for our dinner and gives a touch of color and a sense of scale to the picture.
Settings: ISO 2000, 20 mm f:2.8, 30s
7. Thailand : Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok at Golden Hour – July 2016
This shot was taken at the international airport of Bangkok at sunset. Suvarnabhumi, the busiest airport in Thailand handled more than 50 million passengers in 2015. This section of the terminal although not so photogenic came out much better for few minutes with the evening sunlight illuminating nicely the arched rooftop.
Settings: ISO 400, 84 mm, f:4 1/25s
8. France : French Medieval Castle at Sunset – October 2016
During a scouting photo trip in the region of Dordogne in France, famous worldwide for its food and castles, we ended up the day at the village of Beynac-et-Cazenac just in time for sunset with a view of the Beynac Castle built on on a limestone cliff and overlooking the river. This 12th century fortress was built around the same than Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia and it is tempting to compare the austere architecture of the fortress with the scale and symmetry of Angkor and its fined carvings. Also on the 12th century, only 50,000 people were living in Paris against 800,000 in Angkor according to last LIDAR survey.
Settings: ISO 200, 24 mm, f:5.6, 1/320 s
9. Cambodia : Betel Leaves Vendors – November 2016
In Cambodia, betel consumption is not as widespread as in Myanmar. Most of the time, only the elderly are munching betel unlike in Myanmar where you can see young people chewing them. In this picture, a wooden basket with fresh betel leaves is standing on the floor in front of this two smiling elderly Cambodian ladies. The three other ingredients making up the so-called betel squid missing from the picture are areca nut, tobacco and lime water (saturated solution of calcium hydroxide).
Settings: ISO 400, 38 mm f:4, 1/160s
10. Cambodia : Red Angkor Wat Sunrise, November 2016
Out of the many sunrises at Angkor Wat temple I have witnessed in 2016, this one was one the most spectacular hat I have seen. The bright red dramatic cloudy sky were just breathtaking. This picture was taken around the end of November when monsoon season was coming to an end.
Settings: ISO 320 , 20 mm, f:5.6, 1/80s
11. Philippines : Here Comes the Bride, December 2016
I took this quick shot at San Augustin Church in Intramuros Manila just when the bride was making her entrance. Intramuros is the frequently visited area in Manila where two beautiful churches are located not far from each other. You can visit the area by taking a horse carriage (kalesa in Filipino), but one of the best way for photographer is to wander around the cobble stone streets in order not miss any photographic opportunities.
Settings: ISO 500, 35 mm, f:2.8, 1/15s
12. Philippines : New Year Fireworks in Manila , December 2016
This picture is one of my last clicks of 2016 taken just 5 minutes before New Year’s Eve in Metro Manila. New Year in this megacity is celebrated with loads of fireworks and firecrackers that lighten up the skies around the city. Fireworks and firecrackers are grand spectacles during this year end celebration. The adverse effect though is that hundreds of people injure themselves every year using firecrackers and it gives raise to a peak in particles pollution few hours after.Fireworks were scattered and I was lucky to have a vantage point from a rooftop with the neon illuminated Rockwell Center in Makati just in the frame. Several shots were combined in Photoshop to have more firework explosions.
Settings: ISO 100, 25 mm, f:9, 30 s (composite picture)
Running photography toursin the temples of Angkor for the last 5 years, I am particularly acquainted the Angkor Archaeological Park which stretched over 400 square meters and counts more than 200 temples. I want to share with you some tips that will help you capture better pictures during your stay in Cambodia. From the preparation to the actual day, here are 10 photography tips below on how to get the best out of your day in the temples of Angkor.
A wide angle lens is a must in the temples of Angkor. Unfortunately many people realized too late that their lens is not wide enough ….I would recommend at least a 24 mm (on a full frame) or a 10 mm (on a crop sensor). Many of the temple photography was taken at 17 mm or 20 mm.
If you have a Canon camera, I would suggest the moderately-priced ultra wide zoom lens Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM or the more expensive Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM. In some instances you may want to bring or rent a telephoto lens as it can be useful in some temples like Bayon to isolate the distant faces or capture far details in other temples. If you have a Canon camera, I would suggest the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM or the more expensive version Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM.
If you have a Fisheye lens taking the dust in one of your drawers, I strongly suggest to take it to Angkor, it is a fun lens to use in the temples. Pictures below ere taken with the 7artisans fisheye 7.5 mm f:2.8.
Photography tips Angkor Wat: be creative with your fish-eye lens capturing devatas in Angkor Wat temple
Photography tips Angkor Wat: be creative with your fish-eye lens capturing the giants trees of Angkor
2. Pack extra batteries
You will probably take more pictures than usual during your photo tour and test the limit of your camera’s battery life. I noticed that cameras with electronic view finders (Sony Alpha 7r, 7s, Olympus OMD5 or Pen) drain their batteries quite fast so having extra batteries is highly recommended for mirrorless cameras. With Canon and Nikon DLSR’s, you can get away with one battery (if new) if you use from time to time your LCD screen. Be sure to charge fully the battery the night before. If you do not have an extra battery I highly recommend to bring your charger. There will be some charging stations at the restaurants around Angkor so you charge your batteries during your lunch break or coffee break.
3. Bring a monopod instead of a tripod
Many photographers are coming to Angkor with a tripod and end up not using it. It would be difficult to use a tripod at the sunrise in Angkor Wat unless you arrive very early and take a position in front of the crowd. Generally you can get away in taking Angkor Wat sunrise pictures without a tripod by using a large aperture and raising a bit the ISO. Light inside the temples can be quite low even in the afternoon but you can still get pretty decent photos in most cases by raising ISO to 1000. If you want to keep the noise low, one option is to use a monopod so you can use a lower speed. A monopod is also much easier to carry than a tripod.
Some people sometime ask if tripods are allowed in the temples of Angkor. The short answer is yes… However if you look “too professional” someone might ask you if you have a permit for shooting as they might think that you are shooting a commercial work.
4. Arrive early at Angkor Wat sunrise (best spot for sunrise angkor wat)
Tourists lined up in front of the reflecting pond facing Angkor Wat temple
Sunrise at Angkor Wat is a very popular venue all year round and it is best to arrive early to get your spot in front especially if you want to set up a tripod. 5 am is the earliest that you can enter Angkor Wat. The day before your planned tour, you can check sunrise time on Google. Leaving your hotel one hour before sunrise would be ideal. During the months of June, July and August, as sunrise is very early, I suggest that you buy your pass the day before from 5 pm at the new ticket center close to the Angkor Panorama Museum.
5. Buy the right entry pass
If you are planning to stay for several days and explore more temples, the best value for money is the 7-day pass at USD 72 which will allow you entry to the park 7 times for a period of 30 days. The worst deal is the one-day pass at USD37 , especially if you plan to visit the temples only half a day. To know more about the Angkor tickets please read our blog post.
6. Compose with shadows and highlights
Light in the temples of Angkor can be quite difficult to master especially at midday so it is best to shoot before 10 am and after 4pm. It does not mean of course that you cannot take good shots in between you just have to look for light and shadows.
Devata in Ta Prohm temple emerging from the shadow
Head of a Devata in the morning light at Angkor Wat temple
7. Do look up for details
Angkor Wat is such a massive temple that it is easy to miss many interesting details. Just look closely at the carvings and writings carved into the sandstone they can are often beautiful to capture. Do not forget also to look up the ceiling in the hall of 1000 Buddhas. If you want to see more close up pictures of Angkor please have a look at our previous blog entries here and here.
Bas relief detail in Bayon temple
Photography tips Angkor Wat: do not forget to look up in Angkor Wat temple to see these motifs with preserved red pigments
Hindu priest carving details in Angkor Wat temple
8. Get the right exposure
Getting the right exposure for your pictures in Angkor can be tricky as light changes drastically between outside and in the temple and change as well quite quickly outside. Unless you are shooting on auto ISO you will have to always pay attention to your ISO settings first before clicking your camera. Whether you are shooting manual or priority aperture, the metering system of your camera will be often challenged so you would to change quite often your camera settings. It is often said that shooting against the sun is a not a good idea but by choosing the right settings in your camera it can give fantastic results as you can see on the picture below.
Beautiful Apsara carvings at sunrise
9. Get out off the beaten path.
Even in the busiest temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Bayon, you can escape the crowd by sauntering thru smaller corridors where you will often find hidden treasures that most tourist wouldn’t find.
Photography tips Angkor Wat: get out of the beaten path
10. Avoid Phnom Bakheng at sunset!
When in Siem Reap, many travel agents or independent drivers will recommend Phnom Bakheng as the best sunset viewpoint. It is actually the worst ! You would have to go there quite early as the numbers of people allowed on top of the temple is now limited to 300. The sunset view is not that impressive. You can see Angkor Wat from there but will need a least a 300 mm lens to take a decent shot. This useful website can help you find out other sunset spots in Angkor. Bear in mind that most of the temples are open only between 7.30 am to 5.30 pm which will make sunset pictures impossible. Beside Phnom Bakheng the only places which are opened until 7.00 pm are Pre Rup temple and Srah Srang.
🌅 Angkor Wat sunrise offers breathtaking beauty throughout the year, with each month providing a unique perspective.
⏰ Sunrise time at Angkor Wat varies from 5.30 am to 6.30 am.
🌄 Remarkable astronomical events occur during the equinoxes in March and September.
🎨 The colors of the sky at dawn are unpredictable, ranging from pale red to delicate pink or even blue.
📸 Photographers should arrive early to secure a spot, especially if using a tripod, and the best time for night photography is December and January.
☁️ The monsoon season adds dramatic and awe-inspiring skies.
📍 There are various vantage points to witness the sunrise at Angkor Wat, with reflecting ponds being the most sought-after location for stunning compositions.
If you are planning a trip to Cambodia, make sure to add Angkor Wat sunrise to your agenda. Photographers, in particular, won’t want to miss out on capturing the breathtaking beauty of this natural wonder throughout the year. Each month offers a unique perspective on this inspiring event, from clear skies and stunning red sunrises during the early months of the year, to the dramatic impact of the monsoon season, with rain clouds adding a mesmerizing depth to the photographs. Particularly in the months of March, April, and May, the sun appears as a massive red ball amidst the haze, perfect for capturing unforgettable images.
ANGKOR WAT SUNRISE TIME
Sunrise at Angkor Wat varies from about 5.30 am to 6.30 am depending of the time of the year. As Angkor Wat opens at 5 am all year around you can arrive sometime less than one hour before sunrise. This will have a lot of consequence on your pictures so if you want to get pictures of Angkor Wat at night, you should plan your trip accordingly.
Enchanting Sunrise at Angkor Wat’s Reflection Pond (January 2016)
Angkor Wat Sunrise | When the sun rises behind the temple
Two remarkable astronomical events occur each year in March and September at Angkor Wat Temple, highlighting the ingenuity of its ancient architects. During the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the sun rises perfectly aligned with the base of Angkor temple and slowly rise just beside the central tower, creating a stunning visual effect. This remarkable phenomenon is a testament to the advanced astronomical knowledge possessed by the architects who built Angkor Wat 900 years ago
Majestic Sunrise Behind Angkor Wat’s main Tower During the Spring Equinox (March 2016)
The Enchanting Dance of the Sun During Sunrise
If you are standing at Angkor Wat facing east towards the rising sun in different seasons, you will notice that the position of the sun changes dramatically throughout the year. During the month of December, the sun rises at the far right side of the temple (south), while in June, it rises at the far left (north). Additionally, during the periods around the two equinoxes of March and September, the sun rises behind the towers of Angkor, creating a breathtaking sight. This celestial dance offers photographers and visitors alike a chance to witness the majestic beauty of Angkor Wat in a variety of perspectives and lighting conditions throughout the year.
Angkor Wat temple taken from central causeway just after the spring equinox (March 2022)
Spectacular Sunburst behind Angkor Wat Temple silhouette (June 2015)
Angkor Wat reflective pool after with the silhouettes few tourists (November 2017)
From Blue to Pink | Capturing the Ever-changing Hues of Angkor Wat Sunrise
At Angkor temple, the colors of dawn can be quite unpredictable. The sky may transform from a pale red to a delicate shade of pink, or even capture the elusive “blue hour” just before sunrise. Each morning is a unique experience, with the colors of the sky constantly changing throughout the year.
Blue hour with stormy sky (April 2023)
Captivating Angkor Wat: May Sunrise at the Blue Hour (May 2016)
Hues of pink with Angkor Wat reflection (February 2023)
Angkor Wat Sunrise | Tips for Photographers
For photographers, it is recommended to arrive as early as possible on location as soon as possible to secure a spot in front of the pond especially if you plan to use a tripod. Sunrise can be as early as 5.37 am in the month of June and a bit late at 6.32 am in the month of January. December and january are also best time of the year to capture photos of Angkor Wat at night with star trails as a backdrop. The opening hours are strictly enforced and Angkor Wat opens at 5 am sharp.
Angkor Wat at daybreak with golden colors (April 2016)
Nature’s Canvas: Angkor Wat Sunrise Against the Drama of Clouds
The moonson season brings hues of green to the temples of Angkor by also dramatic and awe-inspiring skies. This without any doubt gives another dimension to photographs compared to the clear skies.
These pictures can be taken between June until sometime Decembre depending on the moosoon season .
A Dramatic Angkor Wat Skyline Amidst the Clouds (August 2022)
Beautiful sunrise just after the rain (december 2015)
Golden sunrise at Angkor Wat (August 2014)
Angkor Wat at Sunrise: A Majestic Scene with Red Clouds in June
Angkor Wat with dramatic red clouds (October)
Angkor Wat with dramatic red clouds (October)
Angkor Wat in October with Vibrant Red Clouds (2017)
At Angkor Wat, the sunrise spots are plentiful, regardless of whether you face east or west. Whether you seek a dramatic backlight or wish to observe the golden rays illuminating the sandstone carvings, there are many vantage points to choose. The reflecting ponds at Angkor Wat are undoubtedly the most sought-after location for capturing the perfect Instagram shot. As the sun rises, the water create a mirror-like reflection, offering a stunning composition for photographers. Consequently, these areas tend to be quite crowded, as the area is quite small
The short answer would be yes. if you do not want to be shoulder to hundred of tousist at the reflective pools, they are other view points during sunrise where it can be relatively quiet. Note that the busiest season is from November to February but it not necessarily the best months for photographers looking to explore the temples of Angkor and get the most spectacular shots. If you can, we recommend to hire a photography guide.
The quite elusive phenomenon, known as the blue hour, unveils itself approximately sixty minutes before the break of dawn, it can give a intense blue tone to your pictures even if your camera is set to a warm white balance.
Angkor Wat temple’s popularity at sunrise comes from its stunning sunrises. The temple’s silhouette against the colorful sky creates a picturesque setting that has become iconic. especially viewed from the reflecting ponds.Although the same breathtaking effect cannot be replicated at sunset, the evening golden light sunset can be a blessing for photographers especially in areas rich with carvings.
This blog post is a follow-up of our previous post Angkor UpClose as they are many more amazing we discovered and captured during our photography tours in the temples of Angkor. This series of pictures were taken in the temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Phnom Bok, Beng Mealea and Prasat Thom in Koh Ker.
Elephant carving at Beng Mealea temple
Bas-relief at Angkor Wat temple
Delicate carving on a door frame in Beng Mealea temple