I rarely do black and white processing because I prefer seeing the unique tones of sandstone, the building block of all Angkorian temples, as well as the different hues of lichen and moss growing on the stones. However on some photos, black and white effect can add an interesting dimension as they give a classic impression to the images similar to those photographs from the late 19th century towards the beginning of the 20th century captured by the first explorers of Angkor. This handpicked selection of Angkor temples photographs was processed using one of the vintage filters of Silver Efex Pro2 from Nik collection to add a dramatic and timeless dimension. These were taken in 2013 to 2016 in Angkor Wat, Preah Khan, and Beng Mealea temples as well as in Angkor Thom.
Hidden devata in Preah Khan temple
Devatas at Angkor Wat temple
Gopura at Ta Som temple
Gate at Ta Prohm temple
One of the faces of Angkor Thom West gate
Devata close up at Ta Prohm temple
Beng Mealea the jungle temple
Smiling face at Bayon temple
The majestic Angkor Wat temple
Angkor Thom east gate also known as gate of the dead
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
Running photography tours in the temples of Angkor, I am one of the lucky few who have witnessed and captured nearly 200 sunrises. Although there were days when sunrise was uneventful, Angkor Wat sunrise it is a special moment to capture although it became quite popular over the years. It is always a new spectacle depending on the weather and also due to the fact that sun rise is actually moving from the south to the north of the temple. Twice a year, during the equinox of March and September, sun rises just behind the main tower which make the sunrise even more spectacular.
Here is a selection below of the best sunrise pictures I took the past few years in Angkor Wat temple. If you are a photographer and want to get professional advice and tips during Angkor Wat and beyond please have a look at our popular Angkor Wat sunrise tour.
Angkor Wat sunrise central tower aligned with reflection on pond
Angkor Wat sunrise with lily pond flowers
Angkor Wat sunrise with reflection
Golden sunrise over Angkor Wat temple
Crowd at sunrise during the equinox at Angkor Wat temple
Beautiful sunrise just after the rain in Angkor Wat temple
Angkor Wat sunrise from western causeway during the raining season
Beautiful sunrise at Angkor Wat with beams of light
Sun rising behind the temple of Angkor reflecting on pond
Cambodia sits just about the equatorial zone where the weather is mostly warm to hot all year round. Just like all countries with tropical climates, there are only two seasons – the wet and the dry.
One of the recurring question among visitors and photographers is what is the best time to visit Siem Reap and Cambodia in general?
The dry season starts in October and ends in April and it usually lasts longer than the wet season. This is the time when scorching heat brought about by the northeast monsoon dries up the land turning the Cambodian countryside into spectacles of golden paddy fields and creating fine powdery white to tawny colored dusty dirt roads. There are cool months though, from November to January, which is also considered high season by many tour operators particularly in Siem Reap. Tourists flock the temples of Angkor at this time of the year as they make the most out of the cool weather without having to worry of being soaked in the rain. Around the months of January and March, hazy skies can be observed giving the sun a fiery red ball effect, perfect for capturing stunning sunset at the Angkor Thom moat as shown in the picture below.
Red ball sun over Angkor Thom moat in March
On the other hand, wet season runs from May to September caused by the southwest monsoon. It tends to rain most days of the week, generally heavy downpours that usually last for a few hours. There are days when the rain is quite light but it continues all day long. Wet season in Cambodia means low season for tourism in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. For tourists and photography enthusiasts, visiting during the wet season has its lovely perks. Aside from being less crowded, spectacular cloud formations and charming colors can be seen in the morning. The countryside looks more alive with lush foliage. The green scenery is quite striking amidst the drenched surroundings. The dusty dirt roads are now soggy mud pits and the meadows are flourishing with vegetation. The moats surrounding the temples are filled with water and there are pools of water everywhere ideal for taking reflection photos.
Angkor Wat temple seen from the west causeway in September
Banteay Kdei with green pond in October
Bayon temple at dusk with water reflection
Some temples are putting up their green moss robe during the monsoon season as in Preah Khan and Ta Prohm temples. You can see more pictures of the temples of Angkor during the green season on our blog Cambodia Green Season.
Buddha carving covered in moss in Preah Khan temple in October
Numbered sandstone block covered with moss in Ta Prohm temple in September
Sunrise and sunset intervals also change during the seasons. In January, sun rises the latest at around 6:30am while in June, sun rises the earliest at around 5:30am. While the sun sets earliest in January normally around 5:30pm and not later than 6:00pm, it sets relatively late in June at around 6:30pm. Sun path also varies with the seasons. Angkor Wat in particular is exposed to a very different light in the months of June and December: standing on the central causeway you will see the sun rising on the right side or left side of the temple respectively. You can see below the dramatic change in light at the northern corridor.
Devata carvings in Angkor Wat corridor in December
Devata carvings in Angkor Wat corridor lit up by the sun in June
Angkor Wat sunrise with temple reflection on the pond in October
Apart from the temples, the Cambodian countryside is changing drastically between the dry and the wet season with lotus and paddy fields appearing and disappearing from the landscape.
Farmer working on a paddy field in the Cambodian countryside in November
Lotus flowers pond in August
Each season has its advantages and disadvantages, nevertheless, if you are a photography aficionado, any season is a good season to visit Siem Reap and capture the beauty of Angkor.
Countryside landscape near Siem Reap Cambodia in September
To conclude, especially if you are a photographer, all year around is good to take pictures in Cambodia.
If you are heading to Cambodia soon and you are wondering about the weather in Siem Reap, you can have look at the live siem reap weather map below.
This a guest post from Pascal who I had the pleasure to guide in the temples of Angkor last December. Fascinated by the giant trees of Angkor, Pascal captured them in a very special way through openings. Enjoy his selection of pictures below taken mainly in Ta Prohm and Preah Khan temples.
Les grands arbres multi-centenaires de la jungle ( même maitrisée aujourd’hui ) ont pris le pouvoir sur les majestueux ouvrages bâtis par les hommes… Les temples d’ANGKOR, par les ouvertures béantes du temps, regardent le ciel à travers la nature qui précipite, chaque jour, sa perte et reprends ses droits ! ..
The large three century-old trees from the jungle (although controlled today) overtook the majestic masterpieces built by man… The temples of Angkor, with their opening in the sky through time, are looking at the nature which, day after day, takes inexorably back its territory.
Apsaras are the ethereal, elegant and youthful beings dancing in celestial palaces while Devatas are beautiful standing young goddesses in elegant outfits. Images of Devatas and Apsaras are delicately carved in the sandstone of many Angkorian temples. If some of them did not stand the test of time and others were defaced (some of them can be seen in Preah Khan) many are still today beautifully preserved in Angkor Wat where about 1800 have been counted.
Apsaras and Devatas are fantastic photography subjects as they always look different in the direct sunlight of midday or the warmer light of sunrise and sunset. They can be seen in groups or alone so photographers can play with the depth of field to isolate one.
Pictures taken with wide or ultra wide angle also can give interesting perspectives as they come together in the frame even if far apart. In the first two photos below you can count 17 and 8 devatas respectively.
Close up shots reveal the intricate details and the true beauty of the carvings: devatas holding hands, touching their hairs, smiling showing their teeth or holding a bird.
There are still so many interesting details of apsaras and devatas waiting to be uncovered. If you want to see more , check out www.angkorphotographytours.com and book a photo discovery tour with us.
Group of devatas in Angkor Wat temple
Group of devatas in Angkor Wat temple
Devatas at sunrise in Angkor Wat temple
Devatas holding hands in Angkor Wat temple
Devatas in Angkor Wat with early morning light
Devatas in Angkor Wat with early morning light
Devatas in Angkor Wat corridor
Devatas in Angkor Wat temple
Devatas in Banteay Kdei temple
Devata at sunrise at Angkor Wat temple
Devata in Angkor Wat temple
Devatas in Ta Prohm temple
Devata in Bayon temple
Apsara dancers at Bayon temple
Devatas in Ta Prohm temple
Devata behind crumbling stones in Preah Khan temple
