Southeast Asia Photo Tour: From Laos To Cambodia

With the Laos portion of our photo tour coming to a close, we set off to Siem Reap, for the grand finale of the Southeast Asia Photo Tour; Cambodia. In Siem Reap we took an in-depth look at the temples of Angkor, several villages around the Tonle Sap, and a remote jungle temple named Beng Melea. Below you’ll find a final, sunset image from Luang Prabang, Laos followed by a selection of my favorite Cambodia images from this year.

Please note that in none of these images have I manipulated the depth of field by using any sort of “selective focus filter” in Photoshop, Lightroom or similar program. Many of these photos (shot in jpeg) were made using my 70-200mm, shot wide open at f2.8. The bokeh that this lens creates is, in and of itself, in my opinion; absolutely beautiful and needs no further “enhancement”. Personally, I find it to be much more satisfying and rewarding to carefully craft these images “in camera” rather than by post processing manipulation.

I’m often asked why I don’t carry the much lighter, 70-200mm f4; I believe that the answer lies in these images…the bokeh at f2.8 is quite different that with the f4 lens.

I hope you’ll enjoy viewing these photos as much as I have enjoyed creating them. As always, my sincere thanks goes out to the ever-gracious Cambodian’s whom have allowed me the opportunity and privilege to briefly enter their lives, in an attempt to capture a momentary glimpse of their dignity and endearing spirit.

Warren at Beng Melea temple

Janette at Ta Phrom

Warren and Janette at Beng Melea

Monk with a Canon EOS 1DX near Preah Palilay temple

Robert at Preah Khan temple

Scarf seller, Beng Melea temple. I’ve photographed this girl for many years now.  She always
wears a large hat and a bright red scarf. In my opinion, she’s got one of the most
amazing smiles in all of Cambodia!