Angkor Wat, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It was originally built in the first half of the 12th century as a Hindu temple. Spread across more than 400 acres, Angkor Wat is said to be the largest religious monument in the world. That means there’s a lot of ground to cover and it can get overwhelming. So I’ve compiled some quick tips for photographing Angkor Wat.
The story behind the above image has to be one of my fondest memories of all my travels. Also it ties in nicely with almost every tip given in this article. Every tip except maybe Tip #2, since it was taken at sunset. However I had been going since 4am, but I digress. Fun fact: my friends and family call this one the Indiana Jones shot.
Earlier in the day I was chatting with an Angkor Wat employee. I told him I was a photographer and he said I should check out this spot in the corner of the complex where no tourists go. This sounded perfect, so toward the end of the day I started making my journey there.
I was on a bike that my guesthouse kept for customers. It was definitely not a trail bike, more of a beach cruiser. Nevertheless I started down the path through the jungle, my camera bag strapped into the basket on the front.
The sun was setting and I still hadn’t found my shot, when I came to a steep decline in the tiny path I had been biking on. I remember thinking, “You just gotta commit, Jason” and I did. However I also ended up crashing the bike, flying over the handlebars, and potato-chipping the front wheel.
So there I am…stranded in the middle of the jungle with approximately one hour of light left. And when the sun goes down here it’s dark. Like midnight black!
Long story long: I fixed the wheel and came out of the jungle just to the left of the guy on the motorbike in the featured image above. I waited maybe thirty minutes until this man came riding toward me. I had found my shot.
1 – Go off trail
Even in the busiest temples of Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, you can find hidden treasures by wandering off the tourist trail. Creating the images above and below was a long process, and I definitely became impatient at times. If I hadn’t gone off trail, I would not have found this woman tucked away in the vast temple of Ta Prohm.
I’ll never forget this moment in time when, exhausted from following the lines, I turned a corner and discovered this woman. She was sitting quietly in the dark. We couldn’t communicate with words so I just held up my camera and pointed at her, signaling I’d like to take her picture. I had my small Joby GorillaPod and set that up quickly. Because it was so dark here, I wouldn’t have been able to get this shot without a tripod.
Which brings me to my second tip…
2 – Bring a tripod
This is tricky, because you absolutely do not want to carry a big heavy tripod around all day. Light and portable is key here. But a tripod is a must! Especially in dark temples or when the sun is setting (which you will want to stick around for).
If you’d like to read more about how I travel with camera gear, go to my article Travel Photography Tips and Planning.
3 – Start early
This is a good tip for taking pics anywhere in the world, but more so at Angkor Wat. The park opens at 5am, so get there as close to that as you can.
Explore more of Cambodia in my article Top Photography Locations in Cambodia | Travel Photography.
4 – Be patient (wait longer)
It’s no surprise that the temples of Angkor Wat get crowded. Like CRAZY crowded. Prepare for this. Like anything in life, it’s how you react to situations. For instance people walking in and out of your frame, or maybe just standing there for what seems like forever. Just take a deep breath and remember where you are. Find the shot you want and then wait for it! Eventually everybody will clear out and you’ll feel the energy of these ancient grounds. Click.
In the above image taken at Bayon temple, the sun was fading fast. There was this pathway near the top of the temple that was catching the setting sun’s light perfectly. I set up my big boy tripod and waited for the right subject to walk through these last rays of light. I chose these two co-workers leaving for the day exchanging laughs. I also thought their blue shirts went well with the feel of the photo.
Explore Cambodia’s neighbor in southeast Asia by reading my article Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
5 – Hire a tuk-tuk driver
There are many reasons to hire a driver for touring Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. One of my main reasons for hiring a driver was that Cambodia is frickin’ hot! Like 100 degrees, 100 percent humidity hot. Also tuk-tuk drivers can be hired for as little as $15 a day to see Angkor Wat and the temples nearby.
6 – Talk to the locals
No matter where in the world I’ve traveled, it’s always the people that make the trip memorable. In addition, good travel photos involve not just the landscape, but also people. So get over your awkward shyness and talk to the locals! Not only are Cambodians some of the most resilient on earth, but they are among the kindest, most gracious I’ve ever encountered. If you are not aware of the Cambodian Genocide of over two million Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s, please click the provided link.
The image above was taken at the Cambodia War Remnant Museum.
