Around Cambodia / Photo Expedition and Workshop

A 10-days photography tour, led by Siem Reap-based photographer Eric de Vries, is an unique opportunity  to explore Cambodia. During this exclusive tour you will get the best out of the camera and with the personal guidance you will become a better photographer. Much time during the tour will be spend on several aspects of photography, like composition and light. This tour includes 2 post-production workshops.

Eric de Vries is specialised in documentary and fine art photography. He lives and works permanently in Cambodia since 2007. His clients come from the US, Europe and Hong Kong and all of them experienced a photo-tour and workshop with Eric. Besides leading tours, he is founder of a Cambodian-based photo agency, named SEA/collectiv.

This photo expedition / workshop is presented to you without international flights and starts on day 1 in Phnom Penh.

Day 1. Phnom Penh. Introduction workshop in the morning before we are going to explore Phnom Penh. We will be visiting local markets and Buddhist temple sites. We also take our time to highlight the typical Khmer architecture from the sixties.

Day 2. Phnom Penh / Oudong / Kompong Chhnang. We leave the capitol by car along rice fields and rural life towards Oudong, once the capital of ancient Cambodia. After being uphill for spectacular views we’ll have a short workshop during lunchtime. In the late afternoon we continue our trip to Kompong Chhnang on the borders of Tonle Sap lake.

Day 3. Kompong Chhnang / Battambang. In the early morning at sunrise we will take a boat to a floating village on Tonle Sap lake for a photo documentary on life on water. After lunch we will be heading for Battambang.

Day 4. Battambang. Today we take a tour to Phnom Sampeau mountain, famous for its Killing Fields in the caves. On our way we will see large fields of lotus flowers. In the afternoon, while back in Battambang, we will visit the abandoned railway station and we have a streetlife photo session in the streets of Battambang as an assignment.

Day 5. Battambang / Siem Reap. During the rainy season we will take a boat ride to Siem Reap. And again lots of photo opportunities on our way. We’ll end up at some floating villages on Tonle Sap before we will picked up by car to drive us into Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat. In the late afternoon we will have a fine art photography workshop near the ancient temple site.

Day 6. Siem Reap. A full day at the temples within the Angkor Archaeologic Park for photo shoots at Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and more

Day 7. Siem Reap / Kompong Thom. We leave Siem Reap for a countryside tour (portrait- and landscape photography) to Kompong Thom. We will visit several villages on our way. In the evening we will have a post-production workshop in our hotel.

Day 8. Kompong Thom / Phnom Penh. This day, on our way to Phnom Penh, we will stop at a Buddha factory just outside Kompong Thom for a photo documentary. After lunch in Skuon we pay a visit to the Cham muslims, a minority that lives north of Phnom Penh on the borders of the Mekong. We take our time for a photoshoot on Khmer Islam. We arrive at our hotel before the sun goes down.

Day 9. Phnom Penh. Boat ride on the mighty Mekong to Silk Island, ‘Koh Dach’ in Khmer. We follow silk weavers in duty and walk around for some good shots of typical Cambodian rural life. On the island we will have an introduction in presentation and portfolio. After sunset we hit the streets for nightlife photography at several locations in Phnom Penh.

Day 10. Phnom Penh. Early morning visit to Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, the dark side of Cambodian history. The Royal Palace is scheduled for a visit in the afternoon. We will end our 10-days trip with a presentation of our best work, shot during the expedition, while having our farewell-dinner.

Note: The boat ride from Battambang to Siem Reap will only run throughout the rainy season, due to the water level. In the dry season we will take the trip by car/bus via Sisophon

The Cambodia / Photo Expedition and Workshop is made for amateur-, semi-pro and professional photographers. You will be guided by a professional photographer personally to make better pictures. At the same time you will get a good view of life in Cambodia, its typical landscape and the always friendly Khmers.

This trip:
Included/ all transportation as mentioned, good accommodation for 10 nights, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, excursions and entrance fees, workshops and full-time guidance by a professional photographer
Excluded/ international flights to and from Phnom Penh, personal expenses

copyright: eric de vries 2010-2011