Lara Croft's Tree Photo

Photographer’s Note

*Back to Cambodia!

Probably the most famous tree in Cambodia. Lara Croft (starring Angelina Joile) went through that doorway underneath the tree when Tomb Raider I was filmed here few years ago.

Even though the film was not very successful, it indirectly contributed to the growing of the tourism industry in Cambodia. (According to my tour guide, the number of tourists to Cambodia went up by over 50% after the world saw this tree!)

This temple's Ta Prohm. And I find it the most beautiful small temple in Angkor. You can see how nature and ruins blend in together.

If you look closer there are two Apsarases carved on the side-wall. I took this pic early morning so there weren't much tourists around.

#Scanned from print.

All comments welcome!

Propofol, syd1946, thaprem, sabyasachi1212, mphotographies, siolaw, veronika, PixelTerror, evanrizo, designsoul, veve, breyl, marknunnerley, Brian, MLINES has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Propofol (1786) 2006-08-22 6:17

An amazing shot of these ruins, Cheuk. You have also had great success scanning this from a print - very little noise to see here. Congratulations!

syd1946 (17913) 2006-08-22 6:33

Hi Cheuk Hin,
What a beauty!! on these ruins!This is absolotely the type of shot I really like.I like the story behind this.Amazing colors,fantastic composition,strange atmosphere!
Friendly Regards,
Thomas

jinju (14265) 2006-08-22 6:52

So,

did the carvings in here come to life?:)

I immediately tought of that movie when I saw this shot. The scan is flawless, the quality of the print must have been immaculate and the scanner very good because I couldt say if this as scanned or digital had you not told us. I really like all the colors here, very saturated as well as the graphic patterns of the roots. Beautiful work.

francbois (480) 2006-08-22 7:05

Hi Cheuk!
Quieter place, quieter colors.
Those look a bit too bland, don't they? Not really too exposed... Do you know if the ISO wasn't overestimated on this, or was it only the effect of a crude flash?
No details lost, all's well that ends well (almost :)
PS: I love the other way one could read your note: ...underneath the tree when tomb raider, I was filmed here few years ago...
(&^%$#%^&*(lol) qwerty #?

stephtbest (94) 2006-08-22 7:21

Well. I haven't seen such details and precision on a picture in TE.
Well donn
Thanks

Stéphane

thaprem (2490) 2006-08-22 8:39

Forget the dramatic movie...
It is the temple which takes me on this...
The ancient & dilapate state once glorious temple shown exeplarily well here is appaling.
I like the POV & the details.
cheers,
Prem.

xavshot (62533) 2006-08-22 10:06

Bonjour Cheuk Hin,
tu as raison, c'est un vrai décor pour Lara Croft ! J'aime beaucoup... les teintes sont très belles et l'ambiance excellente.
Belle photo
Xavier

Floydian (30970) 2006-08-22 10:36

Hi Cheuk Hin,
I like the deep dark colour toning, this place really invites you to explore.
The place is famous, a must see....and you have been there.
Great work, great pov and colour handling.,...very good..!!!
Regards, Henk

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2006-08-22 13:26

This is superb work Cheuk, very impressive combination of a contemporary note to go with an ancient architecture. Love the way the huge tree almost engulfs the temple.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

feather (49862) 2006-08-22 17:10

Fantastic composition of this place - maybe a little more contrast? It's amazing how these trees survive.
KAth

mphotographies (1976) 2006-08-23 0:57

Hey Cheuk,
A monochrome tone would be more mystifying...yet this gives me the creeps! So much details, its weathering, and the textures are great! Another stunning success!
Regards!
Jom

siolaw (25774) 2006-08-23 2:12

Hi Cheuk,
Majestic, moss covered ruins and ancient trees, a trademark of Angkor, are well framed here with nice colors and sharpness
Well done
Laurent

veronika (6022) 2006-08-23 4:06

Hi Cheuk Hin,
yes yes im recognizing this famous Lara´s tree :))
This picture has particular atmosphere and also colours, i like it!
Nice day
Vero

PixelTerror (86192) 2006-08-23 4:19

Hi Cheuk Hin,
A nice body is not enough to produce a successful movie...
I've seen this place already here on TE, what I like there is the Indianajonesesque feeling I gather from it, finding the color set a bit strange I investigated a bit the techs and found out the reason... I have to say, I'm surprised to see a young guy like you from such a high tech metropolis shoot film ! But it's probably what makes you different from the crowd ;-)
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

evanrizo (456) 2006-08-23 8:51

Woooh it looks sooo great, soo interesting.
I really thank you very much for share it.

s10001in (1485) 2006-08-23 11:20 [Comment]

Show Comment

designsoul (21394) 2006-08-23 12:59

I hardly believe it's scanned. The image quality is excellent, Cheuk. I am a lover of trees, really... they often create a sense of gentleness within me, a sense of silence and protection. I need to be close to them, always. But this tree is really incredible. Haven't seen tomb raiders, these films bore me to death, but now I would LOVE to go to Cambodia too to see this... especially as my last name means "root" ;-)
Very nice quality and yes, your waking up early has had its welcome result!
take care
sasa

oochappan (22032) 2006-08-24 2:02

And this speaks to your imagination how nature retakes what belong to nature, a famous area that speaks for itself, well captured Cheuk.
greetings
Henk

hizbul (171) 2006-08-24 5:30

Yes I have seen it in the movie, it is identical, thanks to reminds me of Angelina Jolie ;-)

Hizbullah

rewshearer (682) 2006-08-26 5:04

It's a stunning photograph, and I know this temple well from the movie ... although I believe I had seen it before.

Truly beautiful, all the more so because, unlike the Ancient Roman ruins, we in the Europeanised countries hear little about the civilisations that built these beautiful temples.

Great work - thanks for sharing!
Rew

kajspice (4534) 2006-08-31 10:00

Hi Cheuk,

a really beautiful picture. You are really quite versatile and stylish, whilst you still manage to portray a soulful side through your images...

I like that you got a real feeling of enclosure, by blocking out that sky with the tree.

The only thing missing for me would [erhaps be some people - preferably monks, but we can't have everything can we now?? :)

veve (4149) 2006-09-11 15:41

Hi Cheuk!
An impressive shot of these ruins!
This temple is really interesting and the tree is incredible!Excellent quality of the image!
Best regards,
Veronica

nanauhauer (761) 2006-09-21 12:47

Hey Cheuk,
The traditional Ta Prohm scene.
Very well done.
(I think I have to see Tomb Rider again...)
Regards
Nanau

breyl (228) 2006-10-27 13:09

Hi Cheuk
fantástica y siniestra imagen! Has sabido captar las formas y los colores a la perfección... Parece increíble que aun existan lugares así ;-)
Bravo!
greetings,
Eva

*thanks for your comment

marknunnerley (2768) 2006-11-08 8:58

Hi Cheuk,
it's like nature taking back it's rightful place don't you think? When I shot some photos of a disused powerstation last week its what you see, the relentless slow progress of nature. Well done. Oh, and how did the Gooners do this week?
Regards,
Mark
Be back soon

MLINES (10884) 2007-08-14 21:08

Hi Cheuk.
Well composed and presented photo of this marvellous place. Good cropping and realistic colouring. Suitable fram also. TFS. Murray.